Well, I just read that they are putting adoptions in Chengdu on hold......please pray that we will not be set back....and yet I know that God knows the best timing for Maggie to join our family!

We trust you God, please protect our Maggie.....

Oh My.....

Our hearts are so saddened this morning as we have heard of Steven Curtis Chapman's familys' loss of their little girl from China....Maria(one of 3 adopted from China) the youngest, was struck by a car and killed yesterday evening by one of her brothers. It was a tragic accident..Please pray for this family that has inspired so many to follow the heart of Christ toward adoption....It was seven years ago that we almost lost our then 2year old, Ben as he was accidently backed over in our driveway by a dear friend...We do know a small measure of your pain..May God immerse you in His healing balm of mercy and love.....

SURPRISE! YOU'VE ALREADY WAITED.......

ONE WEEK! Wow! We've already waited one week and we didn't even know it. We thought we wouldn't even have our dossier submitted until at least May 12...I'm praying God will speed it up now! So Maggie can get home! Please pray for that! We love you guys!

MORE GOOD NEWS

God is so good! Praise be unto HIM!! Received this email this morning from a friend in China!
Hi I received this email from a friend in Beijing!God bless,SusanDear Susan and Tom,Don't worry about Xiao Dan. I have called the orphanage yesterday andwas told all the children at the orphanage and foster family are safe.They were living outside in a opened yard (probably their playground). They are safe! Don't worry! There was no natural gas. So theyhad to use electricity only for cooking. They need some financial helpthough.Hope if helps.Love and hugs back to you,

EARTHQUAKE/AFTERSHOCK NEWS FROM HALF THE SKY

Please pray for the people of China...And for the orphanages!! Maggie's orphanage is safe as far as we know.....she is only 60 miles SE of the epicenter of the earthquake! We have heard from Half the Sky Foundation..that no one was hurt at her orphanage....but then the aftershocks and we will hear from All God's Children today by phone...God bless, Susan

Earthquake

Here is a message received from Half the Sky this morning. It
appears the Chengdu CWI was evacuated again after a 6.0 magnitude
aftershock. Orphanages in the hardest hit areas have been unable to
be reached and HTS will be setting up an emergency relief fund...
details forthcoming.

Tish

*******

From: Jenny Bowen <jenny@...>

Subject: Half the Sky's Children's Earthquake Fund
Date: Tuesday, May 13, 2008 5:43 AM

Hello again,

During the past several hours Half the Sky has been working hard to
get more information about the children impacted by the Sichuan and
Chongqing earthquake. We know that it is not only children in
welfare institutions who are in trouble. We know that hundreds of
children have been separated from their families, have lost their
parents, are hurt, traumatized and in pain. We know we must help; we
have been working to figure how best to do so.

We have just a little bit of news. There have been hundreds of
aftershocks, one reported to be as strong as 6.0. Children have
again been evacuated from the Chengdu institution. Relief workers
have arrived in the epicenter, Wenchuan. The Ministry of Civil
Affairs (this is the ministry that HTS works with and also the agency
responsible for disaster relief) has been unable to reach orphanages
in the most affected areas: Mianyang, Zitong, Deyang and Aba. There
are other welfare institutions in the affected areas but no others
that house children. Each of the four institutions above houses about
100 children. We believe they will need help. We will continue to
watch and wait.

Many of you have asked us to set up an emergency relief fund, like we
did during the winter storms. Given the nature of this disaster and
the fact that help for children may well be needed outside welfare
institutions (where we have a direct line) we have waited to set up
such a fund until we had absolute assurance that we could put a
system in place to deliver the aid where it is most desperately
needed.

Half the Sky takes the designation of a donor-restricted gift
seriously - that's our promise to you. We understand that when you
make an emergency donation, you put your trust in us. We have spoken
very carefully about this with our colleagues at the Ministry of
Civil Affairs. We now have their promise as well.

In cooperation with the ministry, we have now set up the Half the Sky
Children's Earthquake Fund. Your donations to the fund will be used
to provide emergency and long-term relief to children affected by the
disaster. Relief will include emergency shelter, food, and medical
care for children orphaned or separated from their families. It will
include temporary or long-term foster care or, when necessary,
temporary institutional care.

We have a commitment from the ministry that we will receive regular
updates on the use of funds and, most important, the well-being of
the children.

Within a few hours we will have available a dedicated donation site.
In the meantime, if you wish to make a gift to aid children in
Sichuan and Chongqing affected by the quake, you may donate through
our website, www.halfthesky.org. Please note that your gift is for
earthquake relief.

I will give you more information as I receive it. Please don't write
to ask about the situation in specific locations. I will tell you
everything I know.

Thank you for caring so much about the children.

with love,
Jenny

Jenny Bowen
Executive Director
Half the Sky Foundation
www.halfthesky.org