Valentine and Angel

Many months ago I said that I would love to share the stories of some of the kids (young adults) at Rumah Anugerah, the orphanage I have visited periodically with my friend Coral. Since then I have gotten to know two girls well enough to have them share with me. One of them is Valentine and the other is Angel.

Valentine was born Feb 14, 20 years ago. She came to Rumah Anugerah (House of Grace) from Ambon, the capital city of the Provinsi (province) of Maluku, on March 17, 2000. Valen even remembers the time: 10 am.

Valentine was raised by her grandparents and in 1999 her parents left for Papua because of the war in Ambon. She has one brother and one sister each that she knows about, and has met them twice. Valentine herself left Ambon in 2000 because of war, and it wasn't until 2004 that she had opportunity to see her grandmother again. Sadly, although they spoke together on the phone and planned to meet in Jakarta on April 24th, her grandma passed away on April 23rd. Her grandfather, a teacher at a Dutch school in Ambon, died two years later and Valentine never got to see him again once she came to the island of Java.

Normally, when a child is born, she takes on her father's family name, but Valen adopted her mother's name instead. Her adoptive parents, Cynthia and Gaspar, are an incredible couple that opened their hearts, family and home to a very large group of children at one time (I think the number is 50 but I need to confirm). Talk about stepping out in faith! (One day I hope to write a bit about the orphanage and it's parents.) In her new home, Valentine has received an education and has learned about the love of Jesus. Each time I have visited RA it has been in the evening, and there is always a devotion time and a time of worship.

Valentine's career goal is to become an Ambassador for Ambon. Right now she is in her 2nd semester of University and is studying International Relations within the Faculty of Social & Political Science.

Angel was born July 21, 1990 in Ternate, North Maluku. She was born to a Christian family in a highly Muslim populated area. Her father still lives in Ternate and her mother loves in Manado; both parents have remarried. Angel has 4 brothers and one sister; 3 of her brothers live in the Jakarta area, which is where Angel lives now.

Originally, Angel came to live with her brother, a pastor, in Jakarta in order to get an education. She lived with him for one year but didn't go to school, then lived in an orphanage for three years before finally coming to live at RA. Angel figures that she was a naughty child, and when she finally went to school on Java she had to visit the principal's office at least twice a week. When she was in grade 9 she began to realize the love that Jesus has for her and decided to make some good choices in her life. Even though she is an older student (18 years old in grade 11), she is getting the education that she came to Java for, and has a personal relationship with Jesus.

Angel's career goal is to work in the Human Resource Department (psychology) for a large company. Already she knows what her mission and vision is for her life and career: to teach others in God spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. She wants to help others grow in Jesus just like she has done.

Thanks Valentine & Angel for sharing.
Thanks for reading!

Angel with my friend Coral, who is a 2nd mother to the kids at Rumah Anugerah.