Make a difference

It might be different for other members on this trip.

But for me working with the older kids is amazing.

 

I mean working with the babies is too.

But the older kids they remember us.

Like we remember them.

They want to be with us.

Like we want to be with them.

They love us.

Like we love them. 

They are getting attached to us.

Like we are getting attached to them. 

And then after all this

We are going to leave.

We are going to go home.

Leaving them here. 

And it’s back to their normal life.

And it’s back to ours.

It’s reality. 

I don’t like thinking about it.

In fact I hate thinking about it.

Cause we are gonna leave them just like everyone else has in their lives.

I have been pushing the thought of leaving out of my mind.

Until now. 

We have 3 days left.

3 DAYS!!!

That’s it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It’s just horrible thinking about leaving them. 

Yeah there wild.

And crazy.

And we love them. 

 

For some of the kids they are looking for sponsors so that they can go to a private school.

They don’t like the public school because they are picked on.

Cause they are different.

Heart breaking.

But I want to make a difference. 

And not just while I’m here in China.

Cause that’s only for 2 weeks.

What about the other 50 I have in the year?

 I want to make a difference when I get home. 

 I’m not sure how yet.

But some way I will. 

I will make a difference. 

Update and Pictures

Update on life here in Chenzhou.  We have been at the orphanage 3 days. This will be our 4^th day today. Usually we go from 8-11:30 and we play with the older kids in that time. There are about 20 older kids ranging in ages of 3 to about 13. And pretty much all of them have a special needs. We go outside and play with them with chalk and bubbles and pretty much anything we can find. They don’t really care what we do with them, they just want someone to love on them.  Everytime we come in they attack us with hugs and shouts. It’s a great feeling.  Then we leave at 11:30 have lunch hang at the hotel or go to the super mart next door. Then we go back to the orphanage from 3-5:30 and in that time we play with the babys.  Today we got to bring the kids Mcdonalds for lunch.They loved that! Tomorrow is Sunday and we found out that they have a church here in Chenzhou! And one of the nannies has offered to take us to it. She doesn’t attend church so this is really cool that she has offered to do this. The church is government run and it will all be in Chinese but it will still be interesting to see.

 And that is your update.

 I’m finally getting some pictures up!!! These are some pictures from the few days that we have been in Chenzhou. We gave each kid an American name so that’s what the caption is. 

Collin, sweetest boy ever

Leah, she makes funny faces every time you bring a camera around her!

 

 

The older kids

 

 

Luke and Elyssa 

 

 

Annie and her little girl Alex

 

 

One side of the baby room 

 

 

Ray, everyone loves him!

 

 

Ava, little girl big personality 

 

 

Gracie, she is so funny and crazy! 

 

 

 

Thats our table on our "interesting night" 

 

  

Thats the group photo 

 

Interesting Night

I’d say we had the most interesting meal last night. 

 Last night Director Ren said he told his friends about us and what we are doing for the orphanage and they wanted us to come have a meal with them. 

We ate with Director Ren and his wife and a couple other men.

At a fancy hotel.

Around a huge table.

Eating the most um interesting foods. 

We had fish. It still had its head. And its eyes. 

We had sea cucumber. It looked like octopus. 

Pigeon. And it still had a head. 

Chicken feet.  They were white and…looked like um chicken feet. 

Shark fin. We thought it was chicken soup but what we thought was chicken, was actually shark!!

We had snail. There is a funny story that goes along with that, you will have to ask me about when I get back.

The food was interesting but so were the people we were eating with. 

 Example: I almost lost my roommate

 Here is the story. 

So Annie (my roommate) was being her funny self. When some of the men started complimenting her. Telling her how beautiful she was. How interesting she was. Asking if we were married. And then they decided to have a toast to her. And so we all had a toast to Annie. Which was quite entertaining. In the end we all had a group photo taken. And they wanted there pictures taken with just her. They were saying things in Chinese about her that we still don’t know what it was about.

Anyway we kindly explained that she was NOT going to marry any of them. 

She wasn’t the only one who got attention.

We were all watched like hawks throughout the whole meal.

They took pictures.

And videos.

They watched how we held our chopsticks.

What kinds of foods we ate.

How much we ate.

How loud we were.

And they gave all us Americans forks.

Another funny story : Ok so they brought out some strange unknown meat that they really wanted us to try. So Megan and I were trying to cut it with the forks they gave us. We THOUGHT no one watching. But apparently they were, cause suddenly they are waving down the waitress asking for knives cause we were obviously struggling. So as we sat there in shame waiting for our knives, we were silently hoping that they would forget about it and we wouldn’t have to eat the meat. But they did not forget. And out came the knives. And so they watched us as we ate the unknown meat. Which actually wasn’t bad.

Everything is going good. 

We are having fun. 

We are serving God. 

No complaints

I’m hot.

I’m sweaty.

I’m dirty.

I’m tired.

I’m happy.

Because I’m in China., serving God. And having SO much fun doing it!

That wasn’t supposed to be a list of complaints.

At first it was.

I was thinking of all the “bad” things about the trip.

But then I realized

This trip isn’t about me.

Or any of the members.

This trip is about the kids.

The nannies.

Our guide.

And at the end of the day…..

The heat.

I have water. Its not unbearable.

The sweat.

No big deal.

The dirt.

I can take a shower.

The exhaustion.

I can sleep at some point.

I’m serving God, I have NO reason to complain.

I can’t complain.

Because the kids

There smiles

There laughs

There joy

When your around them

The complaints

Gone.

Not to try and make you bored or anything.

I just want people to understand, how amazing this is.

And on that happy note

Goodnight.

Chenzhou

We are in Chenzhou!!!

It’s been a LONG day.

It started at 4:30am

Yup that’s what time we got up so that we wouldn’t miss our flight.

And after our hour flight we had a five hour bus ride.

We stopped at Mcdonalds on the way and it tasted just like home.

And we finally made it to Chenzhou.

Its amazing being back.

Its like being home after a long trip.

A REALLY long trip. 

But the best part about today…..

We got to go to the orphanage!!!!!!!!!!

It was emotional for some.

Actually half of the team was in tears.

Probably because it was totally awesome!!!!!

The nannies recognized us.

The kids recognized us.

Everything was out of control.

Kids running everywhere.

Kids yelling and screaming with pure joy spread across their faces.

Babies crying.

Babies laughing.

It was indescribable.

We couldn’t stay for very long.

So everyone is super excited about tomorrow.

Our first full day with the kids.

I’m really excited about this week and the difference we want to make on these kids life.

Thanks for all the prayers.

And please keep praying. 

(I wrote all this yesterday and am just now posting it sorry)

Tomorrow

So we were supposed to go to an orphanage today.
 Maverys.

But something happened and we couldn't.

So instead we went shopping.

I mean not that shopping compares to the orphanage.

I dont have much to say about today.

Cause we didn't go to the orphanage.

So I shall talk about tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

Up until now nothings been to strange.

People speak English here.

The beds are pretty soft here.

Theres American food here.

Havn't seen any squatty pottys here. 

But tomorrow we will finally make it to Chenzhou.

And I'm so excited!

Tomorrow we will get to see the kids.

Tomorrow we will probably be the only Americans around.

Tomorrow I will sleep on a rock hard bed.

Tomorrow I will be forced to eat chinese food.

Tomorrow I will get steamed bread!!!!!!

Tomorrow I will be at my Chinese "home"

Which is Chenzhou.

And if you havn't gotten the hint.

I'm REALLY excited about tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!

Day 2 Pictures

 

Thats our team at the Yu Gardens 

 

 

  Me, mom and Shane

 

Look at its wittle face. These were bugs they were selling. In case you were wanting a pet bug. . 

 I took this at the gardens. And I'm pretty sure its worthy to be on a postcard.

 

 That is some random kid that was playing with the swarm of fish 

This was our hard-to-eat-lunch

 

 

Us at dinner