A Life-Changing Experience

Loving parents whose children have grown up and left home often miss out on giving and receiving love on a daily basis. And we have children in Xining Children's Home who have a lot of love to give but no parents to give it to.

When loving parents and a child who still needs to give and receive love on a daily basis meet each other, their shared love brings joy to all who know them. It's a life-changing experience!

Last year, whenMing was just a baby, he came to Hong Kong from Xining Children's Home for six months because he needed corrective surgery to relieve some difficulties caused by his Spina bifida (split spine) – a congenital disorder. During that time he was cared for by Hong Kong residents, Connie and Ben, whose children are overseas. They still had a lot of love to give on a daily basis so they were happy to be Ming’s foster parents.

Now a toddler, Ming recently returned to Hong Kong for further medical checks and was reunited with Connie and Ben.  They were delighted by the progress Ming had made.  Connie says, "He is able to understand much more than he used to, and his Mandarin is quite fluent for a child his age."

"Because my children have already left home," Connie told us, "we really treasure the love we get from Ming on a daily basis. He brings a lot of joy into our lives. He is a very affectionate child, and loves being kissed." Ming's love for people is matched only by his curiosity. Like many children his age, he is into everything. He may never be able to walk but that hasn't yet affected his ability to explore his surroundings.

When he wakes up in the morning, his first words are usually "Where's Mama?" followed closely by... "and Thomas?" Ming is not the first toddler I’ve met who is infatuated by Thomas the Tank Engine. He’s seldom seen without his Thomas train.  Knowing how clever he is and observing his passion for trains, makes me wonder whether little Ming is an engineer in the making!  Connie and Ben have established an education fund for him, which is a huge blessing. Now what Ming really needs is a forever family. He needs the daily love of a parent who will lead and guide him. In fact, do what the Bible tells parents to do:  '...train a child up in the way he should go.' (Proverbs 22:3) No pun intended!

Connie and Ben told us, "Fostering a child challenges traditional ways of thinking in Chinese culture. We have found that many people we know have begun to accept that in the absence of a traditional family, fostering as an alternative way of raising children is a good thing. Our own children have been truly inspired by what we are doing, and our church family really loves Ming."

Please pray that this loving little boy will soon be adopted by a loving family!