Helping Abandoned Babies (of All Ages!)
by Teresa J. Herbic (as
told by adoptive parents)
I lift up my eyes to the
hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the
Lord, who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2
Born in the rural villages
of northern China, Lilly was referred to our family as an older child. We felt
enthused to know that we would be adopting again. Our first child, also from
China, came as a real blessing. Now, we would travel again to a whole different
region unknown to our family.
We arrived there and the
driver took us for a long arduous drive into the rural hills. This felt
dissimilar to our previous trip to metropolitan Southern china. Our hotel was a
dump as compared to the five-star resort we stayed in years prior. The region
comprised of rundown one-room shacks and dilapidated structures stood out as
impoverished and depressed.
We received our daughter
there a day later. It came as a shock as Lilly was covered in what appeared to
be mosquito bites from head to toe. Her body, smeared in dirt patches looked
puny and depleted for a toddler.
We cuddled her, talked with
her and then, immediately gave her a bath. This stunned Lilly, like she had
never taken a bath before. The poor thing didn’t say a word in Chinese or
English. It’s also like she had never spoken. We travelled home with her, and
realized America must look like a bright shiny place as compared to the
atmosphere in which she lived.
Our years fill with twists
and turns. It’s when we take a risk that we recognize the needs in the world,
the children who desperately require care and a home. For as we lift our eyes
to Jesus, that is where our help comes from and Who delivers aid to these
precious ones. And our joys come with
