From One Side of the Ocean.....

This is my last night here. For the past two weeks, Michael and I have been serving in a country that at times can shine the light and other times can be very very dark. It is the place where we are adopting from. Where God has said, your family for right now, will be built from. And yet, I struggle so hard with leaving this time. Things are very, very different.

We spent a couple of days exploring China together. It was fun to take Michael around and show him all the different sites, experience the food and the culture.

Then we headed down to another city by train. Five hours of seeing the country. We then spend the next four days camping, yes camping in China. Tent camping, no electricity, China bathrooms (Need I say more), cooking our own food and 13 kids. Kids who spend 13+ hours a day in school 6 days a week. Free time is non-existent. Their time outside of school is spent studying. So this was there chance to be a kid. And we had the honor of spending the week with them. Yes it was incredibly hot, incredibly tiring and incredibly moving. We were the seed planters. Loving on kids who never get to “play” with an adult. Badminton, water balloons,  water guns, laser tag (called CS here), hiking, cooking our own food, picking our own food from gardens to eat, it was amazing.

We came back into town, and with our last day there we went to an orphanage. This is a very special place. A lady who has been called to care for the outcasts of China. She takes in the children, the government does not want to take care of. Kids with severe disabilities. She raises money through various methods and then they have surgeries. (In China, kids with disabilities are seen as “throw” away Children. Some are even flagged as not adoptable because of their condition. This 6 hours rocked my world.

I had been there before, so I knew the conditions to expect. The kids rocked my world. Their sweet faces saying love me! Their hugs, playful spirits captured the hearts of all of us there. But it hit like a ton of bricks, my little girl is sitting in an orphanage somewhere that I could only pray was a little bit close to what this place was. I was consumed with the thoughts of, is she being loved right now, is someone playing with her. Is she considered an outcast. And then the wave (Of obvious thought) we are not taking her home on this trip. I have to leave this country without my little girl. The thought of that just breaks my heart to shreds.

I long for the day that she gets to come home. I long for the play time, the hugs, the joy that she will bring to our house and the fact that God will complete HIS plan for our family.

We are departing on an early flight out tomorrow. Please be praying for us as we go. I can’t speak for Michael, but I can say without a doubt my heart is breaking for her and the other little children who are sleeping in an orphanage tonight not only here but across this world. Could you imagine even if half of America could open their hearts to adoption, what that would do to the orphan population?

This was a song I heard before we left the states. You can take the Father out of it and replace it with mother.

The One You Need- Shane and Shane

Hey hey sweet daughter
I am so proud to be your father
Each day is like a gift from God

Hey hey sweet daughter
There’s no music like your laughter
And your smile is like a rising sun

You know I loved you from the start
So come in close
Take my hand for
Daddy shares his heart

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one to give you all the things you need
Sometimes I’m gonna let you down
But there’s Someone if you just believe
Be your hero like He’s always been for me
Darling, Jesus is the one you need

No matter what you walk through
He will always love you
Just the way you are
For there’s nothing in this world
That I’d walk for my baby girl
That she’ll be happy ever after

The story of your life is still untold
I pray the King of all the Universe
Would make your heart His own

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one to give you all the things you need
Sometimes I’m gonna let you down
But there’s Someone if you just believe
Be your hero like He’s always been for me
Darling, Jesus is the one

Who will never leave
He’s been there all along
All ready You can find to love

I wish that I could be your everything
Be the one to give you all the things you need
Sometimes I’m gonna let you down
But there’s Someone if you just believe
Be your hero like He’s always been for me
Darling, Jesus is the one you need

Till the other side of the ocean.

Yes that is a bird cage hanging off the bus with birds. 

Bucket list, Check. I got to drive in China:)