Home Of Loving Faithfulness story

The Home of Loving Faithfulness ( Holf) opened its doors to severely mentally & physically disabled young people in August 1965. The Home came into being as a result of God’s clear call in 1962 to Valerie Conibear and Wendy Blackmur - two English women who were then serving in Shatin Babies Home - a Christian Mission home in Hong Kong for normal children who had been found abandoned.

The first location of Holf was in a rented bungalow in Fanling, where ten children were cared for. In 1971 the family moved to a rambling old property in Sheung Shui which was purchased by the Trust that Valerie & Wendy had established for the Home. There the extensive grounds - 1.25acres - would accommodate the planned future expansion into purpose built facilities. Up to 21 children and young adults were able to receive full-time residential care in the old house.

Once the mortgage was repaid a Building Fund began but it was not until 1990 that the old house was vacated and the family moved into lovely new two-storey units. Work then started on renovation of the front wing of the original house and demolition of the back wing of smaller rooms which were no longer needed.

In 2000 construction began on the fourth block - now named The Ark, where 2 family units are able to provide a home to 10 younger children with varying  disabilities.House parents, are responsible for a family each, with the aim of living just as a normal family, giving the children the opportunity to learn social, self-care and domestic skills.

Over the years God has wonderfully covered the lives of many who have come into our care. As a result, the Home now has residents from babyhood to 50+ yrs. The adoption of the children was not in the thoughts of Valerie & Wendy as they responded to God’s call, even after Wendy legally adopted Andrew in 1972 and Valerie adopted Charlotte several years later. Yet in 1978 the first 'outside’ adoption took place and, since that time, they have slowly seen other children who were considered unsuitable for adoption being adopted - often by friends or contacts of the Home.

Each adoption has presented its own problems and delays but, by God’s wonderful power, these have eventually been accomplished. It is now always the prayer that each child will eventually be received into a loving Christian adoptive family. But, for all who    are admitted to Holf - the Home’s commitment is for life - and even if a child is adopted, the bond is not broken as each adoptive family continues to keep contact - which is an added blessing to those who have loved the children so dearly.

In 1977 Pui Yee, a UK trained Chinese Nurse joined Valerie & Wendy in the task of caring for their special family. Pui Yee first came for a year and has continued to serve voluntarily ever since. There is a small core of long-term locally employed staff, some of whom live in.   Pete & Sue Spiers came into the work as House-parents in 1999 ready to begin heading up one of the units in the Ark. Peter is now also the Home's administrator.

January 2007 marked the end of 41 years of faithful service by Wendy & Valerie as they entered into retirement. Both continue to be very much a part of the family - living with us and trying to take life a little easier these days. Following on from Wendy as superintendent came Josephine Lau Wai Ling - who was with us for 14 mths before returning to serve in China. We have been very blessed to have her with us. Currently, we are waiting on the Lord's direction concerning the way ahead in terms of leadership roles and responsibilities and also in terms of the possible impact any changes of legislation concerning registration of nursing homes in Hong Kong may have upon us. Meanwhile, as Wendy resumes her role temporarily we continue to work together - trusting in the Lord and relying on His strength for each day.

Holf also gives one year training opportunities to overseas students who are taking a year out from study and applications are also considered from overseas volunteers who can serve for at least a full year. This has resulted in several longer-term volunteers in recent years.

Some of the residents at Holf have family members visiting but others were abandoned or signed off previously and have no known relatives. Whatever their status, they now belong to the Holf family and, as such, they are precious and loved.

Several of the older residents require a lot of time and nursing care, others are very physically challenging. Younger children can all attend special child care centres, schools or training centres - opportunities that were not available in the earlier years. The aim is to meet each individual’s physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs in the best way possible. We all share a common motivation which sustains us in our demanding work - a conviction that it is God Himself who has not only called us to it, but who provides for us, often in amazing ways. The history of the Home is a catalogue of answers to prayer and testimonies to a God who is faithful in meeting all their needs.

Our core staff of several full-time volunteers receive no salaries and appeals for money are never made by the Home, yet each one is fully provided for personally, as are all the needs consistent with running a large house - not to mention the new building project. The answer to this enigma lies in the fact that they bring every need to God in prayer and believe He supplies everything. Unsolicited gifts from individuals, churches and other organisations are their only source of funding.