Our second half of the day was spent with the babies. We were there from 3:00-5:30 and we decided that it would be best to be with the babies and give the older kids a break…well maybe it was just more that WE needed a break from them. They are so crazy this year, but just as precious as ever.
While we were in the baby room they brought in quite a few new babies that we haven't seen yet, so that was exciting that we got to see some new faces J. Two of the girls that were there last year are still at the orphanage, but Shannon has talked to the mom and family that is planning on adopting them both. They are so sweet, but sadly one of them is walking all by herself and the other one still cannot sit up by herself. It's sad to see that one is so much further along then the other, but I'm sure once they are both home they will be much better and closer developed.
I also got to sit and lay with Shawn's baby boy from last year that she called Siu. He is so precious and loves to cuddle. However, later we figured out when his bottle came and he refused it that he was really hot and I'm pretty sure he had a fever. Hopefully he will be feeling better today and maybe I'll be able to see him again!
When we were in the baby room we got to meet 3 families that had come back to China with their adopted daughters so that they could visit and see where they lived when they were younger. It was really cool to see the 2 girls that were from Chenzhou interact and play with the babies and older children. Their parents were so sweet and one of the moms had one of the most interesting stories…She is Chinese and grew up in China but when she was 25 she was allowed to go to the states to be an exchange visitor and help teach at some schools. While she was there, the Tiananmen Square Massacre happened and she was too scared to go back for multiple reasons. She ended up being able to stay and she met her husband in the states. They got married and eventually, 11 years later, she finally went back to China as an American citizen and got to see her friends. She now goes back almost every year and is the mom to one of the girls who was adopted from Chenzhou 9 years ago.
As we finished feeding the babies, we realized that it was already 5:30 and had to go back to the hotel. We said our goodbyes and decided that we would go to the dumpling place across the street that we really liked last year. It wasn't nearly as good as we remembered, but we still had some very good food!...Including two plates of steamed bread and 3 bowls of condensed milk, our favorite. J
After dinner we all went back to Shannon's room to have our devotion that Molly led. We listened to some music and played a game of hot potato. A couple of minutes later we got an unexpected knock on our door.
We all looked to the door and to our surprise, it was the orphanage directors! They had come to ask us to help some of the older kids get tuition for school. Four of the boys had gone to public school at the beginning of last year but didn't like it because they got made fun of for their special needs. So, half way through last year's school year they asked for sponsorships so that the boys could go to a private school that happens to be in the old orphanage behind the new one. People from all over the US ended up helping and the boys got to finish their school year at the new private school where they like it a lot and are some of the top boys in the school.
So, the orphanage directors came to ask us to help them find sponsors for the boys again this year and maybe even the girls. It is a little less than $600 for each kid to attend the school and have everything paid for. I'm not sure exactly how to sign up etc. but please pray for these children to find sponsors and maybe even you are interested. Once I find out more information I will be sure to share, but that is all I know for now.
They ended up staying for an hour or so and we talked about many things that they needed and what we were planning. By the end we were all exhausted, but we were happy we got a lot of our questions asked and we are excited to see what is to come in these kids' futures.
That's all for now…I will hopefully post again tonight! xoxo
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