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‘Pack light’. As I ascended the steep steps in my heeled boots to our first foster family home in Qiandongnan, I was beginning to regret my footwear decision. The concrete steps were of uneven height, and no sooner did we get to the top of one flight then there was a corner and another flight of similar steps ascending ever upwards. It was with a sigh of relief that we walked along the front of a small apartment building and I was told that this was where the two families fostering Lewis, Chandler, Hanna and Clyde lived — in fact, all on the same floor. Knowing that we were almost there, the last flights of internal stairs in the building were a breeze. I just wanted to meet the children.

In early 2012 LWB began a foster care program in Kaili, Guizhou Province. One of the first children we took into our program was a baby girl born with dwarfism, whom we named Tara.

Tara had the most devoted foster mom, who wore her in a traditional Guizhou baby carrier for much of the day. Our local manager always enjoyed visiting her home each month, as she was such a good-natured baby who quickly grew into a very determined toddler. She loved visiting the market with her foster mom, and no matter what the temperature her favorite thing in the world was to be outside. Read more.

Our first full day in China was spent in Qiandongnan, in the southeastern part of Guizhou province.  This was my third visit to this mountainous region, and I always love coming here because the foster families in our program are just fantastic.  As I’ve mentioned in past blogs, Qiandongnan is a Miao and Dong minority prefecture.

One of the first kids we met was Cecilia, seen above, who was leaving for her adoption day just a few hours after we arrived.   Read more.

When I was a little girl, I remember seeing the passport of my friend’s father, and as I turned each page and saw the entry and exit stamps from different countries, I thought inside how wonderful it would be to someday have a little blue book of my own. I didn’t get that first passport until I was 35, when I adopted my first child from China, but I still remember the excitement I felt when the immigration officer firmly put his red stamp in it. I still feel that same excitement every time I land in China – and by the time you read this, I will probably be standing in the immigration line yet again.

Each time I make a trip to check on the children in our programs, I of course reflect back on previous journeys. I always have the same prayer leading up to departure:  that any child who truly needs our help will somehow cross my path. Read more.

The Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture is located in the southeast corner of Guizhou. 80% of the people in this region are ethnic minority, with the largest group being the Miao. The capitol city is Kaili, and that is where we began our day.
Read more.