Save My Children [Paperback]

Withering under the negligence of a step-father who neglected and abused her, Stormy turned to the solace of imaginary friends. The man who was to care for her after her mother's death routinely used her as washerwoman and a punching bag, and then left her home alone for weeks on end with empty cupboards. Stormy was likely near death herself, frail and filthy, when she awoke in a clean bed with a kind woman mopping her brow, smiling like an angel and smelling like cinnamon. Her name was Elsie Jespersen and she and her husband, Harvey, operated Bethany Homes for Children. Stormy soon flourished under their care and made so many new friends at the home that she no longer needed her imaginary ones. "The sky was so blue and the grass green, and everybody loved each other, and Stormy wasn't afraid anymore."

Stormy's story is just one of the many Emily Wierenga shares in her debut novel SAVE MY CHILDREN, a fictional re-telling of the true story of the founders of Bethany Homes for Children. From 1948 to 1991 the Jespersens fostered more than 800 children, caring for up to 55 at any given time. Their home was a set of old army barracks on an expanse of Albertan farmland that they transformed into a haven of hope and a hospital for broken little souls. Mended by love, "children who had never been taught how to smile...cracked the world in half with laughter."

A freelance writer and artist who served on Bethany Homes' Board of Directors, Wierenga has lovingly written SAVE MY CHILDREN in honour of Bethany Homes' 60th anniversary. The novel chronicles the Jespersen's "50 years of army-barrack service, kissing boo-boos and breaking bread, planting gardens and training young boys in farm work, driving 35 youngsters around in a big yellow school bus, and bleeding with pain as the children they loved were forced to leave." Even as adults Bethany's brood remembered Harvey's offer that wherever they were and whatever they needed, they could always C.O.D.--"Call On Dad." "For many he was the only father they'd ever known. For others he was the only father they wanted to remember."

Within the pages of this book Wierenga inspires with illustrations of sacrificial love, entertains with the antics that took place on the farm, and encourages with evidence of God's provision in honour of the Jespersen's faith and obedience. Her keen powers of observation of creation, emotion, and the human condition are revealed through beautiful prose and metaphor. Readers will want to live in Wierenga's world where the early morning sun licks bedroom windows "with weary lemon strokes" and clouds are like "whipped cream on a blueberry pancake."

Wierenga weaves a strong cord of hope through the stories she shares in this compelling and heart-warming novel. This is "the heavenly Father's story...written upon the hearts of hundreds of children, a story of love."

Sharon L. Fawcett, author of Hope for Wholeness: The Spiritual Path to Freedom from Depression

This is redoubtably the most unique work of Christian fiction I've read to date. The reason I say this is that it's based on real people, real events, and it's difficult to figure out where the "fiction" in the story really is. Putting that aside, and the fact that many stories seem to be incomplete, another minor annoyance, SAVE MY CHILDREN, by Emily Wierenga is also one of the most powerful statements of love and faith in our world today, fiction or otherwise.

The story follows the Jespersens, particularly Harvey Jespersen, who from a youth had a calling of God upon his life to minister to children. The beginnings of this ministry are further off than he and his wife Elsie expected. Yet through this they learn patience and build upon the faith and trust they already have for their Lord. The ministry itself seems to be the burden of the local pastor, and a land owner who gives much of his land for the ministry. As people begin to grow cold to the idea and drift away they look and see Harvey and Elsie Jespersen continue on as if nothing had interrupted them. Soon they become "Mom" and "Dad" to the troubled youth who are sent there.

Youth come from all backgrounds, but mostly from some kind of abuse. Many, however, came simply because their real moms and dads couldn't afford to properly raise their children. You'll see story after story of these lives as they come in contact with the love of Jesus Christ as displayed in the Jespersens. This love is like an immovable rock that refuses to stop loving even under the most extraordinary circumstances. Yet once understood and accepted becomes like a healing salve to many wounded hearts. In the end, the children find that "Mom" and "Dad" Jespersen have become their real mother and father, people they have grown to love themselves and who will always be their for them.

The book takes you all the way to a bittersweet ending, where the Jespersens can no longer live on the place that has become known as Bethany House for Children. Their love for the children never dies. The book is a challenge to us to reach those around us with very real needs and to love them as Christ loves us. Whether your life or my life will be enriched by this challenge depends upon whether or not we respond to God in full obedience as did Harvey Jespersen. As far as fiction goes, you may want to skip this one. As far as good Christian writing goes, you'd be foolish to not read it.
(http://cfrblog.blogspot.com/2009/04/save-my-children-by-emily-wierenga_06.html)

› Go to Amazon U.S. to see both reviews  5.0 out of 5 stars