Orphanage Tour and Tea Tasting

Hello everybody from Kunming, Yunnan, China.  Day 5, starting to feel like Day 20!

Today was a hard but good and necessary day.  We woke up at our new normal time, around 6:30AM and were dressed, fed, and ready to meet our driver and guide at 8:30AM for the ride to Charlotte's orphanage.  As close as she was to her nannies, we knew that Charlotte would be sad.  And we were right.  But what was amazing and truly yet another sign of God's love and Providence for our little one -- Charlotte's relationship wasn't a one-way street.  These nannies loved her so much.  They remembered her, doted on her, and showed us numerous pictures on their phones of her at various stages in her life at the orphanage.  It is one thing to have a job as a child care worker at an orphanage, and to make sure that the children are fed, clean, have fresh diapers, etc., and quite another to save pictures and videos of a child on their personal phone for going on 1+ years.  The orphanage was very clean, and consisted of quite a large campus- -even having a small hospital on the premises.  We think that not all orphanages are as updated and nice as this one, and again are thankful for how well Charlotte was taken care of before she was placed in our family.  At each mini-reunion with another group of nannies, there would be tears and sobbing by most of us, and then we'd move on to the next part of the campus where Charlotte spent her days.  Finally we arrived back at the van to leave, and there were more pictures, hugs, kisses and crying.  But to Charlotte's great credit, she cried for about 10 minutes and then settled back in with Maran.  She is a brave little girl. It is important for her to grieve this portion of her life that is now over, but we are told and firmly believe that it was a necessary step in helping see that being with us at a hotel far away from her orphanage is not some cruel field trip or experimental summer camp-- but instead this is forever.

After we left the orphanage, we moved on to more of a sight-seeing activity, and received a very interesting tutorial and history lesson on the tea that is grown in this region of China.  And because Maran was helping keep Charlotte entertained, I became a tea brewing master.  I can give you all of the reasons for its health benefits and can brew a cup that will dazzle your pallet, while simultaneously regulating your cholesterol and digestive system.  Who knew?  Now we know!

We are already seeing a few signs of Charlotte coming more and more out of her shell.  We just had an American style lunch, and she is clearly communicating what she wants and needs.  She still isn't sure if I am a permanent part of this equation, but seems pretty well sold on Maran.  That in itself is an answer to prayer, as I am sure she will warm up to her talented government-paper-work filler-outter, deceased movie heartthrob look-alike, who is becoming pretty attached to his sweet, new fanny pack (really, it is quite versatile and useful).

Just a few pictures today, and a prayer request.  Yesterday Maran started to feel homesick, and today it is my turn.  The emotions involved with what we are doing, the unfamiliar surroundings, the distance from home, our kids, etc. are sinking in.  Please pray that we both would continue to feel God's presence in new and affirming ways, and that we would get the 2nd (and 3rd, 4th, etc.) winds that we need to shine the love of Jesus to those we meet and to bond Charlotte to us well.  Thank you for all of your diligence in prayer for us to date- -we so appreciate it.

Until tomorrow afternoon,
Wade and Maran

Us outside the director's/admin building with the kind worker who does the Chinese side of all the paperwork so that children can be adopted.

Hanging on the walls are pictures of the children, and here is our little Charlotte when she was probably closer to 1 years old.

Here is an outdoor playground, one of Charlotte's favorite places to be (per her nannies).  She will love our playset and backyard at home with Margaret and Sarah Catherine.

 One of the many nannies who loved and adored Charlotte- this one we think was from her most recent play room.

 These are the infant nannies who as I mentioned above, still had videos and photos of Charlotte on their phones.  They were SO excited to see her and hold her again.

 A group shot of the nannies and hospital workers that cared for Charlotte.

Tea time in China!  We already feel healthier inside, with increased liver function!