Stories of Giving from Riley Wells

Below is my story of giving with Holt International. “The babies in the orphanage don’t cry because they've learned that no one will come to comfort them”. This eye opening comment, this fact that children in the orphanages around the world had given up hope, is one of the most sorrow filled realizations I know of. This is how I was first introduced to Holt International Children’s Services(www.holtintl.org). In the mid-1950's Harry and Bertha Holt saw a film about children in Korean orphanages who were desperately in need of help. Harry and Bertha sent money and clothes, but that didn't feel like enough. Then they came to an inspired realization – those children needed families. Harry and Bertha decided to adopt eight Korean children, but soon learned it would be impossible…unless they could get both Houses of Congress to pass a special law. “Then that’s what we’ll do,” Bertha said, and she moved ahead on faith. The Holts’ adoption was revolutionary. Their example showed that a family’s love can transcend the barriers of race and nationality. At a time when adoption was regarded as something to be kept secret, they adopted children who were obviously not their birth children. Through their deep Christian faith and fierce determination, they showed the world that adoption is a banner of love, not a badge of shame. By upholding Harry and Bertha’s ethics, up-front and honest practices and continue finding many more homes for children who need them. In Bertha’s words, “All children are beautiful when they’re loved.” Aside from sponsoring a child with Holt, I have had the honor of being able to help serve with this organization. One of their largest and most impactful events in the Inland Empire is their sponsorship of Winter Jam Christian Concert (www.jamtour.com) that took place at Citizens Business Bank Arena on Friday November 8, 2013. During the concert I was there to volunteer to help answer questions about and to help inspire people to sponsor children in need at the concert. What a wonderful opportunity to see our community turn out to open their hearts and positively impact a vulnerable child's life forever. As Emily Dickinson once said, “Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.” I cannot think of anything more rewarding than the people of our community coming together to give hope to a child. Riley Wells