In this testimony, which the church heard on Sep 11 and 12, City Harvest Church member Holly Heng shares how her mother’s act of obedience to God changed the life of a little girl.
Holly (left), her mother Laura (centre) and her sister opened their hearts and home to baby Ruth
“Hello, my name is Holly. I am 21 years old. I am a Year One student at the Singapore Management University and I am a member of cell group N532 in JJ zone. I have an older sister and we live with our mother, Laura—we are a single-parent family.
“In 2016, during a church service, God showed my mother a vision of her holding a baby, but she could not understand what it meant. Shortly after, she heard that a member in church was pregnant and was unable to care for her baby due to her home environment. The baby’s mother was also unwed and intellectually disabled. When my mother heard this news, she felt that it was God’s plan for her to help look after this baby.
“After the church service, my mom came home and told me how she felt. I was caught unprepared. However, my mom said that we should step in and help this girl and her baby if we have the capability to do so. I knew it was not an easy decision as this would change our lifestyle. We would no longer be as free as we would have to look after the baby. But I prayed about it and also felt that we should reach out and help raise the baby.”
WHAT RAISING RUTH TAUGHT ME
“During the months leading to the delivery of the baby, our zone supervisor Johann (Sim) and his wife Pastor Eileen (Toh) brought the mother for her checkups and also updated us on how the baby was developing.
“A few days after the baby’s birth, my mother, my sister and I went to KK Hospital to bring baby Ruth home. When I saw her, I was very moved in my heart. I felt that it was by His grace that we could be a part of her life.
“Ruth is now 5 years old. It definitely wasn’t easy caring for a newborn. I was only 16 then and I took on the nanny duties whenever my mother was unwell or physically drained from looking after Ruth. I knew that I needed to share my burden with my mother as her health was not good.
“Apart from that, I was often judged by others who did not understand our situation. One day I was in a lift at a shopping mall, carrying baby Ruth who was only 6 months old then. I overheard a mother telling her daughter, ‘Don’t be like her, so young already have a baby. Don’t make a mistake like this.’
“Truth be told, I was very hurt. But the Lord encouraged me and told me not to be trapped by the opinion of others. I also learnt to build my identity on God’s truth.
“Another time, Ruth was hospitalised due to an asthma attack. We were worried and took turns caring for her in the hospital. Johann and Pastor Eileen also showed up at the hospital to stand in the gap and pray for Ruth.
“Despite the busyness of caring for a baby at home, I thank God that by His grace, I did well in my ‘N’ Level exams and received five points. I was able to enrol in Temasek Polytechnic straight off, instead of having to go through Secondary 5.”
FOSTERING A CHILD DREW US CLOSER
“I am also thankful for our cell group leaders for their care and love for baby Ruth and for my mother. Whenever my mother feels overwhelmed or tired, they would always volunteer to babysit Ruth and buy her things that she needs. It really takes a village to raise a child.
“Ruth is like my own younger sister. I want to make sure that I am able to protect her and watch her grow up well. Her cheerfulness lights up our home, and my mother and I have grown closer as I learnt to appreciate my mother for taking care of me when I was young.
Holly carrying Ruth
“I hope that our story will encourage those who are considering becoming fosterers or helping a child. You don’t need to have a lot to be able to take care of a child, just a heart to help and the commitment to love the little one. You would be saving a life. Each day, the love of God overflows in us for Ruth. At the same time, we receive so much love from her. We are so glad we did it: it takes commitment to look after a child, but the joy of being able to love a little one in need more than compensates. God can use us to make a difference and to save a life.”
