We’ve had a unique opportunity this fall, one I had been looking forward to since March 27th, the day we visited Living Hope International‘s Beijing Training Center (a place where orphans who cannot be adopted can live in family groups and be educated and trained in fine arts in order to become future leaders and caregivers to those who need them).
After many years and much effort, Living Hope International was able to secure permission for groups of orphans, Living Hope Angels, to come to the United States from their training centers to perform traditional Chinese dance. This fall, they brought over 13 of the kids who we met on March 27th at their training center.
I so wanted to do something for these kids, care for them in some way. Their schedule was tight–lots of bookings for performances and events. But, they did have a need we could meet. They needed toiletries. We asked our small church to fill this need–and, as we expected, they did…abundantly. We collected about $700 worth of shampoo, dental supplies, soaps, brushes, combs, hair accessories, school supplies, silly bandz, and even over $100 in McDonalds gift certificates… I even found a warm heart on etsy who after just a quick email to her volunteered to make 20 toiletry bags for each child and their caregivers. Amazing. They are beautiful. (Please go to her shop and check out the adorable bags she makes! If you buy something, thank her for supporting the Chinese orphans!)
Not only did we collect the supplies, the church kids in Sunday School helped sort it all and stuffed each bag with each child’s name and age attached to it. Then, we prayed for each of the children and their teachers and caregivers by name. We met the group as they arrived in PA and gave them each their bag. It was a neat moment, sweet to be able to give the kids something that was made just for them.
We had the joy of seeing them perform several times–at a missions banquet, at the Mid-Atlantic Orphan Summit, and at a gathering for Living Hope adoptive families. That one was particularly fun–Lydia was very interested in their dances and the music. And, it was a pleasure to reunite with some of the adoptive families I’ve come to know over the past several years (and let Lydia visit with some other little princesses–see the picture below of Lyds with Taylor and Ella). And, it was a joy to meet some of the adoptive families I’ve been friends with for years. (Mark says I need a new word for “friends” who I’ve never actually met…any ideas?). One of those friends was Melissa–what a dear friend she is. We started our adoption journeys together back in the Spring of 2007. She now has the most adorable little boy you’ve ever set eyes on (I’m not kidding), and they are paperchasing for a daughter. Can’t wait to celebrate that arrival!
Yesterday, we got to see the Angels again in a bit of a different context. We fed them dinner, they joined our youth group for games (even little bitty Sarah was pretty good at dodgeball!), they did just a few dance performances for us, then….we taught them to square dance….sorta. Okay, so trying to teach Chinese kids who don’t speak much English (as well as teenagers who speak A LOT of English) how to square dance is quite an experience! (I have no pictures as proof since I was too busy doing the Virginia Reel and Oh Johnny Oh). But, I tell you what, they smiled and they laughed and they enjoyed themselves without having to perform or impress or share their stories–all of which are tragic as you can imagine. Take a look here to read some of them.
They leave PA next week and leave the states to return to China the first week of December.
As we prepare for Thanksgiving, I have such a thankful heart when I consider that these kids were able to come to the United States, to be blessed by families who opened their homes and their hearts to them, and to, perhaps, understand eternity a bit more clearly. I am thankful that our family could serve them in a practical way. I am thankful that we could allow them to just have some fun last night, that they could mingle with American kids, and simply laugh–no expectations, no language barrier mattered–just laugh.
