Dear supporters of our Packaged Love Project

First of all, I wanted to email you personally, telling you how much it meant that you stepped up and made a package for a needy child. We did a similar project a few years ago and the smiles on the children's faces when they opened their packages and saw all the personal items...oh man, melted my heart.

Beyond saying 'thank you', I wanted to share a few things with you. We did not anticipate [some of] the bags being damaged during the shipping process. Instead of replacing the envelopes and risking damage during our travels to China, we transferred the package contents to individual white canvas bags (with a shoulder strap) that we bought for a reasonable price online. We thought the kids would enjoy it.

Last thing is some bad news. As an organization, we fully understand that we are doing business in a very unstable political environment. Unlike in the United States, business laws, regulations, and guidelines can change on a dime in a country like Ch'na, especially in the rural areas. Because of some recent mishaps within non-government run orp'anages in Ch'na (including accidental deaths of children), the government has set tighter restrictions/regulations, to the point where many are losing their licenses and forced to close (even with the slightest of violations). The Yu-lin orp'anage, where these packages were going, is nervous that this "official" trip by GivingBackLife would draw too much attention and so regretfully asked us to postpone visiting them for now.

They have been deeply apologetic. Both the Yu-lin orp'anage staff and us really want these children to still be blessed on National Children's Day, so we arranged a private transport to bring these packages to the orp'anage before June 1, 2014. I asked the orp'anage director to make sure each child receives their package, and that we get pictures to share with everyone! I have provided links below to our pictures!

Again, I wanted to personally thank you for your generosity of both time and money. I wanted to also apologize, again, that we aren't able to hand-deliver these packages. It makes me sad. However, the packages were received and we were told by the staff that the children LOVED the individualized packages/gifts. Our prayer is that these packages you've made provided even one child with a small bit of hope, and showed him/her they ARE loved (by many). We wish we could have been there to take more pictures, especially of them opening the packages...maybe next time!

Packaged Love Project: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152421978187508.1073741837.49001402507&type=3

Card Project: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152421994422508.1073741838.49001402507&type=3

Return Letters from the Card Project: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152422002597508.1073741839.49001402507&type=3

With deep thanks and appreciation,

Dan