Traveling Back In Time: Back to China DAY 8- Part one

If there was one word I could use to describe our trip to China last summer I think I would say "Chaotic"...

Trying to get out there and see China when dealing with a seriously slumpy, seriously obstinate little five year old who didn't speak our language was exceptionally trying on all of us.  Perhaps that is why I stopped blogging while we were there... I was just TOO exhausted to blog!!

But just because I stopped blogging doesn't mean our trip stopped, so I've decided to take us all back in time, to talk about what did happen during the rest of our China trip.  The truth is, I stopped blogging right as it all got a lot better.  Each day was better than the one before!

So, we're traveling back in time on this beautiful Friday to our first Friday with Chengbin in China.  Day 8 of our trip and our fifth day with Chengbin!

 This was our first day of touring.  We hoped for the best, but at the time Chengbin was extremely difficult when we would leave our hotel room and go out in public.  He would just plain- shut down.
But China only lasts so long and we thought maybe, just maybe, taking him out might do him some good.  Our first stop was to a Buddhist Temple in Guangzhou.

He really wasn't sure about any of this.  He was slumpy and did not smile at all.

 

 

This monk was just sitting at the entrance next to this great big freaky statue.. He seemed so at peace to be sitting next to this thing...

 Looking at his expression reminds me how far he really has come... He just didn't know WHAT to think!!  I asked him now what he was thinking and he says he was scared.

 The buildings and architecture were just beautiful.  I tried so hard to capture the details that made it so special.

 This man was offering sacrifices to one of the "Gods"... This is the part that as a Christian made me sad.  I wonder if this man has ever been told about Jesus?

 This is female Buddha who was described as the god of protection.  There was a group of ladies standing in front of her with their sacrifices, bowing up and down, up and down.  It's probably the moment that stands out the most.  I would figure out why this stands out a few days later...

Can you see why we were exhausted??  He didn't want to walk.  He didn't want to be carried.  He simply did not want to be there at all.  Now he can explain to me that he just wanted to keep playing with his toys in the hotel room.  But it was exhausting going around with Mr. Obstinate. ;)

 Kate tried so hard to be sweet and cheer him up, but nothing worked... By the time we got back into the van he was crying.  Matt & I both felt defeated, but then, he did this...

He grabbed his Baba's arm!  And we all calmed down and mustered up the strength for round 2- the park!!

Thanks for stopping by to reminisce,
Fannie, Matt, Katie, & Chengbin

An American Girl Raffle!

Now that the initial shirt fundraiser is winding down and shirts will be sent off Tuesday, we are all ready for our first raffle, An American Girl Raffle!!!  (Don't worry, there will be one for the boys soon!!)

Prize Package #1
American Girl doll of child's choice (Retail value $120-130)

 

Prize Package #2

American Girl Bitty Twins of child's choice (Retail value $125)

 



Raffle ticket prices are 1 for $5, 3 for $10, and 7 for $20. :)
You can pay directly to our paypal link, or if you'd prefer to make a tax deductible donation, you can submit your donation on our Adopt Together profile.  Both links are provided on the right toolbar of our blogsite.  If you are viewing this from a mobile device, you will have to scroll to the bottom of this post & click "view full site" to make the donation links accessible.

Please email me at mepscoastie@yahoo.com or send me a facebook message to let me know which way & how much you donated, along with which package you'd like your raffle tickets to go towards!!  I'll be posting pics of the two jars over the next two weeks so you all can see your tickets & odds of winning!! This is going to be SO fun!!

Let the raffle BEGIN!!! :)  Good luck!!

Oh, and this raffle goes until May 9th!!  So get your raffle tickets soon!

Thanks for all your support in raising Laila's orphanage donation & bringing our girl home!! :)
Fannie, Matt, Katie, Chengbin, & Laila Jean

96!!!

Beihai is a small beach town in Guangxi Province in southwestern China.

Yep, that's the final total for the shirt fundraiser...

We've sold 96 shirts/sweatshirts to raise money for Beihai Social Welfare Institute!!  I haven't had a chance to add up how much money that will be cause I still have to ship the shirts once they come in, but I think it's over $500 raised for the orphanage donation!!!

Thank you ALL who decided to buy a shirt and help an orphan like our sweet Laila!!!  You guys seriously rock!!!

We did purchase a few extra shirts, so when I get everything shipped out I'll post the leftover sizes & colors for anyone who never got a chance but would still like one.

THANK YOU for helping the children in this orphanage!!  And for those of you who requested to donate money rather than buying a shirt, we will have a website up soon that allows you to make a tax deductible donation.

Thanks for all your support,
Fannie, Matt, Katelynn, Chengbin, & Laila Jean

Amazing!!

About a month ago a fellow adoptive mom shared her heart and invited all her friends and family to participate in "Forget the Frock", an event that encourages people to focus on what they can do to help with that Easter money they would normally spend on fancy clothes for church.  Amy had designed a shirt for families to wear and all money raised from the sell of the shirts would go to one of five charities that the participants were allowed to vote on.

I LOVED this idea and jumped right on board, ordering shirts for our family to wear on Easter Sunday and voting for Love Without Boundaries, one of the amazing charities out of our hometown of Edmond, Oklahoma that is saving lives EVERY DAY in China! :)

The message of the shirt is one that our family truly believes.

"Change Starts With ONE" on the front... Oh how this message keeps playing out in our lives.

The back says:

 "Once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do.
God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls knows that we know and holds us responsible to act."

Proverbs 24:12

 

Well, imagine my surprise when over a month later Amy posted the results of the fundraiser which included some very special information for our family.

 

She raised over $4000 which went to the winning charity, Love Without Boundaries.

And of that over $4000 that went to Love Without Boundaries, Laila's life saving transfusions until we can go to China to get her became fully funded!!!

 

That's right! Laila's account on Love Without Boundaries was posted on a Tuesday and by Friday morning over $1500 was given to them in support of her.  While Matt & I had figured we'd give it a few weeks and then pay whatever was left to help our girl, God supplied it all in only three days!!!

 

Oh the blessings that we are finding as we live this different life that focuses on him and what we can do to be his hands & feet in a world in need!!!

 

To be completely honest, only a few weeks ago I went into panic mode. 

Panic that we weren't making any progress in the adoption. 

Panic that Laila's condition is so severe and to be honest, even with these transfusions, she is still critical.  They just aren't often enough or provide enough blood volume to get her into a healthy range.

Panic that after looking at all the upcoming expenses that have to be paid in four months time, we are going to have to apply for every grant we can find and need some extremely successful fundraisers.

Panic that we won't get to her in time.

 

I didn't like that I was panicked and of course I want to trust God, but I am human, and the human in me just plain panicked as all these concerns hit me at once! 

 

Then God gave me a song as I tried out the new Steven Curtis Chapman song called "The Glorious Unfolding"...

 

There's so much of this story that's still left to unfold

This is going to be a glorious unfolding

Just you wait and see and you will be amazed

You've just got to believe the story is so far from over

So hold onto every promise God has made to us

and watch this glorious unfolding!

 

What an amazing reminder of God's love and plan for us!

 

Then that Sunday in Church we had songs that I've never heard our worship team do before.  Three different songs that reminded me of God's love for the orphan.

On that following Tuesday, Love Without Boundaries set up Laila's fund. 

On that Friday, she was fully funded. 

 

Oh how God loves this little girl!!  He is just showing us over and over again!!!

 

I am so excited to be living this life and can't wait to see what God has planned for our family and our children!!  Laila Jean you are SO loved!!

 

Thanks for stopping by,

Fannie, Matt, Kate, Chengbin, & Laila Jean