I’m in love…
What can I say to describe China?
Well the smog covers every inch of this side of the world. I feel like I am in a bio-dome and China wants to keep all the unclean air contained.
Every child under the age of two is allowed to wear split pants (meaning a literal split in the pants – no diapers necessary, simply place your child in the bushes and let him or her go to the bathroom)
Coffee does NOT exist. What? No one warned us of this situation or we would have brought coffee from Nepal… I am suffering from withdraws.
Street food is absolutely delicious. Take a chance and try some. Yummy! I had some today. The sad thing is everything is in Chinese sooo I don’t know the name of anything. (And there was this one time that I got sick – but it was worth it.)
No one speaks English…. For some reason we had a misconception about this fact. It is very hard to communicate here and sign language doesn’t even work
Sooooo why am in love?
This month I am working with a non-profit organization for special needs children. And these children have touched my heart. Every day I can’t wait to go to work to see my children. I would take them all home if I could…
My heart lights up when I see them. I want to spend every moment with them. The organization has around 60 children divided between 8 different houses.
There is a baby house
a house for children who have CP and spinal bifida (all non-walkers)
a house for severe mental disabilities – all non-walkers
a house for autism
a house for older girls
a house of older boys
and a house for toddlers.
My favorite is the toddler house. I spend all my time there… even on my day off I go there. (I just love the kids sooo much) There are 9 children there who range from age of 2 to 8. They live on the 5th floor of an apartment building and there are two non-walkers in the group. Going to and from school is quiet the endeavor. It takes a solid 20 minutes to walk down stairs are there are normally several breakdowns along the way. Good times.
This organization provides pre-school for these children with special needs. There are also two therapists who work at the school: one for speech therapy and one for physical therapy. These children are bright. They want to learn. And the teachers are excellent. This month we are helping at the school to enhance the classroom setting. We have the opportunity to teach art, music, and English.
We get to take the children on outings – to the park, to the market, or even to McDonalds for ice cream. Ohhh it is an adventure every time. We are a sight to see. A group of Americans with a group of special needs kids (many in wheelchairs). Imagine using public transportation and getting a child in a wheelchair on the bus…. We got the door shut in our faces several times. But the children love it and many do not get to go out normally. Everyday the children at least go on a walk or to the park. Something to get them out.
I want to tell you about all the children in house two because I love each one of them but this post is getting long… so I will just tell you about one of them. My favorite. (the others I will save for another time… but you will hear about them)
So my little girl is the complete package; she is smart, determined, and witty. She is adaptable to many situations and loves life. She will never give up and wants to be independent. She is 5 years old and one of the cutest kids I have seen.
Sooo why hasn’t she been adopted yet…
She was born with Apert Syndrome.
All of her fingers and toes are webbed together. Her face is flatten out with a big forehead, separated eyes, and a small mouth. Her skull closed up before her brain could develop all the way. There is surgery that could be performed up the age of 5 but after that there is nothing the doctors can do for her. There is pressure on her brain and the doctors do not know how that will affect her in the future.
But none of these things matter to me. I love her. She is precious, and Daddy made her just the way she is for a reason. He knit her together in her mother’s womb. He made her wonderfully and she has a Daddy that loves her. I know that she has a future, whether that be in America or in China. If I was ready to be a mom and had a husband, I would adopt her in a heartbeat, but it is not my time. Dad will provide for her. I know it. He will provide the perfect family for her, someone who loves her as much as I do.
Well no more… because I will be in tears thinking about her and having to leave in a week…. It is going to be the hardest goodbye on the race. And it is with a 5 year old girl. Who would have ever thought… Thank you, Daddy, for this experience – even if it is hard.
*All photos are taken by Reagan
