Dear Friends and Supporters,

We are very grateful for the instant response from several of you who offered to help us get neurosurgery for the six children we mentioned in our last newsletter. I had faith that we would be able to afford this and I am constantly amazed by your generosity. The funds received will more than adequately cover all their expenses and I will report next month with more details of their progress. All 6 kids, 4 nannies and Christina our nurse will fly to Cancun on October 8^th. Please pray for the children, their care-givers, the surgeons and medical staff who have given so much of themselves to help these kids. The US team organized by The Shepherd’s Crook Ministries, will operate on 19 children with neurological birth defects.
 

Foster Home Shunyi, Beijing

The babies:

This month we took in 4 new babies. Fu Wen Dong with a huge sac of  spinal fluid on his lower spine  (myelomeningocele) and he is scheduled for surgery in Changchun. We also took in 2 baby boys from Luoyang orphanage, Dang Guo Kun with a cleft lip and Dang Jian Hong with a clubbed foot. We also have a premature little boy; Fu Xiao Xiong. This brings our total to 25 kids in Shunyi.

Hayley’s heart operation went well and she is now home with her foster family in New Jersey. The family reports that her fingers and toes are pink and she is doing very well. We expect her home in Beijing on Oct 18th. Rebekah (Born with an Exposed bladder) will have surgery in Sydney, Australia on November 3^rd. She and I will leave Beijing on the weekend of Oct 23/24^th. Joshua, Fu Xiao Xin with a congenital heart condition is home from Beijing United Hospital and is doing reasonably well. We are waiting for the Hospital in Singapore to advise when will be the best time for his surgery but his condition is stable and he is feeding well. 

We have been told that the twins, Sydney and Carly are being adopted by a couple in the US and also Adam has a family in the process of adopting him.  We are breaking this news to their nannies gently.

We have heard from Evan’s new parents and have received photos of him. He is well, happy and speaking Dutch already.
 

Volunteers.

Julia (US) and Clare, Bernie and Jessie (Singapore) were here this month. The volunteers have worked very hard with the babies and we have appreciated their help.  Next month we are expecting Marsha P and 3 friends and Lorrie O and her daughter, all from the US to be with us short term
 

Shunyi Outreach Foster Program.

2 of the new babies have gone out to homes and this brings our total of babies in this program to 6. We still have more families waiting. So far it is all going well we have not hit any major problems. The kids and families are being closely monitored. I am sure we will be able to reach our target of 10 kids in family homes by the end of this year. We did a 2-day Foster Care training session for CEO Foundation, training their staff and staff members of 2 orphanages on how to start and monitor a Foster Care Program.
 

Foster Home Sai Qi Fujian Province:

 No major changes with this Home and more info when Marsha does her next visit.
 

HFH Special Care Unit , Henan Province:

We took our builder with us for a visit to this orphanage and we are now planning the renovations after we have signed a contract with the Director. The contact is being prepared by our lawyers, Jonesday International.  No major problems are anticipated. Work will commence on October 10^th and should be done by November 10^th.

If anyone would like to sponsor and name a room in this Unit please contact us or look on our website for details.
 

Our Needs:

Our most urgent need is for medical volunteers to help in the Special Care Unit:
 

1) We would like to start a roster of volunteers who are willing to help us manage this unit, short or long term. Even a week will give us a break. Please contact us if you are able to help or if you know of people who would be willing and qualified to help.

Requirements: Medical (doctor, nurse, PA) training essential

Job description: Caring for very young babies who are either premature or born with severe birth defects that may be incompatible with prolonged life. The purpose is , “To comfort always, to relieve often and to save sometimes”.

Free board and lodging  The unit will accommodate 2 volunteers at a time

Time frame:December 2004 onwards.

2) Our Pre-school is in need of educational toys, games suitable for 2-3 year olds.

3) We are very short of clothes for ages 0-5 years. Winter clothes will be especially appreciated.

Our Thanks;

Thank you Xian –Jansen, M& J V , TWL, RY and D. S for your financial support for the surgeries of the children going to Changchun. Thanks to many of you who have sent donations of much needed items for the US and Singapore. Thank you to those who have supported the air travel for Rebekah and me to Sydney

God’s special blessings on you all.

Robin and Joyce.

“Help me Lord, not to turn away from pain,

Help me Lord not to rest while those around me need,

Give me your strength and compassion, when somebody finds the road of life too steep”

From the song “Not too far away from here” by Sandi Patti.