HOPE & A FUTURE
China’s Heart of Love
CBN.com –
It didn't take long for us to fall in love with 11-year-old
Xiao Lan of China's Gansu Province. From the smile on her beautiful face, all the world knows that something wonderful has happened to her, thanks
to gifts from people like you.
Eleven year old Xiao Lan loves to laugh and play with her friends
at school. Xiao Lan lives here in a small village on top of the
mountains of northwest China. Everyday after finishing her chores,
she walks more than one hour — each way — to school.
"I like to go to school very much," Xiao Lan explains.
But until a couple of years ago, school wasn't even an option for
this bright young girl. Xiao Lan's father deserted the family about
6 years ago, leaving them with a roof over their heads and not much
more. The situation for Xiao Lan, her sister, and mother grew perilous.
"We didn't have any food to eat," Xiao Lan remembers, "so
we had to borrow from outside. That was a hard time for me. I was always
crying. I was afraid I would not be able to study in school.
"I know I have a smart daughter," says Xiao Lan's mother.
"I am proud of her. Since she wants to go to school, I am encouraging
her. But we needed money for our daughter's education."
To say that Xiao Lan is a hard worker is an understatement. In spring,
she goes to the fields, which are cut from the mountainside, to prepare
to plant the crops.
By the way, it's all done by hand! In this, the poorest province in
China, farmers eat only what they grow. There is no other income for
the family.
But Xiao Lan's mother wants more for her daughters. So when she heard that
CBN had built the "Heart of Love" elementary school, she wondered
if there was a place there for Xiao Lan.
Now, thanks to you, CBN is helping this bright young student
to fulfill her dream.
"I
want to become a teacher in this school in the future," Xiao Lan
says with a smile. "I'd like for all the girls in the village to
go to school like I do."
When Operation Blessing learned that everyone in the village was
forced to collect and carry water from up to an hour walk away, in your
name, they dug more than 400 cisterns for the village, including one
for Xiao Lan and her family.
"Thank you CBN," Xiao Lan's mother declares. "Thank
you for paying for my daughter's tuition and for providing funds for the
cistern for my family."
But the blessings didn't stop there! When CBN's cameras came to visit the
family, we learned of Xiao Lan's long walks to school and of the family's
ongoing struggle with hunger. So in your name, Operation Blessing did
two more things for this special family. First, they gave Xiao Lan's
mom a gift of flour, enough to last for an entire year!
And, for the bright young student with a beautiful smile, in your name,
we gave her the surprise of her life, a brand new bicycle to ride
to school!
"I am so happy," Xiao Lan exclaims. "I never dreamed
that I would ever have bike. My Mom has no money to buy a bike for me.
I will study hard at school. Thank you CBN."
Outreaches like this are made possible only with your help. Thanks
to you, people like Xiao Lan and her family have seen the love of Jesus
in action. And it doesn't stop there. Your faithful gifts are helping
to feed and clothe children here and abroad, are providing medical care
to those in desperate need, and are helping share the tangible love
of Jesus to people all around the world. If you are not a partner with
CBN, please
join now.
CBN IS HERE FOR YOU!
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Are you facing a difficult situation?
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