Romanticizing the Story

Yesterday was our last day in Beijing. The whole reason for going to Beijing was to volunteer at the foster home and familiarize our faces with our son so that when Gotcha day arrives tomorrow, he has a familiar face to turn to in all the strangers. But what it ended up was a whole lot more.

We made friends with our hosts, his foster parents, we laughed and got to know their children. We made friends with the first young woman we've met from New Zealand, Rebecca. She's an amazing young woman, a nurse, and this is her 3rd year volunteering here. We had many laughs about sheep and her accent.

Our hosts showed us different sites that only locals would know. They talked with us about their lives here, how they met, their struggles, the economy and many different things that have brought them where they are right now. The main thing that brought them to where they are and keeps them where they are is God. We got to see just a minute glimpse of a foreign hotel (not local, which is where you do not wish to go).

In just 3 days we got to learn about each one of the little ones here, with scars on their chests from open-heart surgery, the 2 smallest babies growing mohawks hair styles, not because of it being natural, but because of having iv's placed in their head and having them shaved, little ones wearing colostomy bags and not being able to hear, little ones with hands & ears not being where nature intended, a little girl with an extra chromosome and other unmentionable things, and a little boy in the medical isolation room, fighting for his life. He has a heart problem, just got over pneumonia and is struggling with fever, not being able to gain strength to get better, not knowing if he will make it.

All these children's stories started with being abandoned for only a reason that the parent can tell and we can only guess. God knows each one of these children, each hair on their head (and ours). Each of these children have a purpose on this earth and deserve to live life to their fullest within a family with a mom and dad. These little ones with so many special needs don't know they have special needs yet. They are so full of love and want nothing more than love and attention.

I believe the child that tore at me the most was Corrie, a little girl with an extra chromosome, who LOVED Tim. When he would walk into the room she would smile, lift her arms up to be held (she is about 4) and she would just want him to hold her, dance with her, rock her, tickle her, and just be "with her". She has SO much love in her little heart to give and receive.

Corrie giggling at being tickled.

The little boy Daniel (almost 4), is another huge tug on the heart. He wears a colostomy bag and cannot hear. But when you walk into the room, his whole body smiles from his sparkling brown eyes down to his toes. He runs to you, giggles and practically jumps in your arms. Then he lays his head down on your shoulder and wraps his little arms around your neck and you can't help but hold on to this little guy and feel as though you are being given a special gift.

Daniel & Rebecca

We said our goodbyes to the children, one whom we would see in just a couple of short days, but long for us. We headed to the airport with our host and left behind children we would never forget and would be praying. On to Zhengzhou!

Richie learning to feed Daniel

Daniel & Carmen

Corrie & Tim