Rural China

I think it would be prudent of me to say this first: I know we have poverty all over the world, even in our own backyards. So, I'll approach this the same way when someone asks me the annoying question why I adopted a Chinese child. "All children deserve to be loved." My sentiment is that ALL poverty needs to paid attention to, in countries all over the globe. That is why God blessed us with Missionaries. These individuals represent Christ and his loving hand. I'm not posting pictures here to garner pity for the Chinese.
I am in quite the predicament. I came to China thinking I "know" what the culture is like when in fact, I know very little. I am forced to unlearn stereotypes others and myself have come to know as truth. If you are a parent of an adopted child then of course you want as much information concerning the beginning of your child's life as you can gather. I truly believe people to often can't see outside the realm of the adoption itself and into the culture outside the orphanage gate. As a representative of my denomination, a woman, a Christian, a sister, mother and friend to China, it's extremely important that I show the east that Christ's love is universal. Its called spreading the truth. Everywhere we travel, people ask us about the election back home and Obama's faith. That means that I, Melissa Hovey, a moderate registered Republican must tell them that our President is a Christian who prays. Why? Because it is the truth. If I come to China and allow people to believe he isn't a Christian, then that is a misrepresentation of America. If you look at Jo and say to yourself that because she was abandoned, then all Chinese people must hate their daughters. That makes Jo a misrepresentation of China. It's my responsibility to bring prayer, song, good energy and love with me to share with others. It's also my responsibility to spread the truth back home. Josie does that naturally by loving others unconditionally the way Christ wants us to. You don't have to be a Missionary to express the love of Christ. It is as simple as showing grace and forgiveness to one another. We are all flawed.