Thankfulness

It is hard to believe that just nine months ago we embarked upon a journey of transforming our work with Chinese abandoned and orphaned children with disabilities. Central government policy and local government plans all combined to put us under immense pressure to relocate our children from their two homes - Hope House and Oasis House - into smaller community-based care settings.

From the outset we were both excited and challenged by what lay ahead of us. It was exciting that finally many of our children would be able to be integrated into small community based group homes, and for those appropriate - to be placed in foster care families. This is what we had prayed for - and dreamt of.

The challenge of achieving all this in just nine months seemed overwhelming. The reality of setting up six group homes, a new care facility for children with more severe disabilities, a home that would care for foster care children still awaiting placement and the foster care program itself, all seemed like monumental tasks.

In these months we have had to struggle to find the reality of God's provision, love and strength. We have faced giants, strong city walls, those who want to pull down the work and therefore the lives of the children we care for. We have been stressed, pressured, oppressed and bruised - sometimes literally - in these months. Yet God has shown His faithfulness to us.

It can be hard sometimes to understand how God works in our situations. We want the difficulties and hardship to be removed - yet it seems the lesson that we are led to learn is not about God's ability to miraculously change the cirucmstances, but that He is with us - walking with us, caring for us, moving us towards the realisation of His plans and purposes even without us knowing it.

On this last Monday the last group of ICC children moved from their old living situations in the new. The nine-months are up - the tasks have been accomplished and the challenges overcome.

We are still standing - tired, exhausted, bruised, shaken, in need of rest - but none-the-less we ARE still standing. And we are sure in our knowledge that God has walked with us, taught us, cared for us, changed us, as He has brought about His plans for these precious children.

Already I can begin to look back over this time with a spirit of thankfulness. It has not been easy - in fact it has been incredibly hard, however the thankfulness is there.

I am thankful to Kirsten - our China Operations Manager - who has guided this process so well, Mrs Chen - our Project Manager - who has done an amazing job of leading the change, Sue Munday - our therapy and group homes manager - who has quietly worked so hard and has been a mainstay through this time, Lucy - our Special Education Manager - whose support and work have enabled us all to go on.

There are so many others I am thankful for - Jan, Karen, Hannah, Kyla, Wu Shuang, Wang Li, Liz, Edith, Lisa, Justin, Mei Koh, Yang Hao, Li Ming, Gu Ai Yi.....the list goes on.

Overall I am thankful to our God - He who has walked with us, met us, guided us, cared for us, stretched us, taught us, protected us.......in short 'Gotten us through with smiles still on our faces'.

For your prayers - Thank you on behalf of the ICC family.