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This morning we went as a group to visit Elijah’s originating orphanage.  He lived in a city orphanage where we are staying starting at the age of eight for just two months before being transferred up to PHF where we are so thankful that he spent his remaining time in China.  Elijah understood where we were going and he clearly remembered the names of the older children that we were introduced to.  They said he was very popular there.  It amazes me that he remembers so much when he was there such a short time and that was almost two years ago.

We were allowed to visit two rooms with infants, but were not allowed to take any photos.  I touched each one and said a silent prayer over each.  They were all laying in their cribs, about 10 to a room.  Each was bundled up very warmly and they were all so tiny, maybe only up to 3 months of age.  They were so cute and sweet, I wish we could have picked them up and cradled them.  I do not understand child abandonment, I do not understand tainted milk, I do not understand why families in America are having to wait so long to adopt these precious needy children.  But I do understand love and I know that my God cradles each one of them in His hands.  It was tough to see, but only made my compassion for orphans all the stronger.

The older children sang a few songs for us and a blind girl even played a New Years song on the electronic piano for us.  She also played and sang “Edelweiss”.  Not sure of the spelling, but you know the good-bye song from Sound of Music.  Man, if that’s not a tear jerker!  None of these older children were available for adoption, just breaks my heart.  I am so thankful to our Father for directing the hands of those in charge to release Elijah to PHF so that he could be cared for and made paper-ready for adoption.

We stopped by briefly at the place that is listed as Elijah’s “finding place”.  It was at the gates of a local hospital, although we know that he had lived on the streets for about a year with other street children.  He said he did not recognize it at all, but I really feel that at that point he just shut everything off to protect his heart.  He had so easily switched gears from being very familiar with everything at the orphanage to acting as if he knew nothing of the area surrounding.  Of all ironies, this “finding place” is directly across the lake and park from our lakeview rooms at the 5 star hotel where we are staying.  From street child to 5 star hotel, what an amazing transition.  I wonder, did he play in the same park, did he see the same water fountains lit up at night, did he see this grand hotel?  I grieve for him and know that he will likely grieve the losses of so much in the years to come.  How he has the bubbly and joyful personality that he does right now is unfathomable to me.  God has been faithful to him, that much is for sure.

After the orphanage visit our guide took us to a river view park.  It was a beautiful day and a great park to take a stroll through.  Tomorrow we will pick up Elijah’s passport and then get ready to head to Guangzhou early Saturday morning.  I’m ready to move on!

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 15th, 2009 at 8:52 am and is filed under Ami, Benjamin, Chris, Elijah, Family, Jocelyn, Johanna, Michaela. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.