Foundation Presentation

In this picture you can see Nina Ottinger's lovely Chinese daughter. John Rummage had joined the group by the time this picture was taken. He is married to Sara and is their chief fundraiser. He worked for other foundations before starting the Founding Family Charitable Foundation. The foundation has offered to help Blessing Hands with a brochure to explain our mission, and my son, Ross Cutts, has offered to help us with a web page. I also intend to get incorporated in Kentucky in the near future. Incorporation as a charity is also in our plans. 

Proposals presented

Sara Rummage, Nina Ottinger, and Helen Derryberry are listening to our Blessing Hands proposals. Helen is my old college roomate from my days at David Lipscomb College in Nashville. It was Helen who forwarded Blessing Hands information to Sara Rummage. Sara wrote and asked me questions about Blessing Hands which I delightedly answered.

Only later did I realize that she was from a foundation and had a reason to be asking questions in such detail. When she told me her board was meeting and would consider funding Blessing Hands, I said to myself, "What board is she talking about. " I looked at the information at the end of her e-mail, and only then did I find that she was from Founding Family Charitable Foundation (FFCF). I was going to see my father in two weeks and would pass through Nashville, so I made arrangements to stop by and give them our proposals for helping the children in Yangshuo and Qinzhou with tuition.

I taught middle school teachers in a summer English camp in Qinzhou in 2004 for four weeks. Many of the teachers there give from their meager salaries to help the countryside children at their schools who need money for tuition. The children there need tuition help in the higher grades just like they do in Yangshuo. Ann Liu, who was the director of that summer camp, came to Morehead State University to be a visiting scholar in the fall of 2005. I asked her to help me include the countryside children of Qinzhou, Guangxi, China in the proposal as well as the Yangshuo children. Her wisdom, knowledge, and friendship was invaluable in drawing up the Founding Family proposal. 

Qu Ling Zhu

The nurses are getting Ling ready for her operation. Ling was able to have her surgery in Yangshuo. Rather than having her travel to Guilin, the doctor came to her. Her grandmother was able to be with her near home, and other local people supported her during this time of stress. She was very proud of the flowers someone sent her and glad to know that she could take them home with her. She sees that they get water every day.

The doctor was able to reconstruct her face at the same time as he took out the fatty tumor. She will be a changed little girl and can already talk much better. Since it is Chinese New Year, her father was able to return home from where he works, and Ling has plenty of time to recover without missing much school. 

Qu Ling Zhu's operation was a success.

There is good news about Ling's tumor. It was not cancer, but a soft tumor that grews from a nerve. It is a genetic condition, but hopefully the tumor will not come back. I didn't know that she had been operated on three years or more ago. The same doctor came from Guilin to do this operation also, which was a great blessing. He had taken out the most dangerous tumor before and asked her to come back after that operation healed. Of course there was no money, and the other tumor just grew until she could not even speak clearly.

She is able to eat now and is progressing wonderfully. Many people have visited her in the hospital bringing books, flowers, and food. Mr. Xu of the Education Department brought her some money to help with the operation costs, and people here in America have been very generous. The newspapers have picked up the human interest story and spread the news about the friendship of Americans that has made a child in China have a new life. Ling's story truly has developed goodwill between China and America.

Some one even found her mother who had abandoned her when she was five. Communication has been started again between them by telephone, and the mother may visit soon. Ling's father returned from Guangdong where he had gone to work, and he is visiting her daily while he is home.

Girl Scout Troop 561

I spoke at a local Girl Scout troop about the children in China and encouraged them to write letters to children their own age at Puyi Primary School. Kelsey wrote a delightful letter about her pets and going to the beach in the summer. The children there will be fascinated with the idea of a pet and a distant beach. They do know about bike riding and favorite colors, however.

Children all over the world have no trouble finding things in common. I hope that Huang Rao Ming will write her back. He lives with his grandparents after his parents divorced. 

Taylor is a Girl Scout in Troop 561 in Clearfield, KY. I presented a photo show of the schools and children in Yangshuo County, China to the troop last Monday. I asked the troop to write to the Blessing Hands children at Puyi Primary School. Taylor used the American flag sticker that I gave out to make a flag pole with Deng You Cai and herself nearby. She also wrote a letter to him on the other side of her drawing. The scouts had a lot of fun, and the children at Puyi will be thrilled to get a letter from an American child their age.
School is out for the Chinese New Year, but we hope that they will get letters back soon.

This picture came today of the Blessing Hands children at GuanQiao Primary school. Wu Shenmei is in the first row on left. 

Qu Lingzhu's ear

Qu Ling Zhu is waiting for what the doctors will decide to do with her tumor. We are planning on helping her with funds for an operation. It seems that her ear is also involved with the tumor. I wonder what her hearing is in this ear. It looks like a scar at the top of the ear. She has the little brown birthmarks on her chin as well. 

Qu Ling Zhu and her Grandmother

It is Winter Holiday soon in China and the schools will be out for a month for Chinese New Year. Someone is going to take Qu Ling to get medical help for her tumor in Guilin now, since she doesn't have to miss school. Spring semester will start in March.

A reporter has been contacted who will be writing about her progress and has arranged for a discount for her hospital stay. We are hoping for a good outcome and accurate diagnosis. Her grandmother is shown here with Lingzhu. 

Charles' students - Yangdi Dishui Primary School

These children go to Yangdi Dishui Primary School where Charles is their teacher. Starting at the left you can see Tang Mei Ling, Tang Xu Ling, Tang Xiao Yu, Tang Yu Ping, Tang Chang Yu, and Chen Ji Ying in red. The two youngest are in kindergarten. Chinese custom puts the family name first in personal names, so all the Tangs here are probably related somehow.  

Qu Ling Zhu

This little girl is Qu Ling Zhu. Her parents have left home, and she lives with her grandparents. They have spent a lot of money to help her with her face and yet nothing has helped. She is a good student and is in grade 4. She is 13 years old. She is getting Blessing Hands tuition, but I hope she can be helped with her physical problem. Does anyone have any ideas. 

Alice's school - Pu Yi Primary School

In this picture eleven Blessing Hands children are holding their tuition envelopes. Alice is the teacher. She was my translator and assistant during summer English camp. The picture was taken on Sports Day so everyone is dressed in sports clothes.

On the first row from left to right are Li Weizhi, Wei Hairou, Li Lin, Li Qin. On the second row from left to right stand Ge Dan, Huang Raoming (the boy that Alice later asked me to add to the list), Deng Youcai, Luo Qinfan, Wei Yunlan, Huang Pinzhi ,and Li Zhen.

Another Blessing Hands child - Mo Zonggui.

Andy Liang's School - Xing Ping Primary School

These ten Blessing Hands children are Mo Xiangling, Huang Zhuqing, Huang Jianxui, Lu Mingyi, Fei Xiuping, Qu Lingzhu, Yu Tianhua, Xu Changlong, Huang Yuli, and Mo Zhonggui. Their teacher was my assitant last summer. His name is Andy Liang, and the school is Xing Ping Primary School. 

Dear Blessing Hands,
Thank you very much for your helping. It's so nice to hear from you. I'm Yang Naiqi. I'm standing grade three in Yangdi Primary School. There are four persons in my family, grandpa, father, mother, and me. I 'm very hard to learn. I love learning. Thank you very much.

Love from
Yang Naiqi 

Dear Blessing Hand,
I'm glad hear you. At first I am writing this letter to thank you. You can hand in studying expenses for me and let me can go to school.

And then I introduce myself. My name is Yang Min Jie. I'm a boy ten ages. I'm studying grade four in Yangdi Primary School. I am monitor in class. I'm studying very hard and like to help other students too. Also like to you help people need help people. I would also like to thank you for interesting discussion with me, which I don't over you.

About my family. My family very poor. My grandpa is with me. The last 

Dear Blessing Hands,
I'm glad hear you. Thank you very much for your helping. I'm Mao Shujie. I'm eleven. Im standing grade five in Yangdi Primary School. There are four persons in my family. My father, my mother, my little brother, and I (This means that she is a girl since families that have a first born girl can have a second child.). My village is at remote place where is very poor. I love learning and very hard to learn. I hope looking forward to your early visit to China and meet you. I hope you always remember me also.

I will always remember you kinding. Thank you very much again. Best wish for you.

Love from
Mao Shujie

Blessing Hands.
I study in grade three in trimary school of Feng Nu Zhai.
My name is Wang Xue Ying. My parents haven't stayed at home since three years ago. I had only sixty Yuan Renminbi ($7.50 US) to take the tuition. Thank you for help.

Wang Xue Ying 

Li Qin

This is Li Qin, one of Alice's students who is holding up her tuition gift envelope. You can see part of her school in the background. 

Blessing Hands

Good news. As of November 21, 2005 sponsors have been found for all but 15 of the original children whose names were given to me in August. I am starting to get pictures and thank you letters back now. I will pass some of the letters on to supporters as soon as I can get them downloaded. I am having trouble accessing the page where Mrs. Wei has posted them on the net.

I hope to go back to Yangshuo in March, 2006 to dedicate 100 wheelchairs that Morehead Sister Cities has given to Yangshuo. We are still raising the money for the wheelchairs at $60 a chair. I trust that they will be paid for by March. I hope I will get to visit the schools while I am there and get to see the children in their classrooms. Is anyone interested in going with me? Just let me know.

Blessings,
Betty Cutts

These thank you letters came from one primary school in Yangshuo County. The first is from the teacher.

Blessing Hands,
Thank you very much for your enthusiastic help for our students. Your offer will provide them a good opportunity to joy school. They are really lucky.

Shall I introduce something about our school, which is located at the foot of a small hill. There are less than a hundred students and eight teachers in our school. Though the school campus is very narrow the students love the school life very much. All the student are come from the countryside. Their families are not so rich. The boys and girls are really innocent and lovely. We hope (Continued below) 

There are more and more people care about them. As a teacher of course we have to try our best to teach them well. Let them have a good future.

Let's hand in hand the children all across the land have a peaceful life far away from famine. far away from poor.

From
Bai Sha

Cha Hua Qiao Primary School

Blessing Hands,

Thank you very much for your help. I'm so lucky and happy to receive your letter. I must study hard and learn more things.

There are only two people in my family, my grandma and I. My father died years ago. My mother left us alone. So my family is very poor.

From
Gan Shuifeng


Cha Hua Qiao Primary School

Blessing Hands,

I'm a primary school student. I'm 11 year old. I was born in a small villiage. my family is very poor. thank you for your help. You are so kind to help us. My family and I feel warmly. Best wishes for you. I'll study well.

From
Mo Huorong

Cha Hua Qiao Primary School

Alice Fen

This letter came recently from my assistant teacher last summer. I was glad to get her news about the children receiving their tuition and of course added the child Huang Raoming to our Blessing Hands list. I also sent her some pictures to share with the children. It is so rewarding to know that these children are being helped. What a difference it will make in their lives. I only edited Alice's letter a little, so what you read is hers.

Dear Betty,

How are you going? It is long times that you went home. I miss you very much. Ha ha ~~maybe I should introduce myself at first. I am Alice, who is from Yangshuo Guilin China. We met each other at this summer holiday; do you still remember the English Summer Camp for teacher? aha hhha ~~ you've got it, yeah?
I miss the days we spent together. They were the happiest day I’ve got this summer. I still remember your big smile; it is so clearly in my mind.
My students are very lucky that they can get your help. It is very nice of you. One of them, whose name is LI XING, told to me "Alice, I want to see the photo of the warm heart." but I just said sorry to her, because I missed the photo we took together.

There are 10 children got your help. But, at last, I must say "sorry" to you, I miss the one, who really needs your help. His name is HUANG RAOMING. Now maybe, Ms. Wei talk to you about him. He is 11 years old and in Grade 4. He is a very naught boy, sometimes I am very angry with him. His parents divided for a long time; I don't know the correct time. He lives with his grandma (his mum's mum).

Thank you so much, Betty. Wish you happy everyday. Don’ t forget I am Alice.

Thank you letters have come.

The first thank you letters have come from the children in one class. They all said they would study hard. Their teacher is Alice Zhang Fenfen who teaches at Puyi Primary School. 

This child will be receiving the tuition soon.

The envelopes are getting printed with the children's names and the amount in each envelope. Gloria Wei sent this example to me today. The children should start getting them soon. I am excited.