My Story

Hello! My name is Jennifer Brandenburg and I am a rising senior at Carrollton High School. Although I have grown up in Carrollton, Georgia, my story begins in Hunan, China. When I was a baby I was found on the steps of a water wheel machine factory and brought to the local orphanage where my parents adopted me. I was adopted when I was fourteen months old and have lived in Georgia ever since. Three years ago, my mom and I had the experience of visiting China on a heritage tour. I got to visit my orphanage and meet my nanny and the director. I did not get to visit with my birth parents since I have no contact with them or any idea of who they might be. Some parents leave some food and a note with their babies with personal information attached like their name and birthday, but my mom did not leave anything but an unsolved puzzle. I got to visit some of the kids at my orphanage, but I did not have enough time to play with them. Seeing the kids for those few seconds was enough to make me want to go back and give them the personal attention that every kid deserves. I have been accepted to go back to China and work in a different orphanage for two weeks this summer which I actually leave for this morning! I am super excited to meet the kids and build relationships with them and to see how God opens my eyes and changes my heart through this experience. It is truly a trip of a lifetime!