In 1929,16-year-old Minka DeYoung felt a “deep and horrid shame” after being sexually assaulted and discovering that she was pregnant. Sent away from her South Dakota farming community in order to hide her secret, Minka gave birth to a girl at the Lutheran House of Mercy in another city. There she was compelled to give up her baby for adoption.
Minka vowed never to forget her child. And she never did.
For nearly two decades, Minka wrote letters to the Lutheran House of Mercy asking about her child. As Minka married and raised a family, her faith in God grew. So did her love for her lost daughter. When Minka was 94 years old, she asked God to allow her to see her child before she died, and God miraculously answered her prayer.
Spanning a century and including many historical details,this true story explores the consequences of a violent act in the redemptive light of God’s love, goodness, and forgiveness. (Tyndale)
About the Author
Sonya VanderVeen Feddema is a freelance writer and a member of Covenant CRC in St. Catharines, Ontario.
