Friday, July 27

It's so difficult to put into words all that has happened. On Wednesday, we worked at "Home of Children's Hope International" here in Beijing. This is a foster home for special needs children from all over China. These children come to Beijing for various kinds of surgery, and they remain in this foster home for recovery, special care, and therapy until they are adopted, domestically or internationally.

When we arrived, the babies were just waking up, so naturally they were a bit hesitant with us. However, a couple of the toddlers immediately came to us to begin playing. Within minutes, we had won over all the babies, and the floor was covered with college students, babies, and toys--playing, eating crackers, and drinking water. It was a site to see.

Additionally, a family from the US arrived to visit the foster home. They had adopted their daughter from China 12 years previously, and they returned as a family for a homeland tour, an opportunity for them to introduce their daughter to her homeland, and to visit the orphanage where she lived as a young infant. We were able to hear, first-hand, the process and the long-term joy of adopting one of these precious children.

Yesterday, the older orphanage children were in training sessions, so we toured the Temple of Heaven, the hutong area of China by rickshaw, ate with a family living in the hutong community, toured the Drum Tower, and watched a Chinese Acrobat Company at a Beijing Theater. It was a great day and a nice break. We were exposed to wonderful Chinese history and culture, each important to our work these 3 weeks.

Today has been a day of mixed emotions. This is the closing of the "Hand in Hand" summer camp. We enjoyed a program of singing, poem recitation, and dance given by the children. We also were able to teach them a song, tell them of our life in Jesus, and close our part by singing "The Lord Bless You and Keep You." After playing games and enjoying the time together, we took group photos and then had to tell the children from one of the orphanages goodbye. They had to leave just before lunch for an overnight train ride. After lunch (Dominoes Pizza, Chinese noodles, cucumber, and watermelon) we've been playing with the remaining children. They will leave Beijing today at 5:30.

Tomorrow (Saturday) we will visit the Forbidden City and Tianamen Square. Sunday we will worship with the Beijing International Christian Felowship and rest. On Monday we leave for an overnight train ride to Xi'an to work with an orphanage in the countryside. I hope I will have Internet access so that I can update you as to our work.

For now, thanks again for your prayers. I'll try to post photos soon. ~~Wayne