Doubling the Accomplishments!

Two weeks ago I went to Qinghai Province, something I like to do three or four times a year. Some special visitors were with me on this visit.  Long term supporters from Resurrection Church in Sai Kung (where I fellowship) and from St. Luke's Orthodox Cathedral in HK Central also came, and now have a much deeper insight into our work after being eye-witnesses of what is being achieved in our children's homes.

The visitors had an outstanding 'tour guide' in Cindy Pearson, who is our Special Needs Programme Administrator/Trainer based at Xining Children's Home. Cindy is from Wisconsin but speaks fluent Mandarin.

When she showed us into a room where moderate to severe cognitively delayed children were waiting for their lunch, her face lit up as she told us: "When we started four years ago, hardly any of these kids could feed themselves, and very few of them were potty trained even though they were as old as ten or eleven at the time. All the children are now feeding themselves and all can use the bathroom independently!"

This remarkable achievement is doubly surprising because the primary care-givers are all employed locally by the government and have had no training or work experience before coming to our Home. Patient coaching and supervision from our professional social workers and rehabilitation specialists helps them to gain skills and experience. In this way, the local people and our children in the Homes are developing their abilities.

When children become increasingly independent, care-givers are able to attend to other, less urgent yet essential needs, like teaching children how to play and interact socially.

As we toured the facilities, Cindy captivated the HK visitors with her stories about the accomplishments of the development programme, leaving in her wake a trail of hugs, kisses and kind words, accompanied by the giggles and squeals of the delighted recipients.

Cindy's next goal is for the kids suffering from Cerebral Palsy to feed themselves. It seems like an impossible task, but I know she will accomplish it with as much tenderness, love and determination as she invests in everything she does.

Your ongoing support has meant that we have been able to impact the lives of these children in amazing ways! I fully intend to ensure we continue to train and equip hundreds of others, caregivers and children alike, to develop in the same way in the years to come! And I know you will help bring about the blessing of these accomplishments.