hepherd’s ieldSCHILDREN’S VILLAGE

The Vocational Center Opens!

Happy New YearJanuary 2017

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Heartbeat

Seven years ago, construction began on the back portion of our property for our new Vocational Center, a place designed to

give older orphans new skills and help them live independent lives. In late October, we finally got approval to use the building, even though there are several conditions that we must satisfy. Now we can use the Center, and help these young people move out into the world.

Our older kids – like Seth and Shelby – are very excited about the opening of the new building. We can see teens like these doing meaningful work on-campus, and even learning to live independently off-campus. Imagine that – how would their lives change? The Shepherd’s Field Vocational Center is now ready to open. It took seven years, but the dream is finally a reality, and more than one kid is asking, “When does school start?”

Winter is upon us, and the local government has already turned on the heat effective November 15th – even though we still haven’t paid the entire bill. Thanks to you, we’ve

raised most of the money, but now we’re just US$6,247 away from covering the remaining amount. Please help pay off our winter heat bill by making a donation to our Winter Heat Fund. If you’d like to give, please contact: info@chinaorphans.org.

Please Help Fill Our Winter Heat Fund

The Vocational Center will provide basic life-skills training, and offer activities that will encourage good social behavior. We’ll also provide job training in areas like food services and retail sales.The new building will also be used to warehouse donations and supplies, which currently occupy space in our Therapy house. This will allow us to expand the Therapy Department, which is one of the main elements of our work. Thank you to everyone who has prayed for and supported this venture through the years – we hope you’ll sustain your support as we continue to change children’s lives.

Welcome to Shepherd’s FieldJenna (Hou Lichen) is a very cute nine-month-old girl with congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Medication is helping to control her condition.

Buddy (Lian Yizai) is an adorable one-year-old boy with a congenital megacolon. He had colon surgery in August and needs dilatation every day. His fine and gross motor skills appear normal.

Iris (Lian Jingfang) is a cute 18-month-old girl with Down Syndrome and a heart condition. She had surgery in August to repair her heart, and takes medicine for her condition.

Winston (Wang Wenxuan) is a handsome nine-month-old boy with a chronic skin condition and moderate anemia. His

treatment includes a daily medical starch bath and application of ointment to his skin. He’s now living in House of Blessings.

Charlie (Shao Tiancheng) is a 10-year-old boy with arthrogryposis, who was recently released from hospital after seven months of surgeries and recovery. He’s a normal kid, but because he can’t move his

arms and legs very well, he needs assistance in caring for himself. Due to his immobility and extended stay in hospital, Charlie’s extra weight creates a challenge in his care. We’re in need of a lift to help him get in and out of his wheelchair and bathtub. If you’d like to help with this need,

please email us at: info@chinaorphans.org.

In July, one of the sinks in our school overflowed all night. This caused the entire building to flood, and ruined the beautiful wood floors on both stories of the building. Classes continued, but some were forced to move to different rooms. Real Wood Floors and a team of their clients came to our rescue in late October, when they arrived to replace our warped floors with beautiful new hardwood ones. The project took almost three days, and our entire staff had a great time with these volunteers. Shepherd’s Field has had a long relationship with Real Wood Floors, and we’re very grateful for all the work they’ve freely done around our campus through the years. Thank you!

“Real Wood Floors” Comes Through Again!

Three Boys Get New Wheels

Our Therapy Department is always in need of pediatric

wheelchairs and assistive devices for children with a wide range of needs, and recently some of those needs were met – three of our boys were given new wheelchairs! First, thanks to our friends at Global Mobility in Van Nuys, California, Grady (Hou Tong) got a gently used wheelchair that was pre-fit to his exact dimensions. Grady loves his new purple chair, and is now able to sit comfortably while learning to maneuver and become “one” with his new wheels.

In mid-October several doctors from the U.S. came to visit Shepherd’s Field, and bring some much-needed medical and therapy supplies. Among those donations was a pediatric wheelchair, perfect for Simeon (Shi Wenjia). Our team made a few minor adjustments, including an upper chest strap and some additional padding, and now the chair fits him incredibly well. When Simeon got his new wheelchair, his face beamed

Last October 12, our little eight-month-old boy Maddox (Song Yiyu) passed away suddenly. His nannies and entire Shepherd’s Field family loved him dearly and will miss his presence at House of Blessings – especially the big smile he gave to everyone so freely. We’re grateful that even though his life was short, he was nurtured and well-loved. We rejoice that he’s now healthy and happy in his Father’s house.

Maddox Goes Home

with joy! We’re excited for the new independence this chair will give him.

Friends from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri, donated a wheelchair last May, but at the time we didn’t have someone who needed it. When Hector (Dang Guobu) arrived at Shepherd’s Field, it was clear that he’d benefit from this wheelchair, so in late October our team fixed up the chair and fit it to his specific needs. Now he’s mobile and independent, and nothing will stop him. These boys have a new world of opportunities that are open to them with these tremendous gifts of mobility. Donors, partners and friends who have donated supplies to our Therapy program are a blessing – if you have any items like these to donate, please contact: info@chinaorphans.org.

Grady

Simeon

Hector

We are grateful for your prayers and financial support!

To donate by check:Philip Hayden Foundation

40335 Winchester Rd. #E-115Temecula, CA 92591 US

1-866-JAMES127 (526-3712)

Donate by credit card:Visit ChinaOrphans.org

Donations are secured by PayPaland Network for Good

In China:Shepherd’s Field Children’s VIllage

26 Jin Yuan Rd.Da Wang Gu Development Zone

Wuqing, Tianjin 301712 CN022.2219.0708

Needed: Two Forever Families

Is CHINA calling YOU? An internship just might change your life! We began accepting applications for summer 2017 internships on November 1, 2016. Please email our internship coordinator, Naomi Preedin with applications or any questions: naomi.preedin@chinaorphans.org

Charissa is a spunky and playful 11-year-old girl who loves to socialize, and has the potential to excel if given the opportunity. She’s a leader in her class at school, as well as at home amongst her housemates. Like most girls her age, she enjoys having her nails painted and hair done, but she also loves coloring and drawing, doing puzzles, playing with Barbie dolls, building with Legos

and creating with clay. Charissa recently received a power wheelchair, which will help with her mobility, but the one thing she’d love the most is a Forever Family.

At 13, Amanda is one of our girls who will soon be too old to be adopted. She is bold, active and cheerful with a true servant’s heart. Amanda will be 14 in June, so we’re quickly running out of time to find her an adoptive family. Let’s work together to help find both of these girls

loving Forever Families.

Let’s Drum!A new drum program at Shepherd’s Field has begun, and the kids are excited – they ask every day about their next class. They did a great job performing at the Christmas party, playing “Little Drummer Boy” and “Joy to the World.” Seth definitely has the groove and keeps us on the right tempo. Thanks to a generous donation from our Canadian and Chinese friends, we’ve been able to purchase a set of African drums, which are now part of our newly established Drum Therapy Program. Believe it or not, drumming can help improve focus for a task, boost frustration tolerance and provide some physical rehabilitation – as well as stimulate basic music knowledge. As

the kids’ skill and confidence improve, they’ll perform for guests and the community, which will give them a real sense of pride and personal fulfillment. Now that’s fun therapy!