So many things have developed with Qian Qian's story. I hope to fully tell them here so that you can share our joy at the marvelous reach of the One who is control...
Below is a photo of the village in a western province where Qian Qian's family lives. It was taken yesterday by an angel...well, an angel and answer to prayer for us...she went to visit Qian Qian's family and began our next phase of the project to help this little boy.
As I have already written, we sent QQ and his parents last month to a big city in the Southwest for his highly anticipated palate surgery. This had been months in the making. We met QQ and his mother begging on the street in November, he was eight months old. (Read
HUMANITY posts in October 2010 for the full story) Then in November, through many miraculous connections, we celebrated the surgery that closed his lip for the first time in his life. His appearance changed so quickly, so miraculously.But there was a problem when we finally got he and his parents to the big city last month. QQ had LOST weight in the six months prior, and as a result, was no longer eligible for surgery. A subsequent email from one of the lead doctors on the team said that in fact he showed signs of malnutrition. They (the doctors) agreed that they would admit him to the next surgical trip (in November) BUT he would have to gain a great deal of weight between now and then.
There were many problems with this scenario. We had given money to the family to buy good milk powder for the baby. It should have been enough. But they do not live in a vacuum. In fact, they live in the poorest province in this nation. They have at least two older children (possibly four if you count a couple cousins that I believe live with them), they are farmers with little to no income, the grandparents also live with them and they are surrounded by others in their minority village with profound needs. I cannot imagine the pressure, the heart-crushing dilemma of having money that is supposed to benefit only one person in your home. How could I, as a parent, allow that to happen?
Too often we read disaster stories of folks like us who try to "help", but in the long run HURT those they want to serve. Good intentions wrapped up in the complexities of culture and poverty...it is a heady business. BUT, we KNOW that we are called to help this boy get his surgery and STAY in his family. So what do we do?
We considered two scenarios:
1) That we find someone to go to, and stay in, his rural province to monitor that he is receiving enough food. (or, more unimaginable than that, FIND SOMEONE IN his rural province who would work with us in this project.)
2) Bring QQ to our city, take him into a short term foster care situation just until November's surgery where we can oversee his nutrition and weight gain...so we don't miss this crucial window. (The doctors say that he MUST have his palate closed by November or the damage to his speech will be irreparable.)
The first was a LONG SHOT to say the least! The second violated one of our core values in the project...to KEEP QQ WITH his family, not to remove him, even for a short time! Such separation might weaken the family bond...and our goal is to PREVENT his life long separation from his family. Overall, we were convinced that sending money was no longer a solution and that furthermore, cultural sensitivity was essential to preserve the dignity of this family.
So Daddy said over our last meeting with some local counsel..."HE must already have the answer! Though we don't know anyone in that province (half the country away), HE KNOWS THEM ALL...we'll need to go forward in faith, knowing that HE will lead us to the key person HE has in place for this project."
I knew Daddy was right, but it did seem really, well, impossible. We had met, over our retreat during Spring Festival, ONE family from our home state who lived in this province. They did not live close to QQ's village, I had already tried that obvious connection, but Daddy encouraged me to go back to them and start reaching out with QQ's story.
I wrote an email to the family we knew. I asked them to forward it on to any other like-minded people in QQ's province. It explained the situation with QQ and that I needed a partner to be hands on making certain that QQ got his nutrition AND stayed with his family.
After one week, as single email. "Just wanted you to know that we received your email. Your plea has reached the city nearest QQ's village. We are not able to help you as we have three young children and no ability to travel easily to the village...but, we're going to forward it on to others in the city. We're willing to help you find someone."
I was so encouraged.
Then four days ago a new email. "Hi, I received your email. I am in XX, XX which is close to the family's village. Recently I have been teaching English to some local Miao people. One of my students is a Miao lady from the same area. I just called her now and she said she knows where they live. I don’t know what I am able to do yet but if you have more information about the family or even pictures of the baby and his parents we can find their home faster and see what the present situation is. My friend seems to say that her relative lives in that same village. Maybe they might have some village relationship and know each other.
May God bless you for loving that baby!"
And there it was...
His provision, once again.
Subsequent emails and phone calls confirmed that this lady who has lived in the city nearest the village is from Atlanta and has lived in QQ's province for nine years. She is fluent in the national language AND she has relationships with several people from QQ's minority group! IN fact, one of her students has FAMILY in QQ's remote countryside village! Folks...this is a miracle! We have only been here 3 years. We have very limited contacts...almost none outside of our city...but here He has brought us a connection that leads to the very village where QQ's family is! Praise Him. Praise Him, Praise Him.
Then yesterday, while I was teaching, I got to texts to my cell phone. They were of a darling boy that seared my heart seven months ago...standing in his home...smiling at the camera...his lip repair looking fabulous. Our new contact then called me....she was sitting in QQ's home!
Absolutely miraculous.
In real time I was able to assess the situation. I would ask the question, she would translate it into Chinese, her Miao friend would then translate it into the EXACT MIAO DIALECT that the mother speaks. (There are thousands of dialects around this country, often just 50 miles brings you to a village where their language is TOTALLY FOREIGN, but here He brought us the perfect connection, someone who could talk to my hero (QQ's mom) in her NATIVE TONGUE! Isn't that just like Him? He speaks to each of us in the language we know...so that we can know His love!)
The family, afraid of running out of the current milk powder supply was only feeding QQ three times a day, and only using a portion of the required serving amount. We immediately talked with them about increasing his feedings...and using the full amount of milk powder required...assuring them that we will make certain every two weeks, that they have the food they need for him.
This new partner has been working with this people group already...and she has the connections and desire to come alongside this family during this time. She has access to health care and some educational resources in the area too that QQ's family can connect with as well. This is "exceedingly, abundantly beyond all I could ask or imagine!" ;)
Now for some photos to finish my post for this day...
Below: QQ's house in the village.
Below: Inside QQ's home. Dad is stoking the fire, Mom is holding QQ upright on the table.
Below: The stove in the home.
QQ looks at his two older sisters.
QQ with Dad and Mom.
This is a miracle that continues to unfold before our eyes. How marvelous it has been to follow His lead and to discover all He has in store for this child and his family.
Now we will have monitoring and care every two weeks. Our partner will receive our sponsorship funds and will buy the necessary food and medicine for QQ. He must gain a LOT of weight by November. We need him to be at least 12 kg. Please, pray for him and his family during this time.
It is amazing to discover the "work He has prepared in advance for us to do." We are humbled as we rejoice over how He answers prayer.
The opportunity to be used in this tiny way... inexpressible joy.
