I have been leading groups of men, women and teens down to Living Hope International since 2000. I am currently planning on my 14th trip with a team for Sept. and so looking forward to it. The experiences a person encounters from visiting the children at the youth home are amazing. I first started when my youngest daughter was a jr. in high school and I wanted her to experience life beyond her comfortable surroundings. My older daughter wanted to come also so we packed up and headed down for the experience of our lives. It was such a transforming experience for us that we needed to share it with others and started taking teams down to volunteer at the youth home there. As a result my youngest daughter is now teaching in Thailand and helping at an orphanage there and my oldest is in the Philippines working with children and adults there. Every trip I've taken to LHI has been a different experience as I have been challenged by the children and staff at the home. You are made to realize how important each person is in life including yourself as you are stretched by giving of yourself and going beyond what you think you are capable of doing. LHI helps one remember that life is not just about me but about how I can make a difference in someone elses life and help that person grow up to be a contributing member to society. LHI takes the children that no one else wanted-street children, gives them food, clothing, education and family love. They train them to be confident, loving, caring young men and women. They build up the confidence they need so they in turn can contribute to make this world a better place. As I have been able to enjoy the amazing adventures on my trips to LHI I have personaly become a better person, a more complete person. By being able to work and play with the children and staff at the home I have learned and grown so much more than I have been able to give. After about my 4th trip down a child asked me "why do you keep coming back?" I responded "because I love you and want to spend time with you" then I got all these hugs from these darling street children that no one else wanted. Needless to say the tears flowed. Most of the original children that I first learned to love have since grown and moved on and it is so good to hear from them and see what fine young men and women they have become. Knowing that the money I contribute to LHI goes directly to the needs of the child I sponsor and will not be used for other areas makes me want to contribute to all the areas of LHI. I know that the money I contirbute will go where I designate the money to go. They welcome visitors to come and visit the youth home and to share their lives with the children. LHI is a place where love and truth and peace abound. Thank you Living Hope International for being there and for being who you are. Candy McGraw
Review from Guidestar