Chao Yang Post #2

Tuesday morning we picked up kids from the orphanage and took them on the bus to take them to the park. The enthusiasm just to board the bus is contagious! And it was nice to put to use the strollers that we had just purchased the day before, in bringing some of the babies. Usually the nannies bring the children on a bus, rather than us picking them up, so this allowed us to bring kids they don't typically allow us to bring. We brought three crib bound kids who thoroughly seemed to enjoy themselves at the park. The bumper cars were a new ride we hadn't done with the kids on precious trips, and the kids that rode them were cracking up.  We topped off the experience with lunch at KFC.  The whole morning felt like living in a fish bowl. Just not sure who gets stared at more here; special needs kids, or foreigners?

The afternoon was spent doing what you ask? Why yes, playing some more with the kids, going on walks and doing some more crafts!  Can't think of anything else we would rather be doing. We blew bubbles and took photo shoots of some children in the pillow case dresses some students at my school made the for them.

Wednesday morning the rain came pouring down just as we headed out the door to tour the local Buddhist history museum.  In all my trips here, I never even knew it existed, and have walked by it multiple times on our walks in the park with a large pagoda (which I found out today is the oldest standing in china). The museum was very fascinating. The director recommended we go, so we appreciated that. We went in the early morning so we still had plenty of time with the kids.

When we walked into the orphanage we were pleasantly surprised to be greeted by a woman we met at the store yesterday when she offered to help us. She spoke English very well in our conversation, and we casually invited her to come. It took her two hours to get there by bus! She did great with the kids, and after spending lunch with us too, agreed to spread the word about the needs of the kids and return for visits.  She made a tutu during craft time which she was taking home for her son. In the afternoon we decorated more walls with artwork. This time it was card stock frames with photos of the children,  which read "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made," and decorated with their thumb prints. The rain cleared off and we were also able to take children outside.

Other than learning that team USA lost today, it was a wonderful day spent with the kids. We even got to hold one of the new babies, Claire, that they had not allowed us to hold yet. She has some type of skin issue that causes most of her skin to be scaly, and has difficulty focusing her eyes. But she is wonderfully made in our eyes!

I am sure I am forgetting some things, but too tired to remember. It is hard to believe that tomorrow will already be time for us to say our goodbyes. I need a good nights rest to gear up for this emotional part of the trip.