Ellissa's Missions Trip to China

Hello Friends,

It’s been almost a year since I went on my very first missions trip to China! Wow. What an incredible experience that was.

Last summer I had the huge privilege of serving orphans in China with Bring Me Hope’s summer camp.

God opened my eyes, big time, to the desperate need Chinese orphans have for love, compassion, and a forever family.

Most of the orphans I volunteered with had been abandoned by their parents because they were born with disabilities. It was truly so heartbreaking. These kids are precious in the sight of God. He didn’t make a mistake when he formed them in their mommy’s womb.

They have big God-given personalities and big hearts hungry for love and affection!


My role last year at camp was to be a “buddy” to the kids in my family group. I had two energetic little boys and 1 sweet translator in my group. We spent everyday, all day, together for one week. In the morning I helped my kids get dressed, brush their teeth and get to breakfast on time. During the day, we had fun group activities: singing, dancing, skits and outdoor games. At night, I read my sweet kids bedtime stories, helped with showers and tucked them into bed! It was so wonderful and exhausting, all at the same time. My favorite day was Wednesday when we took the kids into town for a special ice-cream treat and a visit to a local movie theater. Watching Finding Dory in Chinese was a hilarious experience for me. The kids LOVED it so much!


Fridays were the last day of camp with our kiddos! We celebrated every little accomplishment and victory with a special prize and cake for everyone. The big bus from the orphanage arrived, we hugged tightly, we cried our eyes out and said goodbye to our sweet campers! Whew… Fridays were so very bittersweet. Tears for all the goodbyes and smiles for all the memories made and hope of seeing each other again.

After camp, we continue to care for our buddies by advocating for their adoption through online adoption sites, Bring Me Hope’s adoption page and even through our own social media accounts. Our goal is to be the voice for these kiddos.


Bring Me Hope camps truly do help change lives forever! It’s so much more than just a “fun summer camp.” It's a place where kids, that have little hope of being adopted, are heard, known and championed for adoption. A friend of mine (and fellow camp volunteer) is heading back to China in just a few weeks to finalize the adoption of a little boy… The same little boy that was her sweet buddy last summer at Bring Me Hope camp!

This year, I am hoping to go back to the same camp in China and get to see a lot of the same kiddos. God has placed such a burden on my heart for these little ones and I can’t wait to go back and show them the love of our Heavenly Father and make wonderful memories together!
 
I am planning on volunteering at two summer camps in Yantai, China. I am responsible for providing all the funds needed for my camp expenses and flights.

I am asking if you would prayerfully consider financially partnering with me in this amazing ministry opportunity.


I need to raise money for:

- Camp fees for 2 weeks  

- Multiple plane tickets

- Travel Insurance

- Miscellaneous travel expenses

I am so excited to see how God is going to use this summer to change my life and the lives of all the precious orphans attending camp!


Thank you SO much for your love, support and prayers. It means the world to me!

Much love,
Ellissa Baird

“A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His Holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing.”
Psalm 68:5-6