Family...continued.....

This part of the China trip was solely about family - very little sightseeing or "tourist" worthy places/things to do. 

Tuesday, we went back to Becky's orphanage - or the new place that is the orphanage of the same name. She didn't get to see the place she lived for 14 months - it's gone, an the welfare institute is in temporary quarters while they find a permanent home. I felt a little disappointed for her - and I know she was as well. The woman who took us around did remember her though - and that was beginning of the greatness of the day. 

This little one was part of the joy - what a smile! She has a VSD - but one look at her told us she has Williams Syndrome - just like Julie. She was adorable - and Becky wanted to take her home....

This director was at the orphanage when Becky was there. 

This young lady was also there when Becky was there - and has an apartment there now. She makes these cool items and sells them. 

Becky's orphanage is now a Half the Sky program - and it has fundamentally changed since she was there; it's so good to see and was healing for me. 

Her hometown is known for dried mandarin products; we had tea. 

After a very full day, a walk about at the mall. The day was made so full because between the orphanage visit and the evening stroll, we were able to locate Becky's birth parents and meet them. In a totally God orchestrated chain of events laid out 4 years ago when we started the search, our searcher got a call, and we traveled about 2 hours after lunch to meet her birth family. Becky has chosen to keep the photos and details private for now - but GOD!!!! 

On Wednesday, we went back to visit Cami's foster family at the home village. What a homecoming it was

Her foster grandma was SO happy to see her. When Cami was in foster care, they would spend holiday's at the village and some weekend - and the love these grandparents have for her was evident. 

It was awesome to see a small, traditional Chinese village 

They look like they fit right in - the picture doesn't show how incredibly HOT it was there. 

The fruit - was AMAZING! 

And BIG - this might be the biggest papaya I have ever seen 

As sweet as the reunion was, the goodbye was hard 

Grandma didn't want to let go...

It was three days of foundational family; it soothed souls and warmed hearts and helped heal - well worth the bug bites, 98% humidity and 100 degree temps and hours in the car. Money can't buy the healing that happened over these three days.