We are Ben and Michelle Godard. We, along with our three sons (Jaxin, Eli and Tyler), moved to China back in February of 2007. We taught English as a second language and volunteered on a daily basis at the Gongyi Home of Hope Orphanage for three years before moving to Pingyuxian, Zhumadian, Henan China to open and administrate the Pingyu Home of Hope Orphanage (2010-2019). There, we became Mommy and Daddy to 37 wonderful children. To read more about our adventures there, please visit www.pingyu.homeofhope.org.
Over the years, Michelle and I have seen China make huge improvements for their country and even more so for their people. When asked how long we would be serving in China, we have always said as long as the need is there. With all the improvements that China has made, the need for us to continue administrating the Pingyu Home of Hope Orphanage came to an end. One of the steps that China made to improve their country was implementing strict Non Governmental Organization (NGO) laws. These laws were not only there to protect China from the different foreign organizations entering China, but it also was made to get Chinese people more involved helping their own countrymen. With these changes, we had to make some drastic changes to how we serve in China.
From February 2007 until the passing of John Nathan Bell (founder of the Next Towns Foundation Inc. (NTF) and Home of Hope Orphanages), Ben and Michelle dedicated their lives, love, time, energy, and resources in the Henan province trying to give the underprivileged children every opportunity to excel their own lives through means of education and teaching life skills. The NTF board members seeing Ben and Michelle’s passion to serve in China and devotedness to improving the lives of the underprivileged children, assigned them to be Directors of China operations. Ben was also promoted to CEO of the NTF where he continues to passionately fulfill Nathan’s vision and dream to reach the left behind children.
Please click HERE to see how we are serving the underprivileged children of China.
The Next Towns Foundation Inc. is a “Not For Profit” organization as recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service under section 501c3.