In Kevin's Own Words

Thanks for following this blog and for your prayers as Lauren and I traveled to China. I hope you also took a look at my video montage of the trip at Chaoyang 2012 and my pictures on my Facebook page. These will give you a taste of the amazing trip that God took us on. One of those pictures shows me laying on a trampoline with two boys. The boy on my left is a little guy that is new to the orphanage this year. We called him Buba, his Chinese name means "Stars." Buba has Down's Syndrome and was very cautious with this strange group of visitors early in the week. By the last day, when this picture was taken, he was very comfortable with me. If I tickled him, he wouldn't laugh, but when I tickled the other boy, Buba would laugh along with him. The scene in this picture was interrupted by the call to get on the van for the last time and leave the orphanage to head back to the US. Lest you think that a Down's Syndrome boy who doesn't speak english doesn't understand, as we got off the trampoline, he had a few silent tears flowing down his cheeks. The other boy in the picture is Chen Chen. He is about eight with moderate autism. He is very sweet, but doesn't speak, well almost. On Thursday, the team arrived as rain fell outside. Chen Chen and I headed to the play room and sat by the window looking out at the rain. This boy, who never talks, started saying "ma ma, ma ma." Then he laid his head on my chest and continued to say, "ma ma," softly and sweetly. (My Chinese isn't very good, and depending on the tonal inflections, he might have been saying "horse, horse" or "scold, scold" but my best guess is that he was using the only word that he knew for parent.) A couple of days later, as we boarded the van for the last time, Chen Chen burst into tears and ran to one of the nannies for consolation. That's how we left him. These boys and the other twenty-some kids at this little orphanage in the middle of northern China know that they are loved. They enjoyed the human connections that we were all created for. They experienced the love of Christ through an amazing team of ordinary men and women who were willing to devote twelve days of their lives to being His hands and feet. Parental Postscript: There was one other little girl that caught my eye. She is 17 years old and has red hair. She looks and sounds very much like my daughter Lauren, but there were differences. At home, Lauren -- like you and me -- could get frustrated with the trivial interruptions and minor inconveniences of life. In China, in the midst of extremely challenging conditions, a depth of character was displayed in her that is the stuff of legends. She has never been more in her element. Kids ran to her, stress rolled off of her, other team members -- adults and students alike -- looked to her, Christ shone through her -- and it was beautiful!

In the hands of Jesus

The team is now on a plane from Beijing to Seattle. Kevin and Lauren have another 12 hours of travel after that. They had a lot of thoughts on their last day at the orphanage but since it was so personal and emotional, I think it's best for them to write here when they get home. You really want to hear from them. Saying goodbye in this type of situation is grueling but they leave them in the hands of Jesus. Is there a better place?

...above all, love.

Kevin and Lauren just called after their last full day at the orphanage. They will go back in the morning to throw a communal birthday party for all the kids and then head to Beijing to begin the long journey home. They sound tired and happy but they are anticipating the sadness of saying goodbye tomorrow. They also both mentioned that they are over Chinese food. Lauren was much more adventurous with food this year, but now she's basically eating watermelon and peanut butter ;). They are ready for some salad since they can't eat much fresh fruit or vegetables because of the contaminated water. Luckily, they have not had any tummy troubles and although Kevin is still coughing, he has felt good. Please pray that they have a good day with the kids tomorrow and that the volunteer programs continue to thrive after they leave. The goal is not only to love on these orphaned children for a week but to encourage the community to step in and give them attention, stimulation, hope and, above all, love.

I remember the feeling...

Sorry I didn't post yesterday. I was running around town on Krosley Morrison Adventure Day but you don't want to hear about that. You want to know how things are going in ChaoYang! I did talk to them yesterday and today. Yesterday, they had a good time at the orphanage even though the air conditioning is broken, there is construction happening on the elevator and the water has been out. The kids are loving the group and the group is definitely loving the kids! Kevin has been adopted by Miss Jing who can be a tad bit possessive but he got some good time with Chin Chin who is an older child with autism. He is so sweet and Kevin has enjoyed getting glimpses into his personality. Last night they went to Bible Study at the local church. Unfornuately, they didnt get to see the elderly people we had so much fun visiting last year but they met new people. Please pray that the church really catches God's passion for those orphans in their city. That's where the real power of change lies. Today, they took the kids to the amusement park. This a field trip that the orphanage director organizes. The amusement park is in a very nice walking park but the rides themselves look like they are left over from the 1950s...very rickety, a bit creepy and they all go in circles. Kevin got sick. Some of the kids love them and others cry because they are so overwhelmed by all the new stimulation. The director then takes everyone to KFC. It's the only American food in ChaoYang but it has been adapted some so it doesn't really taste like home. The kids, however, LOVED it. Lauren said she couldn't believe how much Wai Wai ate. Last year he could only eat the mashed potatoes, this year he ate all of it, including 3 packs of ketchup! After they took the kids back, the team went for a ceremony at the nursing school to award the students who have volunteered at the orphanage this year. Then everyone, including media, went back to the orphanage for play time and pictures. They kids were wiped out! The team is starting to feel the time crunch- only a day and a half left with the kids. Kevin said he could stay for another 2 or 3 weeks. They are both ready to be home but don't want to leave. I remember that feeling.

So Happy!

It's Pam again. I know you just want to hear from Lauren or Kevin but they are still having internet issues and can't send me any emails or pictures. Lauren just called me this morning after a full day at the orphanage and that girl sounds so tired and happy! She is LOVING every minute. She told me so many things about all the kids that would probably bore you all since you don't know them but it sounds like the volunteer efforts put in place last year have really had some positive effects on the children's socialization and development. Miss Diva Jing is holding hands with the little boys and helping some. Although, she did tried to take something from Dong Dong (maybe 10 with autism) and while last year this probably would have produced brooding and maybe hitting, this time he gave her a major tongue lashing and Jing got out of there fast. Lauren and Kevin said it was so funny. Lauren brought out the nose/mustache/glasses and the little boys thought it was hysterical! They have good pictures, which we can't see :(. She said little Wai Wai is her shadow. He is the toddler with clubbed hands that she connected so emotionally with last year. He is much happier this year and giggles all the time. Today, one of the nannies called over one of the older autistic boys for some food and tiny Wai Wai went over, took the boy's hand with his own crooked little hand, helped him up and led him to the table. So sweet! It's amazing that without much encouragement, these children really have banded together and try to help each other. I know we have a sinful nature that influences us all but we are also made in the image of God and that's really what is so evident with these precious children. Hopefully tomorrow I will have pictures!

Pictures

I have not received any pictures yet but you can go to the blog of the team leader Toni http://crebbinfamily.blogspot.com/ to see some great ones!

Not the way it's supposed to be...

I got a call last night (on their lunch break). They had a wonderful morning at the orphanage. I had been preparing Lauren for months that some of the younger children wouldn't remember her. Well, they drove up to the building got off the bus and Wai Wai ran squealing into her arms! What a gift! Lauren gave me an update on all the "babies" and sounded so happy! Bao Xin, blind girl with cerebral palsey, was happy as ever. A few of the older children who were in cribs all day when we got there last year were walking with assistance. The "toddlers" are growing up and looking good. Jing, the little diva who was in charge of the place, was doing lessons with one of the nannies! Kevin was introduced to everyone and was playing games with them. The nannies told all the children to call him uncle :) So many good things. But they are balanced by the realities of orphanage life. Heng Heng is gone. I held him on the last day and prayed that Jesus would take him home. He was wasting away. Little Jo Jo, the 3 month old with the lazy eye, doesn't seem to be growing. Lauren said he looks basically the same. He should be toddling around with the other little ones. It was a quick phone call because they needed to go to lunch. It was so good to hear them but I hung up and sobbed. The reality of how these children live, the losses we grieve and even the gains we celebrate are so wrong. It must be a glimpse into the way God looks at the earth. This isn't the way it was supposed to be.