Following the Father
Genesis 1:1-Revelation 22:21
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Seeing some of "my" Taiwan babies again!
Posted by Elizabethquiver
at 12:42 PM on January 31, 2009
|
Hello everyone!
I thought those of you that kept up with my mission internship in Taiwan would enjoy this update. Many of you got familiar with several of the cute faces of the babies I helped take care of and followed some of their stories.
This past weekend I traveled with my mom and younger brother and sisters to visit Missouri. Every year there is a Chinese New Year celebration there for families who've adopted from the children's home I worked at, and others who've been involved with their ministry. It's a great way to have a reunion among the families and people (like me) who've volunteered at the Home. We left Saturday morning and got there in the early afternoon. One of the families I know there offered that I could stay at their home. Their 4 year old son and 1 year old daughter are both adopted from the home. I took care of their daughter while I was in Taiwan, and got to know them a little bit when they came to get her. It was wonderful to see her again, walking around on two little legs and completely secure with her family.
That afternoon another family came over for awhile to visit at their house. They also had two little ones from the home, one of them being Sophie. She was the one whose birth family took her back not too long after she first came to the Home in Taiwan. We prayed alot over her, and I remember mentioning her in my updates. Thankfully she was brought back to us, and now she is home with her forever family! Except for all her hair, walking around and chubbier, she's like I remember. She still has the same cry, and chatting sounds! She seemed to warm up to me after awhile and liked playing with me. I doubt it's because she remembers me, but it was fun all the same.
I think that all the babies I helped take care of in Taiwan are in the States with their adoptive families now. I didn't get to see even close to all of them at this reunion, but I did get to see eight of "my" babies, and that was more than I expected! It was wonderful, with a few surprises too.
After spending the afternoon with the families I mentioned above we went to the Chinese New Year celebration that evening. The first familiar face that I spotted was Nya's. I could see her mother (who I met when she came to Taiwan also) and a little toddler with long black hair sleeping in her lap. Nya's face was still the exact same I remember, except with lots more hair. She woke up later and I got to hold her briefly and watch her toddle around looking at things.
The next one I saw was "little" Mason. He was the younger of the two Masons we had at the Home, though he isn't little anymore! Again, he was taller, and had more hair, but it was still the same face. He was pretty quiet because of all the commotion, but didn't fuss when I held him for a picture. I got to meet Zaya's parents and hold her again as well. I didn't recognize her as fast because she was still so young when I left, so it's a big change from last time I saw her. I also saw Yi Gen (now Lilli) who was the youngest baby when I left, and had gotten Pneumonia at one point and had to be rushed to the hospital. She's as chubby as I remember but much taller! I was surprised to also see Jackson, who left very soon after I arrived. I only helped take care of him a short time, but I remember his parents well since I met and spent some time with them when they came to get him.
Here's the biggest surprise of the evening! I was wandering around the large room saying hi to a few others I knew when I spotted a baby girl in daddy's arms. Her back was to me, so I read her name tag to see if I recognized the name. It said Leah, which I remember was what someone told me Mei Ai's adoptive family named her when they were matched. I didn't know the family's name because I left before that happened. I walked around to the other side so I could look at her face and I think my heart must have skipped a few beats! The beautiful little face and fine dark hair looked very familiar. I waited while the dad finished a conversation he was having with someone else before introducing myself to both of them (By that time his wife had joined him). I asked if this was Mei Ai, and he confirmed that it was. I excitedly told him that I was there when she came to the Home and was there through the scary ordeal with her heart. I reached over and stroked her hair as if to confirm that the little face that was looking at me was real. They were also excited to meet me, and told me that Leah had been home with them for a month and that she was now off of all heart medication. Praise God, was all I could think!
This is also due to those of you that prayed for this little baby! She's now 11 months old and already walking. She demonstrated this for me, and it was adorable to see such a petite little thing taking those little steps around like nothing traumatic had ever happened to her. My mom and siblings were overjoyed to meet her. I couldn't wait to let those who've followed her story and prayed for her know the miracle that God did in her! Now he's blessed her with a family and a family with her.
Happy Chinese New Year!
I thought those of you that kept up with my mission internship in Taiwan would enjoy this update. Many of you got familiar with several of the cute faces of the babies I helped take care of and followed some of their stories.
This past weekend I traveled with my mom and younger brother and sisters to visit Missouri. Every year there is a Chinese New Year celebration there for families who've adopted from the children's home I worked at, and others who've been involved with their ministry. It's a great way to have a reunion among the families and people (like me) who've volunteered at the Home. We left Saturday morning and got there in the early afternoon. One of the families I know there offered that I could stay at their home. Their 4 year old son and 1 year old daughter are both adopted from the home. I took care of their daughter while I was in Taiwan, and got to know them a little bit when they came to get her. It was wonderful to see her again, walking around on two little legs and completely secure with her family.
That afternoon another family came over for awhile to visit at their house. They also had two little ones from the home, one of them being Sophie. She was the one whose birth family took her back not too long after she first came to the Home in Taiwan. We prayed alot over her, and I remember mentioning her in my updates. Thankfully she was brought back to us, and now she is home with her forever family! Except for all her hair, walking around and chubbier, she's like I remember. She still has the same cry, and chatting sounds! She seemed to warm up to me after awhile and liked playing with me. I doubt it's because she remembers me, but it was fun all the same.
I think that all the babies I helped take care of in Taiwan are in the States with their adoptive families now. I didn't get to see even close to all of them at this reunion, but I did get to see eight of "my" babies, and that was more than I expected! It was wonderful, with a few surprises too.
After spending the afternoon with the families I mentioned above we went to the Chinese New Year celebration that evening. The first familiar face that I spotted was Nya's. I could see her mother (who I met when she came to Taiwan also) and a little toddler with long black hair sleeping in her lap. Nya's face was still the exact same I remember, except with lots more hair. She woke up later and I got to hold her briefly and watch her toddle around looking at things.
The next one I saw was "little" Mason. He was the younger of the two Masons we had at the Home, though he isn't little anymore! Again, he was taller, and had more hair, but it was still the same face. He was pretty quiet because of all the commotion, but didn't fuss when I held him for a picture. I got to meet Zaya's parents and hold her again as well. I didn't recognize her as fast because she was still so young when I left, so it's a big change from last time I saw her. I also saw Yi Gen (now Lilli) who was the youngest baby when I left, and had gotten Pneumonia at one point and had to be rushed to the hospital. She's as chubby as I remember but much taller! I was surprised to also see Jackson, who left very soon after I arrived. I only helped take care of him a short time, but I remember his parents well since I met and spent some time with them when they came to get him.
Here's the biggest surprise of the evening! I was wandering around the large room saying hi to a few others I knew when I spotted a baby girl in daddy's arms. Her back was to me, so I read her name tag to see if I recognized the name. It said Leah, which I remember was what someone told me Mei Ai's adoptive family named her when they were matched. I didn't know the family's name because I left before that happened. I walked around to the other side so I could look at her face and I think my heart must have skipped a few beats! The beautiful little face and fine dark hair looked very familiar. I waited while the dad finished a conversation he was having with someone else before introducing myself to both of them (By that time his wife had joined him). I asked if this was Mei Ai, and he confirmed that it was. I excitedly told him that I was there when she came to the Home and was there through the scary ordeal with her heart. I reached over and stroked her hair as if to confirm that the little face that was looking at me was real. They were also excited to meet me, and told me that Leah had been home with them for a month and that she was now off of all heart medication. Praise God, was all I could think!
This is also due to those of you that prayed for this little baby! She's now 11 months old and already walking. She demonstrated this for me, and it was adorable to see such a petite little thing taking those little steps around like nothing traumatic had ever happened to her. My mom and siblings were overjoyed to meet her. I couldn't wait to let those who've followed her story and prayed for her know the miracle that God did in her! Now he's blessed her with a family and a family with her.
Happy Chinese New Year!
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