Busy Saturday

Today was a great day!

We, along with 6 others, addressed and assembled all of the sponsor's Christmas packages.

It takes many sponsors to keep an incredible organization like the Foster Home running on a daily basis.

They are wonderful about the personal connection between sponsor and sponsor child.

Each package had a letter, a beautiful calendar and a piece of art from their sponsor child.

With so many packages, this process took most of the day with only a couple of breaks.

One of those breaks was when we ventured into the village on a mission to finally try a donkey sandwich.

Unfortunately, the stand was closed. But, the real adventure was in getting there.

Not only did we take another ride in the back of a cart, but we had a Texan driving it!








Don't worry! We were fine!

Although, we did turn a few heads. :)



After finishing the sponsor packages, we headed over to a long-term volunteer's apartment for dinner.

You know, your typical Chinese meal of Chicken, broccoli and mashed potatoes and gravy.

She wanted to show us that, yes, you can still have foods from home that you are familiar with even if you are half a world away.

And, it was quite delicious!

Tomorrow, we will travel into the city to attend an international church service and go out for a western lunch.

I'm looking forward to the experience.


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Baby Lovin!

Today was another day filled with lots of baby lovin'.

I also worked for a while in the office in helping to establish some different goals and timelines for the children with Down syndrome to be used when assessments are done.

During our group prayer time, we learned that a new baby would be arriving today.

He recently received brain surgery and will stay here to recover.

It is possible that he will stay longer after further evaluation.

I'm really excited that I will be able to stay with him tomorrow and help assess his needs.


It is getting late now and we are exhausted, but here are a few pics from our dinner out this evening.

Noodles!

Yummy!!










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Half A World Away

I lie here in my bed at 1:45 am with many thoughts swirling in my head.

(Hello, jet lag)

Heidi and I have been here at the Foster Home since Monday night.

We have had the opportunity to work with the babies on Tuesday and then the toddlers and preschoolers yesterday.

These children are precious and so well loved.

The latter is what I am so thankful for.

Within our family, we have witnessed the stark difference of a child being raised in an orphanage environment and a child being raised in a loving Foster Home.

These previous nannies and foreign long-term volunteers are changing lives.

For that, I am extremely grateful.

We are not allowed to share pictures off these precious children, but they are a absolutely beautiful!

I will close with a few pics of me and Heidi for your enjoyment. :)