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She Was Given Value at Ava's House
Hugh & Janet welcomed their daughter and her tiny extra chromosome home from China July 2016. These are their words as to why Ava's House is so important to their family.
Ava’s House is a home and a haven for the often-overlooked and forgotten orphans in Zhanjiang, China. Vickie and Jim Bennett are the angels who have been called to give those babies and children with Down syndrome a family in a loving and nurturing environment - until their forever families are found.
Our daughter spent the first two years of her life in a Chinese orphanage. Unfortunately, in China and elsewhere there is a stigma associated with birth defects including Down syndrome. While her basic needs were met, the children with Down syndrome are often denied care they deserve. These children are left alone in their cribs day after day, with little to no stimulation, affection, or proper care. We can only imagine what life was like for our Elsa those first two years and the impact it had on her ability to interact with and respond to people and her environment. Ava’s House was opened in Zhanjiang on July 4, 2016, and Elsa was taken in by the Bennett family and their staff. Our understanding was that Elsa had never even been outside the walls of her orphanage. Imagine, a two year old child never having been outdoors in her life!
The Bennetts and the caregivers at Ava’s House began the difficult and challenging job of helping these babies and giving them the love, care, and affection which they desperately need to thrive. We learned from the Bennetts how anxious and fearful Elsa was in this new place—she simply had never known anything other than her small world at the orphanage. She was with people who wanted to help her and love her, but it was a big adjustment for her. We are so grateful she had that opportunity to begin her healing with the caring and devoted workers at her new foster home. We received photos and updates of Elsa while she was at Ava’s House, and it was such a tremendous blessing to us, her new parents, to better prepare for meeting her and helping her make the transition to her new family. They were able to tell us about what scared Elsa, that her favorite toy was a baby mirror, how she could be soothed when she was upset, that she always slept with her tiny blue blanket from the orphanage.
We can’t begin to express our gratitude and appreciation for the work that is done each day at Ava’s House. The Bennetts are called by our heavenly Father to serve the littlest, the neediest, and the forgotten. To them, these special needs children are a joy and a blessing, each one perfectly and wonderfully made. We are in awe of the sacrifice they make daily to do God’s work—however, I know Vickie and Jim would say it is their honor and privilege to be woven into the stories of these children’s lives. We can never repay what the Bennetts have done for our little girl—by loving her and giving her a home—but we can spread and share the message of their selfless work at Ava’s House.
Ava's House transformed a trembling, failing little girl into a child ready to be loved and valued. THIS is the heart of our Father in action. We can't wait to see the transformations of other children as Ava's House is able to welcome more of 'the least of these' into their fold.
Make sure to #give3x21 to continue their ministry!
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