Grace Finds a Home

After yesterday's post a comment was posted asking how it was that Grace ended up in the orphanage in the first place. Sorry for not sharing more about this before. Back in July we received our referral of Grace. This is a document that has medical reports, and a narrative about Grace's activities in the orphanage. Here is what it says about how she arrived there:

"Admission course and physical condition at that time:
Zhong Minjun, Female, DOB: Nov. 30, 2004 was picked up under a tree on Wenhua road in Minzhong town on May 16, 2005, and then was sent to our institute by Minzhong town police station. After admitted, Zhong Minjun was sent to our medical room for examination at once, and then was isolated for observation for one week. With the physical examination, she was identified no infectious disease, and was transferred for collective life. Since she has congenital heart disease, and was weak, it was difficult to be fed. But she still got the excellent care from the caretakers. She had VSD repair surgery on Dec. 7, 2005 in the people's hospital, and recovered well. She takes a bath each day whether in summer or in winter, and insists on taking activities outside for 2 hours, and goes to take class..."

That is what we know. Most likely, she was wrapped up in a blanket and put in a box or a basket and left in an a place where she would be sure to be found. Her parents obviously wanted to remain anonymous. We are told that the police always try to piece together evidence that will help them to find the parents. If they ever do, which is rare, the child is returned to them and they are penalized with a fine. We do not know if there was a note attached to her blanket which established her date of birth, or if the orphanage just made an educated guess.

We have often speculated as to the reasons why her parents would have abandoned such a beautiful child. Perhaps it was because she was sick and they had no way of affording the necessary surgery. Or maybe it was because of China's one-child policy and they had had their hearts set on having a son to care for them in old age and to carry on the family name. Or maybe it was a combination of these reasons. In Chinese culture, especially in the countryside where traditional ideas prevail, it is very important to have a son. Maybe this was the father's idea to abandon this girl and pressured his wife into it. Who knows? We have a copy of the newspaper ad that ran for some days advertising for her parents to come forward and identify themselves. They never did. On this side of heaven we will never know the whole story. It's our job now to raise Grace in the knowledge of Jesus and the gospel so that someday she can learn the rest of the story from the One who created her.

It's a sad story that has turned out with a happy ending!

Next time....

Rick