By year’s end, 200 million songs will be streamed online. Despite that impressive number, Solomon’s Song — written 3,000 years ago — is still the most wonderful of all. Why? Because it reveals Jesus’ intense, sacrificial love for His Bride (you and me), and His intense, sacrificial love for those whom we bring to Him — His brides-to-be. This month, we’ll focus on making Lin, a needy child, and 43 others, His brides-to-be.
How do we introduce “brides-to-be” to Jesus? In chapter 7:9, Jesus declares that His bride’s kiss is “like the best wine.” In kissing others, we awaken their hearts to Christ. Your concrete acts of love-filled kindness are “kisses” that awaken orphans and others to know Jesus — like Lin below.
Lin: “My Mom Just Muttered”
Lin’s life began hard. Her mentally ill mom was raped by her biological father – a man whose name Lin never knew. The rapist, of course, never supported his daughter.
This difficult beginning set the tone for Lin’s early years. However, God intervened to give her a path to a better life, praise God! With your help, we can ensure that she walks into a bright future – even her Heavenly Father’s destiny for her. We must not fail. Can you invest in her today with your prayer of faith and a love gift?
Not only did Lin not have a dad early on, but also, because of her mom’s illness, she never had a real mom. Hear her tell early memories:
“’My mom seldom cleaned our house. She usually sat in her chair with a blank look on her face, muttering to herself, looking off into the distance. She never smiled. I sometimes thought: ‘What have I done to cause her such unhappiness?’”
Although her elderly grandmother tried to help, the poverty was too great. Again, hear Lin:
“Some days, we didn’t have a single grain of rice. Many times I walked out into the woods and picked wild vegetables to eat. I ate the wild vegetables with fish sauce.”
Lin’s supermarket
Eventually, Lin’s grandmother asked village elders for help, and they sent Lin to a dilapidated, countryside orphanage – with only one caregiver. As barebones as it was, Lin had enough food for the first time in her life! Meals with fish or meat were rare, but she and the others had enough rice and real vegetables to eat! Lin, belatedly, began to attend school.
Lin’s countryside orphanage
In a few years, however, her orphanage closed, and Lin’s future was again uncertain. That is — until Danang City social workers placed her to live at Promise House Group Home operated by Orphan Voice partners. For the first time in her life, Lin has more than enough.
At Promise House, she has more than enough food, and loving caregivers supply her more than enough attention. She’s tutored when she needs help. She has clean clothes, doctor’s visits, and lives according to a schedule. She’s learned to use computers in the Promise House computer room and enjoys outings and organized games. She has relaxed, made friends, and is prospering. Soon she will attend an outside “English Club” taught by local Christians, where she will hear His Word and be invited to become His Bride.
Unexpectedly, Lin recently experienced a “blast from the past.” Her life came full circle when her mom was admitted to a Danang psychiatric hospital. Lin wanted to visit her mom, but was afraid. She confided in Ca, her Orphan Voice mentor. “What will I say to her?” “Will she know me?” “Will she want to see me?” For several nights, Lin had trouble sleeping. Ca, her friend and mentor, badly wanted to help.
So, Ca planned a hospital visit! She calmed Lin’s fears and encouraged her. On the appointed day, the two went together to the hospital. Lin couldn’t enter her mom’s room, but she tenderly held her mom’s arm with one hand through the barred window. Her mom held tightly with both hands to Lin’s free hand. Both wept. Since that day, she has returned to encourage and bless her mom — doing her best to help.
Your faith-filled prayer and supporting financial gift pave the way for Lin to grow into adulthood and eventually come to know Jesus. She and other orphans, special needs children, and at-risk youth need Him — and you. Will you help?