If you build it...They will come

Do you remember Field of Dreams? I loved that movie, and last weekend I couldn't get its most infamous line out of my head, "If you build it, he will come." If you read my post from a few weeks back, you know I was worried I had made my dreams too big to accomplish. Last weekend I could not get that quote out of my head, so for a little inspiration, I took a trip back to the 90s and watched the film. 

If you remember, everyone thought Ray (Kevin Costner) was crazy for plowing down his corn field to build a baseball field. He was also hearing voices, which did not help matters. Now, my story is a little different, I just bought  a lot of things from Taobao and Metro and started making seitan. Instead of me hearing voices, I whispered, "If you build it, they will come," into my husband's ear throughout the day, all day, last Sunday. What Ray and I do have in common is the belief that you have to build something in order to make things happen. 

This doesn't just happen in the movies.

Last night, I had the pleasure of meeting a real life hero who built his dream into a reality. His name is Jimmy and he started The Renewal Center, an amazing charity that is doing amazing things for Shanghai's homeless men and women. I listened in awe as Jimmy told the story of how they started the operation 5 years ago. He wanted to do something big to help those in need, so he set about building his dream. The Renewal Center is way more than a shelter. It does exactly what the name says, it renews the lives of those that enter the program. The Renewal Center does so many things, but to name a few, it provides clean clothes, job training, and a safe place to spend time with friends. I am lucky enough to have been there once before. It filled me with so much joy to see how happy the people were. They read newspapers, played Uno and table tennis, and drank tea together. I knew then that I wanted to help.

Last night I told Jimmy about Serenity Seitan, and that once things get off the ground, I would like to donate 1 kuai from every package sold to The Renewal Center. I truly believe in what he has built, a place for those who need it. And they come.

We can build amazing things together.