By Bryan & Shelley, Restoring Hope Partners

We and our two boys live in Western Washington. We grew up involved in our local churches; going on mission trips to Mexico, Honduras, and Romania; and having a heart for local and global missions. We knew Restoring Hope's Co-director, Sean, from many years ago, and after seeing some posts on social media, we started supporting Restoring Hope back in 2011, before our boys were born.

At the end of 2018, we felt called to partner more with Restoring Hope because we wanted our boys to be more involved. We had told Sean that we would support a home of boys in South Asia. In talking with Sean, it became clear to us that God had been leading us in this direction. At the beginning of 2019 our experience of supporting these children became more meaningful as we watched our boys and the boys of Restoring Hope grow up simultaneously.

Watching the boys of Restoring Hope become college students, while the youngest is still in grade school, has been a rewarding journey. As a family, we watch for updates, see pictures, and continue to pray for hope and healing for these friends on the other side of the world who have been through so much. 
 
In partnering with Restoring Hope, we have seen first-hand the generational change and holistic restoration of orphans that is happening in South Asia. Each time we give, we know exactly what our giving is going towards, and the real-life impact it is having in the lives of once-orphaned children and their families.

Today, the traditional orphan and vulnerable children care support model of direct sponsorship has been phased out of Restoring Hope. Children who were once in children's homes are now reunited with living family members—and this model is proving much more effective! But thanks to partners like Bryan and Shelly, and so many others, Restoring Hope continues to make a difference in the lives of more than 800 children and families who have come through great hardship or tragedy and are now on the road to healing and hope.