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April 27, 2016
Not a Happy Time
By Crossworld
EAST ASIA — Crossworld worker Sarah settled onto the warm floor cushions across from Sophie at the girls’ transition home. She casually asked, “How was your New Year at home?”
Much like Christmastime in the West, New Year in East Asia is a time to reconnect with family. However, the girls who live in the transition home are usually aging out of orphan care or are vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation in their current environment. Either way, “home” is seldom a safe or welcoming place, and Sarah knew the difficulty of her question.
Sophie squinted up at Sarah shyly from beneath her dainty eyebrows. “Not a happy time, sister.” Her eyes began to fill with tears and she looked down quickly. A tear escaped down her cheek.
“Not a happy time?”
Sophie explained how her parents fought during her entire vacation. Before she left, they told her they were splitting up. Sophie sobbed harder as she said, “The worst part is that I had the courage to tell my family that because I am now a Christian, I want to get baptized — but my mother forbids it!”
Sarah comforted Sophie as she thanked God for coming to earth to bind up the brokenhearted.
Sophie has moved on from the girls’ home, reintegrated back into her community, and is still following Christ. Quiet, but determined, Sophie is praying for her mother’s heart to change.
Italicized names were changed to protect identity.
Much like Christmastime in the West, New Year in East Asia is a time to reconnect with family. However, the girls who live in the transition home are usually aging out of orphan care or are vulnerable to trafficking and exploitation in their current environment. Either way, “home” is seldom a safe or welcoming place, and Sarah knew the difficulty of her question.
Sophie squinted up at Sarah shyly from beneath her dainty eyebrows. “Not a happy time, sister.” Her eyes began to fill with tears and she looked down quickly. A tear escaped down her cheek.
“Not a happy time?”
Sophie explained how her parents fought during her entire vacation. Before she left, they told her they were splitting up. Sophie sobbed harder as she said, “The worst part is that I had the courage to tell my family that because I am now a Christian, I want to get baptized — but my mother forbids it!”
Sarah comforted Sophie as she thanked God for coming to earth to bind up the brokenhearted.
Sophie has moved on from the girls’ home, reintegrated back into her community, and is still following Christ. Quiet, but determined, Sophie is praying for her mother’s heart to change.
Italicized names were changed to protect identity.
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