Maggie Ma, a young lady of 23 years, actively gives love and gratitude as she receives it. She gave up the promising opportunity to work in Shanghai and chose to stay with the orphanage to take care of the younger ones in 2013. “When I learned that the orphanage was running short of staff, I decided to go back to help,” said Maggie.

Home Sweet Home

“I would not become whom I am today without the help of the orphanage. I am really thankful for what I have been given and would love passing the love on,” she said. Being the first university graduate of the orphanage, Maggie considered the China orphanage, where she has been raised since she was 8 years old was her real “home”.

Maggie experienced a tragic childhood. She was originally from Nan Ni village in northern China. In 1999, her father died of illness and her mentally ill mother went missing. In 2001, Maggie, together with her younger sister, was sent to the China orphanage. The two poor sisters stepped in the orphanage door with fleas in their hair and shabby clothes on, “Maggie was so hungry that she finished three bowls of noodles at one go and all the volunteers cried for the scene,” recalled Pastor Moses.

Bigger dream

Under the due care of the volunteers in the orphanage, Maggie has grown up healthily and happily. She was hard working and driven, and achieved outstanding academic performance. She later entered the China Hebei Normal University – she was the first university student from the orphanage. Due to her distinguished performance during internship, she received a full time job offer from a Shanghai corporate but later decided not to accept the offer. Instead, she chose to return to the orphanage in order to help with nurturing the younger kids here. “Because I experienced all the emotions that these little brothers and sisters are experiencing; it will be easier for me to relate to them and provide guidance and support.”

Giving up the higher paying job in Shanghai, Maggie currently assumes a teaching role at orphanage with RMB1,000 per month as allowance. Her normal day starts at 6:30 a.m. by helping the younger ones get dressed. Maggie gave all her students a notebook to jot down the touching, happy things in life that are worth being thankful for. “I hope I can teach these kids to feel appreciated for what they have in life, and pass on the love and gratitude towards life,” said Maggie with her signature graceful smile.