The Orphanage Visit

Today started with a beautiful sun rise when we got up at 5:30 am.

We had a great breakfast and a quick phone call with the kids back home.

We than left for the long ride to Jian City.  It is about a 3 hour drive but was freeway all the way there.   We did not know what to expect today.   Much of what we experienced today is not our story to share and we will not share it here.   This is Hannah's story and she can choose when and if to share it.   We did learn a lot today and now have a much better picture of where she has been and her needs.

Entering Jian City her home town.

Neat statues in the traffic circles.

Some of the buildings.

Entrance to the SWI.  There is an old folks home on the front and the Orphanage in the back.   As we walked toward the orphanage one old lady smiled and gave us thumbs up.  She was happy for Hannah.

We met the orphanage director and the care givers.  She jumped to the arms of her favorite care giver.

The girl in the middle was her best friend.

She was so excited to see her favorite Nannie.  They hugged.  

A little girl came to Robin and took her hand to walk with us.

She was greeted by her friends, her best friend at the front of the line.  Several of the children she has been with are severely delayed and have major issues.  A number of these kids will never have a family.

The showed us her bed, we went to the activity room and the care givers did her hair the way they normally did it.  We have not mastered her braid yet.   Her bed was the one on the corner near me.

When we sat down to go through her file it was emotionally draining.  We confirmed that she was very premature and needed a lot of medical help in the early days.   Some things we had questioned were better explained today clarifying some of our assumptions. We got to read her finding note and learn more about the situation that her birth parents were in.  They did what they felt they had to do for her to live.   As Esther read the letter there was not a dry eye in the room.   We cried and ached for her birth parents.  They made a huge sacrifice in hope that she be cared for an live. 

Reading her file.  We got some of the earliest photos of her and read the note that her birth parents left with her.

In the activity room with some of the other kids.

They braided her hair the way she likes it.  We shot video so we can lean to do it this way.

We now have a better idea of the living situation she has been in.  A lot of her behavior is now understandable and correctable.  She comes from a difficult place and we are anxious to watch her blossom.

We cried for other kids that are here that will never get a family and will never know the love of a family.  There is so much need here.

As we were leaving the building they stopped to show us a sign over the door that said "Welcome Ji Zhou Chang's family".

Us with the staff and Orphanage director

As we were standing there talking I looked and her favorite care giver was waving at her and crying.  I thanked her and snapped this photo.

The SWI director and the orphanage director took us out for a wonderful and very spicy lunch at a nice restaurant.  This was very unexpected and so gracious of them.   The food was traditional and HOT!!!   I ate Fish Head for the first time and drank green bean juice (not too bad).

so much food and so HOT!!

Hannah with two of the head care givers after lunch.

Hannah with our driver.  He looked like he was headed to the beach in his trunks.  He must be a dad he did great with her.

After lunch one of the orphanage staff took me to show me the spot where Hannah was found.   This was difficult to visit.  It was in a local park in a place where they knew someone would find her. I was the only one that got out of the car to walk through the park to where she was found.   More tears, to think about a parent being in such a desperate situation and having to lave a child for someone to find and care for.  We know they must think of her often and wonder where she is and how she is doing.

The 3 hour ride back to Nanchang was tough.  Hannah did not want to sit down or to sleep.  She fought and cried most of the way back.   Glad to be back at the hotel.

Tonight we get all of her paperwork back and tomorrow we get her passport.  Tomorrow afternoon we head to Guangzhou for the next week to complete the US part of the adoption.

Today was much better than we were prepared for.   We appreciate the orphanage staff and what they did for her.   We understand better some of the lack of care and understand how far she has come. 

We see so much potential in this beautiful little girl.  She is already learning and has such a future ahead of her.  Continue to pray for her adjustment and for the first ride on an airplane tomorrow.

Funny picture to wrap up today.  As you enter the freeway they have these statues of policemen to slow traffic.  He looked real.