Home again, home again, jiggity jig...

Up at six, a smiling Ezra called out to Daddy a good morning.

I then rolled over to see Nehemiah, a few beds down from me in the "room of 9 beds" where we all slept last night, waving and smiling a good morning greeting to me.

That was a fine start to our First official day of being the new family unit (all parties fully adopted, as it were.)

We drove 2.5 hours to the capital city again where Ezra gaped and giggled and the sights and sounds of the first city we believe he's ever seen.  His wheelchair narrowly made it through several close clearances as we tried to cross three city blocks and enter the train station.

Nehemiah, now showing a real eagerness to please Momma and Daddy, carefully reached for our hands for every step of the journey.

A harrowing descent down a steep grade of slick marble that runs along side a staircase, got us to the platform for the train that would take us home after 7 hours in two sleeper cars.

Beloved teammates had arranged a meal for us (what a Godsend!) The school had sent the large school bus to collect us...and the boys were bathed and snuggled into their "Tom & Jerry" themed bedroom.  All five, finally, in their room together.  How long we have waited for that fact.

Everyone traveled very well.  Ezra was totally freaked out that he got to take his wheelchair out on the city streets, and to his first fast food experience at KFC, and THEN his first train ride!

Some photos:

Magpie and Daddy spent some time last night in the orphanage's rooms with the babies...thought I'd post a couple of those photos first:

Below: In our sleeping quarters this morning at the foster home/orphanage...some of the boys having a good time while Bub sports Momma's glasses

Below:  Ezra and Magpie together on the train...a happy day for him, I think...

 Below:  Potato insisted that she read scripture out loud in our train cabin...she is very concerned that the new brothers hear right away about the Good News!

Tonight at dinner she told me that she was taller than another eight year old girl that she met these past couple of days.  Then she said, "I'm pretty strong already, now I'm working on my height."

Love, love, love that Potato.

 Below:  Bub and Nehemiah snuggle up..just before this photo...Nehemiah had his arm around his big brother...he is really an affectionate kid

At dinner tonight he, being a terribly picky eater, announced to all of us that he didn't want to eat any salad.  But Bub, being the stellar older brother that he was, turned to Nehemiah and told him, in Chinese, that this was the food that would make you strong!  Nehemiah started jamming that salad in his mouth so fast! He ate every bit of it, then when we all clapped for him at the the table, he stood, bowed, and said "Xie Xie Da Jia"  ("Thank you everyone!")

Totally cracked all of us up!

Below:  Bub getting to know his littlest brother better on the train home.

 Below:  A rousing game of cards was played in the second cabin...the ruthless one...who kills us everytime we play him??? The Singer!  That boy's got game!  Check out Brownie's crazy eyes!  She can make her eyes cross and roll around like no one I've ever seen...like spinning tops, I tell you!

Below:  Our first meal at home together...Pizza, salad, cake, and happy hearts!

Three days off school now for Tomb Sweeping.  We've got several things we need to get in order for Ezra particularly over these days...and final paperwork to finish up for Nehemiah's documents.

We'll all head to school together on Thursday...Lord willing...the new boys with us...to stream right into our life here.

I will do my best to keep up with the blog to keep everyone up to date on these two new boys in our fold!

Must also go to Guangzhou in a couple of weeks to finalize the boys' visas for this summer, too!

Grateful, ever so grateful for for home.

One Foot in Front of the Other

The title of tonight's post is credited to Daddy who today, when asked during hour 2 at the passport office in Ezra's hometown how he was doing, replied, "I'm just putting one foot in front of the other."

It's big. 

Adding a new child to your family is so big, on so many levels.

Then you add two at once.  And the multiplication factor is out of control. 

But that is where we live.

Daddy gets points off the scale for today's strong and steady approach to events that caused tears to spill down my face randomly.  He's my hero.  He quoted scripture to me, he held me close, and he reminded me of God's faithfulness in our lives.  Man, I love that guy.

The kids enjoyed tremendously a visit to the big foster home/orphanage where Ezra has lived the past four years of his life.  They played with babies, they played with toddlers, they played with some other foreign kids who live here too.  What a sweet mercy that was for us while Magpie, Daddy, Nehemiah, Ezra and I slogged it out at the passport office.

Some really interesting questions were asked of us.  Unusual we thought, in a way, during the passport interview with the local official.

When we finalized Ezra's adoption this morning, the head of the Civil Affairs office, asked me why we have adopted so many children.  She especially wanted to know why Ezra...since he will need a different kind of care...using a wheelchair...  She said, "it must be some sort of religion reason, or something?"

I was emotional at the time. 

But I told her, "Yes, we believe that this is what God wants us to do.  And we are afraid of the unknowns in the future sometimes...but we have faith and trust in God who takes care of us and who will take care of Him."  Then this woman hugged me.  I was so shocked, I don't think I've ever been spontaneously hugged by a stranger Here...it's just not done.

Daddy kept telling me over and over again..."it is going to be amazing to see the miracles that are going to come in this next chapter of our life."

Nehemiah did better today overall.  He got more into a "go with the flow" attitude.  He is a kid who loves to be touched, so this is a great blessing in working on beginning our relationship.  Even though I can't say, and he can't understand what I want to tell him...he can feel me rubbing his back, kissing the top of his head, holding his hand.  He is really, really smart.  He did so well with Daddy today too, laughing a being tickled, walking hand in hand everywhere.  Still some crazy man stuff, but overall, we were so encouraged.

Ezra was shut down all day.  This is not uncommon during the first weeks of adoption.  He just sort of glazed over and slept as much as he could...I'm sure just trying to cope with all the changes.  In four years, he's never really been outside of the orphanage.  Playing at the playground has largely been his exposure to the outside world.  Now he is dealing with all of it...new family...new siblings wanting to constantly engage him...a Momma and Daddy of his own....and a world of people/smells/sights/sounds/foods...he's never known.  What a staggering thing for a boy of four.

Not unlike The Bruiser who had been institutionalized for two and a half years before we got him, Ezra has a long way to go with his development.  He has lived in a room of mostly babies, no real older children, and has been cared for like a baby for that time.  The care he has received is the best imaginable care through a private foster home/orphanage...but there is no substitute for family...

I am so thankful that God gave us the experience with The Bruiser to now have known and seen just what sort of healing comes in family.

The highlight of my night was seeing Ezra wheeling around in his new wheelchair that is being loaned to us by a foster home in Beijing.  He was so independent, so strong, and clearly loves the freedom that his new wheels bring him.

Hopefully we'll take a train back home tomorrow.  This is the plan.  However, there is some trouble with getting train tickets due to the Tomb Sweeping holiday...praying for a good turnout at the ticket sales place!  Ready to get home and try to figure out our new lives all together.

Thank you, more than we can ever say, for your prayers and support.

Below:  Ezra watches and listens as The Singer "reads" a book to him tonight.

Party of 11

We're here.  We've got everyone together.  Not really together as there is no adequate hotel room to house us all...but we're in the same hotel...a few doors apart.

Daddy has four of the young men.  He had enormous success calming down Tornado Neam last night.  He was crazy getting into bed.  So Daddy put his hand on the top of his head and he suddenly calmed.  He went to sleep finally with Daddy's hand on his head, while Daddy prayed prayers of thanksgiving for him and his life.

Today has been indescribably enormous.  We started the day with finalizing the papers to make Neam an official H family member...after 15 months...seems surreal.

Then we boarded a train to another province.  Four and a half hours that were stressful, and sometimes sweet.  Upon arriving here, we were taken to our hotel.  We were told that they would bring Ezra to our hotel.  We came downstairs after dropping off our backpacks and there he was.  Sitting on the couch, his eyes wide and a little fearful, he was just sitting there waiting for us.

It was nearly six PM when we received him.  It was an emotional night for all of us. We are thankful for your lifting us up right now.

As I looked around the dinner table I felt dwarfed by the enormity of all of it..the two new ones..our family all together...the unknowns of the future. I told Daddy as he hugged and encouraged me tonight that the last time I felt this way, it was the first night when we arrived in the Middle Kingdom..to live.  I nearly had a panic attack that night, but as I look back on the raw emotion of that night, that point of no return has brought so much blessing into my life.

I'm not talking about living Here (or There) or adopting and having a family of 11 in the same apartment...it is this point when the rubber hits the road and obedience through faith. it is, well, it is so far beyond what we can handle on our own.  Only by His strength...and that is where He wants me to live...depending daily on His strength.

Tomorrow we sign the papers for Ezra..then off to the hometown where he has lived in an orphanage for the past 4 years of his life.  We pray we'll get train tickets home the day after as we so, so, so will need some time in our home to try and figure out the practical side of this divinely designed happening.

Some pictures of today...

Above:  Just after our finalization this morning...an official H family teammate.

Below:  The next few photos attest to his influence over the siblings...these were all taken while waiting at the train station.

Below: Dad and Magpie share a moment on the train platform.

Below:  Potato shows off her changing smile...that front tooth is dangling, twisted, and has moved to the middle!  It is a riot!

Below:  The Bug and The Bruiser hamming it up on the train.

Below: In the bus, on our way to meet Ezra

Below: Party of 11

Below:  The connection between these two continues. How they love each other.  Brownie wanted to feed him his dinner so badly!  (Sure this posh treatment won't go on forever!)

Too tired to think...all others in my room are snoring...so must I.

More tomorrow.

Got him!

Oh yeah...

It was amazing.  He walked into the room, waved at us, and smiled.

So brave.

He then went on to generally terrorize all the siblings while squealing and shouting with joy about the toys in the playroom.

Then a stop at KFC (sort of our new China - adoption ritual,) finally, we are home and readying ourselves for the train ride tomorrow to get Ezra.

Big changes in this family in just 24 hours.

Here are some photos:

Above:  Daddy on the way to Civil Affairs

Below:  Magpie gives The Singer a lift and Brownie shows her enthusiasm for another brother!

 Below:  Momma with the "golden ticket package" that arrived just two hours before we had to leave to make the appointment to get the new little man

 Below:  What a kid.  What a difference it makes to be able to speak Chinese!  (At least 5 year old Chinese!)     He listened to me, and even gave me some smiles.

Above:  Family pic...minus our dear hearts in the US...and Ezra who will join us tomorrow!

Below:  Our customary post-adoption stop at KFC.  Please note, Bub is doing better with the new brother than both these photos suggest.  Just got two where he wasn't flashing his pearly whites.

 Above:  Jie Jie Bug, The Bruiser, and The Singer chillin' while paperwork was being signed.

Below:  Magpie and The Bug at KFC

Above:  We walked out of Civil Affairs and this was the scene as we walked down the road to get taxis (2) to head to KFC.  It was sweet...too sweet.

Above:  The new man, tickling the ivories.

Above:  Playing with his new toy with Jie Jie Potato's help

Above:  We have these cows/bulls/unknown bovine statuary at our shopping area.  The kids LOVE to sit on them...check out this group of cow wranglers.

Below:  Yes, I believe the bovine statuary is weary white fish-net hose.

No, I don' t have any idea why.

 Below: This photo pretty well sums up this man's personality.  He is WILD.  W.I.L.D WIIIIIIILD.

But, he is doing great right now.  Splish-splashing with a couple brothers in the bath tub...it is mayhem.

Tomorrow +1 more

Building "Community"

This concept appears to be the theme of our first days back at school.  Finally, my long leave has concluded and yesterday (on Saturday) and today (Sunday) we've returned to teaching.  It is one of those unusual things for foreigners...7 day holiday (no school)...BUT, NOT SO FAST, you have to "make up" two of those days by working a weekend (thus making a 7 day work week.)

Sometimes we wonder "why" we are Here.  What "good" could we possibly be contributing to?  We are just a large family, taking up space, in the Middle Kingdom.  We're growing larger (not just the hips are being referred to here), but we are growing in all ways (number of children, size of children, space we fill up.)   Not long after we came Here we began to see, and frankly, to hope, that our enormous presence and the make up of our brood might contribute to some softening of hearts...specifically towards those born with special needs Here.

Our Father is SO MERCIFUL and gracious to us. 

The evidence of that mercy and grace was so evident, just yesterday.

Our dear principal, with whom we have worked for all the time we've been Here, came to my desk to tell me that there was a new student in the first grade.  She asked us to give him a placement test for his English and that he was "trying out the school for 2 weeks."  Of course, I said we'd take care of it later in the day.

After first period, one of our new teachers, Mrs. V, came excitedly to my desk to tell me that the new student, was a local boy, born without his left hand.  She was excited because I had recently shared with our new teammates (Mr & Mrs. S and Mr & Mrs V) that we've been delighted (and so encouraged) that this year the school has admitted two other new students who were born with special needs.  A fourth-grader who is hearing impaired and a first grader who has autism.  I cannot emphasize enough that this is such a break from the norm Here.  Quite literally, if you have a child born with special needs, it would be COMMON that the child be kept at home, instead of attending school.  I am unsure if the public school "must" accept those students, but I know for certain that private schools CAN and DO routinely refuse to admit students with any special needs.  As advocates for kids born with special needs, we were thrilled to see our school taking a counter-culture position by already admitting two students with special needs.

Later I heard more of the story from our Principal.   She told me that the new boy's (who has a single hand) family was heartbroken when they came to us because other schools had denied him admission due to his special need.  Please understand, this is a bright, fully functional kid who just happens to have only a single hand.  They asked our school to accept him.

Our Principal consulted with some of the higher-ups in our school's organization and the higher-ups likewise refused the boy's admission.  However, our Principal took a contrary stand.  She insisted that in keeping with the core values of our school (and the character education plan that is headed up by our own dear Daddy and my husband) that we want to be a place of "community" and welcome.  That the world is made up of people who are DIFFERENT and that this is GOOD. (Yes, I am shouting those words!)  She said that our school has a 'warm heart' and that we would do what we could to accept the boy.

In truth, I have not really processed the magnitude of this decision on her part.  She has likely laid her position on the line, but she was so excited to tell me about it yesterday.  As we have known her the entire time of our living Here, I can tell you with assurance that this represents a major change in her thinking!  She too would have, for most of the past 3 + years, agreed with the higher-ups about becoming known as a school that has 'those kind' of students.  (THOSE KIND OF AWESOME, DELIGHTFUL, CREATED FOR A PURPOSE, SUPER-POWERED STUDENTS!)  In fact, during our last adoptions, this dear Principal friend of ours did what she could to dissuade us from adopting any more 'special needs'.  Looking at photos of children born with special needs that we sometimes are in contact with would cause her to look away with discomfort.

Yet somehow, living Here together, seeing our family with kids of various special needs, a barrier has been broken down in her thinking and she SEES that the beauty of our world can be appreciated in differences!

Please know, I fully understand that it is a combination of factors that has led her to this place far beyond us or our presence!  But I am thankful that perhaps we've been able to be a part of this heart change in her. How wonderful it is to see up close that her heart is softening...and as she told us last year that though she doesn't fully understand about 'our Jesus', she does understand the love that she sees. 

As for me...this was like water for my thirsty soul.

Celebrate...and Wait

Received wonderful news today from our agency that the next step in our paperwork to bring Nehemiah home is complete!  Ordinarily we would now be rushing to do the last step paperwork on the US side...but...we've got to wait for another answer regarding a significant development.  Until we have that answer and I can share fully here what that development is...we have to wait.
So much of this adoption has been about learning to WAIT on Him.  I can see just a few glimpses of "why" we've had to wait...and I am excited to see what He will bring about next.   It is good for me to be reminded that all things are under His control and that every matter, for His purposes, is within His grasp.  This is where I find rest.

Nehemiah turns five next month.  I so hope he will be with his forever family to celebrate that day as he's been without his family for the last four.  But, all things in His time.

The boys and I are so homesick.  Though the time has been swift since Daddy and the girls went back...13 more days and we'll be going home too.

A few more dental appointments...saying goodbye to the final cast on The Bruiser's foot...and a few more sweet days with those we love.

We celebrate today...for Nehemiah is one step closer to home...and wait we will for the next step to be revealed.

Encouragement

A few weeks ago, our partner went back to QQ's village.  She had a better camera, a scale to weigh him, and three weeks worth of milk powder, cereal, and eggs.  Her email told me that she found him getting stronger, his weight increasing, and with a happy heart!  The above photo is of his picturesque village.

I have seen a few photos of QQ's older siblings, the olders are all daughters.  I was touched deeply by the below photo of this boy, his lip repair looking great, being carried by his sister.

QQ's family is one of the many minority groups Here.  The below photo shows his grandmother at the dinner table with him, she wearing the traditional dress.

Like many parts of the US, the summer is brutally hot in QQ's village.  The photo of this dear boy makes me feel hot just looking at him!

Below:  But this photo, this is the one that brought tears to my eyes...

Momma, holding her boy and washing his feet.  A smile on her face, though she is bashful for the camera...a smile I've never seen before.  How beautiful it is to see them, in their home, living life as a family...full of hope for the future together!  Just 18 months ago she gave birth to a son that she knew she couldn't keep.  She had no way financially to fix the cleft in his lip and palate.   Yet, she fought bitterly and courageously against the acceptance of that fate...left her village and people group and traveled more than 20 hours standing on a train with her son tied on her back...to sit down and endure the degradation of begging on a street near my home.  I admire her to my core.

The villagers knew she left with the baby and I imagine that they all knew she would return without the son who was born unlucky.  That is simply how it is done.

But instead, she brought her baby home...healed.

I wonder how the news spread around the village? Did they finally arrive at the question...WHY?  This was surely not the outcome they expected.

Then, by a perfect design, someone came to the village...someone who could speak their dialect...who knew the answer to the "why" question.  Someone who brought food to help the boy continue to grow so that he could go away to another far away place and have another sugery. 

Then they all hear.

The answer is love.  Love that is quite literally...out of this world.

Qian Qian Update

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. 

Progress!

On the heels of my last, "stuck in the mud" post, we have suddenly had a great deal of movement...I'm delighted to report!

We traveled to GZ last Friday on the "fastest train in the world" and were delighted to complete our 5th set of fingerprints.  I'm sure the fingerprint tech was really impressed with our style and the flourish of our impeccable "whorls!"  Since riding on the fast train, things have been coming at us at just such a rapid pace!

We've had some news about close ones to us that has been difficult to process.  I'll write more about that in a later post.

We got an email that some folks we highly respect from BC will be paying us a personal visit next month, just to encourage us!  What great news this was!  As we live away from the main cities that people visit...we're always blessed when someone makes the EXTRA effort to come see us!  They want to be with us, to hear about our projects here and the school...we're so, so excited about it!

Out of the blue I received a call from an interested local person who would like to potentially "partner" with us on some humanitarian work assisting older kids who have no family.  Specifically, the need for older kids, with no family, to receive a real education and life skills.  We too often see that this group of kids is so vulnerable to exploitation!  The brothels and crime rings are all too happy for a young person with no family who will come looking for them.  I've a meeting later today with this person, so I'm cautiously enthusiastic about what it will entail.

We also finally have a breakthrough with the tiniest beginning of a relationship between us (our school) and a large,   "officially" run location that houses young children with no family.  This has been a very difficult road.  But soon we'll be rolling out a full project to raise funds for formula, milk, diapers, and other necessities for some dear ones who live at The Bruiser's old "home."  For this, we are praising Him!  Whenever we've reached an impasse these past several months I remember that there are more like our Bruiser waiting for their families...and I feel renewed to press for more avenues to support the work going on there.

Another huge praise is that we received an email yesterday, quite out of the blue, from our dear Grandma D!  She said she was thinking about bringing Nehemiah home and the money we were waiting to come and that she remembered and old policy, purchased when Daddy was just a kid (10 years ago or so ;) that had a small cash value!  It is so fun to see how He moves to bring these resources to us that we need to pay the "ransom" due for our children.

Nightly, during our family prayer time, our kids have been lifting up Nehemiah's homecoming.  They ask for it to come quickly, for him to be prepared for his big, crazy family, and for the money we need to come in.  Lately, we've been praying for the specific amount we need to send the paperwork on to the next step.  For two weeks the kids have been praying nightly for the $2800 to move the paper.  I want to encourage any of you out there with children in the home to ask them to pray with you about specific things...these are FAITH BUILDERS for our kids!  Our kids pray with enthusiasm and total trust that He will meet whatever need it is!    What a joy to share that He was indeed answering their prayer for the $2800, and that we had received word of $1200 coming from out of the blue from the old insurance policy!  After they did the math problem, they amended their prayer last night, and added genuine heart-felt prayers of thanksgiving that He was hearing their prayers and was working to provide what was needed to bring Nehemiah home!

I once read in some adoption literature that often the money of adoption is the dream-killer for bringing a child home to one's family.  I have experienced this many times as I've now counseled dozens of families about adoption.  Our retreat time in February was an endless string of families who wanted to adopt, but were too afraid of the money.  But I loved the way that this author put it, that as believers, we should view this "money" as instead a "ransom" that was due, since the Word often speaks of a ransom being paid for us.  The writer encouraged us to examine our hearts and consider what would happen if one of our children, currently in the home, was kidnapped and was being held for a ransom.  Of course, your mind then goes to the reality that you would do ANYTHING, sell anything, ask anyone for help to bring your child home to where they belong.  In essence, the author went on to explain that if we have determined that we will parent a child who is waiting somewhere in the world for us, they are JUST AS MUCH our child as those already living at home...and a ransom is due to bring them home.  We have certainly followed this pattern, as the needs have arisen for our adoptions, to use/sell whatever we have, to raise the money.

In that vein, and because of how we were blessed to see the many responses to help Qian Qian, we're following the recommendation of some readers and posting another "ChipIn" where if you would like to help us bring Nehemiah home, you can easily give.  We were astounded how gifts of every denomination added up so quickly to provide for Qian Qian's medical needs.  Should you like to be a part of bringing him home, the avenue is there.

On another matter, we've updated the blog to include an "email" opportunity for following us.  I believe (and I'm eager to hear from someone who has done it and it has worked) that if you enter your email address on the top right of the blog, that you can be notified by email whenever there is a new post here.  Just wanted to draw your attention to it...and if anyone experiences it working...please let me know!

We have some big transitions coming for our family in the next month.  Please be remembering us and the children as we go through them...a time of shaking appears to be at hand.  But The Singer's favorite song from our Sunday morning gatherings is "I will not be shaken!"  He has memorized nearly all the words and asks to sing it ALL THE TIME (on the bus, on the way to school, on the field trip, with Dad playing guitar in the evening.)  I will share more specifically about this when I am able.

Thanks for carrying us in your hearts...we are encouraged by you.

Life on the Range

It has been awhile since I've offered a "newsy" sort of update.  I suppose this sleepless night offers me the opportunity to do so, though I have tons of writing to do for the school play/musical/English performance...

We have good news on the Qian Qian front...looks like in about 3 weeks he'll be traveling with his parents to have his palate surgery!  We've been waiting all winter for him to gain enough weight (now that his lip is closed, it has been much faster) so that he could undergo anesthesia under the hospital protocols.  We'll be sending the family to a city in the South where they will meet up with a team of foreign doctors.  The foreign team will do one week of surgeries and then Qian Qian will remain there for about 2 more weeks while his sutures heal.  Many heartfelt thanks to all of you who have continued to carry Qian Qian in your hearts!  How wonderful it will be to see him taking another giant step toward his future!  We are so blessed that He arrested us on the side of the road and gave us the privilege to participate!

In other amazing news...

We saw Little Kevin (young boy hit by a truck last September)...and he is WALKING!  What an enormous answer to prayer this is!  The last time we saw him, in January, he was unable to walk and was confined to a stroller.  He came to visit the Kindergarten (and Bub's classroom) last week and we're told that if he continues to strengthen, he may soon return to school.  He's lost nearly an entire year of his life to his injury and rehabilitation...but we are so thankful to see how he has been restored!  We are giving praise for this development!

Related to school...

Our character eduction program headed up by the Dean of Students (aka our Daddy) is taking off!  The school has had weekly lessons on various character traits.  This week, Justice, is the morality issue and Daddy produced a 70 page powerpoint depicting visually some of the injustices in the world.  Our students will be confronted with the disparity between images of wealth and poverty.  Please be lifting this up, that seeds will be planted!

We had a huge meeting with local officials (one that I've been hoping for over our 3 years here!)   We are eager to provide our students with a practical outreach, an opportunity to put this character education into practice within the community here.  We were blown away at how positive the meeting went, though less than 12 hours before we were told it was a non-starter!  It was staggering for me to consider that in this meeting,  the language, cultural understanding, and credibility required to not get tossed out the door simply couldn't have culminated until now.  So often we have great ideas, even vision for our future, but we have to be careful not to be too hasty.  We must get in sync with a time schedule far beyond our understanding!

Related to family business...

We are so thrilled to report that The Bruiser has been accepted for treatment into a major charitable hospital this summer!  This is a profound answer to prayer!

His acceptance through us a bit of a curve ball as we found out that his treatment required 10 weeks to correct his feet...not the 6 weeks we had been told by another hospital previously!  We have only 6 weeks furlough each summer before school begins again.

We were astounded to discover that His plan has provided for a long-term substitute for my position (allowing me to remain in the US for The Bruiser's treatment!)   Due to Daddy's Dean position, he must return after only a four week furlough, so this situation will cause for a significant separation of our family, something we are not accustomed to!  Additionally, our dear Grandma D will have her first trip to see our home Here, when she travels with the girls to bring them back before the start of school!

So the boys and I will remain in the US for 12 weeks (living like squatters off friends and family members!!!) ;)  The girls will have 8 weeks to visit their home culture (and will be able to attend their first Fair in 3 years, which used to be the ANNUAL HIGHLIGHT of our summers.)  It is a beautiful picture of how He takes care of our every need, the finest detail, even BEFORE we understand what our needs will be!

On the adoption front...

We are fully in the throes of paperwork now.  We're back in the line-up waiting for immigration approval for Nehemiah.  This wait will be a tough one as we know that he is in a tough spot...and he's getting older...we so hope to have him home before his 5th birthday!  Please lift up with us the need for speedy approvals and the next $2800 we need to send our paperwork on to the next step...we wait and watch for the miracles to unfold!

Now to make a long post, even longer...

These photos are from our recent Spring Field trip for the Elementary school.  I'm mostly posting them because they show a little bit of how many people we rub shoulders with on a trip to "the zoo."  These photos were taken on a Thursday, prime field trip day, in our little city of 10 million.  

 Above:  While we were lining up to go into the "seal show" these folks were doing their daily routine...we see this often...groups of people gathered from morning to night...to exercise.  It is one of the charming things of Here, I think.

Below:  This shot is of a fraction of the seating area for the "seal show," there was not an empty seat in the place...the sound was deafening...throbbing masses of school children!

Below: this was the line for entering the "elephant show"...we stood in this amusement-style line for 30 minutes...every inch of the four winding lanes was jammed with people...everywhere throngs of people!

Below:  walking through the zoo/park with some other patrons...

It is because of this population where we live now that when I visit my home culture I keep thinking, "WHERE ARE ALL THE PEOPLE?!" Truly, it is the strangest thing to me during a furlough in the West...where are all the people?

Below:  These students where snapping photos and practicing their English with Daddy...a daily phenomenon for us...they were so cute...and so excited about seeing a foreigner!

 Below:  another shot of some park patrons on Field Trip day...

 Below:  one of our students...(he's the one in the hat)

Below:  a few familiar students pose for a shot

Below:  Tomb Sweeping holiday has just concluded Here.  As we did not have any ancestors' tombs to sweep, we took advantage of the extra day off school to go to our local shopping area...these are a few photos of that...

Potato gets a ride on Magpie...

Below:  The Bug and Brownie sporting her new glasses...we found out a few weeks ago during a routine eye check by the school nurse that Brownie's eyes were not seeing distance very well...so off we traipsed to the eye doctor...upon wearing her new eyewear...she said after about 20 minutes..."Momma!  I can see!"  I felt SO BAD!  Immediately, her work in Chinese class (where she has to identify hundreds of characters comprised of fine strokes often from flashcards or written on the whiteboard) has dramatically improved!

Below:  Daddy and the tribe...no, we're not too conspicuous while out shopping...

Below:  In front of the main entrance to our little shopping area...it supposedly has the "longest pedestrian shopping area" anywhere...well, it sounds impressive!

We should be able to blend in with all this activity around us...right?

 Below:  Since we're in year 3 with no personal vehicle...we ride the city bus.  This is a photo of a typical bus stop where we must fight for position, run to an approaching bus, press ourselves (sometimes shouting) on the bus...it is always high stress!  This line up of people, here extending several feet OFF the bus stop and into the street, was nearly 1 city block long!

Okay, enough for this ridiculously long post.  Sorry that I've been off my normal rhythm of writing...I do hope to be past my adoption paperwork, writing the school play, and tax stuff soon!

All for One!