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Hannah arrived in the Davis household only a few weeks after Anya. Tom and Emily, then ages 26 and 22, suddenly had a houseful of kids: Hannah, Anya, their biological son Hayden, who was

11/2, and another baby on the way. (Anya is now a nursing student in San Antonio.)

Becoming an instant father to two orphaned girls birthed in Davis a lifelong passion for fatherless children. Davis convinced the church he pastored to sponsor a Russian orphanage. He began volunteering at Children's HopeChest (www.hopechest.org), a ministry with the mission of "creating a world where every orphan knows God, experiences the blessing of family, and acquires the skills necessary for independent life."

Davis began leading mission trips to Russia and encouraging others to sponsor orphans. When Children's HopeChest invited him to join the staff in 2001, he and his family moved to Colorado Springs.

Today, as president of the organization, the 37-year-old Davis focuses on motivating individuals and churches to get involved with orphaned and vulnerable children in Russia, Swaziland, and South Africa.

The entire Davis family is passionate about orphan care. Last summer Tom, Emily, and their five youngest children—Hayden, 11; Gideon, 8; Gracie, 6; Lilly, 4; and Hudson, 2,  all Tom and Emily's biological kids—traveled to Swaziland and South Africa along with several other families. Hannah, who was on an 11-month trip around the world, joined them in Swaziland.

"We went to Care Points (gathering places where orphaned children receive several meals per week)," Davis says. "My kids played soccer with them, and my daughters did their hair."

Emily loved cleaning the children. "They were so dirty," says Davis. "No one cares for them. We cleaned them up with wipes, put cream on their faces, and put new clothes on them. It was overwhelming to watch my two little girls take a friend by the hand, bring her over to the clothes, and help her pick out a dress."

In Swaziland they visited five young sisters whose parents died of aids when the oldest child was 13. The girls had been left to fend for themselves, with no money for food or education. After buying the girls food and clothes, the Davis family decided to financially support them. The girls call Tom and Emily their "white American Mama and Papa," explaining that in Africa, "Mama" and "Papa" are the people who love you and provide food and school fees.

"Simple acts of kindness are all it takes

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