More of the Same

Just a few bullets to keep you up to date:

• We, or I should say, I continue to live at the Missionary Apartments in Glen Ellyn. It has been just over a year now and hopefully I will be able to stay here for the forseeable future.
• Kristen started college (!) in August in Minnesota. We are beyond thankful for provision of funds that goes far beyond anything we could have imagined. She is doing well, enjoying most of her classes and a job in the carpenter shop for the theater department.
• I continue my work with ICC (chinaconcern.org) managing the monthly sponsor reports for the 160 children and young people in Hengyang. This takes about two weeks, give or take, each month. Although it wasn't always my favorite task while I was in China, now it provides a line of communication for me to hear what is going on with each child and in the Center as a whole. Sometimes this can be frustrating as I long to be there to "fix" some things, but I am truly thankful to hear the news each month before I pass it along to those who sponsor the children so ICC can continue to provide for them.
• The far more challenging task has been my work to develop a program to give young people with disabilities the education and life skills needed to integrate into the community around them. My friends who have children (by birth or adoption) with physical and/or intellectual disabilities know how difficult it can be to get the services they need in the US, UK, and other western countries. In China it's nearly impossible, whether a young person has grown up in an institution or in a family. Over the last year I have worked with another volunteer to create the plan and identify the resources (especially curriculum and training materials) to implement it. I have come face to face with my own limited knowledge and persevered to learn as much as possible particularly in the areas of special education and trauma. I am thankful for several people who have shared their knowledge and others who have been sounding boards - both for my ideas and my frustrations.  In China our foreign volunteer team has dwindled so there are now more of us outside the country than within, and lockdowns and limited staffing have impacted the activities that the young people have access to. While I can't share details right now, I am hopeful that we are making good progress and than within the next few months we will be able begin to pilot some aspects of the program to give more of our young people the opportunities they are so hungry for. 
• Finally a huge thanks to the supporters who continue to keep me afloat in these uncertain times. Your faithfulness is never taken for granted.

Donna