Nashville, TN - June 25, 2009 - Show HopeTM,
the adoption ministry of Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman, announces
the official opening of Maria's Big
House of Hope on July 2nd in Luoyang, China. As the finishing touches
are being made to this healing home for special needs orphans,
the offices of Show Hope, located in Franklin, Tennessee, celebrated
stateside for the hope and future of these orphans Tuesday evening at
an
invite-only open house for friends and family.
About Maria's Big House of Hope
Maria's Big House of Hope is a
healing home dedicated to saving the lives of special needs orphans in
China. Show Hope is
proud to open the doors to this exciting project that provides for
orphans throughout the country who are in desperate need of
surgeries
and special medical attention, offering them the highest level of
care and enabling the children to thrive. In turn, there is hope that
this necessary medical attention increases the orphans chances of being
adopted. The facility is
named in loving memory of the Chapman's 5-year old daughter, Maria Sue
Chunxi Chapman, whom they adopted from China in 2004 when she was just
one
year old.
Luoyang, located in the Henan
Chinese province with a population of
approximately six million people, is one of the poorest provinces in
all of China and is the chosen location for this caring facility that
will
be a beacon of hope to
the people of China and the world. The state-run Luoyang orphanage
takes care of nearly 700 children, currently giving care for most of
the special
needs
orphans from all around Henan. By now partnering with Maria's Big House
of Hope, the most ill of the orphans will be offered further medical
care
that they so desperately need.
The Six Floors
At completion, Maria's Big House of Hope is a 60,000 square foot six-story building
equipped with everything needed to care for these special needs
orphans. There are 128 beds with 190 nurses and nannies on staff, when at full capacity. Every orphan
in the facility is five years old or younger, representing some of the
neediest orphans in China.
The first level consists of an entrance/reception area, office, small exam room, kitchen, laundry, and accommodations for
caretakers. 24 beds are available to the children on this floor who have been through surgery, recovered, and awaiting
adoption.
The second and third floors
holds children with long-term chronic care who are not healthy enough
to survive on their own or in the
state-run orphanage. Because of their condition they are also not
likely to be adopted. 72 beds are available
between these two floors, along with an area for physical therapy.
The fourth floor has 28 beds and
is dedicated to hospice care for children who are terminal. This floor
also offers an intensive care area, emergency
room, and isolation room. Every new orphan to Maria's Big House is
brought to the fourth floor for evaluation, registration, and
diagnosis.
The fifth level is the home of the building's operation theater with
rooms for 10-16 children who are coming in from all over China
for them to stay before and after surgery. Only surgeries such as minor
orthopedic and cleft pallet surgery will take
place on this floor. A training room for incoming staff and an
infirmary are also located here.
The sixth floor is the living
quarters for long-term staff and visiting medical physicians. This area
also allows groups with up to 20
people.
# # #
For more information about Maria's Big House of Hope and Show Hope, please visit www.ShowHope.org
For photos of the official opening in Luoyang, and for fact sheets, interviews, and other media requests, please contact:
Stacie Vining
Vining Media Relations
Stacie@ViningMediaRelations.com
#615/781-0016
Amazing... You have been in our prayers. How wonderful this place will be. We have often thought about the children who stay in China and have special needs. Our youngest daughter joined our family through adoption ( through ACAA) 7 years ago. Thank you for making this refuge possible for these special kids.
blessings,
Wendy and Claire Qiudan
Posted by: wendy raddenbach | October 20, 2009 at 11:04 PM
I am touched how the LORD has poured down His blessings to touch others' lives.... doing an ordinary things in an extra-oridnarily well for HIS GLORY!
JENNY, Philippines
Posted by: jenny | July 16, 2009 at 01:14 AM
Hello and may the Lord bless you for what you're doing...
My name is Todd Foster and I am with ROC Wheels (Reach Out & Care). We build and distribute wheelchairs for special needs children in third world countries. The chairs are donated, free of charge to these children. We do several distributions throughout each year. I think our organizations could partner together on something like this for the orphans in China. I believe we could really do something good there for them.
We should talk, seriously. : )
In His Grip,
Todd Foster
ROC Wheels
(406) 556-8065
Posted by: Todd Foster | July 07, 2009 at 09:37 AM
May the Lord bless and keep all of these beautiful children, and also the beautiful little girl who this house was named after.
Thank you Lord for providing a place for these children to live, until they reach their Home.
Posted by: Heather | July 02, 2009 at 07:43 PM
Mary Beth,
Thanks again for sharing precious thoughts and pictures with us!
I am so excited about Maria's Big House of Hope....another amazing ministry from God to your family.
I pray that He continues to richly bless and comfort you and yours in the coming days, especially during your trips to China.
Blessings, love, prayers, and hugs!
Michele
Posted by: Michele Kelly | June 30, 2009 at 02:11 AM
What an inspiration you all are to others. You are being an example of the hands, feet, and arms of God..........blessings!
Posted by: Debbie from Ohio | June 27, 2009 at 09:17 PM
TO THE ENTIRE CHAPMAN FAMILY:
WE ARE SO VERY PROUD OF YOU FOR STANDING FIRM IN THE MIDST OF THE MOST AWFUL FIERY TRIAL ONE COULD IMAGINE. TEARS COME OFTEN FOR YOU AND FOR THE MEMORY OF PRECIOUS MARIA. IN LOOKING AT THE MEANINGS OF HER NAMES, WE SEE JUST A PEAK INTO GOD'S PLANS: THROUGH THE "BITTERNESS" OF MARIA BEING ORPHANED AND THEN PASSING ON INTO GLORY IN SUCH A TERRIBLE WAY, HER LIFE HAS "DRAWN" SO MANY TO "SEEK AFTER AND EMBRACE" CHRIST AND THE MANDATE TO CARE AFTER WIDOWS & ORPHANS IN THEIR DISTRESS.
ALTHOUGH WE WOULD LIKE NOTHING MORE THAN FOR YOU TO HAVE MARIA IN YOUR ARMS IMMEDIATELY, WE ARE SO GRATEFUL THAT SHE IS SAFE WITHIN THE FATHER'S ARMS, CHEERING YOU ON WITH THE GREAT CLOUD OF WITNESSES UNTIL THAT DAY WHEN EACH OF YOU ARE CALLED TO GLORY AS WELL.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR CLINGING TO THE HEM OF HIS GARMENT, HOLDING FAST THE PROFESSION OF YOUR FAITH. WE LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! THE LORD BLESS & KEEP EACH OF YOU AS YOU TRAVEL TO CHINA. MAY HE CONTINUE TO GIVE YOU A NEW SONG TO SING, AND MAY MANY SEE AND FEAR AND PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM! (PS 40)
HUMBLED & CHALLENGED,
THE THOMPSON FAMILY
Posted by: Claudine Thompson | June 27, 2009 at 12:04 AM
WOW! Praise God!!! What a tremendous operation this is! Woo-Hoo!!
Always praying for you and your sweet family!
Cynthia Y.
Posted by: Cynthia Y. | June 26, 2009 at 05:58 PM
I can't even wrap my mind around all that has transpired in the lives of the Chapmans in the past 13 months. To God be the glory for the way He has used you and may he continually sustain you all until you are reunited with precious Maria. Safe and wonderful travels. Thanks for keeping us updated.
With love from the mom of a Chinese SN Prince.
Posted by: Kelly | June 26, 2009 at 02:47 PM
You look beautiful Mary Beth, and I am crying as I read this post. What a difference you have made in a year when you took a devastating loss and turned it into hope for people who need it most. I am humbled by your dedication as you walk through sorrow while clinging to joy.
Posted by: Tamara | June 26, 2009 at 01:19 PM
You may be aware of this already, but please see the UNICEF approved link >
http://about-orphans.blogspot.com
Posted by: Stella | June 26, 2009 at 01:05 PM
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!
Your family has opened the eyes and hearts of so many to the needs of orphans around the world. Through your tragedy, God is triumphant. May the Lord bless you and keep you in his care as you travel and serve Him!
Mary Beth, on a personal note, I would love to meet you just to give you a hug and say thank you. You are such an honorable woman of God and it is a blessing to read your blogs each day. In a world filled with ridiculous celebrity idols and pop icons, your words and genuine spirit are so refreshing. You encourage so many people, like myself, each day. You truly are a gift and an inspiration.
Blessings to you!
Posted by: Janelle | June 26, 2009 at 12:22 PM
It is so very exciting to be able to watch God's plan continue to unfold. Thank you for your faithfulness to Him and for your testimony to the world!
May God richly bless you all on this trip. And may He be glorified and Maria remembered :)
praying,
lora
Posted by: lora | June 26, 2009 at 11:54 AM
What a blessing to the world.
Posted by: Tammy | June 26, 2009 at 10:47 AM
CELEBRATING, Praising God with you!!!
Posted by: Diane | June 26, 2009 at 10:32 AM
Mary Beth,
It has been incredible to witness how Maria's life has changed the world, how God's plan is unfolding.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
- Romans 8:28
Congratulations to you, Steven and the Show Hope team on the dedication of the new offices and Maria's Big House of Hope. May you all continue to change the world "one little heartbeat at a time."
Peace,
Teresa
Posted by: Teresa | June 26, 2009 at 10:01 AM
Blessings to you all I SEE God glorified in it all--so I just don't want to say 'May He be glorified' Just SEEing the house, the love, the use of tragedy, He IS glorified. Thank you so much for allowing yourselves to be used through all you have been through, and showing that NO MATTER WHAT God IS good and He will use whatever we allow Him to to be multiplied for GOOD!! You all are loved!
Your Sister in Christ,
Nancy
Posted by: Nancy from California | June 26, 2009 at 09:23 AM
Mary Beth,
I read your posts every day and my heart soars and breaks with your family. I have been a huge fan of SCC for many years and have followed your adoption journey since ya'll arrived home with Shaohannah. My son is adopted from Russia and we have a ball of fire from China as well, her name is Macy. She is the same age as Maria and Stevey Joy. My heart is so full because she is from Louyang and I have personally seen the intense need of the orphans who live there. Thank you once again for all of your help in this area with Maria's Big House of Hope. I would love to become involved in helping with this ministry.
Charleen
Posted by: Charleen Sproles | June 26, 2009 at 08:45 AM
Mary Beth,
Wow...what an amazing honor and tribute to Maria. MBHOH is going to be such a safe haven for so many children and Maria's spirit will live on...long after you are finally reunited with her in heaven. I know this journey has been horribly difficult but look what you have created...this remarkable refuge so many children in need. Wow...that's all I can say. I am in awe of you. I will be praying for your safe travels and a blessed grand opening...
Blessings...
Amy
Posted by: Amy | June 26, 2009 at 08:32 AM