Relationships....

"One who loves with a pure heart and who speaks with grace

will have a king for a friend"

Proverbs 22:11

I was told before this trip that it would be one of relational ministry.  In other words, we weren't going to go in and start handing out pamplets about Jesus but rather simply be the hands and feet of Jesus to the nannies and children at the orphanage.  I was fine with that.  God has blessed me with being present when a hand full of people have accepted His Son, and it has never been because I screamed at them that they had know Him or face eternal damnation.  I dont believe you bring people to His kingdom that way or by reposting things on facebook that say "if you love Jesus you will repost this in the next 15 minutes" but thats a different blog post....

Anyway, back to the point of this blog, the orphanage was much nicer than I had pictured in my head.  I am not sure why, but I had pictured pretty much sitting in the dirt with kids that were being severely neglected (just being honest).  That is not what I found at all.  I found a new, colorful building with a "PT" gym, a clinic, classrooms for school aged children, and rooms for infants to preschool age that were divided by the kids motor skills.  I found nannies that loved the kids they were taking care of and older kids having "best friends" as well as looking after the younger kids.  It was "amazing" (there is that word again).

The first morning we were there we were giving hot water with some leafy things in it, watched a video that was nicely done but in Chinese so I have no idea what it said, and taken on the tour.  After our tour, we went to our assigned rooms.  I had volunteered for the infant room because I felt that was where my skills could be best utilized due to my NICU experience.  I walked in and saw rows of cribs full of infants and smiling nannies.  The infants were dressed in several layers.  If you have ever seen the Christmas Story, you can picture what they looked like.  They use a towel the size of a hand towel and a blanket for a diaper that they hold in place with a string.  Then they put them in about 3 layers of pjs and swaddled them in about 4 blankets that are again tied on with a string.  It is like your grandmother that is always cold got to dress these babies.  They looked like little starfish lying in their beds with their arms and legs out to the side.  The nannies have a system and move quickly tending to these little ones, and if you are in the room and one of them start crying, they are not shy about handing them to you to calm down.

To the left of the room full of cribs is a play area.  There is a mat on the floor where they put the older babies.  One of the babies in that room was 8 months old according to the nannies and had a pretty devastating diagnosis.  He was, however, doing 9 month skills and looked perfect.  So if you are thinking about adopting from China (or in the US for that matter), do some research past the initial diagnosis because the baby could present completely different than the diagnosis would indicate.

The PT in me really wanted to strip those babies down and watch their muscles activate, test their reflexes and assess their tone.  I realize that might not be the best first impression to make to the nannies that were trying to keep their babies warm so I refrained.  I did, however, line about 5 of those little starfish up in a row on their tummies that first day.  There is only so much of me I can restrain at one time. I then thought I better try to explain to them exactly what it was that I was doing so I would be allowed back in the next day.  I pulled out an exercise book that had been translated into Chinese.  The nanny that was about 4'10" tall and was trying to learn English became really excited.  She pulled out this DVD that had been made for them by a diaper company that showed stretches to perform on the babies with the music to "Swing Low Sweet Chariot" playing in the background.  Yes its true; I couldnt make that up.   They continued to play this in loop for the next 4 days while I was there.  Yes, my teammates were very grateful to me that I had somehow encouraged this video to be played in loop, and if you hear me humming that tune or counting in Chinese while I'm in the NICU...now you know why.

The team leader came by and informed me that this fiery little 4'10" nanny, WL, was friends with my friend that had encouraged me to go on this trip.  Maybe this is why God sent me...to continue growing that seed (yes I am trying to figure Him out again).  WL took to the three of us that had been assigned to that room into her little circle immediately.  In fact, she had decided we were all going to be friends before we even showed up as evidenced by her writing out in English on her note pad "we are good friends".  She was so full of energy and eager to learn.  If I could have brought her home with me, I would have.  In fact, I tried but she said "I have no reason to go to Merica" so I said "next time" and she smiled and shook her head no as she made the symbol with her hand for ok. 

For now I must sign off as my kiddo is STARVING and since his older brother is getting to witness the Spurs get their rings tonight, the least I could do is feed him....

Beijing....

"Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is part of it."

1 Corinthians 12:27

The leader of our team had led this trip before.  She felt it was best if we spent our first full day in Beijing sight-seeing, getting to know each other as a team, and overcoming jetlag.  We had a day packed full of all the things you picture doing if you go to China.  It was very foggy/smoggy that day, so it was hard to see what was ahead.  If I was a great writer, I could probably draw an analogy here of how that goes hand in hand with not being able to see the path clearly yet of what God had planned for this trip.  How He makes our visibility just enough to see this next step but not the full picture of what lies ahead, but I will leave that analogy for someone that is better with words than me.

The driving in China is different than that in San Antonio.  Apparently, if you honk, you have the right of way.  It doesnt matter if you are turning into oncoming traffic, driving a good 100 yards down the wrong way or even driving on a sidewalk for that matter.  Honking means move out of the way because we are coming thru.  We arrived at the Great wall, and you couldnt even see it from the parking lot.  We headed up to hike it.  It was newer looking than I had pictured it.  I would have  enjoyed some headphones with a person telling me the history behind everything, but I didnt have them or even google to look up the story behind it all, so I just started climbing.  We had climbed several series of steps when we came to a landing that led to more steps.  We couldnt see where those steps ended due to the smog so my motivation to get to the next landing went down.  We passed rows of locks that people had purchased and scribbled their names on for good luck or something....again the headphones or google would have been handy.  There was a little building of some sort and people dressed in traditional attire that I am sure wanted tips for their pictures.  It was beautiful.  I have always wanted to see it, and I am blessed now that I have.

After the Great Wall, we headed for lunch.  Dining in China is also very different from the US.  The food was suprisingly good.  I learned how to use chopsticks and a Lazy Susan while there.  Every meal is family style and all the dishes are placed on a Lazy Susan that people use to get the dish they want.  You use your chopsticks to get the your food from the platter, and there is a little plate in front of you to catch what you drop.

The next stop was Tiananmen Square.  It was surreal walking there knowing what had happened in the late 80's.  There were vendors and families out for the day.  People wanted their pictures taken with us since we were different looking =).  It was a quick stop and then we left for the Pearl Market.

The Pearl Market was a buildig full of vendors that like to barter.  I am not a big barterer.  I will shop around for a good price, but I do not like to haggle.  I bought some jewelry from a lady the team leader had bought from before and knew it was good quality, some souveniers for the kids, and then I was ready to call it a day.  I saw a Starbucks, met up with some team members there, and settled in until the others were finished shopping.

The team leader was correct in her planning for this day.  By the end of it, I was exhausted and ready for sleep and our team, Christ's body, was starting to come together.  I slept well that night and the next day we travelled to the city that houses the orphanage we would be serving at for the next 5 days.

Getting there….

"This is the Lord's sign to you that the Lord will do what he has promised…"

Isaiah 38:7

 

I have been asked numerous times "How was China?" My quick response up to this point has been "amazing". Not because I haven't wanted to tell everyone every last detail, but I am still processing everything I experienced while I was there. One of the therapists I work with helped me out one day when she said "It is just something you can't explain; I get it". She had been to India the year before to help out with cleft lips and palates, and she understood my lack of words. There are also privacy laws that go hand and hand with adoptions and orphanages, and I wouldn't want to say or do anything that would jeopardize families waiting for their children. I also want to make sure I respect a country, that although is very different from my own, invited me in to their culture and allowed me to love on their children. I am going to do my best though to explain what I can. Many of you supported me in this trip, and I was representing you there. I felt you there with me and for that reason I want to share my story with you. Instead of one long post, I am going to divide this into a few to make for easy reading and writing…..
    I woke up the morning I left for China ready to go. I had been nervous about leaving my family up until that morning, and then, like He always does, God gave me peace. I dropped the kids off at school and then Jeff and I hung out for the day. We decided to go to lunch. He suggested Chinese, which I vetoed, knowing I would get my share of it the next 10 days. We settled on Tex Mex. We went to the airport, checked in with the airline who informed me my checked bag was going all the way to Beijing (yikes), and then I walked thru security alone. I was to fly to Houston and make a connection to fly to Newark. Spend the night in Newark with 3 other team members that I had yet to meet and then fly onto to Beijing with the rest of the team the next morning. I often hear people say that love ones that have passed away are watching over them and send them signs. I do not believe in this personally. I hate to think of my grandfather watching me and being worried about my life. Besides, I can pretty much hear his response to me signing up for China. I like the thought of him hanging out in Heaven or Paradise or whatever it is for right now (I have heard compelling arguments for both and I'm not going to pretend I have Revelations figured out) at peace and full of joy. I do, however, feel like God will send you signs if you ask for them and sometimes if you don't =).
    The first leg of my flight was delayed. The person at the gate said the "captain saw something he didn't like and wanted Maintenance to check it out". Ummmm, ok?? My hour or so layover quickly got cut to 30 minutes. Then my carryon had to be gate checked because it was a smaller plane, and it wouldn't fit. Great! More of my connection time cut. I went to my seat and next to me was a priest. Now, I am not Catholic, but I took this as a good sign. I am pretty sure he was Spanish speaking only, but he smiled at me a lot. God had sent another one of His children to ride next to me to remind me that this trip was for Him. I landed in Houston, got my luggage, and ran to another terminal and made my next flight in time. My carryon again had to be checked since I was the last one getting on the plane. This time I would have to pick it up at baggage claim. So much for skipping that step in Newark. This time the guy next to me on the plane was reading some kind of Christian tract. I smiled at him; him not so much at me. I decided he was from New Jersey and not Texas =) but was again grateful for the little sign I had been sent. I got to my hotel that night around 1 am. Met three of the girls and crashed.
    The next morning our flight to Beijing was delayed from 11 to 4 pm. We met up with the other team members and had lunch over our $7 voucher we were given for our inconvenience due to the delay. The rest of the team seemed very nice. Several adoptive parents and people who had travelled before. Most of them younger than me. We loaded the plane for the long flight to Beijing. I got to sit next to the sweetest little old man. He was from Canada and we spoke for a little while. As soon as the plane took off, he folded his arms, bowed his head, and slept for almost the entire 13hours. It was impressive. While he was awake, he told me about all his travels to China. Gave me some pointers on things to buy there. Told me not to use my cell phone or the bill would be crazy. Suggested I take the train if I wanted to go somewhere because it was really nice and super fast. As we were filling out our cards to enter the country, I looked down at his and his name…"Jay B". Kid you not. For those of you that don't know, my grandfather's name was JB. He was an amazing man who I dearly miss. Now I don't believe my grandfather sent me that sign. But I do believe my God did. He gave me that last little bit of reassurance that I was exactly where He wanted me to be as I departed the plane and stepped onto Chinese soil…..