The last 24 hours has seen our adoption of Oliver become final, and what turned out to be one of the most emotional days of our lives take place here in China. Wednesday we boarded the bullet train which took us at 180 mph to the town where Oliver's orphanage was located. We had to go there to apply for his passport to bring him home. We were offered the chance to go to his orphanage and visit, and after a brief hesitation (for fear it might make it confusing for him) we said "yes". This first picture is the name of the facility....
When we got inside, they took us to the place where Oliver has been cared for. They cheered when we walked in because they said they had hoped we would come so they could see him one more time. He immediately went to them and they started to play with him and feed him noodles. We were taken into his sleeping room and got pictures of his crib and living area.
These are the faces of the people whom God put in charge of watching over Oliver until we could come and get him. He clearly was loved and cared for very well and very much. We are grateful to them and God. When it was time to go, he came back to Holly with no resistance and we waved good bye. Oliver was fine...but I am not so sure about the rest of us...
This is what it looks like about half a block away from where the orphanage is located. It is hard to imagine that his birthmother could have imagined paying for the surgeries that he required. We're glad she made the decision she made.
We are reminded daily of how good we have it in America, and how much we should be grateful for. We have a heart for the people here...and especially now for the women in that room who continue the work of caring for the babies that have been 'left at the gates of life' for someone else to deal with. May God bless them and the orphanage in Zhengzhou, from which we took a little piece of Monday and where we left a little piece of us today.
Thanks for the tears this morning!
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