My time in China (Rich Steward)
   

I decided to go on the china mission because; I felt I wasn’t contributing to Youth Fellowship in a way others do, so I decided this was a way I could do something for God and YF.

           

I was told that china would be a huge culture-shock to me, but I didn’t realise this until I was there! I found my eyes were really opened to the conditions people live in and our way of life seems so unreal compared to Chinese life. I think god has shown me how sometimes we don’t appreciate the things we are so lucky to have. I saw a lot of boys/men just sitting around in the road with nothing to do but talk to each other, but they aren’t bored. Whereas I get bored with so many things, that they would only dream of an opportunity to use and own.

           

 I really think I was shown how God can provide in any situation. If God wants something doing he will sort out any problems that go with it – “His will be done.” This is demonstrated to me in how God provided us with the money for us to go to china and how he constantly provides for Robin and Joyce, so they can continue their work for him.

 

I am so thankful for the opportunity to have gone to the Hope foster home in china, I really feel my faith has grown as a result of this trip.

 

Thank-you

 

Rich Steward

    
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My time in China (Tom Mason)
   

I decided to go to China for two reasons, firstly because as Christians we are all called to be missionaries for God and secondly because I have been so lucky to have been born in the country and family I was born in and other people have not been as fortunate as I have. This was the perfect opportunity to help these less fortunate people and I am very grateful to Lee and Becky, Robin and Joyce and God for the chance they gave me to go to china and have both an amazing time personally but also help other people.

 

China taught me some valuable lessons especially that just because I disagree with something it doesn’t mean that it is wrong. As my friends know I’m not the biggest fan of communism but this trip has shown me that other methods or cultures are just as valid and in practice can work just as well. I also learned some valuable lessons in our morning quiet times. Ephesians 3 v 20-21 was a verse that really stuck out to me and I think The Hope Foster home is a testament to these verses that God can do immeasurable more than we can imagine. The whole China trip has made me so excited about what God has in store for mine, and the team lives I pray that the whole team keeps an open mind and follows what God has to say.

 

God has done some amazing things in that home, through Robin and Joyce and through the home many kids have been given the opportunity to live amazing lives in families which love them. I met some amazing people in China whom I will never forget from Evan with his big cute eyes to XL (have no idea how to spell his Chinese name) and his crazy driven and phenomenal quotes “YOU BEAUTY”.

 

I can’t thank all the people who made this visit possible enough I am so grateful looking forwarding to telling you all my stories.

Thomas J Mason  


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My time in China (Dave Breen)
   

 I decided to go to China because I felt I was being an armchair christian not stepping out in my faith enough and when the China trip came around I felt this would be a good chance to change this. I saw China as a chance to spend time with children and to help at the foster home were needed.

 

When arriving in China the heat was intense and so was the humidity but I adapted to it pretty fast. In China my favourite time was when I was on top of the great wall. It was so huge and you could see for miles around. Also I enjoyed going to the underground church in China, it was a real witness for God. I loved the times of fellowship that the group spent with each other and also the time spent with the children.


 

In China we had great times of sharing and friendships were made strong. I met some amazing people in China such as our driver xl who couldn't speak English but was great to be around and workers at the foster home such as Christina a volunteer who had gave a lot up for God  and the gardener who was crazy.

 

God is working in the foster home. God has shown me that to become stronger in my relationship with him I will have to leave my comfort zone and put myself out for him and to put my fears aside because he will always be with me.

Dave Breen

 

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My time in China (Phil Goodall)
   

When I heard about the China visit, initially I was unsure because I didn't know whether it was right for me and I already had a holiday booked with my family. I prayed about it and really felt something say it was right for me to go and I was one of the last ones to put my name down. Now that I've been and come back I know it was the right choice. I wanted to go to China, because I really wanted to experience God in another part of the world and see how God can work in other peoples lives and to develop, my faith and a real dependence upon God in my life.

The way in which God has blessed Robin and Joyce is amazing and is such an amazing testament to their faith. Something that I think God taught me is about sacrifices, Robin and Joyce have made many sacrifices in their lives because of what they believed God was calling them to do, they quit their jobs and more recently they moved out of their previous orphanage with no where to go. The way in which God has honoured those sacrifices has really blown me away, they now have an orphanage twice the size and have a new home next door. Faith is about taking a risk, but its a risk worth taking and God really taught me that. As well as showing me the things he can do, if you take that risk and have a real 'blind faith' and totally trust him.

Every day we did a bible study in the mornings, which really highlighted that God can do amazing things if we let him. It was really good to have these quiet times in the mornings because it really helped me to offer that day to God and really offer God my day, and allow him to give me everything I needed for that day. I went away really wanting to grow a real spiritual dependence on God and whilst we were away the way we offered all our troubles and anxieties to God in that half hour in the morning and relied on God really helped me grow spiritually.

I think the most defining moment for me was when we went to the CC Church for the first time, where the church had to meet in someone's basement because they had been forced out of their previous meeting place. It was a real encouragement to see the fact that they really wanted to meet and praise God and that just because their church had been closed down they weren't going to stop meeting. It amazed me to worshipping God in someone's basement thousands of miles away from Aldridge! This trip has opened my eyes as to what God can do, and now I'm excited as to what God has in stall for my future and the future of the parish and Aldridge.

Thank-You to everyone who made this trip possible.

Phil Goodall

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My time in China (Katy Grice)
   

What can I say? I had a fantastic time in China, so fab that it can’t really be put into words, but I shall try!

In China I saw God in a different way as to how I see Him at home. At The Hope Foster Home, God is certainly alive & kicking and working through all the staff involved, changing lives everyday. It is obvious that He has poured out His blessings over Robin & Joyce and The Home, and it’s really incredible to see what He has accomplished through their dedication & faith. I learnt that God uses people to do good, and The Hope Foster Home is a shinning example of this.

The babies were beautiful precious little ones that had such sad histories, but through The Home, their lives have been transformed. Little do they realise as they sleep peacefully in their cots that they are surrounded by the love of their nannies! But in the future, I’m sure that each child will appreciate the new life that The Home gave them, as they consider what life could have been like otherwise.
 

I was fortunate enough to look after a little girl called Naomi overnight, as I had been vaccinated against hepatitis. It was a wonderful experience, and although I didn’t get a lot of sleep, I loved every minute of it, caring for her, and giving her the attention she craved. Ultimately that’s what our trip was about, helping to create a safe environment for the kids and working so that time was freed up for others to do this.

 

I found the physical work very demanding, but large quantities of jam and Sprite was usually enough to keep me going. Every time I felt tired, God gave me a little nudge, and provided the strength that I needed. I learnt that God is my rock and He’ll look after me to the end, so long as I trust Him; something which I endeavour to do.

 

Coming home and settling back into everyday life has been hard, and sometimes I find it hard to believe that 5 weeks ago I was in China! I have very fond memories of my time there, and I look forward to going again in the future. The trip was an amazing experience and I can’t that the people that helped us prayerfully and financially, for their support.

 

Please continue to hold The Hope Foster Home in your prayers, for God is faithful and listens to those who call to Him

 

May God bless you all,

 

Katy xxx

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