Packing My Suitcase!

Do your feathers ever get ruffled?

Do you get extremely agitated?

Do you ever just want to find an enormous soapbox to stand on so you can shout out to the whole world,

"WHY?!?"

Or is it all just me?

Well, I'm having a moment that I just can't ignore today!!! 

As our ACT Missions team prepared to asy our good-byes to the children we had spent a week falling in love with more and more each day, I fought against the urge to pack all the kids in my suitcase to bring them home.

(Yes, I know that is totally unrealistic and impossible!)  

It wasn't that I wanted to fill my own home beyond capacity, but I just knew that if families could meet these precious kiddos then all the big, scary words used to describe conditions and diagnoses would fade away.  I knew the joy of their laughter that warms your heart, even on a 100 degree, hot and humid day.  I saw their potential and caught glimpses of so much hope for their futures, outside the walls of an orphanage in China and home with a loving and supportive family.  I knew that dates on calendars and chronological ages didn't matter when you are face-to-face with a child longing to be loved.

And...I was right.

TWO members of the November team  that returned to the same orphanage fell in love and felt the urge to bring one of the children home! (uoY KnahT (flip-flopped) and  An Unfinished Fairytale)

Other children whose referral files were not yet prepared for adoption when we left China recently became available, and the flood of requests to adopt some of these children was unbelievable!  More than 20 interested families for children the orphanage staff was uncertain if any family would welcome into their home!?!

So what has me all fired up today?

All the others who are still waiting...

"Caleb"

Caleb blog link

Caleb is such a great kid!  I have no idea why he is still waiting?  Even with a $4000 Love Without Boundaries grant available to his adoptive family (LWB grant info), he continues to wait.

"Logan"

Logan blog link

Such a sweet boy!  Quiet and contemplative at times, but still all boy...and still waiting.

"Jessa"

Jessa blog link

Our entire team waited with great anticipation for her file to become available!  We knew that her family would be so blessed by this darling girl that her file would be matched in a flash!  But she's waiting?

"Marie"

Marie blog link

Such a tiny baby girl when we met her in July.  She had only recently arrived at the orphanage and was still so visibly shocked and traumatized by the loss of her first family.  But even during that one week we spent with her, we watched her begin to emerge from her shell with love and attention.  Her needs seemed so minimal and manageable, we again believed her family would find her as soon as her file arrived, and yet she waits.

"Pia" and "Izzie"

Pia-Izzie blog link

America World had "Izzie's" file for three months, and no family stepped forward to bring her home. Now Great Wall China Adoptions has her file as "Pia," and still this sweet little girl waits for her family.

"Charlie"

Charlie blog link

His smile is ever present!  He's such a darling boy.  When his family brings him home, he will have access to better nutrition and care, education and physical therapy beyond what he currently receives.  He waits for a family to declare him worthy of love.

"Brandon" 

I don't have a blog link for this little boy, but he is such a playful sweetheart!  He just needs a family.

I just don't understand why all these children are waiting?
Especially, when I also know of so many families waiting for find their son or daughter?

Well, y'all can join me on another ACT Missions Trip team schedule to return to visit the same orphanage, November 12-22, 2015 (2015 team information)  Or I am serious, y'all!  I might need to explore my luggage options to find a way to bring all my kids home!

*****

Information about all of these children can be found through the America World website AWAA Waiting Children

Except for Pia whose file is currently with Great Wall China Adoptions GWCA Waiting Children