When I read the LWB foster care reports each month, it always bring me such joy when I see a photo of a child with a big, spontaneous smile. In every report we have received about two-year-old Rusty and his personality, abilities and needs, there is one thing that never changes: HE IS ALWAYS SMILING!
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Brandon is a lively and sweet three-year-old boy with a repaired cleft lip and unrepaired cleft palate who has been in the Shantou Foster Care program for almost a year now. If you were to visit his foster home, you’d likely find Brandon enjoying a good game of hide-and-seek with his little friends, or maybe staying close beside his foster mom as she goes about the day’s housework—he loves to “help” with the daily chores as most three-year-olds do.
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In 2004, when I first had the opportunity to work in a Chinese orphanage, there was one little girl who captured my heart. I was amazed by the fact that I could be caring for 200 babies and yet have one that stood out as so special and dear to my heart. Leaving her after eight days of serving in her orphanage was one of the most difficult things I’ve done. And so when the time for my next trip to serve in another orphanage came, I told myself I would not fall in love with one child in particular. Much as I tried, another little girl stole my heart. Now when I work in the orphanages, I know that it’s inevitable – there will always be one or two children that I will form a special bond with – one or two children whose faces are forever etched on my mind and heart and whom daily remain in my prayers. On my most recent trip to China in May 2010, Scott was one of two of the over 500 children I encountered that captured my heart.
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Our sweet little Song who is patiently waiting for a family has been blessed once again! A very generous donor has offered to match DOLLAR for DOLLAR, up to $3,000.00, towards Song’s adoption expenses. That brings Song’s potential grant to…. (drumroll please)… $8,500.00 towards his adoption! WOW!
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Ciaran is a wonderful four-year-old little boy in our Loudi Foster Care program in Hunan. He lives with Down Syndrome, so his speech development is a bit slower, but his understanding is excellent. He is a polite little boy who is quick to run to get a stool for his foster mom when she comes in from outside. He is quick to be obedient and enjoys collecting his toys and putting them away after playtime. What a happy helper he is!
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Joseph is 7-1/2 years old, outgoing, and very clever! In a perfect world, he would be in a class of second graders, working hard and excelling in all he attempts. Unfortunately, life is not perfect, and he was born with a special need that causes others to shun him, in school and in the community. And yet, he continues to be filled with life and smiles and joy!
When the LWB team visited his village in June, he was the child who kept running back for another balloon animal or toy, laughing and giggling the whole time. Joseph is able to enjoy the love and care of his foster parents who go out of their way to make his life as normal as possible. But Joseph still needs funding for the surgery that could change his life for the better! To learn more about Joseph, visit his sponsor page.
In January, I visited the Foshan Shunde orphanage in Guangdong where LWB has a nutrition program. After visiting with children and seeing many adorable babies, we were almost ready to leave the orphanage. Then we saw a young girl who had just come back from school, and I was told her file had been submitted for adoption. I asked the orphanage if they would allow me to have a picture with her so that I could advocate for her adoption and they agreed. Her name is Wendy, and she is 11 years old.
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Recently, I gave a two hour talk on the topic of orphaned children in China, and a summary by someone who attended the presentation was posted online. It has come to my attention that some people are now concluding from that talk that the non special needs program for China is over. I feel it is very important for me to go on record to state that the non special needs program is still very much in operation. Each and every month, the dedicated staff at the CCAA match children through this program to families who have been patiently waiting for 4+ years. In 2009, approximately 1500 children were matched through the NSN program.
The intention of my talk was not about discouraging people from this track. Instead, what my talk covered was the changing face of Chinese adoption.
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Rochelle is a lovely four-year-old child with an artistic streak that she uses to express her sunny personality. Though she cannot stand or walk, she has very creative hands that can do wonders. Rochelle loves to draw colorful pictures of flowers and the sun! Her painting is full of creativity and features quite unusual shapes. Not wanting to limit herself to one art form, Rochelle is surprisingly good at paper-cutting (for a four-year old!) and can cut shapes such as flower baskets, planes and birds.
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Matthew is a 10-year-old boy at our Jinjiang Believe In Me School. He knows everything fashionable, such as the latest cartoon image and newest songs. His special need is listed as mental delay, but this boy is lively and clever.
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