restoring hope blog

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. 

Fourteen-year-old Taj has a bright smile and a big dream: He wants to become a doctor! He is currently studying in sixth grade, and, despite many struggles, remains eager to learn and determined to not let past grief and hardship hold him back. When he was just five years old, Taj’s father abandoned the family. Since then, his mother has been his only support. She works tirelessly as a housemaid, doing everything she can to ensure her son’s education continues. Their situation is made even harder because they have no supportive relatives or neighbors to lean on. 

When was the last time you had a “paradigm shift?” Something where the very basics about a concept or situation or problem were completely turned around, hopefully closer to the truth that’s always been there. The global orphan care community (consisting of governments, NGOs, organizations, and faith-based groups—predominantly Christian ministries) has recently experienced a paradigm shift in how to best care for orphans. Below I want to address the three biggest commonly-held assumptions and beliefs (myths) about orphan care that helped lead to this paradigm shift. As you read, consider if you’ve ever held to these ideas, or maybe still do right now. And then check out how Restoring Hope is addressing them on the ground in South Asia. 

Our team in South Asia was excited to share some fun memory-making from their summer, so they sent over some photos, which you click through below. These are specifically from our tri-annual gatherings (which sort of resemble youth group events), and represent a month full of community and celebration for our Restoring Hope children and families. Like young people everywhere, our children, youth, and students need time to just have fun and restore a sense of delight during childhood. And that’s why you’ll see them playing chess and taking a boat ride, in addition to times of teaching and worship. Our Summer Celebrations highlight our model of care for those we serve: Biological families caring for their own orphaned or vulnerable children—supported by the local church with nutrition, discipleship, and education. 

Advika’s* early life was marked by deep loss. At just three, she lost her mother to suicide—the result of domestic violence and addiction—and was soon abandoned by her father. She and her brother were taken in by their grandmother, who struggled to provide even the basics For years, Advika’s future looked uncertain. Financial pressure nearly forced her into domestic labor, and her education came to a halt. But everything changed when her grandmother connected with a local church pastor and Restoring Hope’s social workers. 

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.

Malisha’s* story is a common one in rural South Asia. Her parents were married at a young age, and were expected to have children as soon as possible. After Malisha was born, her family was doing okay for a while—but then tragedy struck. Her father died of a heart attack when Malisha was only three years old. Malisha’s mother did her best to make it work, but life as a solo parent and only breadwinner in rural South Asia (or anywhere) is overwhelming. A situation that may have been disastrous for Malisha and her family became a story of God’s provision and love. Because one of our Restoring Hope village pastors stepped in. Through the support of the local church, Malisha was reunified with her grandmother who was able to become her caregiver. And Malisha is now attending the very best college preparatory school in her area. Without the help of Restoring Hope, Malisha’s education would have been minimal, and her future would have been in jeopardy. Very likely she would have relied on day-to-day subsistence work, or she would have married too young, hoping for the best. Malisha, now 15, was baptized in Jesus Christ during the pandemic, and hopes to be a police officer in the future. There are hundreds of children and youth like Malisha that are overcoming tragedy, learning about God’s love, and looking at a bright future because of Restoring Hope’s help of orphaned and vulnerable children through local village churches in South Asia. This happens because of the support and prayers of Restoring Hope's partners.  We, and Malisha, are so grateful!

By Mary, Restoring Hope Partner Exactly nine years ago, I met some of the Restoring Hope children for the first time. I had the pure joy of serving onsite in South Asia with Restoring Hope, and all these years later, I can still see the smile of these children and remember the sounds of their laughter so clearly. My team helped facilitate several summer camps for Restoring Hope children over the course of a month. These summer camps (now called Summer Celebrations) were much-anticipated for all the children—often what they looked forward to all year long. From the youngest child to the oldest adult, camp was enjoyed to the fullest and filled with purpose. The theme for our camps that year was The Kingdom of God, and our games, development activities, and devotionals were centered around Matthew 19:14, which says, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these." It is still so sweet to reflect on my time nine years later, and in doing so, to share part of the journal I wrote during that trip: We are finishing up our fifth camp for Restoring Hope . . . What a blast it has been. I feel like I have gained so many little brothers and sisters! You can see hope so clearly in all of their eyes. The stories of what each of these children have walked through are heavy, but you’d never know they were once orphaned by meeting them. Their hearts are so pure, and their joy runs deep. Restoring Hope truly is changing the trajectory of their lives. I saw firsthand that what these kids experience through Restoring Hope is nothing short of transformational. I knew I wanted to be part of this vision however I could. Before I got home to the States, I asked how to stay connected, and be part of the Restoring Hope team. Throughout the past nine years, I’ve had the opportunity to contribute blogs, social media content, join the development team, help college mission teams prepare for Restoring Hope trips of their own, and lend a hand in coordinating fundraising campaigns. Being part of the Restoring Hope tribe really is a treasure to me. Building and expanding an organization led by the local village church, aiming to bring hope and discipleship across Asia, is no small task. The simultaneous seasons of planning, fundraising and expansion are fast-paced and full. Seeing only a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes myself, I am overwhelmingly thankful for the directors and staff who have formed the strong foundation of what Restoring Hope is today. We’re expectant to see where He continues to lead us, and how He continues to bring new opportunities to restore hope for vulnerable children in Asia.