Monday was a special day. Before we left for China, we requested special permission to visit a partnership (orphanage or foster home) that Lifeline had. We were surprised to be granted permission and once we got here to GZ, our guide helped us coordinate the trip. It was decided that we'd go on Monday afternoon.
So Monday morning, we had breakfast buffet at the Garden and then played in the playroom at the hotel. It was super fun. We had a good time making games out of the tiny basketball hoop as well as playing soccer (Daddy's goal was to kick it into the castle and Mommy's goal was to kick it into the bottom of the baby walker). Jemma got to experience several new things - including the play equipment.
We also did laundry. This meant washing our clothes in the tub and then using towels to wring out the water. (We roll the wet clothes up on the bath towels and then step on them to squish out any excess water.) There is a clothes line in the bathroom above the tub, but I also brought wall hooks that I stuck to the walls with removable adhesive velcro and clothes line, so we have quite a few feet of drying line.
At 1pm, our driver picked us up to head out to the partnership. It was about an hour and a half away. God continues to be in every tiny detail of our trip and it was awesome to see another moment of His. Our driver got to the city but couldn't find the apartment complex for the orphanage. After making some circles and pulling over a couple times, he decided to ask directions from a person standing at a bus stop. She "just happened" to be the manager of the orphanage and was catching the bus to go to where we were going. So she got in the front seat and drove with us, guiding the driver directly to the home! Out of the millions of people in the city, God had the driver roll down the window and ask THE MANAGER OF THE PARTNERSHIP for directions!!! Hahahaha! Oh how God must chuckle at these things!!! How GREAT is His design!!!
It was also amazing to see how confident Jemma was while we were there.
We can't post pictures on social media of the children, but they are so precious. It blows my mind that they do not have a Mommy and Daddy. It's hard to fathom. I wish you all could see the pictures of Phil holding these babies. One little girl, 10 months old, adored Phil holding her. At one point, she reached up and touched the hair on his chin to figure out what it was. I got to hold a medically frail baby who had a deep dimple in her cheek when she smiled. One sweet girl had both legs/hips in casts as she's just had surgery and she was SO happy and cheerful. One little boy reminded me of my boys - a total buster, curious, funny, ready for an adventure. I held a few kids on my lap and read Ten Little Monkeys (and took the opportunity to kiss them all on the heads every time the doctor told me too! - okay I made that part up, but it was awesome!) We went to the older kids floor and had such a blast. One little girl cried and was very shy while we were there. She sat securely in her nanny's lap the whole time. Phil and I played a game with one of the girls where you had to roll a ball and see if you could knock over three little toy teacups. Her laugh was amazing! She has a family coming for her next week and she was thrilled to pieces to show us the photo album of her family.
There was an air about Jemma. There was such a difference in her spirit from the week before. I just can't get over how distinct it was. Not like a cocky or prideful attitude. But a peace. She has a peace about her. It was so striking how Jemma having a family - a Mommy and Daddy - and the security that gave her made her look different than the children who didn't. You can see it in their eyes. There is a question written in their eyes. A deep vulnerability. Even in the girl who has a family coming for her, that question in her eyes still existed. But Jemma has a statement in her eyes. I am not being poetic here. I'm really describing it just like it is. The nannies taking care of these little ones were doing a FANTASTIC job! They were so attentive and loving. I think I walked away seeing that even in the most loving of orphanages, there is still a need, a God-given desire, for a family. Phil told several children about Jesus and that He loves them. I sang to several children about Jesus. It is hard to walk away. It was a very quiet van ride back to GZ.
Our driver took us directly to the Pearl River Cruise. We met up with our guide, Grace, and another Lifeline family.
The entertainment was a juggler - she juggled 5 balls.
And also three knives - this three pictures are of her face while she was juggling the knives - HILARIOUS!
She spun a soccer ball on her finger and then went around to all the kids and took their finger and spun the ball. Jemma was so brave. The entertainer scared the dickens out of the little boy with us though! He might be traumatized from jugglers the rest of his life!!! Poor guy!
After we got back, and after we put Jemma to bed, Phil and I watch another episode of our Korean drama! LOL! (The main character reminds me of Jimmy Fallon which makes the drama even better!)
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