Continued from part 1...

After the paperwork, we gave the orphanage directors our gifts of blankets and knitted caps, and at least these two sweet women didn't tell us to send money instead like Benjamin's orphanage director did. They were very appreciative of what we gave them and gave us ideas for future gifts from families who have adopted from Yichang. When we left, they told us that Caleb had been a very popular and much loved child by others in the orphanage and we can see why, because he is quite the clown when he wants to be. He will have to be reigned in a little tighter because he thinks... more

Yesterday Jeff, Caleb, and I went back to the Civil Affairs office to finish the adoption registration. The first day, we filled out paperwork for the registration, and signed papers that gave us temporary guardianship for 24 hours. Then yesterday, they asked us if after 24 hours, we felt that Caleb was the same child who was promised us in our referral papers. I had to stifle a grin because Taylor had told me the day before to tease them and say we had decided we didn't want to keep him. I told Taylor that maybe we would get away with a joke like that in America, but no way was I going to say something like that to a Chinese government official. So, instead of teasing, we told them that he... more

One thing that the workers got a laugh out of, but was painful because it was at Micheline's expense was that two of the toddlers were deathly afraid of her. Having never seen a black person before, when she approached two of them, they screamed in fear. Shasha started to explain to her that they had never seen anyone who looked like her, which I was not happy with. I tried to gloss over it and tell her that they were afraid just because they didn't know her. Thankfully, none of the other children reacted this way and she was able to interact with some of the babies very positively.

As we left the orphanage, the vice director thanked us once again for coming and asked us to please... more

Unfortunately, because the kids remaining in the orphanage are disabled, he asked us to not take any photos or video. We were OK with that, but Love without Boundaries, who donated some of the blankets had asked if we could possibly get any photos of kids with the blankets. Sadly, that was not going to happen.

The video that I wish I had, however, I pray will remain engraved in my mind forever. As we entered one of the rooms with children, a woman shrieked and came running over to us. There was no time to get out the video camera and turn it on as she grabbed Benjamin and kept saying "Li Wa, Li Wa!" She clung to him and had the biggest grin on her face and tears in her eyes. What was... more

Micheline's orphanage in Haiti only had about 35 children who were adoptable, and Ben's had over 500 at the time he was adopted, so visiting the Wuhan SWI was a vastly different experience from what Micheline knew in Haiti.

The director came out and met us in the courtyard and took us to his office. Even though I knew Director Li and Director Zhang had both retired, I was still a bit sad to have to greet a man who never knew our son. He was friendly enough, but as we were walking into the orphanage, a woman came running over who said "Li Wa?"

I immediately recognized her face from our adoption trip before. She had a big grin on her face and tousled Ben's hair repeatedly and... more

One of the serendipitous or Godly-sent parts of Caleb's adoption is that he is from Yichang, which is in the Hubei Province of China. Benjamin is from Wuhan, which is the capitol city of the Hubei Province, and where all Hubei adoptions are processed.

Benjamin has asked repeatedly over the years to return to visit China, and we were concerned about how the costs would play out should we combine a homeland tour with an adoption trip. As an answer to prayer, we didn't have to worry because we were blessed on this adoption trip to... more

He is older than Benjamin, but is a few inches shorter. Unless he has a huge growth spurt, they will be able to wear each other's clothes for quite some time. He is 11, but looks and acts more like a 9 year old which is not uncommon in post-institutionalized children.

When we had guides with us, he of course wanted to be with them since they spoke his language, but we managed on our own tonight to walk down to a restaurant and order from a picture menu. I felt like a fool when I was pointing... more

After a mostly sleepless night, I was up by 6:00 a.m. and headed for the shower. We thankfully had noodles that the kids could eat in the room for breakfast since the buffet in our hotel left a lot to be desired. The butterflies in my stomach took away my desire for food and I couldn’t help but think that this was similar to the active stages of labor where if I had been actually giving birth, the nurses wouldn’t want me eating anyway.

As we arrived with our guides at the Civil Affairs office in Wuhan and climbed the stairs to the next floor, Taylor—our assigned videographer for the adoption-- asked if he should have the camera on and ready. I told him he probably wouldn't need... more

continued from Arrival In Wuhan part 1

Unlike the Victory Hotel in Guangzhou which had beds with luxuriously thick pads on them, we were reintroduced to a standard Chinese bed... let’s just say that I think the floor might be softer. The smell of cigarettes continues to be overpowering even in the room, so tomorrow we will make arrangements to transfer to a different hotel. The White Rose, a 4 star hotel which is just across the city plaza, has beautiful... more

It is 2:30 a.m. and I was jolted awake in our hotel room 30 minutes ago by the harsh and strident ringing of our telephone. When I answered, I was greeted by what seemed to be an angry Chinese man. Not understanding a word he was saying, I loudly stated, “I DON”T SPEAK CHINESE”, and then hung up. For some reason he was not satisfied with my answer, however - perhaps he understood me as much as I understood him? - and has called back twice.

After leaving tropical Guangzhou, we excitedly hopped on a plane yesterday to Wuhan where we will meet our... more