Showing posts with label Visiting Orphans: China 2011. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Visiting Orphans: China 2011. Show all posts

As Summer Ends...

 August 31, 2011

 Update: JUNE HAS FOUND HER FOREVER FAMILY!

June still waits.

I received an email from a family that recently met June while adopting there young daughter.  They sent new photos along with a beautiful note describing this very special little girl. I must share...




We met June recently when we visited her orphanage with our newly adopted, almost 4-year-old daughter. As we met with the caring, compassionate, devoted orphanage staff, we could see that there were several people that our daughter had exceptional affection towards and
quickly it was evident to us as to why she felt that way. Back in the spring of 2011, an American nurse had visited our now adopted daughter while at the orphanage. Unfortunately, she found that our daughter was ill and was hooked up to
an IV. It was great to see that the orphanage was capable and willing to care for her right there in an environment in which she was familiar. One thing that struck the nurse was that June was right by our daughter’s side, giving her comfort and looking after her while she was so scared. Appropriately, a nanny was also caring for her; but June was there to provide a little extra moral support.   At one point, June even helped our daughter (who needed some assistance) with going to the bathroom. While June could have been off playing with the other children, she was instead looking after a little friend and helping to ease her fears. 


 
When we recently visited the orphanage, I immediately saw those same character traits in June. Our daughter was excited to visit the orphanage with her new parents. June fully understood that our daughter had a new family and to my surprise, June behaved in a manner that indicated that she was truly happy for her little friend. As I watched her carefully, I could see that she looked on at our family with a longing and a hope that one day, she too, would have a family to call her own. At no point though did she exhibit jealously, bitterness, or anger- just a sweet, sincere, excitement for our daughter. At no point did she push herself on us or strive to inappropriately gain attention from us. Instead, she encouraged our daughter to not be afraid when it was time to leave and to embrace her family fully.
 

June is said to have left limb palsy due to meningitis when she was younger. We are seasoned adoptive parents who have adopted several kiddos with limb differences – so we were watching her with experienced eyes. While it is clear that June is affected on the left side, we do not think that her special need will impede her in reaching her fullest potential. She is a beautiful, petite, bright girl who seems mature despite her life circumstances. She is playful and helpful with smaller children; yet does not appear to be immature in her abilities. She relates well to children and to adults. Even though she was interacting with our daughter and a younger baby (who were both very responsive to her) she still seemed to understand that the nannies were in charge and she appears to have good boundaries. She was respectful to orphanage staff and was watchful of her role. She was able to carry a small toddler and walked steadily. The only time her special need stuck out was when she could not lift a pitcher full of tea with her left arm. However, she can hold items in that hand and can clearly lift things with both hands/arms working together. 
 
While eating a meal with her, we were most impressed with her manners, her ability to sit during the course of a meal and follow conversation without dominating the conversation. She was helpful with the little ones; yet respected when adults were stepping in. She was polite, obedient, and friendly. June is a mature young girl who will soon age out of the system and will lose her opportunity to belong in a family. She deserves to know the love of a mother and father. She clearly desires to be adopted and would likely transition well into a family system. This young girl will soon turn 14 and will lose her opportunity if someone does not step out in faith and welcome her as their own. 



 June- a girl with great potential, a girl who is caring and kind, a girl who needs a family, a girl whose time is running out… 





ALSO STILL WAITING....


Craig


(3/2010, Clubbed feet (Unilateral) and Deformity of fingers, special focus)


Kaelen
(10/2010, maldevelopment of both hands, special focus)

OLLIE
(4/2004 mild cerebral palsy/video available, Special Focus: Singles allowed)

NEW/UPDATED PHOTO OF OLLIE

If you would like to learn how you can adopt one of these beautiful children email me for agency information today.
Fiveofmyown@gmail.com




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A Slice of Orphanage Life

 August 22, 2011

Lunch time at the SWI...notice the Chinese nanny technique (and spoon size) versus the American missionary's!





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MU Shu Has a Family!

 July 29, 2011

Do you remember the little 20 month old I met last month in Chenzhou? The one who became "my baby" during our visits to the orphanage? Well I've been keeping my eye out for her each time the new shared list is released and I learned that she was on the this past weeks list.

Ok I know what you are all thinking so let me stop that right now. NO, we are not adopting her.

...really people you are incorrigible (wink, wink) 

But some very lucky family is adopting her. She was matched within minutes of hitting the shared list and I couldn't be happier for her!

One less orphan, One more forever.


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Isobel from Butterfly House

 July 21, 2011



 I am heartsick, broken.  Dear sweet Isobel, who I held just a month ago, is gone.

Please if you have a heart to adopt PLEASE find a way to do so now. They can not wait.

And PRAY for Lyn and the nanny's at Butterfly House who filled Isobel with love, made her giggle and smile, soothed her tears and held her in their arms... to the end.

Here is the email I received from them. 

"It is with great sadness that we share the news that Isobel has passed away. This brave little
girl exceeded all our expectations – living for longer and with more joy than we originally
thought possible. Isobel was one of our first babies. She was sent to us due to her incurable
liver disease, and she soon became a princess in Butterfly Home. She learnt to charm her
way into the hearts of visitors, and gently tease her brothers and sisters. She was funny and
clever, with a little bit of drama about her too. Most importantly of all, she was loved, and
she reflected that love back to those around her.

Isobel passed away peacefully on the night of Tuesday 19th July in her nanny’s arms. Just
last week she was in great spirits – a cheeky little girl enjoying cuddles, music and playing
silly games. During the time leading up to her death, she was never alone, and the nannies
who love her sang and prayed over her as she slept. This special little princess will be
deeply missed at Butterfly Home. We are forever thankful for the support which allowed
Isobel to live a cherished life."

waking up from her nap when we first arrived

playing with my bracelets around her legs...

big smiles

lunch time

just wanting to play

you were loved

To You, O Lord, we humbly entrust this child, so precious in Your sight. Take Isobel into Your arms and welcome her into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping nor pain, but the fullness of peace and joy with Your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

To make a donation to Butterfly House in memory of Isobel please go here.  

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June Bug

 July 20, 2011

Please meet June... Junie B...  June Bug, whom I met while in China last month (yeah it was June). Smiley Junie B really wants a family of her own but sadly she has just a year left to find one. June just turned 13 and in China once a child turns 14 they can no longer be adopted.This is Junes last chance for a family to call her own.

June faces a harsh reality without a family. She needs someone to come forward NOW!

June is a very sweet and gentle little girl. I actually thought she was much younger because she was so small for her age that and she still liked to play. She played hopscotch and skipped rope and  when we marched around the driveway outside the orphanage with her and the other kids she stayed right by me singing and giggling so hard I thought she was going to fall over. Even at 13 there is still so much little girl in her!
June in the yellow dress (btw her faces is painted!)

June's special need is so slight that many in our group never even noticed it. And most importantly June wants to be adopted. I personally spoke to her about this and she says she wants a foreign family to adopt her. Experts will tell you this is a hugely positive factor for attachment with older children.

If you would like to learn more about June please email me at loriprinty@gmail.com.

You can also read more about June on my friend Shannon's blog.


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Team Chenzhou: Ruined

 June 23, 2011

Just had to share this awesome post written by our fabulous mission trip team leader...



"I traveled with a team of 13. And together we all feel ruined.

I hoped that YOU will search your heart and be in prayer over if the Lord wants to ruin YOU too.  For Him.  For His children.

You are not too old.

You are not too poor.

You are not too busy. 

Well maybe you are, and if that is the case, then you have a problem.

We can all do SOMETHING.  We can be their voice. We CAN change their world. 

And maybe in the process, change yours too."

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Butterfly Blessings

 June 21, 2011

One of the most inspiring orphanages we were able to visit while in China was Butterfly House in Changsa.  It is China's only known palliative care center for orphans.  Actually calling it an orphanage makes it sound much bigger than it really is because in fact it is a tiny operation taking space in a half dozen small rooms within the Changsa SWI.

Started just two short years ago by Lyn and Alan Gould a British couple from Australia, Butterfly House now cares for 12 children with chronic and/or life threatening conditions.  (Sadly two of the children there today are in fact terminally ill.) Since its start in 2010 Butterfly House has been home to 35 children.

Most children come to Butterfly House after being deemed terminal or otherwise being "given up on" by the orphanage authorities.

Butterfly House operates on a shoe string budget but everyone there has a huge heart and their love and persistence is paying off.  Right now two of the children at Butterfly House, two that were deemed too sick to provide for, have been nursed to health and are being adopted!  An incredible testimony to the power of prayer, the resilience of these children and ability for people like Lyn and Alan (and just like each of us) to make a real difference for a child in need.

Our Visiting Orphans Team with the support of MedWish International in Cleveland Ohio and many of my friends here in blogworld and on facebook, were able to deliver hundreds of pounds of medical equipment and infant care supplies to Butterfly House.  The donations were very much appreciated and desperately needed.  There were heartfelt tears of joy as we rolled our many cases of goods into the building!

Of course the need is great and much more remains to be done. Right now Butterfly House is searching for a Nurse to join their team! If you are a nurse and have ever thought about living abroad for 6 months or more this is your chance to do something AMAZING!!!!

I have witnessed first hand the work done by Butterfly House and can personally attest to its value and worth.  If you would like to learn more about Butterfly House or if you would like to sponsor a child there please visit Butterfly Children's Hospices for more information.

Here are just some of the beautiful butterfly babies I met during my short visit.

Won't you please say a prayer for them?

William (defective windpipe, adoption status unknown)
Eve, (Adopted)
Paul (post surgical/omphalocele, available for adoption!)
Sarah, (delayed development, available for adoption!)
Little Swallow, (spina bifida, available for adoption!)
Angel, (Adopted)
Ysmael, (terminal liver failure, not able to be adopted)
Hannah, (thalessimia-available for adoption!)
Isobel, (terminal liver failure, not able to be adopted)
Lyn Gould, my new hero.


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3 Worst Things About My Trip to China

 June 17, 2011

#1

#2

#3

Ironically (in the moment) felt like THE BEST...

I would not normally eat this swill but we had a few die hard junk-foodies on the trip who were missing "American food".  At first I was a little snobby in my thinking but I have to admit by day 10 that McDonald's cheeseburger was heavenly.

You can keep the KFC though...it was the only food in China that has ever made me feel sick. (And I remind you,  I've eaten a scorpion here!)

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Shopping...

 June 16, 2011

I'm over it.

Maybe it's because I'm old. Maybe it's because knock off brand purses are just not my cup of tea.

Maybe it's because I just spent the last 10 days with orphans who own nothing. Kids who don't even have a mother to call their own (much less a Coach diaper bag...cripes they didn't even have diapers. )

Sigh.

I'm in no mood to shop.

So I'm checking my "Ugly American" into this coffee shop by the famous silk market. I'll sit here and wait for this bit of the trip to be over.

I'll watch the frenzied shoppers go by.







And I'll remember my babies in Chen Zhou.

Because the thing about being "changed" by an experience like this is .... YOU ARE CHANGED.



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Great(er) Part of the Wall

 June 15, 2011

Today was our one day to play tourists. 

We visited the Badaling section of the Great Wall just outside of Beijing (it is a steep but fun climb to the top and a much more scenic section than the Juyongguan Pass we visited last year).  We then had lunch at a jade factory (ie total tourists trap), visited the famous Silk Market in the afternoon and attended a performance by the Beijing Acrobats.

I especially enjoyed the climb up the Wall, mostly because it now felt like I was walking it with friends.  A friendship I do not take for granted.

Frankly speaking, we are an unlikely group. Our backgrounds, where we live and varied ages would not normally place us together, never mind together in China. And I have been the odd team member without prior connection to anyone here. 

Yet we have shared an intensely emotional experience over these past weeks and it has (as these things tend to do), bonded us in a truly special way.

It took a while to warm up, to feel accepted, (for me to learn everyone's name) but today was fun and finally it felt like I was among friends.



Team Chen Zhou: (top left),  Christy, Megan, Tim, Francine, Elyssa, Amy, Makenna, Lori, Shannon, (bottom left),  Tammy, Carmen, Shawn, Katie

Hero GOLD Cards for everyone!

The long climb UP the wall.
Looking very "touristy"
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Goodbye Chenzhou

 June 14, 2011


We've left Chezhou and we're now back in Beijing. We are coming to the end of our mission in China. Tomorrow we will visit Shepard's Field an orphanage about 2 hours away, then it's a day of sightseeing and then home on Friday afternoon.

Hard to imagine the Great Wall of China and the Forbidden City being anti climatic but I am sure it will be. Not just because I was there just a year ago but because our time in Chenzhou, our time with these children has been so deeply meaningful.

How can brick and mortar ever compare to flesh and bone?

Earlier this week I was beating myself up. Feeling silly and useless and insignificant.

What was I thinking?

How could hauling over a bunch of baby wipes and Tylenol help in any long lasting way? What
have we really accomplished? What did we change?

But now I realize I am the one who has changed.


There are 147 million orphans needing families. Together they would form the ninth largest country in the world. The crisis is epic, the numbers really too big to relate to in anything more than an academic
way.

And that's really what this trip was about for me...humanizing a global tragedy by putting a face, and a name and a heart to a seemingly hopeless statistic.


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