Tragedy In China.....

"We know that hundreds of children have been seperated from their families, have lost their parents, are hurt, traumatized and in pain.

We know we must help".

~~ Jenny Bowen

Executive Director

Half the Sky Foundation

This TRAGEDY in China has hit hard...this is my daughters birth country, her homeland. I was only in China 9 months ago and everything was fine. The earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 hit the Sichuan province, which is 2 provinces north of Guangxi where Channing was. The death toll is reported at around 15,000 people with thousands still missing. When I told Channing what had happened her first question was "is Wuzhou OK??" I replied that is was and all her friends and foster family are OK. I have sent some URGENT emails out, but havent heard from her foster family or David yet.

As many of you know Half the Sky is a charitable organization that works to improve the lives of children living in Chinese orphanages. I can say they are INCREDIBLE because Channing was in a Half The Sky orphanage. The care, nurturing, and love that she received while she was in Wuzhou is so evident.

Half the Sky Foundation and China's Ministry of Civil Affairs (the government agency responsible for disaster relief) have set up a Children’s Earthquake Fund that will provide direct aid to the thousands of children in welfare institutions and in the community who are suffering in the wake of devastating earthquakes in Sichuan Province and Chongqing. Donations will be used to provide emergency and long-term relief to children affected by the disaster including emergency shelter, food, and medical care.

Here are a few pictures of Hanzhong orphanage in Sichuan. The buidling is still standing but was seriously damaged in Monday's earthquake. None of the staff or children were hurt - thank God! But the building is not safe, especially as aftershocks continue to hit. They have been evacuated and are unable to return. Currently the children are being cared for outside in tents until there is someplace safe for them to go.

These are pictures of the tents where the younger children are being cared for.

NOW..... today I am going to ask each and everyone of you to donate to the children in Sichuan. If your a mom in waiting, an adoptive mom, aunt, grandma, friend please send a donation. Channing and I are CHALLENGING everyone who reads this to donate $100.00 or more. We have sent in our donation today. Please visit the Half the Sky Foundation http://www.halfthesky.org/

Thank you for helping the children in China....

Half the Sky was created in order to enrich the lives and enhance the prospects for orphaned children in China.