November
2009
    November 21
     Zoe, Beth and Shari visit more foster homes,
    shop for the orphans and say good bye to Zoe's
    foster mother
Nov 21, 10pm  (China time)

I cannot begin to describe the day.  I can share some details but words just cannot begin
to capture.  

Breakfast with Zoe's Foster mother and 2 foster sisters.  We've decided to call her Ayi-Ma.
 It's a term of affection like what a Chinese child would call the mother's sister.  We went
to the Dragon Park and walked around for a while.  The sisters even built a snowman for
Zoe ... she'd asked to do that.  The snow was NOT the kind for building snowmen but
they did it anyway.  

It was so sweet watching them walk with her, play with her.  Zoe was so in her element
being babied and taken care of.  Ayi-ma even carried her on her back most of the way
back to the van.  

Eventually it was time to drop them off - the good bye didn't take long but it was intense
beyond words.  There were no dry eyes - even the driver (who is ex military and has
worked for the orphanage for 15 years).  Zoe was the only one not crying.  I could tell it
was going to hit her but I just didn't know when.  We got in the car, drove away and waved.
 Zoe was still smiling and waving.  Then I looked over at her and there were huge tears
streaming down her face.  Then I hear the most primal wail I've ever heard in all my life.  
Zoe was in my lap just sobbing uncontrollably so of course I had to join in.  

We sat there for the longest time just crying together.  Eventually I decided to try to help
her put words to her feelings.  She said she couldn't even describe why she was crying
so hard.  

All through the day, she has asked a LOT of questions ... mostly the same ones over and
over.  Like, "Why were they crying?"  "Why was I crying?"  "When will we see them again?"  
I think it's taking time to process.  I cannot begin to imagine what it feels like from the
point of view of a 4 year old.  Today was hard for US and we were just by-standers.  

We drove to the local market to buy blankets and jackets for some orphans.  Shari had
collected some money to be used for this purpose.  I kinda just stood there like a lump
and was "there" for Zoe.  Hannah and Shari went to town negotiating and finding great
deals and great warm things for the kids.  I know a lot of kids are going to greatly benefit
from these ... we're going to ask if we can get pictures of kids wearing them.  

Eventually we went to another group home.  It had several older children with severe
medical problems.  It's hard to see it.  There were also lots of babies.  Zoe especially
liked this small cleft baby who was smiling at her.  She asked to hold him and several
other babies.  

Dinner.  Pack. Process emotions.  It's after 10pm and Zoe is still awake beside me as I
type this.  I think she's still trying to figure it all out.  After this morning's good bye, she
won't let me out of her sight.  As if she doesn't want to lose 2 mama's in one day.  

Oh, and did I mention we ended up in at least 3 newspapers - including the front page for
one?  I'll include the photo of one of them.

Thanks for the prayers.  Keep them coming.  He has been so involved this whole time,
clearly obvious.

Love to all.
Beth will also be
blogging at
destinyshousechurch
.blogspot.com


    Thanks for joining us on this
    journey!  Should prove to be
    an interesting one.  
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