Wednesday

Well, God had plans for us today.  Plans to teach us that His way is better, that's for sure.  Ruth had the idea to ask if we could take our 3 sweet girls that got left behind yesterday and Chin Chin on a walk down the street.  The caretakers said we could.  So, we loaded the girls up, two in one wheel chair, Ling Ling in another, Chin Chin took Ruth's hand and  we set out.  Lauren (her English name) works at the orphanage and she also came with us.  She told us that this was the first time the girls had ever really left the orphanage.  She said that they take them to the public restroom across the street in the winter because it is heated and the orphanage has no heat.  But that was as far as they had ever been.  Oh, the excitement they must have been feeling!  We took them to the river and my heart was filled with gratitude as I looked across the bridge and saw an amazing thing.... a cross on the top of a building.  I am sure it was the state run church and not really a "Christian" church but at that moment the cross was enough of a reminder for me that His hand is always in control.  The heartache the girls felt yesterday was replaced with the joy of a stroll down a busy street in China.

 

After lunch one of the boys started to ask Jean if we were going to leave.  She told him we would be leaving Friday afternoon and he started crying.  She took this as an opportunity to tell him that we would be leaving but he has a Heavenly Papa who would never leave him.  She explained to him that they could pray to Papa anytime they wanted and He would always be there.  What an amazingly bold move on her part...  Pray that the children never forget this and that they understand.

 

We spent the better part of the afternoon rocking babies.  I got to feed a baby a bottle.  She had a cleft palate and it was hard for her to drink the bottle.  She fell asleep in my arms and I just bowed my head and prayed over her.  That she would get the surgery to correct her cleft palate and that she would be adopted by a loving family.  Sometimes she would smile in her sleep.  Her black hair stood straight up on her head.  She must have just had a bath because she smelled so good... or maybe that was just the fresh baby smell.  ;^)

 

Pray for Meredith.  She got sick and was throwing up.  She had a quick recovery.  She is such a great kid.  The kids adore her and she has been having fun up until she started feeling bad.  We just love her and want her to stay feeling better.  Please pray for her to stay feeling well.

 

~Heather