Today we had to go back and fight are way through the lines of people waiting to get medical exams for obtaining US visa's. It is great to be with Chinese translators in times like these as they just push their way to the front of the line and get the job done quickly. Holt has a very good name and reputation here and we seem to get very good treatment for which I am very thankful. Apparently I didn't answer correctly on the medical exam the first day, I listed Thomas as normal, but his paper work listed him as special need which is why we had to go back, but it was quickly taken care of.
Next we headed over to the jade and pearl market, which was quite overwhelming to say the least!! I picked out a few jade bracelets, but not the bangle type as I had a bad experience with trying them on last trip there was no way I was trying them again.
After lunch we met up with Kevin, who was Dan's translator at bring me hope 2 summers ago. It was great to meet him, and he is such a kind and gentle young man. We were able to give him a Chinese/English Bible and spend a great afternoon with him. He traveled over 2 hours to visit us by bus and subway.
Tonight we head back to our new favorite restaurant that we have our little menu cheat sheet for, looking forward to some more wonderful eggplant!
Tomorrow is the final step at the US consulate where we get Thomas visa for entry into the US. Sure hope he's ready for what lies ahead!
Blessings to all,
Kim
Monday, October 17, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
New Experiences
We are having a great time here in Guangzhou!!! It has been so fun to have other Americans to talk to, and catch up with all our new friends on how there week has been with their kids. We are doing fun activities as well. They have a playground at the hotel, and we quickly learned that Thomas has non idea what a swing is. He quickly jumped at the chance to ride a baby swing until he realized it actually moved and he freaked out! He was much more apprehensive about the playground after that! Tonight after dinner we went back to the playground and there was an American boy about 5 and he was climbing on everything and swinging, etc.... It was so cool to watch tThomas interact with him and start to copy what he did. He quickly learned just how to play on all the equipment and was just chTting away with the boy in Chinese,, while the boy chatted back in English. It was great to see him interact and have fun with other children. The best part was he tried the swing again and was really trying to get it. He fell off a few times, but I am sure he will master it by the time we come home. It is amazing just how little experiences he has had that we would take for granted. Watching him play was the highlight of my day, just knowing that he really will be ok when we get home!
We also went to an awesome safari zoo today and saw lots of animals which he thoroughly enjoyed, the highlight of which was the panda exhibit. I sure wish I could post pictures, we got some great ones!
We also ventured out on our own for dinner with some other families to a Chinese restaurant with a little translated list of menu items that we wanted, we handed them our list and just hoped for the best! It was great, and the only challenge was at the end trying to figure out how to pay. When it was all said and done, it was $14for the three of us to eat a great dinner!
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support! I can't even express how great it is and how much we appreciate it. People are continually amazed at how wonderful and happy Thomas is, and I know that it is all the Lord, He has truly worked a miracle for this little boy!
As much as we are enjoying our time here we are very ready to come home!!! We miss everyone very much!!!
Kim
We also went to an awesome safari zoo today and saw lots of animals which he thoroughly enjoyed, the highlight of which was the panda exhibit. I sure wish I could post pictures, we got some great ones!
We also ventured out on our own for dinner with some other families to a Chinese restaurant with a little translated list of menu items that we wanted, we handed them our list and just hoped for the best! It was great, and the only challenge was at the end trying to figure out how to pay. When it was all said and done, it was $14for the three of us to eat a great dinner!
Thank you all so much for your prayers and support! I can't even express how great it is and how much we appreciate it. People are continually amazed at how wonderful and happy Thomas is, and I know that it is all the Lord, He has truly worked a miracle for this little boy!
As much as we are enjoying our time here we are very ready to come home!!! We miss everyone very much!!!
Kim
BIttersweet Goodbye
We left Jinan, China on Friday. We had to say goodbye to the only home THomas has ever known. He was so familiar with the city, the parks and especially the pigeons that he loved to feed. It was sad to say goodbye, yet he really didn't understand the significance of the moment, and that his whole world was about yo change. We know without a doubt that it will change for the better, yet this is the only world he has ever known.
It is bittersweet because as we feel bad leaving his city we are so excited for the next and final step in our adoption journey. We are on our way to Guangzhou!!!! If anyone has ever been to Guangzhou, you will understand what I mean! I feel like I am headed to the Charlston,SC of China. It has a different feel from the other big cities we have been in. It is very western and pretty and there are many other adoptive families all around, you almost forget you are in China! We will meet up with our Holt adoption group and see how all the other families are doing with their children. This is where the US consulate is, and where we will pick up his visa to enter the US. It is the final stop for all Americans adopting!!!
It is bittersweet because as we feel bad leaving his city we are so excited for the next and final step in our adoption journey. We are on our way to Guangzhou!!!! If anyone has ever been to Guangzhou, you will understand what I mean! I feel like I am headed to the Charlston,SC of China. It has a different feel from the other big cities we have been in. It is very western and pretty and there are many other adoptive families all around, you almost forget you are in China! We will meet up with our Holt adoption group and see how all the other families are doing with their children. This is where the US consulate is, and where we will pick up his visa to enter the US. It is the final stop for all Americans adopting!!!
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Orphanage visit
Today we had the opportunity to visit the orphanage that Thomas lived in for almost 3years. We learned that he is quite popular among the kids and staff. He is very well known and loved. When we arrived the kids from his class were yelling out the window to him and waving. He enjoyed the attention for awhile and showed us his classroom, his bed where he slept. He helped pass out treats to all his friends. However when it got time to leave, he made it very clear he was ready to go, and didn't look back. When someone asked him where he lived he replied in America. He is very ready to have a family and come home!!
It is a new orphanage and very clean, brute friendly and open to visitors, but make no mistake it is far from perfect and far from having a family of your own! There are 350 kids at this home, many with special needs that really need to be rescued and receive medical care. We were very thankful for the chance to visit and get a glimpse of his life before he came home. For anyone who knows this is a half the sky orphanage, and there presence was very obvious.
We ventured out on our own for lunch after our visit and we get many looks! There is not so many westerners here as in Beijing, then it was back to the hotel for bath time. He loves the bath and will spend at least an hour in the tub! He is the cleanest china boy around!!!
Bye for now!
Kim
It is a new orphanage and very clean, brute friendly and open to visitors, but make no mistake it is far from perfect and far from having a family of your own! There are 350 kids at this home, many with special needs that really need to be rescued and receive medical care. We were very thankful for the chance to visit and get a glimpse of his life before he came home. For anyone who knows this is a half the sky orphanage, and there presence was very obvious.
We ventured out on our own for lunch after our visit and we get many looks! There is not so many westerners here as in Beijing, then it was back to the hotel for bath time. He loves the bath and will spend at least an hour in the tub! He is the cleanest china boy around!!!
Bye for now!
Kim
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Gotcha day!
We have our little Thomas as most of you now know! We have limited and sporadic service, but we are doing our best! We are all great. He was so happy to meet us and stay with us. They have prepared him very well for a family. I don't think he remembers me in particular from last summer, but that is ok. We brought pic from last summer at camp, and he is very curious about them, but I don't think he rembers. Emily buddy from last summer is being adopted at the same time and we saw him and met his family, it is very surreal, to be able to see these kids again! He was older and he definitely gave me a second look and I could tell he remembers something, I look forward to seeing him again and having the translator ask him.
Last night we went to get dessert and in the yogurt place there were two girls calling Thomas name. Turns out they were his teachers at orphanage and they loved him very much. They were just here for shopping, we invited them back to hotel and they called their mom to come. She too has strong feelings for Thomas and came over an hour away to see him and know that he will be happy! It was a divine appointment and blessing, we got to take pictures.
Today we go to visit the orphanage and say goodbye to his friends, which it seems like he has many! He is from this city and he is very familiar with the parks, and he is showing us around!
On a sad
Note, we found out that we lost our dear uncle Tommy on the very same day we received our Thomas. We gave him his name in honor of our uncle and had hoped that they would meet. He was such a special man and we loved him very much, we are glad that Thomas will carry on his name!
Blessings to all,
Kim
Last night we went to get dessert and in the yogurt place there were two girls calling Thomas name. Turns out they were his teachers at orphanage and they loved him very much. They were just here for shopping, we invited them back to hotel and they called their mom to come. She too has strong feelings for Thomas and came over an hour away to see him and know that he will be happy! It was a divine appointment and blessing, we got to take pictures.
Today we go to visit the orphanage and say goodbye to his friends, which it seems like he has many! He is from this city and he is very familiar with the parks, and he is showing us around!
On a sad
Note, we found out that we lost our dear uncle Tommy on the very same day we received our Thomas. We gave him his name in honor of our uncle and had hoped that they would meet. He was such a special man and we loved him very much, we are glad that Thomas will carry on his name!
Blessings to all,
Kim
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Meeting Thomas!
Hi all,
Kim and Dan are having trouble accessing their blog from China, so I am posting a note on their behalf...
"We are in Beijing. We leave in a few hours and meet Thomas in our hotel when we arrive!!! Should be around lunch time Sunday, 12am your time!!! We are feeling a bit anxious and excited all in one. We should be able to visit his orphanage as well. They seem to welcome visitors so that should be quite interesting. We have had so many great encounters with folks and our love for China's orphans just keeps growing. I have been struggling with the dizziness and weakness in my arm since coming to Beijing, but it is so crowded here. I'm hoping it will be better when we get to Jinan. "
Please pray for the long-awaited reunion with Thomas and for Kim's health.
Anyone who wants to communicate with Dan and Kim can use e-mail to reach them. They would love to hear from you!
Kim and Dan are having trouble accessing their blog from China, so I am posting a note on their behalf...
"We are in Beijing. We leave in a few hours and meet Thomas in our hotel when we arrive!!! Should be around lunch time Sunday, 12am your time!!! We are feeling a bit anxious and excited all in one. We should be able to visit his orphanage as well. They seem to welcome visitors so that should be quite interesting. We have had so many great encounters with folks and our love for China's orphans just keeps growing. I have been struggling with the dizziness and weakness in my arm since coming to Beijing, but it is so crowded here. I'm hoping it will be better when we get to Jinan. "
Please pray for the long-awaited reunion with Thomas and for Kim's health.
Anyone who wants to communicate with Dan and Kim can use e-mail to reach them. They would love to hear from you!
Thursday, October 6, 2011
We're Here!!!
greetings from china!!! We made it here safely and are having a wonderful time!!! We are having major communication problems and i am using someone else computer now. Yes it is true when they say everything is monitored and blocked in china! We have tried, but still struggling. there are ways around but can't get it to work. Send me regular e-mail if you want.
We are at Shepherd's field. Having an unbelievable time!! We just love it here! Love Love all the kids!! Today we go to visit Harmony House then off to Beijing. Sunday we meet thomas, which is Sat night in the States.
Blossom is so happy!!! She is so loved and cared for here and so popular she has no idea!! Nicole she loved the back pack and has it on her chair right now! She remembered me and one of the boys here recognized me too from pictures that Blossom had. She remembered every detail from camp last summer and said she loved it very much! I believe there are facebook pictures from yesterday that Tim Baker posted, he is the founder here at Shepherd's Field.
I am feeling great! Our hearts are so overfilled with joy! thank you all who have prayed and sponsored Blossom it is such a miracle! Please know that her life is forever being changed!!!
Blessings to all!
Kim
Monday, October 3, 2011
The Adventure Begins...
Our bags are packed, and we are ready to go!! It has been a crazy month leading up to this point, but God is so faithful and we are trusting Him for every detail! As most of you know I have been experiencing some health issues for the last month. We have been busy trying to get tests done and answers before we travel. the results just came back on Friday afternoon. they have diagnosed me as having MS. They say that I am safe to travel and we can discuss treatment option when we return. It seems crazy to think that I am leaving for China just days after receiving such information, especially if you have been to a hospital in China! We are trusting in the Lord for his protection and guidance. A friend reminded me on Sunday that the safest place to be is in the center of God's will, and it is with that knowledge that we go.
Thank you all who have lifted us up in prayer over the last month. We have felt loved and cared for!
I leave you with this passage from Lamentations 3: 21-26 which I have been blessed by the past several weeks.
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, the Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for him. The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
We have had a lot of stress the past few weeks, but we are not consumed by it! We are trusting in an almighty and loving Father who is able to do immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine!
In His grip,
Kim
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