Orphanage Visit!!!

We visited Guangzhou Social Welfare Institute on Friday. That was the place that arranged for her lifesaving surgery at age 2, filed the necessary papers to find her a permanent home, and placed her in foster care. It is evident as you walk around that they do care about the children in their care. This SWI has many Waiting Children (Special Needs). Our guide estimated 70%. Most are not severe by any stretch of the imagination. There are both boys and girls. Some have special needs that are such that they will be there their entire life. It's always hard walking around and seeing all these children, most of which offer you an eager smile, some very shy, and others that reach out and want to be held. Half the Sky (HTS)sponsors preschool program here and we saw the classes and also a toddler room in which HTS personnel play and cuddle the toddlers. One of the HTS program directors was there and she recognized Siena from when she was in the program, prior to entering foster care one year ago. She immediately set off on a search for Siena's HTS preschool folder where they document progress, complete with photos. It really is priceless. They found it and gave it to us. We will have it translated when we get home. That folder was an unexpected surprise. I would urge everyone planning their trip to remember to ask for it when you go.

We went around to every classroom in which one of the children on my list (from the waiting parents on our GSW Yahoo group) was in. Each child was called out, and I got to hold several of them, have their parent's messages translated to them, ask all the questions, and surprise of surprises-we took pictures. None of the pictures are to be posted anywhere on the internet, including here. They are for personal use only. I have sent them to the waiting parents with those very strict instructions and I trust they will all comply. The only children in my blog pictures are ours-Maria and Siena.

It was a very special and moving experience. Siena remembered one of her close friends, a beautiful little girl that is deaf. I pray with my whole heart these children find permanent homes, and that anyone fighting the urge to adopt, whether in the US, China, Ukraine, or anywhere in our world, gives in. The rewards are incredible.

ChinaRileys