Waiting for her present...

"Wow! It's my very own shopping cart!!"

"Thank you Jie Jie Rachael and Rachel!"

"I just LOVE my shopping cart!"

"And all my food!"

Rachel and Sarah Lu: Friends Forever! :)

Yesterday we volunteered at the Steven Curtis Chapman Concert at the Show HOPE booth. I don't really understand the difference between Shaohannah's Hope and Show HOPE, other than that Show HOPE is the concert version of Shaohannah's Hope, which we were given a $3000 grant through for Sarah's adoption. We passed out Show HOPE flyers at the door and during intermission had these great big buckets to collect "CHANGE for orphans". We also had the chance to give out information about America World, our adoption agency, to interested families. Our friends were there to help us with the booth as well. They have three little girls adopted from China: Charity and Faith, twins and Joyeaux Li. All of the little girls, Sarah Lu included, had so much fun at the concert and helping out. What we didn't know was that our friend's had a "surprise" for us. Sarah's nanny from the foster home was there! Along with another girl from the foster home, Amy. She is in the U.S. to receive medical care and her nanny is her escort. Both are pictured above. Sarah Lu was very surprised to see them and at the end of the concert Sarah Lu even gave her nanny a kiss! After the show was done, we had the amazing opportunity to meet Steven Curtis Chapman! He was really sweet with all of the little girls and took time with each of them. At first, Sarah Lu was being a bit rude (she was very tired) but she soon warmed up once she saw her friends thinking it was cool. It was an incredible experience to be part of Shaohannah's Hope, if only for one night.

Joyeaux Li, our wonderful helper, passing out Show HOPE flyers and collecting change.

Joy and Me

See our buckets? They changed the life of an orphan last night (and are continuing to do so in a city near you)!

Sarah Lu jumped in on us in this picture. Can you find her?
And no, we did not just take pictures!! This was after an hour of passing and collecting. The show was just getting ready to start.

Joy and Sarah Lu dancing to Bethany Dillon.

Making themselves comfortable...

Jie Jie Rachael and Sarah Lu!

Joyeaux!

Sarah Lu and the twins playing tag

The twins and Sarah Lu stopping for a picture... Only Sarah didn't stop long enough...

The four girls enjoying candy

Charity, Sarah, Faith, Me, and Joyeaux

The girls and Chrissy

Rachael and Dad working the Show HOPE booth

After intermission there was quite a lot of change (and not just change) to count... Sarah Lu loved "helping" the Show HOPE people, trying to work the machine, and jamming it.

Me and Joy at the booth

Sarah hiding under the booth

Catching a glimpse of the concert...

Chrissy, Me, and Joy

Sarah Lu's other two Jie Jie's

Sarah Lu and Faith had so much fun dancing!

What we were all working towards...
At the end of the concert, Steven Curtis Chapman presented a family who is adopting a three year old little girl from Ghana, Africa with the money that was raised through Show HOPE at the concert. They were presented with over $4000 that was raised at the concert. It was amazing to see what we were doing in action and helping this family bring home their little girl!



Sarah Lu and Faith playing and possibly running into Steven Curtis Chapman...

Sarah Lu and Joy waiting to meet Steven Curtis Chapman and falling asleep...
(Notice Sarah's change of dress? Her other one was wet from playing in the water fountain...)

Me, Steven Curtis Chapman, Joy, and Chrissy

SCC talking to Sarah Lu, Faith, and Charity

The beginnings of a group picture...

Joy hugging Steven Curtis Chapman... Notice who is on her legs?

SCC went through and hugged each of the little girl's, but before it was Sarah's turn, she wanted a hug. She went up right behind him and put her arms up for a hug. But he didn't see her and hugged one of the other little girl's first... Well, poor little Sarah turned around with the saddest little look on her face, until....

And Sarah getting a hug from Steven Curtis Chapman!