PingYu Home of Hope

We have been having a very hot summer so far with temperatures reaching over 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius). Our good friends gave us a small pool for our kids to share this summer. Our kids are on summer holiday now, so after morning study time, they get to jump into the cold water in the afternoon.

We have several groups of kids that take turns swimming. The other children wait for their turn in many different ways. Some spend their time roller blading or skate boarding.

Some wait by playing on the swing-set.

Some wait by playing games in our office.

Some wait by playing with the water hose.

And some…the real patient ones, wait by sitting in lawn chairs watching the clock to make sure EVERYONE swims not one second over their turn:)
(left to right)Joey, Jake and Aaron.

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Very appropriate and much appreciated donation
A local Pingyu contractor came by our place and said when his workers get hot, he buys them watermelon. He then asked if he could donate “some” watermelon to our kids to help cool them off. We of course thanked him and accepted his offer. We were quite shocked when he bought an entire truck load of watermelons…over 100. Now we just hope we can eat them all before they go bad:)

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Volunteers
The more we get established here in Pingyu (this is our 4th year here), the more volunteers come to help spread love and joy to our children. One volunteer came and face painted with the kids!!!
(Left to right) Crystal, Becca and Mark.

Noah (left) and Frank (Right)

Lester (left) and Eddy(right)

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Summer Camp
This year we had to make a very difficult decision whether to have the camp or not. Unfortunately, due to several issues such as, Nathan Bell (Administrates the Gongyi Home of Hope)is fighting bladder cancer and won’t be able to come. We felt that it would not be fair to have the camp without all 3 Home of Hopes. Also, we are trying to finish our building project and our home has been fighting the mumps for the past month…I (Ben) even got it and was sick in bed for 2 weeks. As of right now, no one has any symptoms, Thank God, but we can’t risk spreading anything. Then in Xuzhou, Bob and Cindy Sayre (Administrators to the Xuzhou Home of Hope) have construction work going on their building too which makes it hard for them leave to go to the camp or stay and host the camp there.
Each Home of Hope has decided to do something special just for their kids. We did get summer camp shirts donated and we will pass them out to all the children and would like to thank The Shirt Shack, Inc (www.tshirtprices.com) for donating the shirts!

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Thank you for taking the time to read about whats going on in our home and we wish blessings to you and yours.