“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.” Mother Teresa
I have looked into the eyes of children who are “unwanted.” The depth of despair leaves me breathless even now. I can’t adopt them all (at least that is what my practical husband tells me) but I can spread the word. There are children who are hoping, praying and waiting for a family to call their own.
We don’t meet all of China’s regulations to adopt. We are not rich. We are not saints or super-parents. What are we?……blessed beyond measure because we have accepted the gift of adoption for our family.
Praying you consider giving a home to one of the 145 million orphans in the world – because they need you and frankly you need them too!
How can you learn more and get started? Contact Children’s House International who has a relationship with the orphanage where I teach. They can help you adopt kiddos from this orphanage and many others. There are SO MANY waiting children y’all!! Here are a few who are near and dear to my heart. Please pray for the miracle of family for these precious ones.
Hemingway, male, DOB 10/2011, diagnosed with Down Syndrome, hypothyroidism, congenital heart disease (ASD and PDA)
Don’t let his special needs scare you. He is a heart stealer, orphanage favorite, and finger painting king.
An expat has gotten to know him well and believes he will thrive in a family! He has a bright personality that makes everyone who meets him smile. He follows directions, is on target with other children his age, knows how to fold and put away his jacket, loves art class and playing tag. He is non-verbal, but has recently started making animal sounds that match pictures he is shown like barking when shown a picture of a dog. He was evaluated by an american speech therapist and she thinks that his speech is simply delayed and that he would be able to talk with therapy. He knows his numbers and colors and is learning sign language. He attends special education classes and his teachers report that he behaves very well. He has been living with a local foster family who give him excellent care.
We desperately want to help find this little boy a home. Down Syndrome is a medical issue that is stigmatized in China and this boy will not have a chance to reach his full potential without adoption. There are recent videos and many photos that can be shared with families who seriously are interested in possibly adopting him. You can contact amanda.h@chiadopt.org to review his file.
KIPLING, male, DOB 5/2011 Special Need: recessive cleft lip, brain scan difference, undescended testicle
Kipling was visited in March 2015 by the Children’s House International (CHI) team! The orphanage and CHI have entered into a new partnership and Kipling was able to have a meeting with the team. He was there with his foster family as well. Kipling has lots of energy and seemed to very much enjoy being in the spotlight. This is part of the exuberant exchange between the team and Kipling. Video link: http://youtu.be/l7kH5W7expQ
“Our CHI team was sitting a room at the orphanage awaiting Kipling, when JOY in a 4 year old body showed up! Kipling has been fostered since he was 4 months old. He is a laughing, smiling, singing, dancing bundle of loveable boy! He came in to the room, greeted us warmly with a smile and a giggle, then set to work playing with blocks. When our CHI 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!
His file makes no mention of it, but Kipling has low vision. He would pick up the toys and hold them closely so that he could see them. He was happy playing and liked to throw things on the floor to make noise, or push the car and hear the sound of the wheels rushing through the air. He likes all kinds of sounds. One of the staff of the orphanage 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. He loves music. When he was done performing he giggled and said, “Okay?” Our laughter only encouraged more dancing, singing and laughter. Our CHI team was smitten.
JENNING, male, DOB 4/2004 Special Need: post-operative CHI, hyperdactyly of hands and feet
Children’s House International (CHI) staff met him in March 2015 where the following video was taken. http://youtu.be/v1POy9AeqRM
Jenning, is a strong and eager boy who has stayed with his foster family for 10 years now. He will turn 11 in April. He is in grade 2 in normal primary school, and is doing very well in school. He likes Chinese class but doesn’t like math. 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, CHI’s own caseworker who 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! His foster mother told us that he has an allergy to dust. 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. He has two lower teeth that never came in, so he would wildly benefit from the dental advancements in the west that could give him a full and confident smile! His foster mother works very hard to prepare food that he likes and she still cuts up his food into small pieces, and makes sure it is just how he likes it.
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. He can take care of himself, manages his own hygiene and has good life skills for his age. He likes to solve problem on his own, but if he can’t solve the problem with his own efforts, he will look for help.
We asked the foster mother about her hopes or wishes for an adopting family and she said, “We hope there’s a good family adopt him, he has strong personality, he has overcome a lot and can very manage very well under pressure. He likes it when people recognize his qualities and his achievements. He feels fulfilled when he helps others, gets good grades in school, or does things well. He likes to play Gobang, soccer, and video games. He enjoys watching cartoons and documentaries about nature. He is adaptive but scared of all kinds of insects especially spiders. He loves cute animals like dogs, cats, and rabbits. As a boy he can be a little careless and stubborn. (Our CHI team observed this when we asked him questions, you could tell that he had much to say, but he’d decided that he wasn’t going to be on parade that day at the orphanage where he feels uncomfortable.) His foster mother said that he tends not to talk too much in places he doesn’t “like,” or where he feels awkward. His foster mother thinks that because he has endured so much, and has been so successful, that Jenning will adapt well in a new environment. He always has bright hope for the future.
Update: Ewing has a family! Thank you for advocating and praying for him!
EWING, male DOB 8/2008
Ewing is a boy who needs a family to look inside his eyes and see the beauty of his soul! What a treasure this boy is at 7 years old! During a recent visit of our CHI team to his orphanage, he ran up and greeted the team with a hearty good morning He was so excited to see us! Later in the day, we watched a special activity led by an NGO that works with the orphanage while he painted Easter Eggs, he was so proud of them, and smiled broadly at each compliment he received. He is so open and eager to connect with people, clearly an extrovert. The NGO’s social worker told our team, “this boy is so bright, he has no issues with his mental capacity, but many think he must be delayed because of his physical appearance. Nothing holds him back; he tries everything with a happy heart!”
He goes to school in a local kindergarten. He lives in a foster home on the grounds of the orphanage with three other children. His foster mother said that Ewing is very outgoing, but he changes his friends often because kids sometimes make fun of him because they think he looks different. But, that doesn’t stop him making new friends! He keeps on trying. He loves to tell jokes, laughs easily and would bring adventure…if not a bit of mischief to a family! He is friendly and once mom asks him for help, he will hop up and do it immediately. He can take care of himself all his hygiene and dressing needs. He engages in simple conversation with people. The foster mother said she always takes great care to ensure he doesn’t fall down.
Ewing was sponsored for surgery in Singapore when he was younger and there is a great deal of information about his surgery and recovery for families to review.
Our CHI Team leader who visits his orphanage regularly said this, “This boy is SO adoptable! He is ready for a family to embrace his immeasurable value as a human being! He fills my heart with hope when I encounter him, he is so ready to dive into a family who will love him and give him the confidence that only belonging can, so he can truly open up and experience the world. Where is his family?”
Go to the CHI Website to see more photos and video of Ewing!
FIELDING, male, DOB 3/2009 SN cerebral palsy, significant developmental delay
Fielding is as gentle and loving as a child can be. He was met in March 2015 by members of the Children’s House International China team where he touched them all. This was their report.
“Fielding, was a surprise to our CHI team when we met he and his foster mother at the orphanage. A first, he was a bit shy, and held back a bit when we spoke with him. But we were all delighted to see his handsome eyes and beautiful smile more and more as our time wore on. Fielding has been fostered by the same family since the age of 1. With many independent living skills he learns more slowly, but he continues to achieve the goals when given the time to practice. His foster mother emphasized that when she is calm and peaceful in her instruction of him, that he is very willing to learn. She encourages him often and uses patience in his instruction. He likes to go for a walk after breakfast and he will remind the mother to take the keys and her cell phone before they leave the house. He also is quick to remind his foster father to give some oxygen to the fish in the family’s aquarium. After a refreshing walk, they go home for lunch. He will play quietly with his favorite cars when his foster mother is cooking, and if he wants to use bathroom, he walk to his mom and ask for help. When lunch is ready, he can use his spoon to feed himself without help.
Fielding’s foster mother shared, “He is a very special boy, he focuses on detail and is very good at observation. He is polite, generous, and sensitive and can easily steal people’s hearts by looking at their face with his lovely eyes. He likes to touch your hair gently, hug you or share good things with you to show his love. He is a thoughtful and obedient child. Once, I was sick and I was vomiting, and he patted me on my back gently and then sat beside my bed to help me feel better and to express his love.” It is evident that he has been loved and cared for, and that he has shared many precious things with his foster parents, who hope that he will have a loving, forever family of his own!”
If you’d like to learn more about these and other children like him who wait, please contact me. I’ll be glad to put you in touch with the folks at CHI.
Casting A Stone 
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