restoring hope blog

When Nabil* was just four years old, his father left the family after years of instability and violence in the home. In the wake of that abandonment, his mother did everything she could to hold things together. She moved in with her parents and worked long hours simply to provide the basics. For years, life for Nabil was marked by uncertainty. School became inconsistent—a common reality for families in rural South Asia facing similar circumstances. And so, Nabil’s future felt very much in question. But through a relationship with a local pastor and the support of a Restoring Hope social worker, Nabil and his family were connected to our family-based care. And slowly, over time, things began to change.

Pascal is best known for what we call “Pascal’s Wager,” which essentially says, “believing in God is the most rational bet because the potential gains are infinite (eternity with God) while the potential losses are finite (a few earthly pleasures). In other words, if God exists, believers gain everything; if God does not exist, believers lose very little. This so-called wager came to Pascal’s mind after a “night of fire,” where he spent a couple hours in the presence of God. After the experience, Pascal claimed his life was never the same. Yet he lived in a heavily Christianized culture, where the vast majority of people followed the customs and values of Christianity whether or not they had genuinely surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Christ. So how can we know Pascal’s transformation after his “night of fire” was genuine? Especially in light of his infamous wager? The short answer is: We can tell by the way his life changed thereafter. In fact, four key indications of Pascal’s transformed life were recently described in Plough Quarterly--indications I can’t help but consider when reflecting on my own transformation in Christ. They are: 1. A deep desire for ongoing prayer and worship 2. A radical awareness of his sin 3. A longing to share with others his faith experience 4. A significant shift in his priorities and life to care for the poor And it’s that last one in particular that reminds me of our Restoring Hope partners—people like you who have made significant shifts in your priorities and lives so that 800 orphaned and vulnerable children in rural South Asia can also experience transformation in Jesus. The fact that you entrust some of your time and/or your finances to God and to Restoring Hope for the sake of families entrenched in cycles of generational poverty, is an indication of the authenticity of your own hope in Jesus. I am truly grateful. And since you’re here, I have to ask: Did you know our Restoring Hope blog is filled with stories of children’s lives you have helped impact? I invite you to check out one or two while you’re here, and be encouraged by what you’re part of!

At just six years old, Shanti’s life was on a path far too common in rural villages of South Asia. After losing his father, his family struggled to survive. The dream of an education seemed impossible, and his future was clouded by the harsh realities faced by orphaned and vulnerable children in his village. But Shanti’s story did not end with heartbreak—because someone stepped in. When his grandmother reached out to a local Restoring Hope pastor, everything changed. Shanti was welcomed into the care of his extended family, supported by a local church, and given the opportunity to attend school—something his family could never have provided on their own. Fast forward to today, and Shanti has graduated from college with a pharmacy degree. He’s working at a pharmacy and dreaming of opening his own, bringing affordable healthcare to his village and lifting up his community.

After both of his parents committed suicide, Sevy—just a first grader—was left in the care of his grandfather. Sevy had been born into a “backwards caste,” a tribal group living off the radar in rural India. Like many in his community, his early life was filled with instability, abuse, and fear. His father was an alcoholic who beat his mother. His home was no place for a child to thrive—or even survive. A CHILD LEFT FOR DEAD One night, Sevy was found unconscious in the streets of his village. He was barely alive. 

Ravi Babu was just eight years old when he lost his father to complications from paralysis—a devastating blow for any child. And his grandfather had already passed a few years before that, so the small family was left without male support or protection in their rural South Asian village. With his two older brothers sent off to a government-run boarding school, Ravi Babu and his mother were left alone—isolated, grieving, and vulnerable. Things looked bleak. But then, hope stepped in. 

So often we hear about orphaned and vulnerable children “falling through the cracks” of broken systems. At Restoring Hope, we believe those cracks are created by impossible choices—choices made by loving caregivers who are doing everything they can to help their families survive. Sumani’s* story reminds us that for many families in rural South Asia, survival is a way of life. And without education and support, children can become trapped in a cycle of poverty that is almost impossible to escape. A CHILDHOOD SHATTERED After years of domestic violence, Sumani’s childhood was shattered when her mother died while she was still very young. Soon after, her father abandoned the family. When he later passed away in an accident, Sumani and her brother were left entirely in the care of their aging grandmother. Grief, instability, and uncertainty became part of everyday life. For her grandmother, raising grandchildren was not only an emotional burden—it was an economic one. With no social or financial safety net and with her own health declining due to cancer and diabetes, she faced heartbreaking decisions. Sending Sumani to work as a domestic helper felt like a necessary survival strategy. Later, the pressure turned toward early marriage, not as a loss of Sumani’s dreams, but as a desperate attempt to ensure protection and security for her future. PICKING UP THE PIECES This is where Restoring Hope’s family-based care and locally led solutions make a lasting difference. 

Hasini* is a young girl from a rural, economically vulnerable family that recently experienced severe tragedy (along with emotional and financial hardship). Hasini’s father, a mason who struggled with addiction and deteriorating mental health, tragically passed away in February of this year. His death left the family devastated and without any stable source of income. Following this tragedy, all of the responsibility fell on Hasini’s mother. She worked in a granite quarry, enduring harsh conditions to provide basic needs, yet their living conditions remained unsafe and unstable. 

Years ago, after the passing of her father and before Restoring Hope implemented our family-based care model of orphan care, Bayani* joined our children’s home called Ketama* Home. There she found the stability, love, care, and educational support she desperately needed. Today, Bayani is fulfilling the promise she made to her late mother: She is in her final year of earning her a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Nursing at a local college. This promised kept very likely would not have been possible without the support of Restoring Hope’s network of care. And this past August, we celebrated another beautiful new chapter for Bayani: a wedding! Having spoken to her husband and mother-in-law before the wedding about finishing her studies, she entered her marriage with their full support. Bayani is now happily wed and continues to pursue her life-transforming education. We rejoice how her community of support, her faith, and her academic dedication—all nurtured by the generosity of Restoring Hope’s donors—have led her to this joyful milestone. 

Did you know that whenever you reach out in Jesus’ name to care for someone in need, or serve a person in your life, you’re living out the Christian theological doctrines of incarnation and adoption? Along with Scripture’s 34 distinct references that say to care for orphans, the doctrines of incarnation and adoption are foundational to why we at Restoring Hope do what we do. These doctrines drive the daily work of Restoring Hope, and transform simple of acts of service into obedience to God’s will for us in carrying out our ministry’s mission. And today I felt compelled to share with you a little more. INCARNATION The doctrine of incarnation —that God in Jesus Christ took on human flesh—is the ultimate model for serving others and participating in any type of ministry. God, in his infinite glory, did not remain distant and untouchable, but descended into the world of human vulnerability and need. This divine drawing near established the foundational pattern for all Christian service: We are called to go down, to enter the mess, and to meet the vulnerable exactly where they are. When Restoring Hope pastors, staff, and partners like you care for a child and family who have faced tragedy and are not sure where to turn, we are echoing the Word made flesh. This descending love speaks to the inherent dignity of every person we care for in our network of 800 children and families. ADOPTION The doctrine of adoption describes our spiritual transformation through Christ where we are granted a new identity as a child of God. The biblical mandate to care for orphans and widows is simply the practical application of God’s making us his own. Our spiritual adoption compels us to live out that grace on earth by providing care, love and restoration to those who are currently struggling with physical, educational, social, emotional, and spiritual needs. 34 TIMES Did you catch that? We are told in Scripture to care for the orphaned child 34 times. In fact, 30 of the 34 we are told to “care for the orphan and widow.” Because together they are the most vulnerable in a society, both then and now. By providing orphaned and vulnerable children and families support in the home, quality education, and pastoral loving care, we are together proclaiming this gospel: That God is not distant, that he values the vulnerable, and that he is in the business of restoration and hope. When you partner with Restoring Hope through prayer, giving, or advocacy, you’re not only answering that biblical call—you’re joining a story of transformation that echoes adoption itself. Every young person who comes through our care has experienced what it means to be seen, loved, and given a future. Thank you for being part of it.