Andrew's Beginning, Part 1

Andrew is from the Province of Henan, the city of Luoyang. While we were in his province, Cherish was not allowed outside without a face mask because of the smog.

Do you see the truck just ahead that is going under the bridge?

A common sight:

The day the group went to visit Andrew's orphanage, Andrew and I were at the hospital, so George took care of Cherish at the hotel, and Derek and Carileen went to the orphanage and Maria's Big House of Hope for a tour.

Luoyang is about a 2-hour ride from the capital city where we were staying. The capital of Henan is Zhengzhou.

Andrew was found when he was about 22 days old. He was taken to Maria's Big House of Hope and was the 191st child to be admitted for care. He spent the following 15 months at this orphan care center.

In memory of Maria Sue Chapman

A place of Hope for so many little ones:

The entrance to Andrew's bedroom (after he came out of the incubator):

Andrew's crib:

One of the mural's in Andrew's room:

Andrew's nanny and best friend, Jace:

The ratio is one nanny to one - two children:

Physical therapy:

Daily baths:

Laundry:

Modern food service:

Mega rice cooker:

There was such heartache for the Chapman family that preceded Maria's Big House of Hope. However, God has used their grief and resources (and the resources of so many) to care for the sickest of the sick in this area of the country. The province of Henan is the poorest province in all of China. How appropriate for believers to bring help and hope to those in such desperate need!

Thank You, Lord, for believers who obey Your Word. Please bless all those who volunteer their time to serve these precious little ones.

James 1:27, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

Side note: Missions trips are forming now for groups to head over to Maria's Big House of Hope to help in various ways.

Part 2...Andrew in his orphanage.