Adopted for Life: Ni Zao!

Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Ni Zao!

"Good morning!" (or "Good Evening!" to you), from Beijing. This is the view of our sunrise from the apartment we're in @ Embassy House. We gazed upon this after already being awake for several hours because our internal time-clocks are just completely out of whack. Poppy woke up at 3:00 a.m., and finally crawled out of bed around 3:30. Victoria and I followed soon thereafter. Barret continued to snooze until about 8:30 (we're all jealous). At about 4:30 a.m., Poppy looked out the window and said with all sincerity, "Momma, I love China."

We talked to our dear Austin and Annie this morning from the voice over internet protocol; technology that simply amazes us. Victoria and I read from the Psalms (one of our favorite books of the Bible, which always brings us comfort), and then we went for a little swim in the beautiful pool and sauna area of Embassy House. We're about to head out for our excursion to hike around The Great Wall.

That's it for now. We're loving the wonderful posts and e-mails encouraging us along our journey. Thank you so very much.

Warmly in Christ,

Tom

1 comment:

leeshaffer said...: Praying for you all! So glad that you arrived safely! God is so good and may He bless every detail of your journey. Love, Lee Shaffer; April 30, 2008 at 10:14 PM

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About Xiao Qian

Li: This is the Orphanage Director's last name (remember, last names first in China), so all of the children from her orphanage have this last name.

Xiao: We're told that this means "little", although we're not completely certain (the Chinese characters are much more definitive, but we haven't been able to find anyone to completely interpret them for us). Regardless, it's meant to be endearing, and thus her middle name (which is always used or spoken before her first name, below).

Qian: This means "beautiful", and so she really is (both physically and in her personality).

So, as they say in China, "She has a very beautiful name", as are all names in China. We happen to think her's is special though.

Xiao Qian Travel Itinerary

January 22nd - Leave for Hong Kong

January 23rd - Arrive in Hong Kong & Spend Night

January 24th - Train to Guangzhou

January 25th - RECEIVE XIAO QIAN

January 26th - 28 - Paperwork & Medical in Guangzhou

January 29th - 31st - Excursion to Guilin, China

February 1st - Consulate Appointment in Guangzhou

February 2nd - Pick Up Xiao Qian's VISA

February 3rd - Swearing In @ U.S. Embassy/Train to Hong Kong

February 4th - Site Seeing in Hong Kong with Xiao Qian

February 5th - Flight To & Arrive In San Francisco (ENTIRE FAMILY REUNITED)

Why Adoption?

When the confluence of providences encircled our lives during early 2005, such as (i) listening to a series of tapes of family communication with Tom's dad when he was stationed in Vietnam, (ii) thus prompting the contemplation of his own physical adoption as a newborn baby, (iii) further causing us to remember our own priceless spiritual adoption into the family of God, (iv) hearing a biographical sketch of the life of patriarch George Mueller and his undaunted passion for the orphans, (v) being simultaneously struck by the words of our Lord, "This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keeponeself unstained by the world." (James 1:27), (vi) wrestling with our own disdainful selfishness, and (vii) watching in the comfort of our family room on a dreary February Sunday afternoon a Steven Curtis Chapman DVD (Live "Declaration" Concert) that featured his own adoption of several orphaned Chinese girls; we simply could not escape the peering question, "Why adoption?" In fact, the reverse question was quickly and unforgettably etched in our minds, "Why not adoption?" So, "Why not adoption?" we must ask. Because we must give away what does not belong to us. Because we must fight the war of selfishness by forcing ourselves into the battlefield of love. Because we must share the remainder of our lives by providing for the"least of these". Because we must bring the foreign mission field into our home since we're not in foreign lands. Because we must avoid the comfortable and deceiving trap of complacency. Because we must see the grace of God's spiritual adoptive gift played out in the tangible example of physical adoption. Because there's one little child out there that needs a home, and we have one. That's why!

A Favorite Quote

We love this quote from a fellow adopter pilgrim and wanted to share it with you:

"There's no other more worthy thing to invest your time, life or money into - than the lives of children. Dear ________ had a wonderful life in China with a wonderful foster family for nearly 7 years .... but she was NEVER told that there was a God who created her, loves her and died for her to be able to go to Heaven. She is just eating up the Word of God and glows with inner joy!! No amount of money, time or having a safe/comfortable life can compare to seeing this transformation in her life! And dear little _______ - she would have been dead in the arms of some poor ayi, since no one in China could have ever fixed her heart -it was a real toughy for the docs here in the states! And if we have to pay the bills off for years to come, so be it!

No we are not crazy and no we are not trying to fill some void in our lives or trying to 'stay young' by having kids in our late forties! We have heard all of those comments! The crazy ones most of all. But when you do it once, you finally know that it's not that bad/hard and geez, we could do this for yet another child! ... and another .... and another!

Catch the adoption Spirit!! Actually several of my email/adoption girlfriends think we should create a new AA - adopters anonymous! 'Hello, my name is Mary and I peeked at another waiting child list just this morning!' LOL! Another heart issue for me is this - when I reach Heaven's gates, I want to have run a long, hard race, fought a tough, exhausting fight and fall at the dear Lord's feet totally spent and used up for Him. I do NOT want to be wallowing in riches in my retirement years, sipping tea by the pool and taking sight seeing world trips! I do not want to be refreshed and freshly showered - I want to be worn out and filthy from the work of bringing every child I can to the Lord's throne. THEN and only then will I truly enter into rest and be able to rejoice forevermore with all the children HE has brought into my life!!"

About Willow

Willow's Chinese Name:

Wu Hui Xuan

Wu: From Wuwei, Gansu Province
Hui: Intelligent
Xuan: Lofty/Outstanding Talents

Willow was born on September 7th, 2006 and was left at the entrance to the Wuwei Social Welfare Institute (orphanage) on September 14, 2006. She spent approximately 4 months in the Wuwei SWI before joining her foster family in January 2007. As far as we know, she has been with her foster family since that time...the past 15 months. Her records indicate that her cleft lip was repaired in July of 07. (Scroll down the page to see her "before" photo). Her cleft palate will be repaired once she is home with us.

Willow will be 20 months old on May 6th. (Poppy and Willow are 20 months apart in age.) We received an update last week reporting that, "She weighs 21 pounds and is walking steadily. She likes sweet foods (of course), listening to music and playing outside.

We can't wait to meet her!

Willow's Wei

What are you saying through those pensive eyes,
Peering from the corners,
Piercing through ,
Protecting your borders,
To make sense of the cries?

Are you asking, "Why?"
Why was I the one,
Missing a part,
That prevents me to say,
And express or impart?
Born with a blemish,
And the plight of a girl,
Among the billions of souls,
And their search for a pearl.

Are you asking,"Who?"
Who was the one,
That left me alone,
On a threshold so cold,
Feeling lost and forelorn?
Born in a land,
Among others with sore,
Wondering who could release,
From the depth of their core.

What are you saying through those pensive eyes,
Peering from the corners,
Piercing through ,
Protecting your borders,
To make sense of the cries?

Are you asking, "What?"
What would happen,
Of me now and to come,
So small, so young,
Hoping for life wherever it's from?
A future unknown,
Under the expanse of the skies,
Waiting, wanting,
Some release from my sighes.

Are you asking, "When?"
When was it conceived,
That my days were decreed,
To find a home,
When to stay and be freed?
To move about,
From shore to distant shore,
To land with another,
Whose past I safely adore.

What are you saying through those pensive eyes,
Peering from the corners,
Piercing through ,
Protecting your borders,
To make sense of the cries?

Are you asking, "Where?"
Where am I going,
And where shall the end I be,
Subject to fate,
And the hope that I'll see.
Held in love,
And the embrace of another,
Trusting my Maker,
And His love to smother.

What are you saying through those pensive eyes,
Peering from the corners,
Piercing through ,
Protecting your borders,
To make sense of the cries?

Are you asking, "How?"
How can it be,
That one such as I,
Could possibly mean,
So much from on High?
Perfectly created,
In spite of such flaw,
And adorned with great love,
From the One born in straw.

Here's what I'm saying through my pensive eyes,
Peering from the corners,
Piercing through ,
Protecting my borders,
To make sense of my cries.

While questions abound,
And I ponder them all,
I welcome the love,
He has to install.
That I might be safe,
And rescued from grief,
That I might not question,
His perfect relief.

Poppy's Poem

I knew not that I was born
in a far distant land,
to parents that loved
and cradled with hand.
From a country that values
and depends on the boy,
to care for the aged
and their lineage with joy.

I knew not that I was feeble,
had heart with a hole,
that beat for love,
and a need to be whole.
When discovered would be
a curse that was second,
to being a girl;
that could not be reckoned.

I knew not that I was among
a tribe so rare,
to be a Yao with the proud
and a people so fair.
The trails they traverse
in a land roaming hills,
would dare not welcome
a girl with such ills.

I knew not that I was left
near an opening to a mine,
that frequented workers
in the morning to find.
A baby all alone,
so helpless and weak,
crying for love,
only to hear someone speak.

I knew not that I was found
by a stranger that cared,
who took me in,
and was willing to spare.
Only to find that I was without name,
a child of the fatherless,
then housed with the lame.

I knew not that I was taken
to others away,
to become an orphan
with no direction or say.
To live among cribs,
all lined in a row,
receiving little comfort
by the others in stow.

I knew not that another
would dare to give,
so my heart might be healed
in order to live.
The fear and the pain
came all too quick.
Who am I,
O' my, why am I so sick?

I knew not of God or that He would call,
from another country a family so small.
To love and to welcome
a baby unknown,
into their hearts
with shelter and home.

I know now that life is so sweet,
When God stirs a heart for others to greet.
For this is His purpose in creating it all,
That He might receive glory,
when ransomed from the Fall.

Tom's Adoptions

Fatherless the world received,
A mother who unwittingly conceived,
Knowing not what was foretold,
That from the foundations of old,
One would be sold,
And rescued from the bereaved.

Another mother, a new found father,
Their journey traversed for a baby to garner,
Sacrificially abundant with shelter and feed,
Care and cover without any greed,
As one's own pure seed,
A child who was sealed with bronze laden solder.

Wandering through a sufferless life,
Enjoying pleasures and rewards with no strife,
The victories that are known,
Oh, the hubris that is sown,
Into a soul of its own,
Naively severed from God with a saboteur's knife.

Again an orphan, but now by choosing,
A pathway that leads to loneliness and losing,
Stranger and foe from a far distant plot,
Found by the Alpha and Omega to adopt,
A heart tied in knot,
Delivered from fatal wounds that were ceaselessly oozing.

Now there is life to one born again,
But what shall one do with such purpose without chagrin?
To give away what is not yours,
By penetrating with deepening bores,
The healing of similar sores,
For another who can never win.

Thus it is with those that are chosen,
For they do not seek the promise that's frozen,
For determined from the beginning of time,
Their name is ever sublime,
With a heritage of line,
That is written in the Book that is golden.

"Grand Tour" Itinerary

June 21st - Depart SFO to Paris

June 22nd - Arrive in Paris

June 24th - Off to Niort, France

June 26th - Jack Johnson Concert in Barcelona, Spain

June 29th - Madrid, Spain during Eurocup Final (Spain Wins!!!)

June 30th - Lisbon, Portugal

July 1st - Faro, Portugal

July 2nd - Back to Lisbon, Portugal

July 4th - Back to Madrid, Spain

July 5th - Valladolid, Spain

July 6th - San Sabastian, Spain

July 7th - Pamplona, Spain (Run of the Bulls!)

July 9th - Amsterdam, Netherlands

July 10th - Bratwurst in Hamburg, Germany

July 11th - Danishes in Copenhagen, Denmark

July 13th - "Checkpoint 'Charlie'" & Schnitzel in Berlin, Germany

July 15th - Prague, Czech Republic

July 17th - Hiking and Camping in Berchtesgaden, Germany

July 20th - "The Hills Are Alive" in Salzburg, Austria

July 21st - Fussen Castle Tour Outside of Munich, Germany

July 23rd - Back to Paris to Rendezvous with Lucas Santoro

July 25th - Montpreveyers, Switzerland to Meet with Our Friends, the Schneider's

July 27th - Hiking & Camping in Diablerets, Switzerland

July 30th - Hiking & Camping in Interlaken, Switzerland

July 31st - Day Hike in Grindelwald, Switzerland

August 1st - Switzerland's "National Day" in Interlaken

August 2nd - Luzern, Switzerland

August 3rd - Back to Salzburg, Austria

August 5th - Best Hiking & Camping of All-Time in Austrian Alps

August 12th - A Respite in Vienna, Austria

August 15th - Venice, Italy

August 17th - Passing through La Spezia, Italy

August 18th - Passing through Biassa, Italy

August 19th - Cinque Terra, Italy

August 20th - Scuba Diving in Riomaggiore, Italy

August 21st - Day Hikes In/Out of Cinque Terra, Italy

August 23rd - Rome

August 25th - Vatican City

August 27th - Santorini, Greece

August 28th - Athens, Greece

August 30th - Good-bye to Brian & Lucas En Route to Paris

August 31st - Florence, Italy (All Alone)

September 2nd - Paris

September 3rd - THAT'S IT! Home in the Bay Area

God Is Concerned for Orphans

God Adopts: "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, 'Abba, Father!'" (Romans 8:15)
"So that he might redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons." (Galatians 4:5)
"He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-." (Ephesians 1:5)

God Commands: "Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge." (Deuteronomy 24:17)
"Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow. "(Isaiah 1:17)

God Promises He Knows Them: "For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made . . . When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body." (Psalm 139:13-15)

He Sees Them: "But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand.The victim commits himself to you: you are the helper of the fatherless." (Psalm 10:14)
"The LORD watches over the alien and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked." (Psalm 146:9)

He Has Compassion on Them: "A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation. God places the solitary in families and gives the desolate a home in which to dwell." (Psalm. 68:5-6a)

He Defends Them: "Do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more." (Psalm 10:18)
"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." (Psalm 68:5)

He Will Come to Them: "I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you." (John 14:18)