Please Help If You Can

I'm sure most of you have seen the footage on the news of the extreme cold weather and blizzards over much of central, eastern, and southern China. Many Chinese people who are attempting to travel home to visit their families for the Chinese New Year and Spring Festival have been stranded. For many workers this is the only time during the year that they are able to see their families.

Apparently there is no end in sight. News reports state that this is the worst weather to hit China in over 50 years and the China Meteorological Administration has issued red alerts warning of more bad weather to come. While my heart goes out to all of the workers who are unable to make it home for the holidays my heart is breaking for all the little ones who do not have families. Orphanages throughout China, including in Hubei Province where Lily was born, have been extremely hard hit.

When I see reports of large Social Welfare Institutes (aka orphanages) without running water, heat, blankets, and food I can't bear to think about Jai Yu County Social Welfare Institute. This is the wonderful place that was responsible for the incredible care our Lily received before she was united with us. Jia Yu County SWI is an extremely small SWI only handling approximately 1 - 2 international adoptions a year. I have tried to find information online about how they are handling the storms but have been unsuccessful.

I have been thinking back to the trip Tony and I took from Wuhan to Jia Yu County to visit Lily's orphanage. The journey from Wuhan to Jia Yu was like no other trip I have ever taken. It felt like we were traveling through the pages of a National Geographic Magazine. Jia Yu County SWI is located in a very poor and remote area. Many of the roads we traveled were unpaved with large ruts and ravines running through them and were bearly passable when they weren't covered by feet of snow. I can't begin to imagine how these roads will be cleared.

While it is true that the SWI is located in a remote area and had little in the way of any modern conveniences, it is extremely obvious that they loved and nurtured our Lily. Lily was healthy and happy and had no physical or cognitive developmental delays when we were united. This often is not the case with children adopted from China and is a true testament to the incredible care Lily received.

I am worried about all the children and orphanage workers throughout China and especially at Lily's orphanage. I pray that they are warm and safe and fed. There is little else we alone can do from here. However, there are several organizations that work tirelessly to aid China's children while they wait for their forever families. Half The Sky is one such organization.

Half The Sky is working to provide orphanages with the food, blankets, diapers, heaters, and other necessities they need. Please click on the link above to read more about Half The Sky and their efforts to help orphanages survive the Spring Festival storms. Please pray for all the people in China affected by these storms and please click on the button below if you are able to give to help the children.