Manor Park Evangelical Church|Serving Christ and the Community in St. John's
Hilary's Story
Adopted Twice
Hi, my name is Hilary. It was Christmas time back in the 60's when I first arrived in England.
I was just a toddler when I left an orphanage in Hong Kong having been abandoned there by a young, deaf girl who was unable to keep me.
A Christian couple had felt God was asking them to adopt a Chinese refugee...and they got me! I arrived with minimal possessions, confused and apparently very few manners!
Amazingly my parents totally accepted me as their child and I was fortunate enough to be brought up in a secure, loving family - quite a contrast to how things may have been in the orphanage.
Brought up in a Christian home, I was introduced to Jesus from an early age. It was in my teens that some of the important messages in the Bible became much clearer to me. During a weekend away with the church youth group, I recognised for the first time how bad sin was - how much God hates sin (all the bad things we do as humans). I understood that in order to get right with God, a perfect sacrifice was needed. I learnt how God had loved us so much that he was willing to send his Son, Jesus, to be that perfect sacrifice, and when Jesus died and rose again for eternity he paved the way for those who believe in him to receive eternal life too. As the reality of this sunk in that weekend I prayed to God, thanking him for sending Jesus, asking for forgiveness for my sins and inviting him to become the centre of my life.
That commitment remains as relevant today. Despite times of doubt or straying, God has remained faithful to me, continuing to work in my life through his Holy Spirit.
When I miscarried and was very poorly he gave me a peace and a healing that I could not have created in my human strength. When I wrestled between maintaining my midwifery career which I loved, yet seeing how it was adversely affecting family life, he provided new opportunities when I saw none. And just this year as I face new health issues requiring tests and multiple visits to the doctor I have been aware of his presence. I have total trust that God will be with me, whatever the future holds.
The Bible says "For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mothers womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made"
It may not have seemed that way as a helpless, orphaned baby, but I can testify to how God has cared for me. What's more, I feel like I have actually been adopted twice! Firstly into a loving English family and now into an even greater family - God's family.
God has plans and a purpose for each of us but will not enter into a person's life unless invited. He is not far away.
Hilary is married to Neil and they have three daughters