LWB Community

Waiting for Betsy’s Smile

May God give you…For every storm a rainbow, for every tear a smile, for every care a promise and a blessing in each trial. For every problem life sends, a faithful friend to share, for every sigh a sweet song and an answer for each prayer. ~ An Irish Blessing

Everything’s is changing now for Betsy!  It was a year ago that Betsy joined our foster care program in Fuyang.  Abandoned two years ago as a child and not a baby, Betsy has experienced her share of trauma already in life. . Read more.

Hopes and Plans for Our China Trip

When I was a little girl, I remember seeing the passport of my friend’s father, and as I turned each page and saw the entry and exit stamps from different countries, I thought inside how wonderful it would be to someday have a little blue book of my own. I didn’t get that first passport until I was 35, when I adopted my first child from China, but I still remember the excitement I felt when the immigration officer firmly put his red stamp in it. I still feel that same excitement every time I land in China – and by the time you read this, I will probably be standing in the immigration line yet again.

Each time I make a trip to check on the children in our programs, I of course reflect back on previous journeys. I always have the same prayer leading up to departure:  that any child who truly needs our help will somehow cross my path. Read more.

A Visit To Our Foster Care Programs in China

Last month three LWB program directors visited some of our foster care programs in Anhui, Hunan, and Fujian Provinces. All the children were given individual gifts, and each child was also presented with a warm winter coat. A tremendous outpouring of support for our recent Coats for Kids project provided winter coats for children in all of our foster care programs, which were very much appreciated by the children and their families.

Will and LWB Healing Homes Director, Julie Flynn Coleman

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Vicki: LWB’s Featured Child of the Week

When our Foster Care Director Arlene Howard was visiting Fuyang this past week, she was expecting to visit with a child named Betsy and her foster family.  However, she was surprised when a tiny five-month-old girl was presented to her wearing a darling pink bonnet.  The local orphanage requested that we take this sweet girl into our foster care program as well, and we agreed. Read more.

Tristan: All Boy!

Tristan is a four-year-old boy in our LWB’s Fuyang Education Program who has limb differences in both of his arms and hands. It brings us all such pleasure to say that he is ready to be matched with a family now!

Tristan has been featured on LWB Community (“Tristan: LWB’s Featured Child of the Week“), and we’ve enjoyed watching him thrive as he joined LWB’s Fuyang Foster Care Program and then progressed to preschool.
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David’s Warmth

It may be cold in Fuyang, but David is staying warm! David also warms up those around him with his bright smile and happy disposition. Over the last few months, he has made incredible progress in school. His teachers say that he has made great strides with his language skills and is ready to tackle reading and writing. Read more.

John, Always Moving Forward

There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still. ~ Franklin Delano Roosevelt

With the help of his foster grandpa, John has mastered the art of going forward. John formed an immediate connection with his foster grandpa when he joined our Fuyang foster care program at age five. At the time, little John was recovering from spinal surgery and had experienced quite a bit of trauma (see his previous blog, “The Land of Counterpane…and Beyond”). Learning to walk again required braces on his legs, which he still wears and may wear forever. Together John and his grandpa navigated through his recovery and continue to improve his mobility, not letting obstacles like big shoes or uncomfortable leg braces hold them back. Read more.

Lovely Lucy: LWB’s Featured Child of the Week

Lucy lives with her foster parents and older foster sister, Beth, in Fuyang, Anhui Province. She has been with her foster family for four years and has received surgery to repair a heart defect. Recently, when asked to describe Lucy’s personality, our China program manager described her as simply “lovely.” She says that whenever she visits, Lucy runs to greet her and will lean up against her and ask if she has brought any treats. She also loves to pose for photos.
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Grants…Grants…Grants!

Love Without Boundaries has been fortunate to be able to offer grants to a number of children who are in need of a little extra help in being chosen by a family. Each adoption grant is attached to a specific child and not to a particular agency or specific parents. Generally, once the adoptive family receives travel approval, the grant money is paid directly to the adoption agency to assist with the adoption expenses. We are very excited to announce that this month has brought us two new $2,000 grant recipients: Rocky and David!

Rocky

Rocky earned his nickname by being shy and pretending he was asleep when volunteers visited the Believe in Me Changde School in Hunan he was attending. When he thought no one was looking, Rocky would open his eyes and take a peek at the visitors, and he eventually overcame his fear. His bravery earned the respect of the LWB volunteers, who gave him the nickname “Rocky.” Nine-year-old Rocky was also a grant recipient in 2008; however, a family never was matched with him, and eventually the grant funds went to help bring another child home.
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David’s Summer

Remember when we were waiting for David to show us his smile? We can tell the summer agrees with him as he is grinning from ear to ear in his recent photos! Since David is still waiting to be matched with an adoptive family, we felt it was time for an update on what he’s been up to these last few months. (If you’d like to see more adorable photos of this boy coming out of his shell, please read his other blogs, “David’s Smile is Shining Through,” and “David’s Sweet Tooth…and Sweet Heart!”)
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