November 5, 2010
This article was written by Jason Herring. He had a son named who also happened to be named Josiah and he passed away just before he turned five in May 2009. He recently got back from a trip to China and having visited Harmony House, where our little Josiah resides, he wrote this article about his visit. If you would like to know more about the story of his own son, Josiah, please click here.
Confirmation in an Unlikely Place
Have you ever stepped out in faith and then wondered if you were in God's will? I know that I have. When I was presented with the opportunity to go to China last December it seemed like a great idea, but as the departure date got closer, I began to wonder if this was really the right thing to do. There were issues in the church, and people were acting immature. How could I go to the other side of the world when there were fires burning on the home front? Apparently, the Chief Pastor was on vacation and needed for me to cover for him. Or at least that's how I misread the memo.
With apprehension I left for China not having any idea what to expect. During the first six days of Hong Kong ministry, I met a wonderful couple from Ireland, Richard and Cherith. We were riding down an escalator of a shopping mall when Cherith asked me, "Do you have any children?"
"Yes. A son," I replied.
"How old is he?"
"Eight years old," I answered.
"What's his name?"
"Jason. He's a junior."
"Oh, that's funny," Cherith said smiling, "I would have thought that his name would be Josiah."
I stopped, and then with a laugh said, "Well, that is very interesting."
I shared (my son) Josiah's testimony with Cherith and Richard, and later with others in our team of volunteers. How could she have known that I had a son named Josiah? Of all the names to hear spoken in an Irish accent in the middle of Hong Kong, Josiah's name was uttered when I least expected.
Afer our intense labor in Hong Kong was finished, we went to Beijing for a few days of sightseeing. On Sunday afternoon we went to visit the Harmony House orphanage located 45 minutes south of the capital city where Steven Curtis Chapman had adopted Maria. When we arrived, I was unprepared for what I saw. There were dozens of orphans from toddler to three years old who loved to pose for the camera. All of the kids had a special need of some kind. One kid in particular caught my eye right away. He was very interested in me, and stuck his tongue out every time I took his picture. When all of the kids left the dining room and went into the living room to play with the rest of the team, I remained in the dining room conversing with this little guy who didn't understand anything but a smile. Then he pointed to my camera. I noticed that he pointed with his deformed feet as though they were his hands. He kept his hands hidden in the sleeves of his sweater. He liked my camera, and he loved it when I would show him his picture after each snapshot. When a worker helped him to the floor and he began to hop across the floor like a baby seal, I could no longer contain myself. I made a beeline for the restroom, closed the door, and cried where no one could see me.
Regaining my composure I went into the living room to see some of the other precious children. I wasn't there but a few minutes when I heard someone say, "Josiah." And then I heard it again.
"Excuse me. Did I hear Josiah? Is there a child here named Josiah?" I asked the director of the orphanage.
"Yes, there is," she replied.
"Which child is he?" I asked.
"He's going up the stairs," she said, gesturing to the stairwell.
Before I looked I already knew who it was. There was my little photogenic buddy heading up the stairs, one step at a time. When I walked up the stairs there were a dozen more kids playing with their toys. It didn't take long to observe the pecking order. Josiah was the kingpin of the toy room. He held a monopoly on a box of animal shaped blocks. A lady from our group asked him, "Are you Josiah?" Josiah looked up at her with sparkling eyes and said, "Josiah!" Hearing that name from the lips of a four-year-old little boy was almost too much. Stink! I'm going to lose it again. Not in front of the kids. Fight to keep it in. There, got it under control.
I spent the rest of our time at Harmony House watching and interacting with my newfound little buddy. Once he tired of controlling the block market, he turned his attention to coloring with his toes on construction paper. I spelled his name for him, and he scribbled something. And that's pretty much how it went. I wrote or drew something and Josiah scribbled. And the only thing we mutually understood was a smile and 'Josiah.'
What are the odds of meeting a four-year-old boy named Josiah on the other side of the world? I wanted so desperately to hold my own Josiah again. And yet someone had thrown their Josiah away because of a deformity. This Josiah was sharp and very intelligent. He was crippled in body but not in mind. And like my little Josiah, he had spunk.
When we left the orphanage, I sat in the back of the bus in silence for most of the ride back to Beijing. There was so much to process. Later, one of my teammates, Todd - a dear friend from Idaho - commented that this was like divine confirmation that I was supposed to be on this trip. And there it was. It was like God saying, "Here's your sign." A conversation on an escalator with a girl from Ireland and a chance encounter with a Chinese orphan had provided all the proof that I needed to know that I was in the will of God.
Confirmation always comes to those who are walking by faith. I've never embarked on a venture of faith that God did not eventually confirm my heading. But confirmation does not come to those who are walking by sight. Other times in my life I have floundered like a ship with no sail, wondering if I was really where I was supposed to be. To this day I can look back on certain moments in my life and still wonder if I was in God's will. I missed all the signs because I was not walking in faith. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. But when we walk in faith our lives are pleasing to God, and our chance encounters and coincidental circumstances become confirmation of divine direction.
LITTLE JOSIAH BECAME MY FAST BUDDY
JOSIAH WRITING WITH HIS FEET
December 30, 2010
"Come and see the works of God; He is awesome in His doing toward the sons of men." Psalm 67:5
This year Jason Herring and his family has decided to do the first annual Josiah Lee Memorial Offering in memory of his son and they are donating the funds to us in order to help bring our Josiah home. Below is an article he wrote based on the memorial service held at his church:
Josiah Lee Memorial Offering
Josiah Lee Herring made an impact on every person he came in contact with. The blonde haired, blue-eyed boy charmed everyone with his unique accent and vivid imagination. When he went home to be with his Best Friend on May 20, 2009, he left a huge hole in our lives that can never be filled. But even though nothing in this world can ever replace the remarkable Josiah Lee, we will never stop thinking of ways to honor his memory. For over a year I have been impressed to take up an annual Christmas offering in honor of Josiah. This last October while visiting a small orphanage located in a small town in China, I met my reason for giving.
When I came home from China in October, I wrote an article describing my encounter with Josiah entitled, "Confirmation in an Unlikely Place." Chalk it up to conicidence or the alignment of the stars I knew that it was an act of divine Providence that I would meet a four-year-old boy named Josiah on the other side of the world. My article was passed around to friends of friends of friends and this led to yet another chance encounter. I received an email from the parents who were in the process of adopting Josiah.
Brian and Rachel Beauchamp are a christian couple in Iowa with two girls Paige (10) and Paris (8). Early in 2010, God began moving in their hearts to adopt a special needs child from China. Their testimony of how God led them to Josiah is truly amazing. You can read all about this wonderful family and their adoption journey at josiahsnewhome.blogspot.com.
It all fit so perfectly together. Besides the obvious connection points, this was at the very heart of the Christmas story. Why did God send His Son to earth 2000 years ago? "When the fullness of time was come, God sent forth His Son...that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Galatians 4:4-5). Could there be a better cause for a Christmas offering or a better way to honor the memory of my son?
You can help make it possible that Josiah will spend Christmas next year at home in Iowa with his forever family. When David was established on the throne of Israel he asked, "Is there anyone that I may show the kindness of God unto?" His quest led him to a crippled boy named Mephibosheth. Have we ever asked that question? Where would it lead us if we did? This "tiny Tim" can one day walk and run with corrective orthopedic surgery. We have the opportunity to show the kindness of God to a young boy on the other side of the world. This is what it means to "do justice." This is the definition of pure religion that is undefiled before the Father. Merry Christmas to all and God bless us everyone.
Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. (Psalm 82:3)
Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction... (James 1:27)
