In the late fall of 2000 Julie Zimmermann was asked by her oldest son if she too would want to go on a trip to China like the one he had just returned from. The typical "I don’t know, we’ll see" was her answer. By August of 2001 Julie had committed to a trip heading for China in November of that same year. She remembers this quite vividly because she was hoping that the trip would not be canceled because of the 9-11 terrorist attacks on the New York City World Trade Center.
About this same time in a small village in the Huang province, eight thousand miles away in China a mother and daughter sat quietly crying… holding each other… wondering what they would do about the news the daughter had just shared with her loving mother.
The trip Julie took to China changed the direction of her life completely. She not only wanted to return to China, but she had decided to adopt from China as well. That first trip had taken her to an orphanage where she promptly lost her heart. In the spring of 2002 Julie’s husband agreed with her to start the adoption process.
It was also in the spring of 2002 that a mother and her daughter quietly hurried through the dark streets of Huwang, China tightly holding with great care a small cardboard box. They both knew their final destination, again tears filling their eyes. Over the last nine months they knew this day would come. Just the night before after the pain of child birth they saw the face of an angel that would not be theirs to ever see again. Tears running down their faces, mother and grandmother savored those final kisses on those soft and sweet smelling cheeks that only new born babies possess. They made one last check, yes! The worn hand towel was wrapped tightly and keeping her warm. The baby bottle was in the box next to a small container of powdered baby formula. Mother and grandmother ran from the steps and hid a small distance away—far enough not to be seen, but close enough to make sure that all would work as planned. Within a few minutes the door of the orphanage opened, the small cardboard box was picked up and after looking long in all directions the young girl who had found this newly orphaned baby disappeared behind the large closing door. Mother and grandmother, holding each other tightly, still quietly crying walked slowly away. After a few minutes of walking the mother stopped and whispered to her daughter, “Let us stop and pray that the God of this world will dry our tears and favor us by giving our baby to a family that will love her the way we will never have the chance to.”
In May of 2004 Bob and Julie Zimmermann along with their youngest child, 13 years old Jacob, left for China to pick up their new daughter and sister. The process had taken 18 months. They arrived home just two days before her second birthday, May 29th. This little girl’s American name is Sarah Elizabeth Mei and her Chinese name was Huwang Mei Pan.
For the next three years Julie continued to make multiple trips every year to China, always visiting orphanages and doing whatever she could to help. She always brought money, one year buying a front load washing machine for one orphanage. What she loved most was to, in her words, “love on those kids.” The more she went to help the more she wanted to go again. These trips cost money and she was compelled to always bring more in order to help as often and in any way she could. Money helped, but again, what she loved most was to simply play with and hold these little ones who, at times, literally fought for her affection.
As Julie made those first six to eight trips she had been buying jewelry, for herself at first, then for family and friends because they saw what she had purchased and of course like all good American women, just had to have some of that beautiful jewelry as well. Julie didn’t realize it right away but she was on her way to answering her own question, how can I bring more money over to help these children?
She soon realized that sales were getting too high and she had to incorporate and conduct business the proper way. In trying to decide on a name for her Jewelry company she discovered that Sarah’s Chinese name, “Mei Pan” had a most unexpected and wonderful translation. The name Sarah had been given after being found in a cardboard box is what all orphaned children needed. Mei Pan literally translated, means “Beautiful Hope.” And so, a company was founded. Not for what could be kept but what could be given. Not for future personal comfort but for the future comfort others. Not for a large retirement account but for a checking account that can be emptied as easily as it is filled.
A letter came to Julie recently with an invitation in it. From her friends in China Julie has discovered that this is a very uncommon invitation. It appears that the orphanage where Sarah, Mei Pan, was adopted out of has moved to a new location with updated facilities and has asked the families who have adopted from them in the past to come and visit. To keep the Chinese heritage alive in the children who have been adopted from their orphanage. This gathering is scheduled for September of 2009. The story still continues.
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