Fueling Your Heart

Lily Catlett has been connected to Show Hope for almost her entire life. Now a senior in high school, Lily was born in China and spent time at Maria’s Big House of Hope. Lily was adopted at 2 years old and has since attended every Care Centers reunion hosted by Show Hope. 

At the most recent reunion in July 2025, Lily was talking to Show Hope Executive Director Kristin Parks about summer internships, and after learning that she was a few years early for an internship opportunity, Kristin shared about Show Hope’s current Student Initiative, Pause Campaign. Lily was interested right away in leading a group and learning more about how she could get involved and was connected to Show Hope’s Coordinator of Programs Beth DaSilva. 

“When I heard the word group, I thought, Oh, this would be a really cool opportunity to get my friends introduced to adoption because I’m adopted, my sister’s adopted, and we’re both in the same friend group,” Lily shared. “I thought that would be cool just for them to get an idea of what it’s like and how they can help as well as getting more ideas for myself and how I can help.

Lily rallied her sister and a few of their friends to participate in Pause, despite it being a busy season for all of them. 

“We decided to complete Pause in a super chaotic season of our lives,” Lily said. “One of my friends was getting married, most of us were seniors in high school, and most of us were taking college courses—so it was very chaotic and busy.”

Because of their schedules, Pause looked a little different than normal. They didn’t meet every day but made sure to each go through the Pause devotional and discuss and debrief. They each also completed the seven-day fast, and the entire group chose to fast from social media. From social media not being the first thing each of them thought about in the morning to realizing just how much time was spent scrolling, Lily described the fast as “enlightening” for all of them.

“The break from social media for a week was very insightful and goes to show you, even after a couple of days, just how much time we spend online and how much of that time we could be volunteering to help those in need,” Lily observed.

Overall, the entire group felt as if their eyes were opened to the needs of vulnerable children around the world and how they could get involved directly.

“I like that it broke down how you can help a lot of children in other ways than adoption and foster care and why we serve,” Lily said. “We serve not just to look better, or act better, but to show the love of Jesus.

“Pause opened my eyes to how I have been privileged and how I should be taking those God-given blessings to help my community,” Lily continued. “It also made me realize how much I need to pray for the orphan community. I don’t know why, I just never really had that thought beforehand, but this book was very informative, and it makes you very compassionate.

“Pause also showed me that God does beautiful things with and for his kids,” Lily said. “He has equipped each and every single one of us to do something valuable for his glory and his kingdom. God gives everyone something that they need, and he truly does provide.”

Lily, a student herself in both high school and college courses, is adamant Pause is important for people in the unique student stage of life, because it gives them an idea of where to start. She notes while we all have the power to help, it is helpful to have knowledge of the problem and how to get involved.

“[Pause] shows you that you don’t have to just adopt [to help]. When you think of orphan care, you think to help out you have to adopt, or you have to foster, but that’s really not true,” Lily shared. “I think Pause really helps with that understanding. When you know you don’t have to adopt or foster to help out, you are more willing to step in and take that next step.

“We all have power to help, and we can all pray, fundraise, and volunteer,” Lily continued. “Those are all things we can do to give back to the community, and I think Pause teaches students to love others and serve people.”

Lily highly recommends Pause for both students and leaders alike but cautions it comes with a warning: Be prepared to be changed.

“Instead of fueling your head, you can fuel your heart by serving others and glorifying God through your actions,” Lily said. “Pause will change you, your thoughts, the way you pray, and the way you think. I genuinely think that you will become a better person once you complete Pause.”