•Sydney Travels•: 08/04/17

Before I say anything, I just want to ask you to pray. I believe that God wanted me to go on this trip for a reason. Not for me but for Him. Specifically, I believe there is someone out there who feels that tug on their heart to adopt but they're just not sure. Whether you're a married adult, high schooler, college student, retired, single, thinking about adoption or have never thought about adoption at all, I just ask that you take a second to pray for these children and the hearts of everyone reading this blog. Pray and maybe ask, is it me? Is it someone I know? And ask that God would put the answer on your heart. Go ahead, I'll be right here waiting!

Ok, are you done? Thanks so much!! So, anyway, we had an unusual day. We didn't stay in the village like normal but Kyler, Shi Yu, and Malia, (and Jaden, who is Kyler and ShiYu's son), took us out to see the town in the afternoon. During the morning, however, we stuck to our routine. I went up to 2nd floor, Shyla went to 4th, and Alice and Debbie worked in the shop. This morning we said goodbye to Lynn, who just stayed a couple of days. She was Debbie's MSU international student a few years ago. She stopped by on her way back to MSU for another year of school. After hanging out with the kids, I helped take them to school. Today, Shyla and I switched classrooms, just to see how things were in another room. I had the room on the 2nd floor with less responsive kids who are accomplishing big things, if they react in any way. Upstairs, today, was quite a bit different. We had kids in there such as GC who is very bright! There were 2 kids with Downs Syndrome, one boy with possible autism too, and one spunky little girl who is just as cute as can be! I'm honestly surprised she hasn't been adopted yet! You know, HTH is basically a giant foster home for government kids you have been deemed too severely disabled to be adoptable. However, many of these kids are so sweet and so bright and as cute as can be. Obviously HTH has been very much responsible for that transition from hopeless and dying to brilliant and thriving! Kyler used a good metaphor today. He said something like, "the kids are all like Flowers. But when they come to us, sometimes they're a bulb, sealed up tight. But as they live here and are loved on and receive therapy, the will open up and blossom!" I just love that! It's easy to see the ones who were laid in a bed, never to be picked up and loved on. And to hear stories of how they've opened up and blossomed, is amazing.

We had 2 kids with downs, one girl who looks Indian, with a repaired cleft lip and some small cognitive delay (but she's very smart and helpful), a girl with crossed eyes who must have cognitive delay too, and my smart little GC. GD is usually in that class too but she hasn't been in class pretty much all week because of the awful cough she has. Since a lot of the kids at HTH are non verbal, they teach ASL to all the kids. And it's just amazing how well the kids respond to it! The little crosseyed girl wanted to wander around the room but a quick sign of "sit down" and she was in her seat again. I was in favor of baby ASL before, but now, I am a wholehearted believer!!

We met Kyler at the house we stay in after lunch and we were getting ready to go when I was showing everyone my beautiful new sun-brella I bought in the village a few days ago. (Everyone in Fuzhou carries an umbrella at all times because it's either raining or the sun is blazing hot) We were admiring how beautiful it was, when Kyler noticed it and said, Oh wow do you know what that is and what it's for? Of course I had no idea, it was just a pretty umbrella I bought. He said, this is the umbrella they use when you get married. Its a bride umbrella, people only use them during the wedding. It's a sacred part of the wedding ceremony. Of course, I would buy something that I can't even use here without getting laughed at! We get enough stares and pictures as it is! Needless to say I did not use my sun-brella during our day out!

We went to this place in downtown Fuzhou called, Historic Street. It's basically the Branson Landing of China. The look of the street and shops has been preserved from Ancient times. It was absolutely beautiful with lots of really cool places to shop! We went to one store that was much bigger and deeper than the rest. There were probably 25 or so table like booths with a person stationed at each. When you picked out what you wanted to buy from one booth, they bagged it up and kept it at the table and gave you a slip of paper. When you had gone through the whole store, you took all the papers the vendors gave you and paid at one register. Then you go back around to all the booths you bought from and show them your receipt, then they would give you your stuff you bought. It wasn't like the market, where you barter for the price, everything was a set price and they weren't aggressive about it, which was nice. I bought quite a bit there, but not as much as Debbie and Shyla! We had an awesome time with food today! Tonight we went to an ice cream shop, Starbucks, and Pizza Hut! It was so great to eat American food again! We went to the three story fabric market (the only fabric store in Fuzhou) to get materials for the work shop. Tomorrow we'll be doing an all day workshop, making big bibs for the older kids (mainly CP), teddy bears, quilts, and purses for the kids and to sell. Enjoy all the great pictures from today! Goodnight from Fuzhou