restoring hope blog

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. 

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.