Bookworm Wednesday: The House of Hope review

As an adoptive mom, today's book selection, The House of Hope: God's love for the abandoned orphans of China by Elisabeth Gifford, focuses on a subject near and dear to my heart. It chronicles the work of Robin and Joyce Hill who have cared for over 1,000 medically needy orphans to date in China. Here's why I enjoyed and endorse this book.

Many people recognize needs. A rare few actually roll up their sleeves and provide a solution. Robin and Joyce Hill are definitely the latter. They didn't embark on a China adventure hoping to save the world. Instead, while living in China on a work assignment, they saw children needing love and care. Soon they felt called to help the ones they could. They quote the starfish story to illustrate their vision:

Hundreds of stranded starfish were dying along a beach, and an old man was slowly throwing them back into the sea one by one. Someone came along and pointed out that his task was hopeless and told him, "It won't make any difference, there are too many for you to save them." But the old man held up a starfish and said, "It makes a difference to this one," and then threw it back in the sea. [pg. 20]

The author continues, "It is impossible to meet the Hills and hear their story without asking questions about how you live your own life." And that's exactly how I felt reading this book. If the Hills could go from offering one orphan a cot in their dining room to providing surgeries, medical care, foster homes, and sometimes even adoptive families to sick and abandoned children in China, surely we can all pitch in to make a difference in our own little corners of the world.

The book is filled with scripture, stories, and color photos around the Hill's work at Hope Foster Home and a partnership with Steven Curtis Chapman's ministry, Show Hope and Maria's Big House of Hope (named after the Chapman's deceased daughter.) It's inspiring, uplifting, and empowering. Plus -100% OF THE PROCEEDS OF THIS BOOK GO TO FUND THE WORK AT HOPE FOSTER HOME.

Buy the book here.

The publisher is sponsoring a $50 "GET / GIVE" GIVEAWAY: One winner will receive a $50 Amazon.com gift certificate for themselves AND $50 will be given in the winner's name to Hope Foster Home. To enter all you have to do is send a tweet (using #HFH) about The House of Hope or share about it on Facebook! [If you tweet we'll capture your entry when you use #HFH. If you share it on Facebook or your blog, just email them and let them know (ckrumm@litfusegroup.com) so they can mark your entry.)

Not sure what to tweet/post? Here's an idea:

TWEET THIS: Couple gives all to rescue babies in China! 100% proceeds go to #HopeFosterHome http://ow.ly/7qR3e RT 4 $50 to @amazon & $50 to #HFH

FACEBOOK THIS: The House of Hope: One couple abandons a comfortable life to rescue abandoned children. Robin and Joyce Hill have helped over 1300 Chinese orphans with severe medical problems. Purchase a copy for everyone you know - the book is a gift that gives a gift. 100% proceeds to help support the work at Hope Foster Home! Learn more here: http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13438821 Share this for a chance to get a $50 Amazon.com GC and $50 in your name to Hope Foster Home! Click For Details.

About The House of Hope: One couple’s powerful ministry to some of China’s most vulnerable children

Robin and Joyce Hill lived in a gated community in Beijing. Their family’s life was marked by luxury and the security of Robin's job as an engineer. Then one day, as members of their church, they had a chance to tour a state-run orphanage. Haunted by the needs of the children they saw there, for the next four years they tried to help the institute in meaningful ways.

In 1998 the Hills planned to leave China, but instead felt a sudden call from God on their lives. They left their gated community--reserved for only non-Chinese residents--moved their family into a small apartment miles outside of Beijing and immediately began to take in foster children.

They took in any child, but especially those that needed extra care—terminally ill children that couldn't receive care elsewhere, and those that needed complicated and expensive surgeries that the Hills soon began to coordinate and sometimes pay for out of their own savings.

What began as Hope Foster Home is now New Hope Foundation. As they continue their work, the Hills enjoy support from major corporations and high-profile philanthropists as well as the trust of the Chinese authorities. The Hills' story is an inspiring example of God's care and provision for those whom society does not value. Learn more about Hope Foster Homes here: http://www.hopefosterhome.com.

"I strongly support Robin and Joyce Hill's New Hope Foundation which is saving so many orphan lives in China. Read this amazing story of God's grace and accept the challenge to make a difference!"

--Steven Curtis Chapman

"I had the privilege of going to China and witnessing the work that God is doing through Robin and Joyce Hill. They are wonderful servants of God who lovingly care for the 'least of these.' I hope that many will read this book and consider their example."

--Francis Chan, author of Crazy Love

About Elisabeth Gifford: Elisabeth Gifford is a journalist who has written for the London Times and the Independent Newspapers. She lives in Kingston, England, and teaches children with dyslexia.

Disclosure: I was given a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for posting a review on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Litfuse Publicity Group.

Bookworm Wednesday: The Art of Helping by Lauren Briggs

Today's Bookworm Wednesday post features an interview with author Lauren Briggs about her book The Art of Helping—What to Say and Do When Someone is Hurting. I'm excited to share about it since I've already referenced it several times in my personal life and for our church's women's ministry.

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All of us want to offer comfort and support to someone who is hurting, but we often don’t know what to say or do. The Art of Helping—What to Say and Do When Someone is Hurting addresses 30 of the most common heartaches people face and takes away your fear of involvement by helping you understand what people are feeling and going through. From over 100 interviews and her own life experiences, author Lauren Briggs shares proven advice and offers practical help with a list of what to say— and do.


Why should I read The Art of Helping?
Do you know someone who is facing a crisis and wondered what you could do to help?  Have you ever faced a difficult time and wished your family and friends knew what you were going through and knew how to help you?

I found that during my darkest hours, no one knew how much I was hurting, what I was going through or how they might help.

This is a book you’ll want to read before you need it—so that you will have ideas of what you can do and how you can respond—when you first hear the news. We want to help our family and friends through the hard times, but the right words or actions just don’t come to mind. The Art of Helping will give you the tools and enable you to turn thoughts into action.

How will The Art of Helping change me?
The Art of Helping is your go to book when life gets tough. It is a social Bible filled with concrete, tangible action items to empower you to make a difference at times when we would otherwise feel helpless. When people get this book in their hands, they always say, “How I wish I had this book when my friend needed help.”

What are some basic Do’s and Don’ts I need to know?

DON’T wait before you make contact.
DO Respond as soon as you hear the news.

DON’T SAY “If there’s anything you need, give me a call.”
DO Offer a specific thing you can do.

DON’T put pressure on yourself to do something you don’t like to do.
DO use your gifts and talents to help.

DON’T minimize what they are going through.
DO offer caring statements of acknowledgement.

DON’T ASK “When will you be your old self again? or Aren’t you over it yet?”
DO understand that once their life is touched by tragedy, they will never be their “old self” again. They will eventually reach a “new normal” but life will never be the same.

What are some of your favorite creative suggestions in The Art of Helping?

• A mother of two young children picked up a hurting family’s laundry on Mondays, took it home and returned it all laundered and folded on Thursdays.  
• A man volunteered to come mow the lawn once a week and do some simple “honey do” chores. 
• My sons brought their game boy to the hospital for a friend going through chemo therapy. Every few days they would bring a different game to swap.

How can I learn more about The Art of Helping?

The Art of Helping is reshaping the way people reach out to others. To view more information, visit my website: www.laurenbriggs.com. You can follow me on Facebook as Lauren Littauer Briggs and on Twitter as @Laurenbrgs. The Art of Helping is available in e-book and paperback formats through Amazon.com. If you would like an autographed copy of The Art of Helping, email me at Laurenbrgs@aol.com.



Disclosure: I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speakers Services (ChristianSpeakersServices.com).