Have you ever felt like an ambassador?
Really felt like you were sent as a representative to mediate between two worlds, two cultures?
I've traveled internationally before - Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Vienna, even China three times before. I never wanted to be "The Ugly American" I read in high school English class. I've always attempted to represent my country well as I traveled and represent Christ every day.
I learned important lessons from my college sociology professor, even through I didn't fully recognize or appreciate them or him at the time. Preparing for this trip to China, our team discussed eating and drinking whatever you are served. The universal language of breaking bread (or eating rice) together. My entire team joyfully leaped into the experience of Chinese culture and traditions. (Well, almost too joyfully the night we were asked to either stop laughing or leave a restaurant in Beijing.) We earned great respect from our hosts simply by refusing forks and knives at meals and eating with chopsticks, even if our skill level was elementary and amusing.
None of this prepared me for the shocking moment in the van/converted ambulance as we were driven from the airport to our hotel with one of the assistant directors from the orphanage when she asked, "Why Americans prefer girls and do not want boys?"
My stomach started to churn.
I felt so sick.
My mind raced to find words.
Suddenly, I found myself in the middle of a chasm between two worlds, two countries I dearly love. Rocky, perilous cliffs on each side. Only our tiny team of four with my inadequate leadership and words to begin to build a bridge between.
Feebly I attempted to explain through our guide Della that Americans do not have a preference for girls over boys. Unfortunately, most Americans associate adoption from China with girls and do not even know that there are boys available and needing families and homes. Stumbling for words and repeating at times the lack of knowledge, our team together emphasized that part of our efforts in coming to China to visit with the staff and children was to bring back home this message…
BOYS!!!
There are many children in China waiting for the love, care, and nurture of a family and a home, both girls and BOYS. The orphanage we visited services primarily children with some form of special need. Most of the older children we spent our days with were boys. Boys with cerebral palsy, Down's syndrome, heart conditions, cleft lip or palate, slow learners with some form of developmental delay. Many had already received life changing surgeries so we puzzled over what their disabling conditions could possibly be. They were all just children! Full of love and laughter. Curious and playful.
I'd like to introduce you to some of my friends…
GIGGLES with one of the assistant directors. Timid and shy at first with American strangers, but soon his happy laughter filled the therapy room where the nannies worked with children to strengthen muscles stiffened by CP.
SPIKE's impish grin and laughing eyes just melt your heart.
CHINESE IDOL has dreams of being a superstar. Don't leave a microphone unattended or he will be serenading you for hours!
PLAYFUL, why dance with bells when you can eat them?
TINY TIM such a little sweetie! Discussed his blood condition with the assistant director and encouraged her to get his file ready. I've known many American families who have brought home children just like him to love on and receive medical care here in the US. He just needs to come home!
WHAZUP is fast and smart! Miranda offered lollipops to the boys one day. He took three and dashed off before she could limit him to just one. My water bottles often wandered away from my backpack pocket with a very thirsty boy.
LIL DUDE cute as a button! He was the littlest one to go on our field trip to a park and lunch at a restaurant. He may be tiny, but he can eat and eat.
Totally in love with my DANCE PARTNER! He and I would break it down to popular tunes on the playground. I promised him I would return next year. He broke my heart our last day at the orphanage when he took the microphone to speak to our team, "Shi shi. Wo ai ni." (Thank you. I love you.)
HOMEBOY such a sweet face! Completely healthy but legally trapped and not even able to be adopted.
"Caleb" or BEAUTIFUL BOY as we fondly called him. All the nannies agree that he is the most handsome boy.
PICASSO is a talented artist and painted some of the murals on the walls. He is so kind and attentive, helping to care for some of the little ones.
SMILEY learning to fist bump. Nothing stops this boy! He is fearless and doesn't allow himself to be defined by his physical challenges.
SHY GUY watched these strangers carefully from the sidelines of the playground area. What a treasure to see his smile!
"James" or my LITTLE MAN was often sleepy during outdoor play time. Snuggling him in my arms was such a treat! Inside when fully awake, he was all boy, running and playing in the Angel Room.
My ART PARTNER and I had so much fun creating our masterpiece together. Blowing the ink branches with straws had us both rolling with laughter. He even tried to air draw the characters of his name for me to write on our finished piece. Thankfully a nanny wrote it out for me to copy because he was so frustrated with my lack of understanding.
"Logan" was such the great THINKER. His somber expression took everything around him deep inside, which made his smiles all the more precious. Miranda's art buddy shared a special bond with my princess.
THE MAYOR was given his title by the first team to ever visit this orphanage. He is a born leader. He and I became fast friends. He is sooooo funny and fun-loving. He sang me songs about the Monkey King and insisted that I learn to say "monkey" in Chinese. We goofed around before lunch as he sang me what sounded like a romantic love song with his dramatic actions and I playfully swooned to the nannies giggles. The assistant director plead for him the very first day, "He is a good boy. He would make a good son." He shared with Gretchen his desire for a family. He spoke softly and intimately with me after lunch at the restaurant for a very long time. The only words I understood, "mama" and "baba," but his message needed no interpretation…
The Mayor is 12-years-old. The clock is ticking and time is running out. By law in China, a child must be adopted by their 14th birthday. After 14, they can never be adopted. Never have a home or a family of their own.
Picasso we were told is 20-years-old.
My Dance Partner is supposedly 16 or 17-years-old, only a year or two younger than Miranda.
We asked about the future of these children and the many others we did not meet because they were too disabled to care for themselves. Their lives will remain much as they are now. A future of living within the walls of an institution. Transfer to a facility for adults at 35. No jobs. No family. No hope. No future.
So I come to you…as an ambassador for the children…pleading for the boys…and the girls too…pleading for the orphans desperately in need of families to love them and bring them home.
