A Hero's House...The Butterfly House

I'm typing the word SPEECHLESS. Speechless is defined as: not capable of being expressed in words.                                                                                                                                                                
My experience in China has been hard to put into words...again, SPEECHLESS. I've been praying that God would give me the right words to explain to you all what I experienced. I deeply apologize that I have been lagging behind in sharing what this trip meant to me. It takes a lot of time for me to process it all. I'm thankful tonight God has given me a few words and a deep desire to share a bit of an amazing day that I keep going back to in my memory.

I will type another word now, HERO. Hero is defined as: A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life. I love to read quotes. Here are two that describe hero:

“A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger
than oneself.”-Joseph Campbell quotes (American prolific Author, Editor, Philosopher
and Teacher, 1904-1987)

“True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever cost.”-Arthur Ashe quotes (American social Activist and Tennis Player, the first black winner of a major men's singles championship. 1943-1993)

The first place we had the experience of loving on children was: The
Butterfly House in Changsha, China. This is where I met a real life
hero...no, not someone I read about in a missionary biography or
watched a movie about but someone I had the honor of meeting in
person! Her name is Lyn Gould. Lyn and Allen Gould or...aka modern day Good Samaritans.

Lyn and Allen Gould-a British couple from Australia, left Australia
and moved to Changsha, China to start a palliative care center for
children whom orphanages have basically given up on. Currently, Lyn
and Allen care for 12 children with chronic or life threatening
conditions. Two of those children are terminally ill right now. The
Butterfly House works on a tight budget and since 2010 has been
home to 35 children.

Although our team was in Changsha only about a day and a half, I found it the hardest city for me to physically handle. The pollution in Changsha was heavy, almost unbearable to breathe. Many people smoke in China, so add smoke to this environment and creates a hard breathing environment. Unlike Beijing, which is similar to America in a variety of ways...Changsha has not been westernized . I deeply admire Lyn and Allen even that much more for doing what they do! What a heart they have for these children!

As our team was only at The Butterfly House for a day, I found it to
be a day I think back to daily. I think and pray for Lyn and her team
of workers everyday, and for those babies fighting to get healthy. Lyn
and Allen are what a hero means to me. I will never forget the day I
met Lyn, the children and staff of The Butterfly House.

Planes, luggage and a sinus infection bring laughter, excitement and purpose!

Our Mission Trip was based on working in 3 orphanages in China. However, getting TO the orphanages seemed to be a little exhausting along the way. Looking back now, it’s quite comical and fun to remember. As I woke last night in the middle of the night, I started busting out with laughter, thinking back to our first days of our journey. Getting to our first orphanage was rough…but funny now and worth all the chaos.

Two days before we left for our Mission Trip, I’d physically become run down from all the planning for the trip and developed a sinus infection. Usually when I get a sinus infection, it hits me heavy and hard, I knew to get to the doctor quickly. I thought I was lucky to have my doctor issue a ‘HEAVY DUTY’ antibiotic. Tim, Francine and Carmen were concerned about me, they would say, “Christy are you okay? You look and sound so sick!” I was not sporting any fresh face. Instead, I had the bulging burning eyes and a chapped nose going on. I’d respond “Yes, but I have HEAVY DUTY antibiotic!” that would be my answer to them over and over again. My roommate Tammy, would crack up because I kept saying it. I was sure it would clear up soon, but no, not so much. On our way to San Francisco, we had a connecting flight in San Diego. As we started to land in San Diego, my right ear made a PAINFUL popping vibration, at that point I couldn’t hear anything out of my right ear and my left either.

After hauling 32 HEAVY pieces of luggage onto a shuttle bus, taking them all off and bringing them into a hotel, we discovered we were at the wrong hotel; the comedy of errors had begun. Upon finding this information out, I decided to sit back and relax, due to the fact my throat was on fire, my eyes were burning and I had some mixtures of sudafed/pain medication going on. My roommate Tammy was watching me check in the hotel, the man behind the counter was talking to me and my head was so plugged up I couldn’t hear a thing, I just smiled and nodded “yes”. I looked at her and then looked at him then Tammy and I busted out laughing. Slap happy mode was in full force.

We had one full day in San Francisco to tour and enjoy. It proved to be a great day. We got to meet our other team members: Megan from Nashville; Elyssa from Florida and Mama and daughter team Shawn and Katie from California. My cousin Gail lives in the area and we met for dinner. She gave me a book to read called ‘Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide’ by Nicholas D Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn. This book is EYE-OPENING on sex slavery in 3^rd world countries. I’m not finished with it yet, but it’s just unfathomable there is so much evil in this world. I highly recommend this book to all.

Our team leader Shannon had discovered we were missing a bag, after counting and recounting bags, it was still at the airport in the lost and found. We were truly blessed we got ALL luggage to the orphanages due to the fact they were all mismatched, but it took a lot of counting and re-counting. If and when they do this Mission Trip again the luggage will be handled different. It was a learning experience to say the least. We were the guinea pigs for sure!

The flight to Vancouver and then on to Beijing proved to be easy and enjoyable despite my plugged up head. I was NOT going to let that get the best of me. We were going to China for goodness sake!

When we arrived in Beijing we met our final team member, Lori from Ohio. I was really on a China high now. After collecting the entire luggage we met our first translator/guide Kita. As we waited for what seemed a long time to get going, Kita had directed us to the wrong level, this was a painful mistake, for we had a convoy of luggage to push and guide. I was starting to see some frustrating challenges start to rise quickly with Kita. Kita was not so much a prepared guide; she was a sweet, young girl starting out with her first tour; not a good situation with 13 people who were tired and had loads of luggage to deal with. My prayer mode kicked in high gear…the tension was rising, and rightfully so.

We got to our bus and had made it to our first night and hotel in Beijing. Hallelujah! We were getting closer and closer to our opportunity to be used by God!

Mission Trip Complete....It has turned me upside down!

I'm writing at 12:35 AM...I'm sure my body is still on Chinese time.

I have refrained from blogging the past 2 weeks. I'm not sure that was the smartest move, but it all started that way due to the fact I couldn't get the link in China. Although many of my team members DID blog..(they would e-mail someone to post their blogs to their accounts) I chose to refrain from that as well. I wanted to take in my experience, I didn't want to write a daily diary due to the fact that it didn't interest me. I will be posting all of my teams members' blogging links to my blog so you all can read and enjoy.

I DO want to share this for now though, MY world has been turned upside down....for the better.

The older I get the more I learn getting out of my "comfort" zone brings HUGE blessings and revelations in my life.

Working with orphans, the Chinese culture, and being put together with 13 other special people... 12 from USA and 1 from China has done a job on me.....all for the good!

I will leave you with a quote I LOVE: "You can give without loving. But you cannot love without giving." — Amy Carmichael, missionary to India

This team of 13 people gave our love to these special babies/nannies and translator God placed in our path, I cannot wait to share more with you...on another post...maybe tomorrow!

The long and winding road to my first Mission Trip..today is the day 6807 air miles to go!

Fellow China Followers,

Well, the day has finally arrived. I wanted to share my story leading up to this day. I presented this testimony to our Missions Board and thought I'd swing it by you all. Please excuse any spelling errors or pronunciation errors...I was a big goof off in high school....and really need to take and English course.

As a Christian, I believe God places specific people in our lives, helping us grow in our relationship with Christ, and helping us discover our passions and purpose. What an exciting job he has!

The first time I can remember studying about missionaries was in GA's around 1976. I enjoyed singing the 'Girls in Action' song, and studying about Missionaries helping others in far away lands. Thinking about the whole world seemed SO LARGE for a girl growing up in Florissant, Mo.

In 1991 at the age of 22, I was carpooling at my current employer with a girl named Melissa. Melissa was getting her RN degree. Melissa's desire and purpose was strictly to go to a 3rd world country and work as a missionary in the health field. Melissa was a Christian and used to always aggravate me by stirring my heart; she would always say "You know, this is what we're supposed to be doing, serving God, helping others, leading others to Christ." In my heart, I knew it too, but I couldn't see beyond my own wants. I admired her and loved being around her, but as for me serving others, especially in another country, much less my own, I was too wrapped up in myself, I was planning my wedding and getting our first house..it was 'all about me'.

By 2004 Nick and I had two handsome little boys. Nick and I were Christians, and were attending a Non-Denominational church. In 2001, we had moved to Columbia, Il and built our 'dream house'; I guess you could say we were living the "American Dream" by the world's standards. One day, I had stumbled up an article in a magazine about Franklin Graham (Billy Graham's son). Franklin's Autobiography, "Rebel with a Cause" was advertised in the article and I decided to read it. God started stirring my soul as I read this book. I read of his many experiences with missionaries being prayer warriors...depending on God for everything, countries in turmoil, and people that were in his life helping him discover Christ through their work and their world. My desires were starting to change. As I sat in my fancy house, that I had spent so much of my time, my mind and our money on, I knew I was starting to desire something more than 'things' I was starting to desire a much stronger relationship w/Christ and started desiring passions and purposes I didn't even know I had!

Since 2004, a lot has changed in my life. 11 months ago, we sold our dream house and downsized, so we can devote more money to serving Christ. I've discovered what is most important, being Ambassadors for Christ, serving others, witnessing to others; all the things my friend Melissa knew at such a young age.

We have a HUGE world out there with so much hurt..it's overwhelming! As Bob Pierce who is the founder of World Vision and Samaritans Purse once said, "Don't fail to do something just because you can't do everything" this has really spoke to me. China is my 'something' for now.

A few scriptures are shaping my heart right now ... there are SO MANY in the Bible...but I will share these:

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" 1 John 4:17 (NIV)

"So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:6 (NIV)

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world" James 1:27 (NIV)

I will try to update as much as I can....I am not computer savvy...so not sure how it will all work.

Love,

~C~

China....a few days away!!

Hey all! I will be stepping out of my comfort zone in a few days and will be on the road to my first Mission Trip. I will be traveling to China to love on babies and children God has placed in my path to meet. Hoping to share these moments with you along the way.