Superkids is moving on

Yesterday we moved on from the JaingXi province.  This completes the hardest leg of the trip.  We are all exhausted and way over the top.  JiangXi is the hardest leg of the trip.  It is also in many ways a place of great rewards,  Many of the orphanages have new directors.  We meet new players every day.  This makes it hard to establish a long term strategy and plan.

Here we saw children whee our efforts have helped save their lives.  Then we saw sick children so sick, Darla wanted to drive them to the hospital herself.  The children are beautiful and its so rewarding to be there.

This is the time when we have the highest highs and lowest lows.  we now need time to recover but we have one more province to go.

 

It's the Small Things....

Darla is writing today about our trip

It's the small things....

The SuperKids trip is like a long roller coaster rides.  It has its ups and 
downs. There are times we literally stand up and cheer, like the beautiful ten 
year old with spina bifida that stood several inches taller as she uses her new 
walker Pat had transported across the world to deliver.  Unfortunately, there 
are the lows of evaluating very sick young children who really need immediate 
medical care that may not be possible.  Then there are all the in betweens.  I, 
personally, want to capture each moment and celebrate the small things.

Small victories like the obvious extra care of freshly washed hair that the 
nannies are carefully styling.  The sweet vision of orphans pretend playing with 
a doll, hugging and feeding her. The noticeable clean clothes and beautiful 
shoes that fit properly.  The fruit of Pat's labor of training nannies to place 
babies on their tummies, as the babies easily raise their heads to smile at us.  
The obvious joy in a foster family relationship, as the little boy runs to his 
smiling foster dad.  Albeit hard to see that bond broken, that child has the 
experience of attaching that will make the transition to his adoptive family 
easier.  The vision of the orphanage director coming close and talking quietly 
as she puts her arm around an older child who is struggling.  Those are the 
small things that really touch me, because they are significant.

JiangXi day 2

Superkids team member Chelsea guest writes for the blog today this is what she has to say

Today was a long day, but it was rich and full. The whole team was together at 
last and we have three more precious days together before Darla goes home. I 
cannot express how grateful I am to share so many incredible moments with such a 
compassionate and capable team and I am deeply humbled every time our efforts 
benefit the life of a child. So many children that we met last year have been 
matched with families of their own. We have had the joy of brining gifts and 
family pictures to children whose wait is finally coming to an end. Seeing these 
children again and knowing they now have someone on the other side of the world 
waiting for them is exactly what Superkids is all about. But our work is not 
done. We have seen children on this trip that we met last year that are still 
waiting. Children that have grown and changed but their circumstances have 
remained stagnant and although I have missed these children dearly it is rather 
heartbreaking to see them again. We affectionately call them "our" children. We 
will walk into a room and say to each other-- "look it's one of ours!" We saw a 
lot of "our" children today, which can make for a long day filled with both 
grief and joy but today we got a special gift. Last year we met a tiny infant 
with only a slim chance at life and this year when we saw that sweet face again 
all we felt was joy-- no grief, just gratitude. 

Bringing a Walker to China

There are all sorts of reasons to do this.  We needed one and we do not have time to try and find one. They are more accessible in The US.  We wanted to help a sweet girl.  So eventually I got her height. This is not really how you measure for a walker but it would do.  I spent 2.5 hours in the surgical supply store getting this drop shipped.

So, I obtained the walker.  I got it to the airport.  People watched me as I wheeled it through the terminal.   The walker was gate checked.  Then off it and I went to China.  When I exited the plane there was some confusion abut where the walker really was.  Eventually, I found it and began wheeling it through the airport.  Every 40 to 50 feet, someone offered me a wheelchair.  Too funny. The walker was carried from Beijing to Hunan on a domestic flight and then we hand carried it to the JiangXi province.  So here we go  Why???

This is why!!!

One of our very special Gladney families donated the funds to buy this walker.  They have Heart to serve and are committed to making the world a better place for one child at a time. SO can you see what wonderful things come out of taking a walker to China.

The Simple things

Tuesday we reflected on the simple things.  We were at the orphanage early and in walked a little girl with wet hair that was tangled.  She sat with us for a while. We knew her hair needed combing and wondered when the nanny would be in to do this.  Shortly she came in with a wide toothed comb and slowly began the task of combing this girls hair.  As she did the little one started to cry and right away three of us got up and started to kiss and whisper sweet nothings to her. She stopped immediately and just soaked up the love.  I was happy we could do this.  We all reflected in such simple things.  Loving on these kiddos.   More important than anything.  Except finding them a forever family.

We also found something that made almost every child smile.  We have a Polaroid camera that prints stickers.  We have been sticking them on the backs of donated credit card mirrors.  (the wonderful girls club of adopted kiddos in NY donated them.) They have brought smiles to the faces of all the kiddos.

here we all are with the director of the SWI.  We saw quite a number of children yesterday.  We finished at 6 pm and had dinner at the orphanage.  Came back to the room and crashed.  Today another long day, Hunan in the morning to see kiddos, then we travel to JiangXi province to see more children there.  This begins the hardest leg of our trip. one night in each location as we cross the province. Gongzhan will join the trip after midnight tonight.

Send prayers and positive energy as we cross the province.  We hope to do good work and help as  many children  as possible find their forever families.

Here we are again

Its hot and we are sleep deprived.  Darla and I almost fell asleep sitting up at dinner. I later fell asleep on the chair in Erin's room where we were trying to do some work and get organized.

We met so many children here yesterday.  It does not bode well when we will be entering the most strenuous part of our trip, the JiangXi province.   This is where we go from orphanage to orphanage. We are all over tired and jet lagged. I anted to tell you all abut the day.  There were so many special moments that it just is overwhelming.

Here is a cute story for the day.  I got to see this girl last year and this year.

Her file took a long time to come in.  Here are the pictures we took together.  The best news is right before I left a family asked to be matched with her. I am so happy for both them and her. Here are some cute pics of the day.  

Hunan Hot Pot

We are waking up in Hunan this morning.  But we just went to bed this morning here in Hunan.  We got to the Hotel at 3:42 am.  Ugh!!!!  Delayed flight from Beijing. We had trouble connecting with Chelsea in the airport but finally all got together. ( we lost her in Shanghai once too, neither through any fault of hers).  We waited from 1:30 pm till our flight took off at midnight.  We got to know the Beijing airport a lot more up close and personal than we ever wanted to.

We are all up early on only several hours sleep.  We are collecting our materials etc.  Getting ready to go to the orphanage.  Can't wait to see the kiddos!!!!!

Think good thoughts.  Here we go!!!!