Big Sister, Little Sister

The 'Big Brother, Big Sister' programme is becoming more globally prevalent and Christian Action can vouch for its success because we began this programme four years ago! We knew it would benefit our students at Huangnan Children's Home and the following example of the relationship between twenty three year old Hua Zang and sixteen year old Ka Mao is a beautiful testimony to its success. Here's Hua Zang's story as told by Ka Mao:

When I first saw Hua Zang, she was reading by herself in a corner. Her detachment scared me a little - she seemed almost unreachable. Then one afternoon, everything changed...

"Sis, I'm actually very unhappy!" she told me. "I try to smile when I’m around people, but deep down, my heart feels frozen life isn't sweet. I keep telling myself to smile, otherwise all I’ll get is pity. I hate talking to people; or making friends with them. I hate telling people about my past because I’m afraid they’ll look down on me. That’s why I study so hard - to fill the emptiness." As we shared on that first afternoon, I glimpsed a few fragments of my own past in her story.

Hua Zang's father got sick and died in 2007. Shortly after that, her mother remarried and moved away. Hua Zang went to live with her granny. At the age of 11, she experienced the pain of the loss of parental love. From time to time, she would look at the photos of her parents to remind herself what they looked like. She never dreamt that she would one day be an 'orphan'.

"Over time it felt as though this pity was chasing me. It was humiliating, and I became more and more detached. My friends gradually left me. Life became harder and harder. I was overwhelmed by loneliness and despair."

Hua Zang was on the verge of giving up when she was offered a place at Huangnan Children’s Home. At first she was shy, but she soon realized that the other children were just like her - they had also been abandoned. Some of them had come from a worse situation than she had. Yet, when she looked into their eyes, she saw friendliness and kindness. It was the big brothers and sisters that made the difference, they were the ones who cared for and loved everyone. Suddenly Hua Zang began to notice how good life was. She hadn't felt this way for a long time.

"I'm much happier since I came here. My mental torment is gone. With praying hands and looking up, she said, "May God bless those who are merciful and kind."