CHILD SPONSORSHIP – FAITH IN ACTION

 

SPONSORSHIP – FAITH IN ACTION

Our daughter Grace held a photo of a girl in her hand. Winter Jam 2013, the Holt-sponsored Christian concert tour, was revving up as the Newsboys played “We Believe.”

Is this girl the one? Like a sister I never knew?

Grace put the picture down. Then picked it up again.

A CHOICE TO SPONSOR

It has been almost nine years since our family encouraged our daughter to make the decision to choose which child we would sponsor from China. At the time, Grace was 12 years old just like Xing, born only a few weeks apart.

Now a young woman in college, Xing Mei is alike and different from Grace in so many ways.

Xing, is now 20, and we have kept all of her pictures and letters. Images and stories from a young girl growing up with a grandmother, but without living parents. It is hard sometimes to think of the path Xing has lived.

Was Grace’s road easier because she was adopted by us, an American family providing her with two parents and an older brother? In a biological sense, our daughter never knew her mother or father, grandmother or grandfather.

Michael and Grace on the Great Wall of China

Yet, Xing did have some of these things Grace did not. As Xing Mei Huang now completes her sophomore year of college, her living, breathing grandmother remains with her. Xing Mei’s story is, in a way, an open door to a past our daughter Grace never knew.  A few government reports detailed the likely circumstances of our daughter’s birth in the area surrounding the city of Mao Ming.  Her only possessions: two silver rice bowls, a gift my wife thoughtfully picked out from the place of our daughter’s birth, a yellow blanket and her own beautiful self, wrapped snugly in a cardboard box.

While the choice to sponsor and later support Xing’s education may have begun with Grace, the decision had God’s gentle nudge behind it. Today, we have the privilege of participating in a small but needed role in a young girl’s life.

FAITH CHOICES: SPONSORSHIP, ADOPTION & PRAYFULLY SEEKING GOD’S WILL

We all face choices.

Our family decided to continue to support Xing in her higher education goals after she moved beyond the age of sponsorship. While we are in this life, we don’t graduate from caring for our children at any age.

Has God shared a picture of a young boy or girl with you? Is He knocking at the door to your heart, asking what you will do?

Xing Mei at the University

Looking at her pictures, I am amazed at the hopefulness in Xing Mei’s drawings — and her courage. Yet, now at age 20, her beautifully written English words, translated into English by Holt’s team in China speak deeply to me:

Now I have a summer holiday. I did not go to do a part-time job. But go home to help grandma do farm work, such as picking Jasmine flowers, drying cereal and transporting rice seedlings and so on. Helping my elderly grandmother to reduce the burden. I work for grandmother during the day and do my favorite things at night, such as practicing calligraphy, reading and reciting English words.

I envied other kids can grow up with a parent’s love countless times. I slowly took it easy all. Because I lost the parents’ love, but at the same time I got love from you, my sponsor, and more kind strangers loved me and helped me.

‘As the saying reminds us, where the Lord closes a door, somewhere he opens a window for you.’

May joy and health be with you always.

Yours sincerely, Xing Mei Huang

PRAYER

Xing Mei Huang enjoys reading, practicing calligraphy and reciting English words. She plans to be a teacher and will be a third-year student studying Mathematics and Application Mathematics at Yulin Normal University.

(A version of this story appeared on Holt International Children’s Services blog)

Author’s note: Over the years, we have been blessed by Holt International Children’s Services.  In July 2002, we, (my wife Chanie, son Tim, and I), traveled to China to bring home our daughter Grace. Tim received his “forever” sister. If God stirs your heart to consider sponsoring or adopting a child, contact Holt International Services or click on the link below to learn more:

Scripture: James 1:27

http://holtinternational.org/sponsorship

 

 

 

 

Michael L. Richard

Michael L. Richard is an author, writer, husband and father. He hopes to see his novel, CHOSEN’S BEAUTIFUL HEART in print, and that his readers are inspired by faith to pursue the courage of their dreams. He loves to speak and write about parenting, adoption, H.K, China and the horizons of our abilities. Sign up for his newsletter at: https://michael-richard-author.mailerpage.com/

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7 comments

  1. Michael,
    Child sponsorship is a beautiful act of faith. Thank you for sharing your families story of adoption and child sponsorship with us. These photos are precious!

    1. Thank you Diana for all the adoption work you have done!
      Blessings,
      Michael

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