Hey everyone! It has been quite a while since I used this blog, and I
didn't even know if it would still be accessible. Fortunately, it is,
and I have made some changes from the 2010 version.
Some of you may know, I have found myself going to China again this summer. (Not with my family to adopt another sister, but that's a really good hunch!) I have been asked if I will keep a blog or update friends and family back home in some way, so I am here to confirm that the answer is yes! I will be leaving on June 22nd, but wanted to post some background and details of the trip and of the organization I will be travelling with before I left.
In 2005, my family adopted my sister, Hannah. In 2010, we went back to adopt our youngest sister, Chloe Grace, which was the reason for creating this blog in the first place. As a second grader, I was unable to document the first trip, (although I probably would have wanted to if I knew what blogging was), but if you would like to read about our journey to adopt Hannah as well, my dad documented it in his blog that you are also welcome to visit at patrickcook.blogspot.com.
Show Hope's Story and Impact on My Life:
Show Hope is a non-profit adoption organization founded in 2003 by Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman. (www.showhope.org if you want to learn more). In 2014, I attended Show Hope's 10 year anniversary celebration in Franklin, Tennesse with my family and our dear friends, the Adkins. There, they talked about how we are all called to help with orphan care and adoption, even if you aren't old enough or called specifically to adopt. I learned that Show Hope had a student branch in which students could start clubs in their high schools to raise money and awareness for orphan care and adoption. This was an amazing discovery for me, so I started a Movement Club at Morgan County High School. There are 15 MILLION children that live without either of their parents in foster care, orphanages, and other care centers around the world. Through being involved in this organization, my heart was continuously broken for these children. I learned about the opportunities Show Hope gives to high school and college students to go to their special care centers in China and other countries and work with the children that are staying there. The specific trip that I had my heart set on was to go to Maria's Big House of Hope. This special care center was created by Show Hope and New Hope Foundation in remembrance of the Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria who was killed in a fatal accident. Here, they provide life-saving medical care to orphans. This is such a beautiful example of how God can take our tragedies, sorrows, and pain and turn them into something we never could have imagined. He really can "make beautiful things out of the dust". Show Hope has since cared for over 2,500 children in their care centers and have helped fund over 6,000 adoptions from around the world. I am getting emotional just typing that!
I thought about applying to go to Maria's a few times, but was kind of discouraged by the cost and not sure if my parents would be okay with me going to China without them as a high schooler. In other words, I have been wanting to go on this trip for over four years and am so happy that the timing, money, and everything else worked out in God's plan for me to go this summer. (A HUGE thank you to those who helped and encouraged me with financial support and prayers).
Trip Details:
As far as trip specifics, I am absolutely thrilled to be travelling with Show Hope to their special care center in Luoyang for ten days to love on the babies, play with the children, and help out the workers there. We will also participate in team devotionals and "student global training", which from what I can tell at this point is discussion on how we as students can continue to impact global crises like the orphan crisis. There are fifteen students and three team leaders traveling with us. Most of us have not met each other in person yet. We will all fly into Chicago from our different locations and fly to Beijing together from there. I hope to provide as many updates as I can!
Prayer Requests:
-That we can all bring our worries to God and be given a feeling of peace about everything surrounding the trip
-While it is important for our hearts to break for God's children, that we won't give up hope and the faith that our God is sovereign and good even amidst His childrens' suffering
-Travel
-Unity under God for the team
-Strength (emotional, physical, mental)
-Open hearts
-Patience
-Courage to take advantage of every opportunity to share God's love with others
The rest of my posts will not be this long, but I just felt that it was important to share as much as I could about Show Hope and the call to care for orphans. Thank you to everyone that has supported me and this cause. I can't wait to be posting from China!
Some of you may know, I have found myself going to China again this summer. (Not with my family to adopt another sister, but that's a really good hunch!) I have been asked if I will keep a blog or update friends and family back home in some way, so I am here to confirm that the answer is yes! I will be leaving on June 22nd, but wanted to post some background and details of the trip and of the organization I will be travelling with before I left.
In 2005, my family adopted my sister, Hannah. In 2010, we went back to adopt our youngest sister, Chloe Grace, which was the reason for creating this blog in the first place. As a second grader, I was unable to document the first trip, (although I probably would have wanted to if I knew what blogging was), but if you would like to read about our journey to adopt Hannah as well, my dad documented it in his blog that you are also welcome to visit at patrickcook.blogspot.com.
Show Hope's Story and Impact on My Life:
Show Hope is a non-profit adoption organization founded in 2003 by Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman. (www.showhope.org if you want to learn more). In 2014, I attended Show Hope's 10 year anniversary celebration in Franklin, Tennesse with my family and our dear friends, the Adkins. There, they talked about how we are all called to help with orphan care and adoption, even if you aren't old enough or called specifically to adopt. I learned that Show Hope had a student branch in which students could start clubs in their high schools to raise money and awareness for orphan care and adoption. This was an amazing discovery for me, so I started a Movement Club at Morgan County High School. There are 15 MILLION children that live without either of their parents in foster care, orphanages, and other care centers around the world. Through being involved in this organization, my heart was continuously broken for these children. I learned about the opportunities Show Hope gives to high school and college students to go to their special care centers in China and other countries and work with the children that are staying there. The specific trip that I had my heart set on was to go to Maria's Big House of Hope. This special care center was created by Show Hope and New Hope Foundation in remembrance of the Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria who was killed in a fatal accident. Here, they provide life-saving medical care to orphans. This is such a beautiful example of how God can take our tragedies, sorrows, and pain and turn them into something we never could have imagined. He really can "make beautiful things out of the dust". Show Hope has since cared for over 2,500 children in their care centers and have helped fund over 6,000 adoptions from around the world. I am getting emotional just typing that!
I thought about applying to go to Maria's a few times, but was kind of discouraged by the cost and not sure if my parents would be okay with me going to China without them as a high schooler. In other words, I have been wanting to go on this trip for over four years and am so happy that the timing, money, and everything else worked out in God's plan for me to go this summer. (A HUGE thank you to those who helped and encouraged me with financial support and prayers).
Trip Details:
As far as trip specifics, I am absolutely thrilled to be travelling with Show Hope to their special care center in Luoyang for ten days to love on the babies, play with the children, and help out the workers there. We will also participate in team devotionals and "student global training", which from what I can tell at this point is discussion on how we as students can continue to impact global crises like the orphan crisis. There are fifteen students and three team leaders traveling with us. Most of us have not met each other in person yet. We will all fly into Chicago from our different locations and fly to Beijing together from there. I hope to provide as many updates as I can!
Prayer Requests:
-That we can all bring our worries to God and be given a feeling of peace about everything surrounding the trip
-While it is important for our hearts to break for God's children, that we won't give up hope and the faith that our God is sovereign and good even amidst His childrens' suffering
-Travel
-Unity under God for the team
-Strength (emotional, physical, mental)
-Open hearts
-Patience
-Courage to take advantage of every opportunity to share God's love with others
The rest of my posts will not be this long, but I just felt that it was important to share as much as I could about Show Hope and the call to care for orphans. Thank you to everyone that has supported me and this cause. I can't wait to be posting from China!
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