 and friends.jpg)
Dingbian Teen Orphanage
Located in Northern Shaanxi province (north-central China) is the Dingbian orphanage for teenagers. The orphanage is privately operated by a Chinese Christian named brother Zheng who, together with his wife, have been taking in and supporting orphans for over 20 years. Brother Zheng raises these orphans as if they were his own children. He has been doing this for so long that many of his children are now grown, married and working. But as fast as a child grows to emancipation someone will bring him a new child so that he has, on average, 35 (mostly teenage) orphans in his care. Brother Zheng supports these children out of his own resources so the conditions are spartan—typically one bunk bed is used for four teenagers, each having his head turned in opposite directions.
Harmony director John Bentley first learned about the Dingbian orphanage during the summer of 2008 when he was in Sichuan province working on water well projects. He called a friend named Mike to ask him a question about pumps. During that conversation he mentioned to Mike that he was on the lookout for Chinese Christian-run orphanages that needed help. Mike was amazed. Just 30 minutes earlier he had received a frantic phone call from brother Zheng saying that they had an electrical fire that damaged the orphanage and destroyed clothing, beds and appliances. Mike didn’t know how he could help but said he would pray. And then—just 30 minutes later—John called saying he was looking for Chinese Christian orphanages that needed help!
We published this need in our newsletter, and a family from Michigan donated enough money to replace everything that had been destroyed in the fire. The children were so excited to get their first-ever new clothes, new beds and bedding, appliances, kitchen utensils, school supplies and their first-ever TV, just in time for Christmas. That was a beautiful beginning, but every day brother Zheng and his wife wake up to face the ongoing needs of 35 teenage orphans. It is a beautiful work, and we want to continue to help them. If you have a heart to help brother Zheng and his wife, please send an email to John@HarmonyOutreach.org.
