Tag: orphanage

Introducing….

Posted on by Tammy

As I was handing out high-fives and saying goodbye to my Thursday art class, one of my favorite students, a 13 year old boy, handed me a note.  It was a torn corner from a piece of notebook paper.  “Does your son read Chinese?  Please give this to him.”  So sweet, right?! When I delivered it to Soccer Dude at the dinner table, I had no idea what the words on that paper would do to my heart.

“May I come to your house to play and visit your family?” was the request scrawled across that torn paper.  As Hubby read the words out loud to our family, I began to cry sob.  My kids looked at me in dismay as I was loosing it over a playdate request.  But, it seemed like so much more.

By law in this country when you turn 14 you are no longer able to be adopted.  I thought of this sweet 13 year old boy who wants to “visit” our family and it hit me so hard that visiting is all he would ever do.  To him a family is something you visit, not something you have.  That my friends is something to weep over.  Something we need to fight against.

For the boy who handed me the note, it is to late.  But for many others there is still time.  Please pray with me for miracles.  The miracle of a family for Manning and for the two waiting boys I will share with you today.  “Jenning” an amazingly smart 10 year old boy who has overcome so many obstacles and 4 year old “Kipling” who seeps joy from his pores!

These children are able to be adopted through Children’s House International and the following information comes from CHI’s Waiting Children website.

Jenning_2_032715Jenning’s current obstacle is finding a family before it is to late and I tell you what, he will be amazing in a family.  There truly is something special about this boy!  He is a kind, polite, strong and eager boy who has stayed with his foster family for 10 years now. He is doing very well in school.   His special need is post-operative CHI, hyperdactyly of hands and feet.  After four surgeries on his legs he can walk normally now, but his protective foster mother says that he should not walk too long! She said that his legs grow tired and can be painful. However, Children’s House International’s own caseworker, lives in Jenning’s city, has seen him a few times and notes that he seems to be able to climb, walk, run, and carry on normally without complaint. He is healthy and seldom catches any illness; even colds are rare with this hearty boy! He likes to eat noodles, and he especially likes spicy food, but is very unique in that he doesn’t really like rice. His favorite fruits are watermelon, pineapple.

When the CHI team observed him playing with the other kids at the orphanage, he was very outgoing and willing to help the younger ones. He was eager to get people’s attention and showed a bit of a sensitive side. His foster mother said he feels a little nervous when he visits the orphanage because he doesn’t like where he comes from and doesn’t want others to know, especially those at school. He wants to be just like the other kids, and he feels pained that he is not. After the surgeries that at long last enabled him to walk, his confidence level grew greatly.  But he hasn’t forgotten the days when he could not walk.  When he comes to activities at the orphanage, he has been seen taking special care of the younger children in wheelchairs, pushing them into the sunshine and trying to make them smile.  I can just imagine how much joy and compassion will be added to a family when Jenning becomes a son!   His birthday is in April.  What a birthday gift to have a family committed to him when he turns 11!

 

Kipling_1_032615Kipling, is described by the Children’s House International social worker as “JOY in a 4 year old body!” Kipling has been fostered since he was 4 months old.  Kipling was born in May 2011 with a recessive cleft lip, brain scan difference and undescended testicle. His file doesn’t mention it, but he also seems to have low vision.  Although these minor needs put together might seem daunting, don’t let them put you off.  He is a laughing, smiling, singing, dancing bundle of lovable boy!  He has lots of energy and seems to very much enjoy being in the spotlight. This is part of the exuberant exchange between the CHI team and Kipling.  He came in to the room, greeted us warmly with a smile and a giggle, then set to work playing with blocks. When the team spoke with him to ask him questions, he would tread excitedly in one place, his little feet coming up and down in such joy that it was apparent he could hardly contain it!  He was happy playing and liked to throw things on the floor to make noise, and he loves music.  One of the orphanage staff played a very popular Chinese pop song, “You are my little apple” and Kipling was thrilled. He danced and sang the words of the song, missing very few. When cued by his foster mom he would shake his backside, and put his hands up in the air waiving them around in glee. He has two little cute dimples. When he was done performing he giggled and said, “Okay?” Our laughter only encouraged more dancing, singing and laughter.  The CHI team was smitten!

 

If you would like more information about adopting these boys or other children who wait, contact me and I will gladly put you in touch with the right person at CHI to answer any questions you might have.

Waiting Treasures

Posted on by Tammy

It has almost been two years since I returned to teaching art at the orphanage, and seven years since I began this journey. If there is one thing that I believe more today than I did my first day walking down the hall of the orphanage, it would be this: if everyone could look into the eyes of these kids, spend an hour coloring with them and hear their stories – there would be a line a mile long of folks begging to be the special, chosen, adoptive parents of these amazing kids.

Instead it is the other way around. We are begging people to take a look at a photo, a file, and to take a leap of faith to add one of these treasure to their families. Unfortunately, they are unfound treasures. Waiting.

Today I have hope.

I am so excited this paradigm could shift.

There is an American adoption agency, Children’s House International, who have started a relationship with the orphanage where I teach. They have a social worker who lives here, is updating adoption files for our kids and they are advocating for the future of my sweet little friends. How awesome is that?!!

They have seen the kids and seen what I have seen….their special potential.

This also means there is a way for me to advocate and I now can share the kids with you. Would you join me….advocate and give voice to those who are waiting and hoping. Look at their photos, take in their stories, consider adoption, give generously and mostly pray for miracles.

We need miracles – because the kids in my classes are not cute healthy infant girls who seem easy to adopt. They are older boys who need the second chance adoption would bring.

Let me share the story of one dear with you today that comes from the CHI website:

Manning_2_032615UPDATE:  Manning has a family!

At 6 years old “Manning’s” grandfather and father died. His mother ran leaving him to wander the streets until the police brought him to the orphanage. At 13 he still has never been chosen to be adopted because frankly families don’t want to risk taking in an older boy. He asks why families come for the young kids and not him. “I have waited longer. Why don’t they come for me?”

He is living in a group foster home on the grounds of the orphanage with three other younger children. His foster mother told us that he is the first one to get on his feet and help her when she asks for help. Because he is the oldest one in the family, he really works hard so as to take good care of the younger brothers and sister. The younger kids all love to hang out with him because he is so fun and so kind. He is a little introverted, gentle, and a bit shy. He loves art and riding his scooter around the orphanage grounds. Both socially and physically, he is a typical boy of his age. He is doing very well in school in all his subjects and recently received 4 medals in P.E; he can run fast! He likes Chinese class and art class the most. He is full of imagination and draws very well. He doesn’t like math. He doesn’t like “leftovers day” in his home, and always prefers noodles.

Upon entering the care of the Children’s Home he was found to have epilepsy, so he was given medication and now after 7 years, his medication is reduced to a half tablet each day and he has not had a seizure in over four years. He is small in stature, but mighty when it comes to responsibility, integrity, and personality.

The family who finds the treasure in this boy and adds him to their family will be blessed beyond measure.

If you’d like to learn more about Manning and the other children like him who wait, please contact me. I’ll be glad to put you in touch with the folks at CHI.

No one Reads Them Books

Posted on by Tammy

They thought I had lost my marbles.  I guess that isn’t anything new.  Many of the things I ask of my sweet students and the now trusting Chinese teachers make them shake their heads.  Did she really say…..?  They wonder if it is my bad Chinese or one of my crazy ideas.

“Yes, yes I did just tell the children they could use car wash mitts and loofahs to paint…but first let’s have a bit of sensory fun!”

Once little hands were coxed inside the wash mitts that seemed to dwarf their tiny arms the giggles did not stop.  Who knew a wash mitt could tickle so much.  Some were thrilled to then thrust their new toys into the paint, others were’t as sure.  The teachers themselves had their doubts and reminded me there would be a huge mess to clean up.  I had prepared for their doubts over our unconventional paint brushes.

IMG_0390

What I hadn’t prepared for…the blank stares when I pulled out a children’s book that had inspired our art lesson for the day.  I forget.  It isn’t as common for a Chinese parent to sit and read books to their children and for sure the children living at the Children’s Home were unaware there might be the luxury of a care-giver having the time and space to draw them into a lap for a story.

“They won’t listen.” one of the teacher’s told me.

“Then let them look” I defended.

“They can’t understand.”

“Then let us teach them”, I whined back.

I had similar conversations all week as I pulled out my book for each group of children.

IMG_0393

 

There are moments that I forget the children in my classes are orphans.  Seriously.  I know that sounds almost as crazy as using a car mitt for a paint brush, but it is true.  They are kids.  They are like normal kids that you might have in any classroom.

Then it will hit me.

I will pull out a book and their stark reality will hit me in the face again.

No one reads them books.

 

IMG_0083

 

 

Little Man’s favorite book at the moment is one of those “find the plane hidden in the picture” type books.  I have read it so many times since my mom bought it for him in September (Yes, that would have been 5 months ago.  Uhh, Thanks mom!  Thanks a whole bunch.) I read it on auto pilot.  I have gotten so sick of it.  “Honey,” I try to reason with him, “you already know where all the planes are on the page!! It’s not even a great story and you know the ending!”  See I am kinda crazy.  I try to reason with a four year old.  He will have nothing to do with it.  His fat little finger flies over the page pointing out each hidden image (in order I might add) as I read the words…again.

His big sister offered to read the book to him this afternoon letting me off the hook, but somehow the book isn’t so bad anymore. I get to be the one who reads him a book.  How cool is that?

 

 No one reads them books.  How sad is that?

IMG_0073

What are we going to do about that?

 

 

With us

Posted on by Tammy

IMG_0106

 

IMG_0057

The fall art projects have transitioned into a month worth of Christmas.  Not really sure where the weeks have gone, but I must say I am proud of my little artists who have turned out some fun projects and learned about Christmas as we went.  Evergreen trees, ornaments, Santa and stockings then by the end of the month we got to the heart of Christmas. They took it all in asking great questions.

ornament

I was so blessed by our Christmas classes I didn’t think it could get any better. But it did.

gluetree

After talking about our Christmas tree and making cookies I had the idea of bringing a class to our home to experience Christmas at another level. So on a whim, I asked permission to bring my class home with me. I wasn’t really expecting to be allowed so when the permission was granted I was surprised and thrilled.

deer

My Thursday class got to know me on a whole new level and I them. There is something about a home visit that brings you closer. Each of the kids took photos in front of our Christmas tree, they frosted sugar cookies and exclaimed over their sweetness. I made pizza for them and we played games. But my favorite part was having them sitting around the living room watching Tom and Jerry with my four kids. For a few hours we were one big happy family.

art

It was the first time Little Monkey and Little Man had met my students. I wasn’t expecting their surprise over the wheel chairs filling our living room. Little Man asked, “Why do they have legs that don’t work?” His question shouldn’t have caught me off guard. Makes sense in his four year old brain. He is missing a leg so of course he needs help to walk, but all legs should work!

I explained people are all different and some people are born with working legs, some with legs that don’t work and some are born without legs.

I expected a follow-up conversation about special needs, but as always he was many steps ahead of me.

“Mom,” he said, “those boys need to be adopted. You know. You and Dad adopted me and then got me a leg so I could walk. A mom and dad is what they need.”

handprints

The idea of taking my students back to the Children’s home was hard at first. We handed them a small gift at the end of our time. They were thrilled but I felt that it was a cruel consolation prize. The words of my sweet four year old were resounding in my heart.

I love my son for having such confidence in his parents, but as I processed the afternoon I was drawn to the fact that parents wouldn’t meet all the needs of these kiddos just as I can’t meet all of Little Man’s needs.  Although all children need and deserve parents, the answer is in the heart of Christmas.  Immanuel.  G- with us.  He heals.  He provides.  He is.

Once again my sweet kiddos and students teach me, taking me deeper into the heart of Christmas.  As I took the kids back to the Children’s Home I did it with peace knowing Immanuel is with them.

watercolor2

Speechless…there is more

Posted on by Tammy

I just haven’t known what to say.  Every time I sit down to write a blog post, I just stare at the screen knowing that I will say to much or not enough.

 

It all started the first week of October.  We got a call from the orphanage asking us to consider becoming foster parents.  They needed emergency placement for three different children.  We heard the stories of all three kids and then the questions started rolling.  Could we really do this?  Should we do this?  Where would we fit another body in this small apartment?  How could we possibly say no when they called and asked us so directly? We had said someday we might foster.  Was that someday now?

We pr.yed and went back and forth about it for two weeks.  Finally, Hubby and I felt at peace after pr.ying, “We will do this unless You provide another way.”  The next day we got a call.  One of the children had an adoptive family who was coming with in a few weeks.  No need for her to be fostered.  Then while at the orphanage I was told a Chinese family offered to foster the second baby girl.  That left a two year old boy.

I went to meet him and thought we would bring him to our home.  As I held the tiny boy in my arms the assistant explained that the director had changed her mind.   We could not foster him because he would not be put on the list for international adoption.  I wept for him…and me.

I felt at a loss as I realized that our pr.yer had been answered.  G.d was not asking us to foster now.  Funny how you can feel so reluctant to do something when you think you can.  There was part of me that was relieved, but sad at the same time and I wasn’t sure what to do next.

I love my art classes, don’t get me wrong, but the next few weeks I struggled.  Was it enough?  Actually the thought of fostering didn’t help me with that question either.  Deep down I knew fostering wouldn’t be enough and we can’t adopt all of them.

In the midst of my struggling I was made an offer.

I was shocked.

I would have said no.

I think G.d knew that I needed to hold that two year old boy and feel his helplessness to be reminded that we are in a battle for these kids.  More needs to be done.

I was offered a new role at the orphanage.  They have asked me to help with international adoptions…to advocate for the kids, help in preparing files, train foster families, and help the adoptive families who come.

At first I was tempted to doubt that I was up for the task and that our family could handle me putting in more hours at the orphanage, but everything that had led up to this…

This is the more that my heart was longing for and Father has been preparing me for this all along.  Isn’t He so good?

So there you have it.  Possibly adding a foster baby to our family or a new position….that will make even the most talkative gal silent on her blog for a few weeks! 😉  Now that it is all worked out, I am back and I am sure you will be sick of hearing about all the new craziness I get into as I jump into my new role.  My new responsibilities at the children’s home start December 1st.  I am scared out of my mind and so excited.

We would really appreciate your pr.yers as we begin this new season.

A crown on their heads

Posted on by Tammy

“Loneliness and the feeling of being unwanted is the most terrible poverty.”  Mother Teresa

crownclass

When there are children without families living in an institution, it feels ridiculous to think that some foam stickers can help.  But this week, the truth “small things done in great love” hit home again.

Honestly, I was looking for an easy-peasy craft to do with the kids this week.  There is a huge remodeling project going on at the orphanage and the classrooms have all been moved, combined, and packed up to accommodate.  I wasn’t sure what I would find or where my classes would meet, which meant a huge messy paint project might not be the best of ideas.

It was time to pull out a simple go to craft and use some of the super fun foam stickers some visitors brought us this summer.  I had no idea that foam crowns could be greeted with such enthusiasm.  I pulled out the crowns in my first class and the children clapped.  I was taken back.  Really?  The project I feared would take half a class period was met with great focus and concentration.  The kids dug through the stickers looking for the perfect ones and meticulously placed them.  The Chinese teacher ran for a mirror as I hot glued the completed creations.  That is when I was truly floored.

crown1

I placed the crowns on the heads of my sweet students and watched their countenance transform.  They beamed.

crown2

The children took turns telling each other how beautiful they looked and then they voted as a class on whose crown was the best.  We even used the last moments of class for the children to line up for a class photo.  The joy didn’t stop as class ended.  Foster parents came to pick up their charges gasped at the students who had been transformed into royalty.  “Wow! Who gave you a crown?  You look beautiful.”  As I took it all in, I realized that one of my heart felt goals was being accomplished…unintentionally.  The children felt special, worthy, valued and wanted.  I beamed.

crown3

Later that day I was invited into the infant nursery.  A two year old boy, who is more like an infant due to his special needs, was placed in my arms.  He leaned his tiny head into the crock of my arm and my body instinctively bounced him gently side to side.  Within minutes he was asleep.  The nanny shook her head with a sad grin, “as soon as they are held they sleep.”

As I gazed into his sleeping face one of the foster care workers commented, “He is unwanted.  No one will ever adopt him.”

I wanted to argue with her, but deep down I knew the truth of her words.  His needs are severe.  He will never leave this place.  But it is only half truth.

I know the One who is Creator and Redeemer.  That baby boy is not unwanted or unloved.  There will be a day when a crown is placed on his head.  He will be whole, happy, healed and know the love of our Father.  Oh, what a glorious day that will be.

Until that day, rocking that sweet boy to sleep is like a bit of heaven on earth.

Double the classes: Double the fun

Posted on by Tammy

playdoughsmileMy Chinese is still a bit rocky, but I totally understood the argument that was taking place in the halls of the orphanage on Tuesday – my first full day at the orphanage.

“She can teach art to blind kids.  My class wants art too!”

I wanted to burst out laughing at the sweet Chinese teacher who was going to bat for her kids to have art.  She and I have become good friends over the year (I taught a different class with her last semester) and now that she has moved classrooms she was advocating for me to move with her.

Only the Father could grant me so much favor and allow doors to open for me to love on the kids at the orphanage.  Teaching the three classes last semester was one of the greatest joys of my life….so I am stepping out in faith knowing 8 classes this semester will be even better.  But, I must admit (blind kids or not) I am feeling in over my head.  One of my new classes is a group of foster kids and their moms as well as community parents and their special needs children.  The special education director introduced me to the class with a smile saying, “Tammy speaks awful Chinese but she is great with our kids.”  That is a note of confidence to start a class with.  I was sweating as I looked into the eyes of the adults in the room.  It is one thing to mix up my words with a group of kids….adults make me nervous!  I soon forgot my older audience as we started playing with playdough!

The game has changed.  I now have an official printout of my class schedule just like the other teachers.  I have been invited into the break/office space the other teachers share and I am getting to know ALL of the kids at the Children’s Home.  At this rate, I joked with my husband that I will know every special needs child in our city of 2 million people!

coveredfaceclass

You know what I am learning through all of this…again.  I really love kids with disabilities!  They are the best and I am so thankful that G.d is stretching me to love more fully and deeply.  But I can’t do this alone.  Double the classes means I need double the creativity and double the energy.  I already see how G.d is providing for me to do this work through a supportive husband who is taking over the homeschooling on Tuesdays.  I also am more thankful than ever for the supplies that were brought to us this spring/summer and all of the supplies and gifts given to us while we were in the States.   The older  kids loved making paperbag puppets with googley eyes this week!

Tuesdays and Thursdays are the days I could use some extra pr@yers as I strive to love the kids well and ultimately show them a deeper more eternal love.

photo 1

Pizza Party Good-bye

Posted on by Tammy

There are moments when you know you have come a long way (and that there is so much further to go…Amen?!)    I had one of those moments as I talked to one of the teachers at the orphanage.  They had planned a pizza party for our last Friday class together as a way to say good-bye for the summer.  My heart was so warmed!

I have been hoping for deep life-giving relationships with the workers at the children’s home.  I volunteered at the orphanage for a year in the past and never really was able to build relationships with fellow workers.  I still am in awe over the open doors and how favored my time at the children’s home has been since our return almost a year ago.

 

IMG_8179

 

They bought all the ingredients for the pizza and set it up in the orphanage “apartment.”  One of the classrooms is set up like a home, full kitchen, living room and bedroom, to teach the kids what a home is like.  Both of my classes crammed into the tiny apartment and with remarkable attention watched as I mixed the dough and made pizza for them.  I looked up from kneading the dough to their sweet faces starring at me – it felt like we were a family.  I love them all so much, at times I feel like I could just burst.

 

IMG_8166

 

We were using the common oven you can find in these parts; they are the size of a toaster oven.  There was a lot of waiting as we baked the dough, put on the toppings, baked again.  The pizzas were very small so we went through this process four times.  The kids waited patiently and entertained themselves by looking at photos of themselves as I took them.

One Chinese teacher carried the first pizza over her head and exclaimed to the kids – “Your American pizza party!”  It made me laugh as I took in our small square treat.  They had decided to top the pizzas with Chinese hotdog (it is like spam in my opinion) mutton, carrot, onion and tomato.  I did put my foot down and told them I would bring the pizza sauce.  “No, ketchup is not what we use in the States as Pizza sauce!”  HaHa.   So “American pizza” is a term I would use loosely when describing what we ate…but the kids sure did enjoy it.  The beauty of these kids, they are honest.  So I know they weren’t pretending to like it!

 

IMG_8164

 

The second pizza was cut into tiny squares and carried up and down the hallway of the orphanage to be shared by the kids who are not in my classes.  It was so fun to hear the excited exclamations over eating pizza…and in between meal time at that!  We also had a steady stream of nannies coming to take a peek at the recipe which led to us planning a shopping trip over the weekend so I could introduce them to the import store where you can buy mozzarella cheese.  Relationship building at its best and I think I might just have started to become a part-time cheese supplier.  Who knew?

What a great way to end the semester.  I hate to see it come to an end; it feels like we just got things rolling.   I have high hopes that the 6 weeks we have off won’t set us back, but I will be able to pick up the relationships right where we left off come the fall.

Hmmm….maybe we will have to start the fall semester with me planning a cookie party for them at my apartment?  Already planning and dreaming for next semester!

Going out

Posted on by Tammy

Butterflies in my stomach…I have had them ever since I was called in for a meeting at the orphanage.  Children’s Day (like Mother’s Day or Father’s Day in the States) was quickly approaching and they asked me to help make it special for the kids.  It was the first time they asked me for help.  Usually it is the other way around….I offer help and see if they approve it or even want it.  This was a huge deal for them to approach me and I was excited, but really nervous wanting to do well.

We planned two events for kids this past week with the help of some international students who are visiting Hubby’s university.  Couldn’t have done it without these students who served and loved well!  They blessed my socks off!

 

IMG_7960

 

On Children’s Day – when the park was filled to the max with families taking their children to the park – we also loaded up 12 taxis filled with volunteers and children.  Each volunteer was matched with a child for the afternoon to be their buddy.  The orphanage staff choose the 20 children we could take to the park and I was thrilled to see that the list consisted mainly of kiddos who don’t get a chance to get out often – kids with severe autism, kids that are blind and kids who were unable to walk.  It all made this momma sweat a bit thinking of being responsible for them.  Any doubts I had flew from my mind as we wheeled them out of the orphanage.  One boy, who I often feed dinner to on Monday and Fridays, called out “Kai Xin” (happy) over and and over as we placed a hat on his head and took him out into the sunshine.  In that moment I would have signed over every Sunday afternoon for orphanage outings if they had asked me!

IMG_7976

 

The afternoon wouldn’t have been listed as the best ever Children’s Day in the book of most children.  The group wheeled the kids around the park, we played with bubbles and finished the afternoon with a special yogurt treat and a Hersey’s kiss.  The kids were content to watch people walk by and to have one on one attention for the day.  They were not content with only one Hersey’s kiss!  Note to self to sneak in chocolate treats more often!

 

The second outing came about after another meeting.  Word had gotten around that I had some friends helping with an outing for Children’s Day.  The foster care department then asked me to help them with an outing for the foster families.  If I was nervous about the first request….well this one gave me a heart attack.  They asked us to plan interactive games and to train foster families how to play with children to promote physical and mental stimulation.  “We know Americans parent differently and are very accepting of disabilities…show us what you do.”  Ummm, yeah.  No pressure.  Heehehe.

IMG_7983

 

The second outing was even better than the first….for me at least.  We had planned games using a parachute, exercises based on the Eric Carle book “Head to Toe” and sidewalk chalk art (of course!) – but it wasn’t the planned activities going well that made the day a huge hit for me.  In the midst of the party we were having at the park, I looked around at the 30ish foster families and their children and was overwhelmed.

 

IMG_7999

 

These families are caring for children – day in and day out – with needs like spinal bifida, limb differences, and blindness….just to name a few.  They are going against the cultural norm and loving children who have been set aside.  One foster mother told me about the 17 children she has cared for till their adoptions to the United States and then introduced me to the sweet one she is caring for now.  With love she told me how this two year old girl still can’t walk, “but I have hope for her!”  Wow.  What love.  What sacrifice.

 

IMG_7980

Over the afternoon I felt such a deep connection with these families who look different from the average Chinese family.  As I gave them a book and a bubble wand at the end of the afternoon I was wishing it was so much more.  I wanted to hug them tight and whisper in their ears – “well done!”

Because they gave me a gift.  I don’t feel as alone anymore.

I often look around the orphanage and see a need that is oppressive.  This week I realized that some times the need can be met with something as simple as an outing to the park.  I also have met a whole new set of friends who are battling the needs right along with me.

So glad I ignored the butterflies and pushed through.

Blessed.

 

Not Earth Shattering, but Huge

Posted on by Tammy

We confirmed every stereo type of fat Americans as we pushed a cart to the check out line of the grocery store filled with 30 bags of snickers, 30 bags of peanuts, watermelon seeds, sweet rice cakes, and instant coffee.  You should have heard the comments!  And they didn’t even see how many oranges hubby bought at the market!

IMG_7310

We confused and mystified the other shoppers and we also confused the nannies and workers at the orphanage who weren’t sure just what to make of us when we arrived gift bags in hand.    As we passed out the treat bags today, the comments were of a vastly different nature.  We often had to repeat ourselves explaining that we were giving them a gift….just to wish them a happy new year…just to make working today feel a bit better….just to give us a chance to love them and share with them a greater love.  (OK granted, I might have had to repeat myself a few times due to faulty Chinese.  Full disclosure!)

 

I would love nothing more then to have an earth shattering story to share with you as a result of today.

Not earth shattering, but as the nannies looked me in the eyes smiled and asked me to make sure I didn’t miss giving a bag to the worker at the end of the hall.  That felt huge.

When I walked into the kitchen and our kids gave bags to the cooks and they made a big deal over meeting my family – that felt huge.

When we were invited into the room of one of my students to share snacks and tea with his roommates, it was a moment that took me beyond being a teacher – that felt huge.

I wave at the gate guard every time I come and go from the orphanage.  After giving him his bag today, he waved back.  Huge.

I am not sure how to explain the door that has been flung open.  For reasons beyond myself, I have been given permission not only to teach art classes, but also to have full access to the orphanage (well, except for the infant room.  More on that in a different post.)  Full access just doesn’t happen.  I am able to come and go, play with the children, pop into different rooms, and  give attention to whatever child I feel led to love on that day.  I then help feed dinner to the older disabled children to finish off my time.  It is weird to have a foreigner walking around helping and loving kids.  The other workers don’t know what to do with me.  Today I hope they can understand me a bit more.

A smile from a nanny, a question about my family, and a wave from the guard….they all feel like huge steps toward the goal of deeper relationships and built trust.

One step at a time.

I love knowing it will make a difference  – in me and hopefully to those around me.

———————————————————————–

On a family note:

I didn’t take one picture today.  Can you believe that?  Little Man handed out bags that were almost the size of him….it was adorable, but you will have to just pretend you can picture it!  I am sure the memories we made today as a family will stick with us with or without photos.

Had a friend question me last week about taking all four of our kids to help.  Surely taking two adopted children back to an orphanage would be painful and might cause some meltdowns.  We considered that and in the end decided to pr@y hard and take the risk.

Loving others and reaching out isn’t always safe, easy and without pain.  If my time at the orphanage hasn’t taught me anything else, it has taught me that.  To be honest, I could say that about adoption too.

All four kids did great.

Actually the introvert of our crew, Soccer Dude, was the one I thought would have a “moment” when a child latched on to him.  He turned and wrapped the child in a big bear hug and smiled.  Serving today took him out of his comfort zone, but I would say that loving the kids at the orphanage will make a difference in Soccer Dude’s life and then in turn make a difference in the lives of others as well.

So maybe not earth shattering, but today was huge…in many ways.