Us with all the caretakers, in front of the orphanage.
This is Kai with the caretaker that often took him home. He is in this sign for the orphange.“The caretaker tell him to show you his bed. He misunderstand. He thinks he staying.”-Our guide explaining to us why Kai suddenly started crying hard.
Today was the orphanage visit day. Josh said that today was the best day for him. I am not sure I share that view, just because it was sort of emotional, but still very good. It was nice for us to see where he has been living these past two years.
We started at the grocery store. Judy helped us pick out little treats for Kai to pass out to the kids once we arrived. Judy explained to Kai that we were going back to the orphanage just to visit, not to stay. He said, “Ok.” I wanted to climb into his head and see just what was going on there. We also bought many diapers to donate to the orphanage. Our guide said that diapers were really the only thing that they needed. Again, this orphanage is in a wealthy part of town and I guess they have things pretty good there.
When we arrived everyone came out to greet us. Kai immediately asked if his “favorite” caretaker was there. We found out that he calls her “Mama”. This is the same caretaker that took him home often. This felt so bitter sweet to me. He obviously loves this woman, but I cannot wait until he calls me “mama” and have it to really mean something. It was a blessing to meet her and to express our gratitude to her in person. Oh, also, I should mention that this orphanage is also different in that they allowed us to video tape and photograph anywhere that we wanted to go. Again, this was such a blessing for us, as we wanted to document everything that we could of Kai’s life before we met him.
We went into his little room first. This is when the caretaker showed him his bed. I guess they had just laid the children down to rest for a nap. Kai thought he was going to have to stay and take a nap. We were being shown around by the director and all of a sudden Kai was crying very hard. Both Josh and I were surprised, as the only time Kai really cries is right when we lay him down for bed. Even then, he only cries until I start singing, “The Rocking Chair” song. He seems to like that song as well and stops. At first, when our guide explained to us what happened, we misunderstood her. “He think he staying here.” We thought the caretaker had told him he had to leave and he wanted to stay. But then after a few more questions she explained that he wanted to leave with us, he thought he was going to have to go back to the orphanage.
After that, Josh held him the whole time. He did not even want to pass out his candy treats. Our guide did this and Kai sort of just watched. After seeing his room and bed, we headed upstairs to the baby area. I knew that another family in our agency had committed to child at this orphanage. I found him and was able to take several pictures of him. He is so sweet and happy too, like Kai. I am excited to send these to the family. I know that I would have been so relieved and happy if I could have seen pictures of Kai in action before we came to get him. The caretakers took this little boy out of his walker and he smiled while they played with him.
I looked in the baby room. There were probably about 20 babies in there. Judy said that most of them are “heart” babies. I was able to touch them and walk around that room. It took a bit for me to keep the tears back. Judy told me that all of these babies would get adopted though. They all qualify for international adoption. At this orphanage, only children with special needs are able to be adopted internationally. Many of you know that Kai is considered special needs in China. He has a very minor medical condition that is easily correctable here in the United States. Kai’s condition was so minor that he was actually held back for domestic adoption. In China now, many orphanages are saving healthy children for domestic adoptions. I suspected this because of his age and his condition being so minor. So, after he was not adopted out domestically, he had to go through all the paperwork to be internationally adopted. Our guide was able to tell us this, and a police officer, that actually remembers the day Kai was found also told us about that as well.
After we left the orphanage we set off to find his “finding spot.” We were unable to find it, so Judy called the police station for help. The police officers remembered the day Kai was found. Can you believe that? Two and half years ago and they remember. Judy said abandonment is so unusual in this area, that they often are able to remember and tell you more. So we stopped by the police station. The officer hopped in our van and took us to Kai’s finding spot. It is basically a big field right now. It used to have a big restaurant next to the road. He was found right on the corner next to the restaurant that is no longer there. I appreciated the police officer taking the time to take us there. He told Kai that he was a lucky boy. He also told Judy that Kai is “so cute and smart.” I guess the police officers go there and help out, sort of volunteer there often and he knew Kai. I have been amazed by the community support of this orphanage. It does not seem like these children are tucked away and ignored.
The drive was about an hour long there and another hour back. The ride back home was pretty rough. Kai was past his naptime. When he gets tired he basically gets into everything and is very wound up. Oh man! Plus, throw a visit back to his orphanage in there, mix in the fact that he is a two year old, and it wasn’t much fun on the way home. Prayers for the plane ride please! Judy laughed when we said, “Oh 20 hours on the place with Kai should be a piece of cake.” “Oh my,” is all Judy could say.
Kai is sleeping now. Then we have to wake him up for our oath at the Chinese Consulate. Then our Wednesday will be over, which means just one more day here and we are flying home!
Today was the orphanage visit day. Josh said that today was the best day for him. I am not sure I share that view, just because it was sort of emotional, but still very good. It was nice for us to see where he has been living these past two years.
We started at the grocery store. Judy helped us pick out little treats for Kai to pass out to the kids once we arrived. Judy explained to Kai that we were going back to the orphanage just to visit, not to stay. He said, “Ok.” I wanted to climb into his head and see just what was going on there. We also bought many diapers to donate to the orphanage. Our guide said that diapers were really the only thing that they needed. Again, this orphanage is in a wealthy part of town and I guess they have things pretty good there.
When we arrived everyone came out to greet us. Kai immediately asked if his “favorite” caretaker was there. We found out that he calls her “Mama”. This is the same caretaker that took him home often. This felt so bitter sweet to me. He obviously loves this woman, but I cannot wait until he calls me “mama” and have it to really mean something. It was a blessing to meet her and to express our gratitude to her in person. Oh, also, I should mention that this orphanage is also different in that they allowed us to video tape and photograph anywhere that we wanted to go. Again, this was such a blessing for us, as we wanted to document everything that we could of Kai’s life before we met him.
We went into his little room first. This is when the caretaker showed him his bed. I guess they had just laid the children down to rest for a nap. Kai thought he was going to have to stay and take a nap. We were being shown around by the director and all of a sudden Kai was crying very hard. Both Josh and I were surprised, as the only time Kai really cries is right when we lay him down for bed. Even then, he only cries until I start singing, “The Rocking Chair” song. He seems to like that song as well and stops. At first, when our guide explained to us what happened, we misunderstood her. “He think he staying here.” We thought the caretaker had told him he had to leave and he wanted to stay. But then after a few more questions she explained that he wanted to leave with us, he thought he was going to have to go back to the orphanage.
After that, Josh held him the whole time. He did not even want to pass out his candy treats. Our guide did this and Kai sort of just watched. After seeing his room and bed, we headed upstairs to the baby area. I knew that another family in our agency had committed to child at this orphanage. I found him and was able to take several pictures of him. He is so sweet and happy too, like Kai. I am excited to send these to the family. I know that I would have been so relieved and happy if I could have seen pictures of Kai in action before we came to get him. The caretakers took this little boy out of his walker and he smiled while they played with him.
I looked in the baby room. There were probably about 20 babies in there. Judy said that most of them are “heart” babies. I was able to touch them and walk around that room. It took a bit for me to keep the tears back. Judy told me that all of these babies would get adopted though. They all qualify for international adoption. At this orphanage, only children with special needs are able to be adopted internationally. Many of you know that Kai is considered special needs in China. He has a very minor medical condition that is easily correctable here in the United States. Kai’s condition was so minor that he was actually held back for domestic adoption. In China now, many orphanages are saving healthy children for domestic adoptions. I suspected this because of his age and his condition being so minor. So, after he was not adopted out domestically, he had to go through all the paperwork to be internationally adopted. Our guide was able to tell us this, and a police officer, that actually remembers the day Kai was found also told us about that as well.
After we left the orphanage we set off to find his “finding spot.” We were unable to find it, so Judy called the police station for help. The police officers remembered the day Kai was found. Can you believe that? Two and half years ago and they remember. Judy said abandonment is so unusual in this area, that they often are able to remember and tell you more. So we stopped by the police station. The officer hopped in our van and took us to Kai’s finding spot. It is basically a big field right now. It used to have a big restaurant next to the road. He was found right on the corner next to the restaurant that is no longer there. I appreciated the police officer taking the time to take us there. He told Kai that he was a lucky boy. He also told Judy that Kai is “so cute and smart.” I guess the police officers go there and help out, sort of volunteer there often and he knew Kai. I have been amazed by the community support of this orphanage. It does not seem like these children are tucked away and ignored.
The drive was about an hour long there and another hour back. The ride back home was pretty rough. Kai was past his naptime. When he gets tired he basically gets into everything and is very wound up. Oh man! Plus, throw a visit back to his orphanage in there, mix in the fact that he is a two year old, and it wasn’t much fun on the way home. Prayers for the plane ride please! Judy laughed when we said, “Oh 20 hours on the place with Kai should be a piece of cake.” “Oh my,” is all Judy could say.
Kai is sleeping now. Then we have to wake him up for our oath at the Chinese Consulate. Then our Wednesday will be over, which means just one more day here and we are flying home!
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