I'm Going To Maria's Big House of Hope!!!!

As most of you know, I am leaving  this week for a Mission Trip to China!  This trip has become a reality through many months of prayer and planning.  I am excited and nervous all at the same time!  I think there are fourteen of us going.   I know four people in the group  from my past, the rest are people I have not met.   I am anxious to meet my travel mates whom I am sure will become lifelong friends.  We were all invited on this trip by our friend, Donna!   Donna, along with Kathy from Show Hope and Mary Beth put this trip together for us.  

We are coming from many different states and will all meet in  Chicago and will fly together  to Beijing.  We will travel from Beijing to Luoyang, China our destination. 

When I was first invited, I was so honored to be included on this trip, but as time grew closer, I began to get cold feet about being away from my family for 11 days.  I knew deep in my heart that this was God's trip and not mine, but for some reason, I was resisting.  I could think of a dozen excuses why I shouldn't go, but at every turn, God would show me, I was indeed suppose to go on this trip.  The final decision was made one Sunday, after I sat in church and listen to our minister, David Chadwick, preach about Jonah.  I realized I was like Jonah!  God wanted Jonah to go to Nineveh and Jonah wanted to go to Tarsus.  Like Jonah, God had laid out the plan, the only problem I wasn't listening!  God wanted me to go to China and I wanted to stay at Topsail (Beach).  After many hours of back and forth, I decided I would go on the trip!  The amazing part of all of this was how and why I was invited to go and what happened after I commited to the trip.  I will share all of that in later posts.  

For now, let me tell you a little about our trip.   

This is where we are going.....

via

Maria's Big House of Hope in Luoyang, China!

To read more about Maria's Big House of Hope you can click here!

 Luoyang is one of the poorest provinces in all of China.   

While there we will have many duties.  I cannot wait to meet the staff and

all the sweet babies!!!!  I don't think there is anything in the world that I love

more than rocking a baby, so that is high on my priority list!  All these

precious children are recovering from medical issues or awaiting surgery.  

Our team members are each taking an extra bag with clothes, toys and goodies

for the children.   We also  have plans to create a special rooftop garden as a  respite 

for the nannies and workers in the orphanage.  .   

Photo courtesy of Mikey 

I will post pictures of what we do to this rooftop deck and the other things we do upon return of our trip.  We are planning to shop at Ikea in Beijing

once we arrive.  Wish us lots of good luck!!!  Tomorrow I will post about my

preparations for travel and packing my suitcase!  I am really getting excited!

Also, if you want to provide support to 

help this wonderful program, all you have to do is send checks to :

Show Hope Inc.
P.O. Box 647
Franklin, TN 37065