“One person's trash is another person's treasure.” This is how I feel about the special needs orphans that we worked with in Jiazao, China. The kids who have been turned away from their families, primarily because they are the firstborn in their family with the one child policy and as disabled, they are outcasts and unwanted. Cerebral palsy. Spina Bifida. Down Syndrome. Attention Deficit Disorder. Autism. Blindness. Deafness. And other disabilities that would make a child an unworthy person.
It has taken me a while to write this blog (more so to actually finish one that I start to write). I struggle to put my thoughts into words. And not write a blog that becomes a novel because I have so much to say. So here we go, (hopefully) short and sweet.
These kids stole my heart. After 9 months of leaving people and saying good-byes, I am over it. I am tired and don't want to do it anymore. I also knew after the first 3 days of ministry with them that I was going to have the hardest time doing it here. I was in love and fell asleep many nights picturing their faces. And crying because I knew that I would have to leave soon… and we had just gotten started.
We worked with Eagle's Wings, a branch under COAT (Chinese Orphan's Assistance Team) that functions more as a foster home for kids with special needs until they (hopefully) get adopted. They are divided up into 5 different houses according to needs, with round-the-clock caretakers. My absolute favorite house is the one with the non-walkers. The kids that would usually be in wheelchairs in America with Spina Bifida, but are actively pushing, pulling, and moving themselves along the ground here in China.
The one’s with Cerebral Palsy who can’t stand or walk, have to be fed and helped to the bathroom, yet have such great personalities and ideas. Some whose smarts astound me. The ones who would make people who are uncomfortable with disabilities the most uncomfortable. I never imagined how much I could love them. I can’t speak their language… but for some of them, neither can they so we are on an equal playing field.
Each day I went to the school where about 20 out of the approximately 50 orphans go. We take them on outings, for both enjoyment and physical therapy. (They don’t call it physical therapy, but for many of them I look at it that way.) I also go into different classrooms to assist the teacher with whatever she is doing. Other days, I go to a house where about 10 of the kids live and spend time with them… playing, eating meals, or going out and about on the town (well, to McDonalds or the park). Really, just living life with them and doing what they do. And helping them with what they need. Much of which is love. That, I’ve got covered.
I’ve discovered about myself that there is just something that wells up with passion when I see a kid who wants to do what all kids do, but just can’t because of the body that he was born into. I have asked God many questions and still am unsatisfied with any answers He’s given me, or still confused because of answers that I don’t have. But when I compare the kid who can with the kid who wants to but can’t, I’m automatically drawn to and willing to help to great lengths the kid whose body is his only obstacle. My main man, Fu Chang, is a 12 year old boy with CP. He would build the legos on his own if he could gain any control over his muscles and movements. He would color on his own and it would be beautiful, if he could keep his crayon on the paper and not end up coloring on the floor.
Wen Xuen would get to see the world from a higher perspective (literally) if he wasn’t confined to the ground because he is “lame” except for when someone picks him up. He is just like any other child in so many regards… they pinch, bite, hit, share, play, “read” books, build blocks and legos, and play “house”. But they are also special in other ways.
Wei Tao, who is four years old and born deaf and blind tugged my heart strings in a special way. The highlight of many of my days was going to visit him. As he laid there on the floor with no one touching him, I would rub his arm to let him know I was there. His arms immediately lifted up and he wanted to be held. I’d take him over to the rocking chair and rock him as he lay on my chest. I hummed a melody or sang him a song so he could feel the vibrations in my chest. Caedman’s Call “The Lord is a Warrior” was usually my song of choice. And this little boy whose world is dark and silent, for those few moments, became brighter and he knew he was someone. Held. Loved.
My heart breaks for the day that they come to understand, if ever, that their parents didn’t want them. That when they had the option to keep them as their one child, they chose not to. They, in essence, threw them out as trash. Abortion, infanticide, and abandonment are huge here in China. They were someone's trash. But they are truly treasures.
The one’s with attitudes, like Chingy. And the ones with the sweetest dispositions, like Xiou Ying.
The Mr. Personalities like Wen Yong, Ai Jai Bai, and Sheng An.
The beauties like Wen Fei.
The jokesters like Ai Jai Bai.
As I am spending time in prayer about how I can be involved in these children’s lives long term, I would love it if you could do the same. For me, I’m looking at going back to China for an extended period of time to teach them and work with some of them one on one. For you, it might look like adoption. I sure hope so. These kids are beautiful and full of life. But in a country where they are outcasts. Some genuinely see them as trash. If you are interested, I encourage you to please visit the Eagle’s Wings website at www.eagleswingschina.org
How can you resist this face?
