Children are children all over the world!

Colin's here!

Week one with Colin is coming to a close.  It's been quite a week, but over all a wonderful one!  It started out Friday night, July 4 at the Springfield airport waiting for a group of about 30 orphans and chaperones to arrive.  They had a 16 hour flight from Hong Kong to Dallas, TX and then a short layover until their final flight to Springfield.  We tracked their progress on the screen.  Before we left, the kids made signs for Colin and we enjoyed a cooked out lunch to celebrate the Fourth of July.

There were about 60 of us waiting in the airport.  We were not allowed very far into the airport so we could not actually see the plane land, but excitement swept through the crowd when we heard, "They've landed!"  Were they tired?  When had they last eaten?  Were they scared?  excited? nervous?  Then we saw them open the door and walk in a single file line.  It was an emotional moment for us all.  To think no one wanted these precious children broke your heart.  There were stares and smiles.  You could see yawns, but you could also see that children are children all over the world.  As the group was given their final instructions, pictures taken with host families, and last minute papers signed I watched two boys begin to play tag around the group.  I watched two others climb into a nearby wheel chair and begin to pull levers and try to figure it all out.  It made me chuckle. 

 

We were one of the last families to get paired up with our host child.  Colin is one of the two youngest children on the trip.  We had a rough start.  He literally stood in the corner with his hood pulled down over his face, crying.  He was scared.  He did ask via translator if we had a bike.  We assured him we did but that didn't seem to help.  About 15-20 minutes later with some coaxing he bolted to the bathroom with a few remaining friends from his trip and returned ready to go.  He gave Sam his suitcase and took Brad's hands and we haven't looked back since.  Immediately after getting to our house we rode the bike, played hot wheels, had a snack, and then a Bible story before bed.

Boys will be boys all over the world.  At breakfast yesterday I hear Colin make a pretend gun sound and look up to see he's eaten a piece of toast in the shape of a gun.  He and Sam were laughing and dueling it out.  This afternoon they were eating a chocolate pudding and laughing at one another...pudding mustaches on both faces.  They were cracking each other up.  Just two little boys having fun, and language was no barrier.  Each day he has relaxed more and talks all the time.  For the most part, it doesn't matter.  We do a lot of gestures and "show me" and at this time are getting along great.   He has experienced so many new things this week - bike riding, sidewalk chalk, bubbles, swimming, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Sparks in the Park Carnival, Parade, and Fireworks, playing at the park, basketball games, the zoo, ice cream, popsicles, pizza, and popcorn.  He is an obedient, kind, helpful young man.  It's so wonderful to hear him laugh!

Here's some things we learned this week.  His last name most likely comes from the name of the orphanage where he lives.  The other thing that tugged on my heart is that by the age of 14, the children leave the orphanage and can no longer be adopted.  They are on their own.  No one wants to hire these children because they are "unlucky" and so they have no where to go and no opportunity for a good life.  Many turn to crime, prostitution, or suicide. 

Wearing Neil's basketball shoes back home.  Cracked me up!

Please continue to pray for these children and others just like them all over the world.  Children made in God's image.  Children who need love.  Children who need Jesus.  Children who need families.  James 1:27 says, " Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you."  God may not be calling you to adopt, but you can pray for the orphans around the globe, you can encourage others who are in the process of adopting with your words and actions, you can help with fundraising, and you can get involved with organizations that help and minister to orphans.  You can also open your heart and home to one of these wonderful, beautiful, children of God. 

Dairy Queen in Lincoln, IL after Neil's summer league game!

Tomorrow is our first picnic where potential forever families will attend.  Please, please pray for this!  It's from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Rochester Community Park in Rochester, IL.  They will have two more picnics the following two Saturdays at the same place and time.  If you know anyone who is considering adoption, please spread the word and have them contact In His Hands Orphan Outreach or Madison Adoption Associates.  Our adventure continues.  Loving every moment of it!