Evangel Children’s Home is filled with endless love! Our beloved colleague Cheung Mei Ling, Yvonneretired in October. Before joined Evangel Children’s Home, Yvonne was a garment merchandiser. After she changed and picked up the job as a buyer for Evangel Children’s Home, she has been the “GMAA” (General Manager of All Affairs) for 24 years.  All the way she is filled with grace and love for our Evangel Children’s Home (ECH).

The Big Family’s “Everyone’s Mom”

Besides from her own family and church, this big family is her third home, which is the one she spent the most of her time in “managing”. Yvonne described herself as a “Mom”, apart from purchasing daily necessities for all our children and need to take care of a huge household, for example, she needed to take children to buy clothes, brought them to see doctors, picked them up from school, mended their school uniforms, coordinated miscellaneous tasks, etc.

Below were some daily ‘calls for help’ which she often heard. “Yvonne! We’re out of rice!” “The air conditioner is down! The light isn’t working!” “Oh no, a child is sick at school and we need to pick her up now!… We need to prepare congee for him… We need to arrange a doctor’s appointment!” “The school uniform pants are too short now, can you do a bit needlework and make it longer? ” “The child misses to get on the school bus and needs to do alternative arrangements.” In her daily work, Yvonne and her team are just like a mobile unit – they have to handle the children’s daily routines and deal with emergencies at the same time.

The house parents may only know the children in their own hostel.  However, Yvonne recognized all the children living in ECH and had the opportunity to build good relationships with them. “Sometimes I act as a buffer, helping to mediate conflicts between children and parents / social workers.  I can explain and counsel the children in another way.” Yvonne had fond memories like the happy moments of “singing hymns and marching” when she picked up children from school. Beside of handling different affairs, she also worked on building relationships.

Yvonne had received some heartfelt gifts from children, like lovely cards on Mother’s Day, or some hand-knitted scarves. One day, a little boy promised, “When I grow up, I want to be a doctor and take care of you, my Yvonne, when you’re old!” All these little things warm her heart. Although she is single and has no child, God has made her a “mother” to many and she can accompany many children as they grow up.

“Weaving Up This Home”

Looking back on the days of growing together, Yvonne witnessed the expansion and changes in services, the increasing number of children with special education needs, she also experienced various challenges. No matter it’s in good times or bad times, supplies for children has never met a shortage, like festive food, fruits, snacks, daily necessities, and even COVID-19 test kits, masks, and beds for isolation. During the pandemic of COVID-19, apart from the silent donations in necessities like masks and test kits, Yvonne experienced the difficult time when there’s outbreak in the home, she worked with colleagues together selflessly to fight the pandemic. She believes when you walk with God, “nothing is impossible”.

Unforgettable Happy Moments Yvonne recalled the joy of seeing children “grow taller and gain weight” and left ECH happily. She remembered a child who loved staying at Evangel Children’s Home just because “there was food.” The child, who was skinny once, became a “big eater” later and grew stronger gradually. On the other hand, some of her unforgettable sad moments also revolved the children’s traumas and their misfortunes. She felt their pain and misery. One of the children lost his mother, and his father left too. The kid kept his father’s belongings in his pocket and he hoped to meet him on the street. This longing caused her great sorrow. Some of the children who had lived in ECH, passed away in their twenties or thirties, due to illness.  She was very saddened to hear of these news.

Naughty and Frustrating Moments There were also moments of naughtiness and frustration. A child broke and spilled concentrated detergent on the playground.  When cleaning, that created a sea of white bubbles, which made everyone “angry yet amused.” Once there was a newly join child, he liked to create troubles.  When Yvonne brought him to see the doctor, he closed the clinic door and pretended to be a thief, scaring the patients waiting there. Fortunately, people there were understanding and did not blame him.  Yvonne learned to keep patient and was grateful the children changed gradually.

Yvonne lost her father when she was six, and her mother worked hard to support the family. She understands the importance of “a home” for children. “Home” is like the root of a tree; if it doesn’t grow well, the child’s growth will be affected. She hopes that children from broken families can get warmth in this “home” and have a better future. A tree with healthy roots can grow strong.

“Threads is weaved in with Mother’s Love…” Yvonne stitched the child’s clothes with warmth and affection, hoping to mend the ‘wounds’ in children’s heart with love. She hopes that the children will be healed, and they will have their own lives and families, and reunite happily with their children in the future.

願我「家」更好Wishing My “Home” Better

Yvonne often encourages her colleagues with her favorite verse from 2 Corinthians 12:9 – “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  Our colleagues work at Evangel Children’s Home with love, and they sometimes face challenges and pressures which outsiders may not understand. She encourages them to accept and tolerate each other, and to receive God’s grace with a grateful heart.

Along these 24 years, Yvonne has been witnessing that the grace of Evangel Children’s Home is sufficient! She blesses her “Home” here will be even better!