Mary Marcia
American's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/

"Thanks-For-Giving!"

my six year old daughter,

Sarah Zheng-Kang,

said on her first Thanksgiving

in the United States of America.

Of course, it's pronounced Thanksgiving,

but I like Sarah's version:

Thanks-For-Giving!

Food was a big issue for both my

chosen children,

Sarah Zheng-Kang and Faith Fu Ju,

who lived in orphanages in China

until they were adopted.


This photo of child # 151 was printed in the Children's Hope International newsletter.	I began weeping when I saw the photo. GOD spoke to my heart that she was to become my daughter. I wrote on the side of the photo: "This is Sarah Norwood 2-13-99." Nine months later we flew to China, and met Sarah ZK.

Sarah Zheng-Kang

was 5 years and 11 months old

when she became our daughter

through the miracle of adoption.

"What took you so long to come get me, mommy?"

my daughter, Sarah ZK asked.

"I was hungry every day until you came.

I had a bowl of rice in the morning,

and a bowl of rice at noon,

and that's all unless a farmer brought us vegetables."

Orphanage in Changsha City, Hunan Province, China. Copyright 1997 Marcia Norwood. Our Sarah Zheng-Kang is the second from the right holding up the spoon in the air. This photo was taken by a family from Switzerland who visited Sarah ZK's orphanage every year. The family gifted us with photos of Sarah ZK from their visits throughout the years. What a precious gift these photos are to us! Most orphans have no photos of the years they spent in orphanages! We are so grateful to Daniel and Evelyn for these photos!

Marcia and Sarah ZK: Our first meeting at the Grand Sun Hotel in Changsha City, Human Provence, China. I showed Sarah ZK her photo that I kept for nine months while we waited to adopt her. Copyright 1999 Marcia Norwood

The first evening meal Sarah ZK ever had

was the day we adopted her.

Sarah ZK and waitress pose in front of the fantastic gingerbread house at The White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, China.

Sarah Zheng-Kang Norwood one year after she became our daughter through the miracle of adoption. Her Chinese name, Zheng-Kang, is written in Chinese characters in the right back of the photo. Copyright 2000 Marcia Norwood.

Faith Fu Ju ate bugs and paper

when "mean men with guns"

came to her orphanage

and stole food meant for the orphans.

Sometimes the aunties (caretakers)

would take their own money

to buy more food for the orphans.

Faith was 8 years and 3 months old

when we adopted her.

Our friends Dale and Janice and Steve and Sherrie and our girls enjoy a meal in the lobby of the New World Hotel. Marcia and Jenny (our Holt Children's Services interpreter and Faith and Sarah at the airport in Shengyang City, Liaoning Provinge, China. Copyright 2002 Marcia Norwood.

Faith Fu Ju had only been my daughter for a few months

in 2003, when I had to take my granddaughter, Megan Jewell,

to the hospital for some labs before her surgery.

Faith cried: "I think you won't come back, mommy."

I assured Faith and Sarah that I would be back.

I understood how hard it would be for them when I left.

It takes a long time to learn to trust

when you have been abandoned.

"It's hard. I know.

It will be a sacrifice

for you to let me go help Megan,"I said.

"What's a sacrifice?" Faith asked.

"Sacrifice is helping someone,

even if it costs you something."

The next morning, Sarah and Faith woke up early.

"What do you want for breakfast?" I asked them.

"I'll make breakfast for you before Megan wakes up."

"Sarah and I decided not to eat breakfast

since Megan can't eat either before her tests.

It's our sacrifice," said Faith.

I cried.

When I could speak I said:

"Sacrifice is hard...but it's so worth it

to show your love.

What a gift of love you are showing Megan."

"This sacrifice stuff is hard," said Faith.

Faith Fu Ju and friends at the orphanage on a field trip. Fu Ju is fearless as she touches the crocodile! All children at the orphanage were dressed alike. They didn't have their own clothes. Everyone at the orpahange took turns wearing the clothes. This photo was a gift from Fu Fu's foster family. Copyright 2000 Marcia Norwood.

Are we teaching our children

the importance of making sacrifices to help others?

Are we showing them

how to sacrifice by our own example?

As you celebrate

"Thanks-For-Giving" at home

ask our Heavenly Father what sacrifice

you can make to help others.

Some children still go to bed hungry

every night.

Some children still eat bugs and paper.

This sacrifice stuff is hard,

but it is what we are called to do,

in Jesus' name.

Religion that GOD of Father accepts

as pure and faultless is this:

to look after orphans and widows in their distress,

and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

James 1:27

The Holy Bible

(New International Version)

Are you willing to sacrifice to help?

We are not all called to adopt,

but we are called to help widows and orphans, and the poor.

Thanks for stopping by!

Come back often, and invite a friend!

Mary Marcia
American's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

THANKS-FOR-GIVING, A STORY OF SACRIFICE