LIVING TREE WORKING TEAM
 
  Staff of Fruit of Joy Staff of Fruit of Love
Our staff is made up of a dedicated group of caring individuals. God has placed a special burden on their hearts to love and care for these precious children whom He has created.

 

 

Tina Kou, Living Tree founder, Executive Director.

On January 2002, I met three abandoned disable children in Ningxia province, which changed my life dramatically. It was a very painful experience when I had to leave them in the orphanage because I cannot take them. What I didn't know is God led me on a way to take care of His precious ones through this painful experience,.

On April of the same year, I met a girl named Abby (Xinwei) in an orphanage. God put the same burden and same calling in our hearts. Pretty soon we became a solid team working together to help the children in orphanages. By June 2002, we had to rent an apartment to care for the first five abandoned children with severe Cerebral Palsy. That became Living Tree Foster Home. During this two years, God has been showing His amazing grace and mercy to each one at Living Tree. He is so faithful and tender in providing for us in miraculous ways even when I was in a time of doubt and fear. I pray that some day all of our precious children can know how much our Heavenly Father loves them and how much valuable they are in His eyes.

 

 

Steve and Xinwei Schroeder, Living Tree founders.

Xinwei Schroeder: Four years ago, God brought me to the end of myself. I was so sure that the only way I could survive from a broken relationship was to leave China and start a new life in U. K. But God had another plan for me. Right before the time I was leaving for the UK, I accepted Jesus and became a Christian.

My story begins on the summer of 2001 when I stepped in a nursery room of a small orphanage. My life would never be same. Those little ones stole my heart. Less than two months after my first visit to an orphanage, I met my husband Steve Schroeder. I took him to the orphanage. The next thing I knew is that he fell in love with those kids just like I did and I fell in love with him. Steve encouraged me through all the difficult times while trying to help the children. April 2002, I met a girl named Tina during a visit to an orphanage. Her tears kept running down from her eyes while she was telling me the story of three orphans that she felt she wanted to care for. At that moment I realize this is the girl! We were already helping two children when I suddenly had no place to stay. I considered buying another apartment when Steve suggested I buy the largest one and have room for kids and caregivers. I bought the largest apartment and we rented another while it was being built.

Jesus said, I will not leave you as orphans... It's such an amazing thing to see how faithful our Lord is. Because every time we call to him for these little ones, he says" Here am I."

Steve Schroeder: As the "busiest man" in the world with more than enough ministry already in progress, I just went to buy a piano from a customer in Huntington Beach named Perry and found myself in China in need of an interpreter. The next thing I knew I was holding babies in an orphanage and falling in love with interpreter, Xinwei. Desperate to leave China for fear of commitment, God intervened canceling all flights home to the United States for a week on September 11, 2001. Who can resist the hand of God. Just when you think your life is overflowing and according to plan God reveals his next phase. If you are reading this it is probably no accident! ...so how many children do you want?

 

 

Jean, Administrator, Director of Fruit of Joy

I was baptized on 2003 with my son Laifu in my womb. God raised a new life in me since then. My husband and I have been praying that God can show us a way to serve Him.

On June 2004, Tina Kou came to our fellowship and shared about the ministry of helping abandoned disable children. I was deeply moved by the story of Living Tree and faith of this sister. I joined Living Tree foster home on Au 2004. It is not a easy job to take care of disable children, but I have never expensed this kind of joy and satisfaction before. My 18 months son stay with other children when I work with them. It's such a wonderful thing to see him learning to love , share and give.

 

 

LiYing and Peter Zhang, Our Assistive Devices Group.

LiYing: My wife and I decided to foster care Elim in Sep 2003. It's a turning point of our lives. We can see God is using us to make a difference in Elim's life. He also bless our family with His abundant grace. I became more involved in this ministry since I joined in Assistive Devices Group.

I am very thankful that God can use the talent and gifts he gives me to help these children. I hope we can help more children with our hands and love.

Peter Zhang: My son was diagnosed as Cerebral palsy when he was one year old after a high fever. I could not believe what doctors said. Ruirui was such a healthy and active child. But now he cannot talk or walk and he may never can. My heart was broken. My wife and I tried to take hold a hope that Ruirui can be healed completely just as who he was. After trying all kinds of medicine and treatments for almost a full year, I finally decided to give up. One day, my wife told me that she met some ladies who take care some abandoned children with Cerebral Palsy just like Ruirui and they are very friendly. I went to see the place some time later. I could not believe what I saw: 6 or 7 very young girls were taking care of a dozen of disable children. The place was full of joy and love. I was amazed about what was happening in this loving home called Living Tree Foster Home. My wife and I accepted Jesus on Au 2004 and I joined Assistive Devices Group at the same time. I look it as a big honor to work for these children. And I finally got the answer of where all the love and joy come from in Living Tree. I want to thank my son because God used him to bring my family to his promised land.