Goodbyes, Foster Mamas and Forever

Today was quite a day!  We visited the orphanage, and we didn't know if the foster parents would be able to come until we arrived and learned the foster mama would indeed be there.

Mr. Yan.  He is in charge of all the adoptions.  He is a super hero!  We learned today that it was Mr. Yan who took the videos of Kohlby last October and answered my ten complex questions.

 When we were logged in back in October, we were allowed to ask the orphanage ten questions, and there was none of this, "How is he doing?"  No, no.  My questions were more along the lines of, "Has he been hospitalized for any reason, and if so, when, how long and why?"  That was one question.  And he answered each and every one!

This is another super hero.  This ayi (nanny) took care of Kohlby for the first 11 months of  his life.

 This is the baby room.  There are nine babies, and three nannies.  Kohlby's crib was the one to our immediate left.  When we came in, the nannies were feeding bottles, and some of the babies were already asleep.  They appear to receive excellent care.

And then another super hero - Kohlby's foster mama!  She's cared for him for over a year and a half.  I have friends who are foster parents, and I see firsthand how much love is poured into the children they care for.  This mama will always have a place in my son's heart, as well as mine.

Little man has no idea how significant this visit is.  He's in his own two-year-old world.

 The first thing we did was deliver our gift of diapers to Mr. Yan.  He told us they had kept a small item that was left with Kohlby when he was found, and we were given that item.  Priceless!

 Signs of children everywhere!  In fact, this CWI cares for 800 children, 300 of which are in foster care.

Foster Mama came bearing gifts.

Lots and lots of snacks.  Kohlby's favs.  She told us that he will eat all the time, so his eating must be controlled...all the while making sure both his hands were full of snacks and shoving three crackers at a time into his tiny mouth :) 

 Who could resist, right?!?

This is Foster Mama, Neighbor and Neighbor's son.  The neighbor also fostered a little boy, and they will meet the adoptive parents tomorrow.  Kohlby and this little boy played together all the time.  I would love to connect with this little boy's parents!  Can you help a sister out?

We toured the rehabilitation house.  Amazing!  Children with all sorts of medical needs receive necessary therapy here!  This is HUGE, folks!  Huge!  It is life changing for these children.  Orphanages not equipped like this must often cast the children with medical needs aside because they are understaffed and must focus on the children who are strongest and most likely to be adopted (in their opinion).  As a mama to seven children with medical special needs, this is HUGE!

They even teach the children skills by having a 'bank', a 'grocery store,' a 'restaurant,' an art room, and a 'clothing store,' inside.

As we were touring, the nurse for the Hope Floor flagged us down and gave us a letter from the doctor who is in charge of all the medical information.  We are allowed to contact him and get charts, scans, labs, ask questions, everything!

Then our guide, Celine, needed to go take video for a lucky Lifeline family awaiting news about their child, so it was time to break free and play!

 If all orphanages were as nice as this one, children and families would benefit greatly.  And there would be a need for people to serve more children right where they are.  But orphanage life is not ideal.  No matter how nice the facility, it is not all these children need.  It is not family.

We are created by the Father and for the Father.  The struggle to not conform to this world is very real.  But the more time we spend in the presence of those who depend on others for basic survival, the more we understand the need and desire to live radically different and apart from this world.

The crisis is big, and we are small, but we can all do something.  One thing.  The first step is surrender.

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?  If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food,  and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?  So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. James 2:14-17

One gave birth; one gave health and love; I promise to give you my heart and my life...forever, my Treasure.  Your Mama.