First Person Stories

Have you ever wondered how the adoption process works in other countries? The Italian Forever Family of Jerak Robbins – now Francesco – recently sent a welcome update. In Italy, a home study includes an interview with both a social worker and a psychologist. Then a judge determines the family’s suitability for adoption. Francesco’s family […]

As a family, we knew we were being called to adopt as we began that process domestically in the United States. God led us to adopt a baby boy with Down Syndrome through that journey. While our hearts and minds were opened to the needs of little ones born with special needs, God opened them […]

One of the first things I noticed after arriving at Shepherd’s Field was the scores of luscious, ripe blackberries that had just fallen from the bushes and littered the walkways across campus. In the days that followed, I watched as children played, walked, ran, and wheeled over the berries; workers crushed them underfoot; and visitors […]

Kennedy, Yangyang, or Ling XuYang (however you knew him) is still the same boy now that he goes by Timothy. You’d never forget him if you spent any time working at or visiting Shepherd’s Field in recent years. Life of the party, always smiling and singing, funny with a great laugh and lots of hugs, […]

A month hadn’t passed in my new role as the Lead Therapist at Shepherd’s Field Children’s Village (SFCV) when I picked up this tiny, very fragile baby girl. From that moment, I knew our lives were changed forever. I immediately went to Tim Baker to discuss how and where to begin the adoption process – […]

This year marks the 25th Anniversary of the Philip Hayden Foundation’s work in China. In our very humble beginnings in 1995, our team was made up of my wife Pam, our four daughters – Bekka, Sarah, Rachel, and Esther – and me. We began with family projects at local government orphanages, primarily by purchasing things […]

As we celebrate our Silver Anniversary this year, we’re reminded of the countless incredible memories with our kids. One extraordinary recollection is the story of Zoey. When she arrived on our campus as a tiny baby, doctors stated that her special needs were so debilitating she’d be non-responsive for the rest of her life. Shortly […]

PHF has been home to some amazing kids, and we’re featuring Andrew (Zhang Yunfei) this time. Andrew was adopted from Shepherd’s Field in September 2015 by his Forever Family from the United States. Five years later, at age 15, he’s doing well with the love and support they’ve given him. His mom said he has […]

The storage on my cell phone has been full for years now. Normal people would have taken the time to empty the needless things that fill it, but I can’t do that. That space is filled with an instant source of joy for me – thousands of images from time spent in a foreign land, […]

It’s not what I thought. In 2007 I wanted to take a group to serve at one of the three orphanages where my girls spent the first year of their lives – and received three consecutive “No’s.” I wanted to give back somehow and to expose others to the plight of the orphan in China. […]