Children's Hope International E-Newsletter

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE:

Saving Levi
A badly burned boy “left to die...destined to live” would become Lisa's son Levi.

Nomad
Kazakhstan, only as far as your local theater complex.

BLOG OF THE MONTH:

Follow a Journey
With a deployed army husband, Leda finds a daughter, travels the world, and uses media to share.

DEVELOPMENT AID:

Garage Sale
Clear Out Your Garage to
Bring Hope to an Orphan

Clothing Project
Putting a Shirt On Their
Back, Won't Require Yours

PROGRAM UPDATES:

China
Families Beat the Clock to
Meet Current Requirements

Colombia
Adoptions from Colombia

Ethiopia
It’s Official—Children’s Hope Receives Adoption License
from Ethiopia

Kazakhstan
Region Once Closed in Kazakhstan- Now Open

Russia
Russia Not Closed to Adoption!

Vietnam
Traveling—Great News!

Request a copy of our Adoption
All Guide to see which program
is right for your family.

Help the lives of orphans
by sponsoring a child today!

Get your church involved with orphan sponsorship and international adoption.

Read more of our wonderful
family stories and submit your own.

Our Accreditations

When Becky saw pictures of Andrew while he was still in China, he had a distinct look on his face — he wanted and was ready for a family. Now that he is home, his pictures are more relaxed; he is content. “It is a wonderful feeling to see him so relaxed here with us.”

The Adoption story of Andrew Ellis

Andrew Ellis is the kind of boy no one forgets, especially best friend Xiau Ding. Xiau Ding, was Andrew’s protector while both were together in an Hunan Province orphanage. Even after being separated when adopted into his new family in Ohio, Xiau Ding still worried for his best friend left in China.

His new mother contacted Marianne Adams, Children’s Hope Southwest and Arizona regional director, looking for Andrew. Marianne discovered a family had chosen Andrew from the Children’s Hope “Waiting Child” list and was now awaiting travel approval to finalize his adoption. She put in the call.

“At first when she told me this family was looking for him, it kinda scared me,” says Becky Ellis, already protective of her precious son waiting for her in China. “I was thinking, ‘Look he’s being adopted!’ But when Marianne explained ‘I think they have a child that knows him,’ the whole thing changed!” Becky laughs. Xiau Ding was happy and relieved to know Andrew had found a home and would be joining him in the United States, for the older boys in the orphanage were known to be rough.

When Becky and Dan arrived there in Changsha Hunan, China, they were bearing gifts and wearing t-shirts imprinted with Andrew’s face. They were nervous. The social worker had prepared them: at night they were to double-check their room locks; some of the older children attempt to run away. They braced themselves, unsure of what to expect.

But when they met eight-year-old Andrew, he came barreling into the room grinning. Before they could even offer him their stowed gifts, he was opening his bag pack to give them their gifts! Andrew had even purchased his maternal grandmother and his godmother gifts as well, jewelry and a small trinket in the shape of a duck. They were to learn later that he had taken his friends out for ice cream during their last night together with the little money he had left of his savings.

Andrew stops for a pose on a mountain trail with
“bab” Dan, his grandmother and family dog Honey.

After dealing out his gifts, he ran over to Dan and began to stroke his arm. He murmured, “Oh baba, oh baba,” oh father, oh father, in Mandarin. Dan began to cry.

“Which is a good thing,” Becky laughs, “I am an ugly crier and Dan is a pretty crier. I was so scared he wouldn’t want to come home with us after seeing my face contorted with tears!”

A lesson in Chinese checkers later, the family of three went out to eat. At the table the young boy toasted to his new family and prayed.

“He took up in his hands a Buddha necklace that was given to him and said a prayer to God, thanking Him for the day.”

Back home, the Ellis’ found their lifestyle drastically changed. They had lost their first son years before and the house was then quiet. Although Andrew was never meant as a replacement, he now fills their house with so much love and laughter.

Becky home schools Andrew. The two of them learn from each other, Andrew English and Becky Mandarin. They laugh when they learn that mountain is sun in Mandarin and sun is mountain. The family cooks together, fixing Tandan—a blessing of egg rolls and dumplings. They laugh as Andrew’s dumplings are made so much better.

Andrew loves hiking with his dog Honey and playing pool. “He can play pool until the cows come home!” says Becky. The Ellis’ live right on top of a mountain. Everyday when he goes down the mountain, Andrew is offered a different view; the sky is always changing. Sometimes on a particularly cloudy day, it is almost as if the other mountains sit like islands in the sky.

“Ooo, mama! Ooo, mama!” Andrew whispers in wonder.

How is life now? “Life is beautiful,” Becky sighs. “Andrew has brought great joy into our hearts. It’s almost hard to even say. ...I don’t know how we ended up with the most wonderful child in the world.”

Making new friends is easy.
And life with mom is grand.

Although Andrew now lives in North Carolina and Xiau Ding in Ohio, the two boys stay in touch and still cherish their friendship.

It’s easy to believe this child is one whom no one will ever forget and everyone is glad he’s made this home into a family.

Written by: Jennifer Newcomb, Children’s Hope Communications Coordinator