China Tech

I see many families about to travel to China struggle with how to navigate the technology challenges and thought I would try to help from some things I've learned. Thankfully, I have built in tech support with my amazing IT husband.  I've learned a lot from him and hopefully this will keep you in touch with everyone back home.

First of all, we should discuss why technology is an issue. China does not have the freedom to use the internet the same way we do in America. Many sites are blocked and that list seems to grow each year. Google, Facebook, Blogspot, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube jump to mind but many email systems (including Gmail because it is part of Google) are also not accessible.

The way around this is to use a VPN. VPNs are Virtual Private Networks and basically tunnel underneath a firewall and make it seem like you are using the internet by wherever you connect to. China obviously knows about these loopholes and has blocked many of these so check with people who have recently traveled to see which VPNs are currently working. You also must have these installed before you leave. You can usually pay a monthly fee to use this service and then cancel it as soon as you come home (I post a date on my calendar to remind myself). VPNs are also important because of security. I would not connect to the internet at all without one. I know of someone who logged on to the hotel's WiFi in China without a VPN and had their PayPal account hacked. This is definitely not something you want to deal with while adopting.

I've seen many people debate how many and which devices to bring with them when they adopt their child. That depends on each family and how much they plan on using them. We took 2 laptops, an iPad and 2 phones. The iPad was mostly for our new child to play on and I pre-installed some games that I thought he would enjoy. He was 7 at adoption and really liked PBS Kids and a game called Grandpa's Workshop. My husband took his laptop to work on the days we had some down time. I took my laptop so we could upload pictures and blog our journey. Many people would be fine with just taking a phone and either a tablet or laptop. Just make sure you have a VPN on each device loaded before you head to China or you will not be able to access the sites I mention above.

The only tech purchase I recommend is a portable/travel router.  We chose the HooToo Nano from Amazon because of price and reviews. These devices are great because the hotels we stayed at had both wired and wireless internet. The WiFi was very weak depending on where your room was within the hotel. Using a travel router allows you to plug in to the hotel's wired internet and have a stronger signal. It makes a little WiFi hotspot with the hotel's internet in your room so you can connect all of your devices to that with a more reliable signal. I believe that we were also able to run the VPN through the HooToo so that we could connect as many devices as we wanted. Usually, VPNs limit the number of connections depending on the provider.

There are a variety of options you can choose with your phone. I kept my phone in airplane mode the entire time we were in China and only used it on WiFi at the hotel. This does limit your ability to communicate so check with your phone provider on their international plan options. Most of them will allow you to buy a temporary international plan with a certain number of minutes, internet data and texts. There is also the option of getting a Panda phone where you rent a Chinese cell phone. You can have it shipped to your home or delivered to your hotel in China.

To call or text on WiFi, you also have a host of options. WeChat is China's instant messaging app that isn't blocked by their firewall. You can set up a WeChat app profile and be able to text anyone in the US or China with an account without connecting first through the VPN. You can usually also use FaceTime without a VPN. I like to use my VPN and text or call through either Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp (another WiFi based texting app). It appears that with Android's recent update, you now have the ability to call or video chat on WiFi like Apple's Facetime.

Another debate I've seen is about how large or expensive of a camera to take. As photographers, this was a debate we also had because we didn't want to lose a large, expensive camera we need for weddings due to breakage, etc. Thankfully, we kept it with us the whole time and had no major issues. I'm glad we had a quality camera with us because of the importance of the trip but you can definitely make it with a smartphone with a decent camera if you are worried about it.

In regards to plugging devices in, there seems to be a great variation of power sources depending on the hotel. Some have American style outlets and even USB ports but I wouldn't count on that.  I would plan on taking some converters/adapters. This website does a great job of explaining why you need one. I really only needed one for my flat iron but since that was very important to me, I'm definitely glad we had it.

Finally, the laws about flying with external battery chargers in China can be tricky. I had one in my carry on the first time and had it confiscated. I tried to keep it in my checked bag the second time and it set off an alarm and they told me to keep it in my carry on. My advice is to only take a cheap one you can afford to lose. I took one from Five Below (discount store) the first time and I didn't cry over losing a $5 item. The second time we took some we got as a giveaway at a baseball game so no big loss if we had it taken. I do like having one in case I'm out all day and my phone is drained.

Let's talk streaming. Netflix has blocked VPNs so I was in the Middle East this Spring and could not use a VPN to get into my Netflix account. Amazon Prime worked great with my VPN. The reality is though that many hotels will not have strong enough signals for streaming but it may be worth a shot depending on your hotel. Most airlines with WiFi (which will cost you) will tell you up front that they cannot stream but you can surf the web. They may have certain movies though that you can watch from their site or on your seatback. I would not count on being able to stream a lot during your flights or while you are in China. It looks like China is easing up on their in-flight rules about using electronic devices finally so you should be able to use a tablet or phone for the entire flight. Just listen to the instructions and always remember you are a guest in their country and be respectful of their rules.

Hopefully, this helps you be prepared for the technology challenges in China and stay connected. We took one resealable bag with all of our chargers, routers, adapters, etc in it and stayed very organized. Happy travels!

The Ups and Downs of our Trip to China

Everyone is going to have different experiences in China and I'm going to share what worked and what didn't for our family.  Our group was me and my husband, our 11 year old daughter and our 7 year old that we were adopting. I had been to China in 2014 for a mission trip and learned a lot of lessons then so based on that and what I learned from adoption Facebook groups, this was our packing list:

Overall, I think we packed very well. There's not much more I wished we would have brought. We had 2 large rolling suitcases that we checked and each of us had a backpack as a carry-on. That's it. It was great only worrying about one item after we made it through security.  We packed our oldest daughter and husband's items in one suitcase and Liam's and mine in the other.  We used packing cubes for all of Liam's items but if I had more money, I would buy them for everyone in different colors. We brought 11 outfits each and did one small load of laundry in Guangzhou (cost about $17) and washed as much as we could in the sink.  We were there in Summer so the benefit is that we were wearing lighter clothes but we couldn't rewear a lot without washing because we were sweating a lot! 

Things I wouldn't bring: umbrella (there was one in each hotel room) and travel pillows (airline provided and I don't sleep much on planes)

Technology related: we brought 2 laptops, an iPad and our cellphones and left everything in airplane mode the whole time with wifi on. We set up VPNs before we left and brought a HooToo nano. Check them out on Amazon. It is a pretty cheap device but great. Basically, you plug it into the wired internet in the room and it gives off it's own wifi signal. You have your own hotspot and you aren't limited by how many devices you have or the strength of the hotel's wifi. We were able to easily access every website we needed in all three cities.

Money wise: We took about $2800 over our orphanage donation and came home with $500. We did not buy many souvenirs and we are cheap eaters. We spent about $16 for the 4 of us for many meals. The big ticket items were the safari park and some of the meals on travel days. It was over 2 weeks in 3 cities for 4 people so $2300 seems reasonable for activities, meals, souvenirs, some transportation, tips, etc. I think we spent $9 on a Gatorade at the top of the Great Wall and we bought 2. That was stupid but we were really thirsty and not thinking about the exchange rate. 

We each took 2 pairs of shoes: 1 pair of sneakers and 1 pair of slip on, closed toe comfortable shoes.

What I would do differently next time: 

-I would skip Beijing. I did it last year and now my husband and daughter have seen it and I'm not really keen on going again.

-I would try to take the train to Hong Kong. The van ride from Guangzhou to Hong Kong was not good for us.

-I would stay at the Marriott in Hong Kong. The airport hotel was too small and very limited in food options.

-I would upgrade our room at the China Hotel in Guangzhou. We didn't make a fuss out of it this time but our standard room was very small. 

-I would make sure I saved one totally fresh (un-sinkwashed) outfit for the flight home. We did okay at this but you don't want that long journey home to be in funky clothes.

-I would skip the safari park in Guangzhou. It was fine but I got dehydrated and it made the day miserable. I'm not used to that much humidity and I didn't drink enough water. Overall, this is an emotionally exhausting trip on a totally different time zone and I would have rested more and passed on more activities.

-I would try not to fly American Airlines unless we were on the 787 direct from DFW to China. We did that on our way there and it was great. Cathay Pacific was amazing for the first leg but the second AA flight on the 777 was difficult.

What I'm glad we did:

-I really liked having fanny packs. I know they are unattractive but I have a bad back and I was able to keep wipes, my phone, snacks, water, etc around my waist and be hands free.

-I'm glad we immediately took Liam to their bigger Wal-mart like stores so that he could pick out toys he liked. We got him a gun set that shot suction cup darts that stuck to the hotel window glass and he had fun for hours.

-I'm glad I had a list of souvenirs and only shopped for those. It kept it easy and I wasn't tempted to look at other things.

-Try to go to the Mutianyu part of the Great Wall. Take the chair lift (NOT the gondola) up the wall and then you can take the alpine slide down. The gondola will take you to an area over an hour away from the slide and that long of a walk on the wall can be exhausting unless you really love a big hike.

-We brought 1 power converter and it actually worked for my flat iron! Yay for not scaring Liam with a scary looking mommy.

-The games we had on the iPad for Liam were a big hit. He fell in love with Daniel Tiger and the Grandpa's Workshop app. 

-We managed to balance Chinese and Western foods so I wasn't so sick of Chinese food. We had Subway, McDonalds, Pizza Hut and managed to have about one western meal a day.  I need that for my sanity.  We loaded up on the free breakfast at each hotel and ate lighter lunches.

-I'm thankful that I heard Rick Steves say something on a show about how to travel Europe. He said that he packs light because he figures that he can buy it there and if he can't, then millions of people are living without it so it probably isn't a NEED.  Obviously, this isn't true for medications, etc. but for the most part, the stores in China have most things you are looking for. I bought a deodorant there that is identical to Degree (same container, just Chinese words).  

-Language was not as big of a deal as I expected. Either our guide was able to tell Liam what was going on or our translator apps filled in the rest. He picked up some basic things quickly.
-I'm glad we bought paper plates, forks, and cups in China. We could easily have some cheaper meals in our room and we bought the big jugs of water and just used our paper cups and only used water bottles while we were out.
-Expect your child to get carsick. I did because my bio kids are easily carsick so we came prepared. Most won't be but they don't ride in cars much at the orphanages/foster families and the method of driving and traffic in China can exacerbate the problem.
-The biggest thing I'm glad we did is travel with both spouses and an older kid. I cannot imagine not taking my husband on this trip. I know there are situations where this is difficult but emotionally to me this would be like delivering a baby alone.  Our daughter was a huge help just having someone for Liam to connect with as another kid and another set of eyes and hands.

Tips for those going to Xian:
-If you stay at the Days Hotel: there is a Chinese hamburger stand right outside the hotel. They are delicious and cheap, like $1US cheap! Get chips at the big store down the street and have some easy lunches.
-The restaurant attached to the Chinese hamburger stand is good. The sweet and sour pork is very delicious and their prices are good. For our family, a full meal was around $16US
-There is a park down the street and it has a big play area that we stayed at for hours.  It is like a screened in playroom (for a small fee) with a trampoline, ride on toys and a kind of sand pit. There are also some kid's rides.
-There is a new tea mall across the street from the hotel (directly opposite KFC) where they are opening a McDonald's with McCafe. I wish it had been open when we were there.  On the top floor there are also a TON of nice, newer looking restaurants. We didn't find this until the last day but it all looked really good.
-Try to get your guide to take you to the Bell Tower area when you go to the City Wall. There is a cool Starbucks and other nice restaurants and you can do some shopping in the Muslim Quarter. We got a pizza from Pizza Hut to bring back to the hotel with us.
-When we went to the Terra Cotta warriors, we got Subway sandwiches and ate them on the way back.


I hope this helps those preparing to go to China! My biggest tip is to just go with the flow. Be in the moment and realize that before you know it you will be home!

Getting to know him

So it has been over a week that Liam has been an official Stevenson. International adoption is a crazy process because it combines adding a member to your family with going on a stressful vacation.  We spent 3 days in Beijing sightseeing, then a week in Liam's province, then almost another week in Guangzhou where the U.S. Consulate is.  You are crammed in hotels, shuttled through airports and train stations surrounded by a language you don't understand and you days are filled with new experiences.  In the midst of all of this, you are trying to get to know a special needs child and help them understand you are their new parents.

I know, I'm probably selling it well.  There are actually a wide variety of experiences. Some are very difficult. Our son's province was a larger city with lots to see and do in a few days. People from around the world choose to visit Xi'an because of its historical significance. We had Subway, Pizza Hut and KFC mixed in with all the Chinese food.  Our hotel was larger and the breakfast buffet had some western options. Some families go to provinces with harsher weather, not much to see or do and no American food. Some families have children with very significant needs or that go through significant grieving as they transition to their adoptive families. We have been incredibly blessed so far that Liam has had the energy to go on sightseeing trips and hasn't shown us much in the way of grieving.

He is a sharp little guy. He knows a few letters of the alphabet, numbers 1-10, colors, shapes, is amazing at puzzles and I feel he is on track with some help to have a good year in 1st grade. As for his heart, we will have to wait and see what doctors say.  He is a well behaved little boy but behaviorally like a 4-5 year old.  We are working on him not touching everything in a store and not having to touch the face of every kid in our group. He hasn't had a ton of boundaries because in an orphanage, there wasn't much he couldn't touch.  We are working on that but mostly we are just playing with him, wrestling, tickling, and learning all about him.

There have been families here who have had a much harder time and I ask that we all continue to pray for them. People have said that Liam (and all these kids) are so lucky.  I know that those who say that mean well but they aren't lucky.  They were born with a major physical disability that led to them being abandoned by parents who most likely loved them deeply but could not afford to keep them. Many of them (some go to foster families) were raised in an institution where they never knew the love of a family. They never had anyone to call "Mama" or "Baba".  Many of them had surgeries and laid in hospital beds alone with no parents to hold their hand or pray over them.  Then kids like Liam watched their friends one by one get adopted and leave while they waited.  Now, he leaves the country, language, culture and everything he knows for the great unknown of life with us in America. Yes, now Liam is blessed that he was chosen off the waiting child list and he has a family but it was not a lucky road to get here.

So we are taking home an amazing little boy.  But we are leaving so many behind.  I pray every night that all of them find a home.  This process wasn't easy but I don't want to live in a world where I have seen orphans and done nothing. Will we do this again? Hopefully.  I know we will keep advocating and helping others adopt. In the meantime, we will be loving this little guy as best we can.

Here are more pictures from our trip.

Counting the Cost

As we wait for our travel to China, I can't help but look back at this journey so far and one of the biggest miracles has been God's financial provision.  I believe that our family being very transparent in this process will encourage others to begin the journey of giving another child a home so here's what the numbers look like:

I believe that this adoption will end up totaling about $37K.  Again, if you want to see where that money goes, please check out the cost page on our adoption agency's website. The bulk of it is about to be paid out in plane tickets, our in-country travel package and the orphanage donation we give in China.  A lot of it pays for our agency to manage the program and to cover background checks, visas and other government requirements.  I'm so thankful that from the very beginning they were open about the costs.

About half of the costs we were able to come up with from our budget.  Every tax refund, third paycheck or any dollar we could squeeze from our budget went straight into the "adoption" fund in our budget spreadsheet.  Literally, if our gas bill was $7 less than we were expecting, that $7 was transferred over.  Some months we did better than others but God multiplied when it looked impossible.  We never could have embarked on adopting Liam unless we had gone through Financial Peace University, paid off $39k in 18 months and gotten to "Baby Step 3".  We had already trimmed our personal budget down to pay off that amount of debt and kept a monthly budget where we know where every dollar is going before the month begins.  We basically stayed in "gazelle intensity mode" for this entire process.

I believe about half of the cost came from fundraising and generous donations.  We raised over $13k on our AdoptTogether page.  Over $5000 more came from our pancake breakfast, garage sales, craft sales, t-shirt sales, and individual donations.  We also received a grant from Sowing Roots that we have applied directly to our agency to cover our travel.  I am still so overwhelmed by the generosity of our friends, family and even complete strangers.  Thank you for being a part of Liam's story and blessing our family by your giving.  I have learned so much through this process and I definitely am inspired by your generous giving and want to give more to others.

I write all of this to encourage you.  Whether it is adoption, missions, starting a ministry, I believe that God has a call on all of our hearts.  Whatever that is, I believe that He will provide a path and the means to walk that path.  He is our great provider!

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 
2 Cor 9:8

Found

This week will be a special one in Liam's story for two reasons now.  It was the anniversary of the day he was found by authorities and today we found out that China has issued our letter of acceptance.

These last 58 days we have been waiting on the acceptance letter had been painfully long. The waiting was difficult.  But we waited with hope.  We knew that it was being worked on and about when it was expected to be completed. Liam has been a "waiting child" for much longer though and he has been waiting without hope.  Sometime this week he was told that the wait is almost over and hope of a family is coming.

Today I wrote him a letter and sent pictures to be assembled in a photo book for him. What do you say? I wanted him to know that we loved him and that we were on our way.  I want him to know that we are preparing a place for him in our family.  Hopefully soon a cake and some treats from us will be delivered and he will know that someone is thinking about him.

Please pray with us that the rest of this process goes quickly and smoothly. Pray that Liam's heart is ready to join our family and that physically it stays strong.

Thank you to everyone for your support and prayers.

I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 14:18

Considering international adoption

Maybe you have been moved to adopt and you are wondering where to start. I've been reflecting back on our journey so far and have a few suggestions I would make for anyone contemplating international adoption.

1. Sponsor a child.
This may seem like a strange place to start but I'm glad we did this. We didn't feel like we were ready financially to adopt but we wanted to do something.  Sponsoring a child through World Vision was a great way to talk to our kids about children in financial need around the world.  We started praying and caring for this little girl in Ethiopia and she became part of our family.  There are great organizations like Compassion, World Vision, and Show Hope and they all seem to do an amazing job to change the lives of children in some of the neediest places.

2. Get debt free and have a zero based budget.
There would be no way we could have gotten where we are financially in this adoption if we hadn't done this step.  We took Financial Peace University at our church from Dave Ramsey's organization.  In 18 months, we paid off $39,000 and now the only debt we have is our mortgage.  We have a zero based budget where we plan every dollar before the month begins.  We can be intentional about where our money is going and make a plan.

3. Pray pray pray
Pray for wisdom and direction and learn all you can about orphans.  This is probably the most important step.  Make sure you and your spouse are in the same place emotionally and spiritually.

4. Save at least $5000-$7000
That seems insignificant in a process that may end up costing nearly $40,000 but its a great place to start.  It is enough with our agency to pay for the 1st installment of the agency fees and a home study. Then make a plan.  Plan how much you are able to contribute each month (including how much you can cut from other places), how much you can find quickly (savings, bonuses, extra paychecks, tax returns), and how much you will need to raise in addition to what you can contribute.

5. Make a fundraising plan
Start buy setting up a fundraising website like we have at AdoptTogether.  You need to have a completed home study before it will become active. Then, you can decide what other fundraising options you want to consider. For us, that meant selling shirts, having a yard sale, a pancake breakfast and selling other crafts.  Set up a blog and make a plan for how you are going to share your story on social media.

6. Explore adoption grants
There are a lot of grants out there and they can go a long way in helping families adopt.  Many of them only apply to families under a certain income, faith or location.  We have currently applied for four that we qualified for.  Most of them require you to have a completed home study and many of them can be quite lengthy to complete, but even if just one comes through it would be worth all that effort.

7. Go to an informational seminar or do a webinar
Information is power and hearing other people's stories can really answer a lot of your questions.  We went to a seminar from our agency and it was so key in us feeling right about this and moving forward. It can also just give you an overall feel of an agency and know if it is the right one for your family. Talk to as many adoptive families as you can find and don't be afraid to ask questions.

The awkward questions Part 1

So we are already getting questions and we know more people are thinking them and not asking so here goes. I named it "Part 1" because I'm certain there will be more.
If the question is here, it is because we have already heard it.
Yes, I'm serious.

Q. Why not adopt from the United States when there are so many kids here?
A. First and foremost, because God has a unique call on every heart of how to serve Him.  Some people are called to be missionaries in India, some in Germany. Some are called to be doctors, teachers or baristas in America and financially support missionaries.  The same goes for adoption. There are people called to adopt from America and other internationally.  We have had friends and family adopt through the foster care system with varying outcomes. We have talked about many options and prayerfully chosen this one.  Someday we may be in the position to foster if God calls our heart to that. We all have a different adoption story and this one is ours.

Q. How old is Liam and does he speak English?
A. He is 6 and he does not speak English. My family is trying to learn some Mandarin but most kids fully immersed in a new language pick it up quickly.

Q. What's "wrong" with him?
A. Well, last time I checked, nothing. He is a beautiful, perfect child of God. His medical diagnosis is quite another thing. He has a congenital heart defect. We have reviewed his medical records with our doctor and I'm very confident that he will get whatever care he needs when he gets here.  I'm not sure what that will be and honestly I don't care. Am I googling WebMD? Nope. To me, for the same reason I didn't get the quad screen when I was pregnant. I love him for who he is and I trust my Healer with the rest.

Q. What happened to his parents?/Why is he in an orphanage?
A. Most children in China are abandoned because while their parents love them deeply, they cannot afford the medical care their children need.  If Liam wants to look at his records someday and tell this part of his story, that will be his choice.

Q. Is fundraising a thing most adoptive families do?
A. I'm not sure of the statistics but in my experience, most families don't have $30-$40k to adopt.  I wish we did.  We have already used much of our own savings but I believe that by fundraising we are opening Liam's story to many of you.  The Bible says to take care of orphans. Does that mean every family should adopt? I don't believe so. When you support those who are adopting, you are taking care of them. You are participating in the divine work of setting the lonely in families.

Q. When will you get him?
A. Honestly, I have no idea. It will probably quicker than some because we are matched with a "special needs" child.  I am praying for it to go quickly but trusting in God's timing. I believe 6 months to a year from this point is a fair estimate.

Q. I thought there were only girls available in China?
A. While most families in China would prefer their only child to be a boy, if that child has special needs, they are equally likely to end up in an orphanage.  Many families in America want younger girls so right now our agency has an abundance of available boys.

Q. Does China still have the One-Child policy?
A. Yes and no.  That is still the prevailing policy but we heard while we were there that a family that lives in the countryside could now have up to 3 girls, but only 1 boy.

Q. Why did you pick the name Liam?
A. Mostly because I got to name the girls and its Jeff's turn (ha ha).  Liam means warrior and he is from an area of China known for warriors.


And now for a educational and entertaining video that helps cover what to and what not to ask adoptive families:

Facing My Fears

I'm not known for my epic bravery. The world can be a scary place and I have to meditate on verses from the Bible that remind me to be strong and courageous because I'm never alone or I will lose my focus on God's plan for my life.  And anytime I start something new in life, I face new fears.

So here we are, starting down a new journey.  Just going to China to start with was a giant battle. I hate flying with a burning passion.  I was really nervous about leaving my family especially considering that my two older girls were going to church camp in Oklahoma while I was gone. I do try to remember how my pastor had taught on fear, had repeatedly said that a huge percentage of the things you worry about never happen. Lo and behold, I got to China and back safely and my kids had a wonderful time at camp.

But adopting isn't a one time trip or a short journey.  It is a lifetime commitment to welcoming a child with an unknown history to be fully yours forever.  Jeff and I have been doing a lot of required training and sometimes it is overwhelming to think about attachment, bonding, abuse your child may have suffered, unknown medical conditions as well as the diagnosis our child already has.  This child will not come with a money back guarantee.  My daughters want to know if he will like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, baseball or want to even play with them.  For a moment, the idea that he might not even like Star Wars was thrown out and it was more than they could even consider. I don't have all the answers for them.  I don't have any answers for myself.  I just have to turn all of these concerns over to the One who orchestrated this from the start.

I'm going to be very honest with you.  I can't even get to the worries about him because I'm still shaking with fear over how on earth we will be able to afford getting him home.  The first time I saw the numbers, I literally trembled. Every day, the thought of all of it goes through my head and I'm overwhelmed.

I can only get through the day knowing that I serve a God bigger than that number on the brochure.  He is in the business of paying a high price to redeem.  He knows how much it will cost and He is preparing the way.  I don't know how He is going to do this but I believe He will.  So far, every time the agency has asked for money, it has been there.  I am choosing to believe that it will be continue to be there until he is home.

Every time I pray about this, I cry out to God and lay all these fears out before Him and I keep hearing him say the same thing over and over.  "Do it afraid".  I don't believe God is endorsing my fear but telling me to keep going despite my circumstances.  So I went to China afraid and found Him there in the beautiful faces of every child.  I started this adoption afraid and found Him faithful at every turn. I told my friends about this afraid of what they would say and found them encouraging and supportive.  I'm going to keep "doing it afraid" until His faithfulness and perfect love casts out every fear.

I don't need to know what's next

This is our official blog announcement that we are in the adoption process.  This is something that we have always known was going to happen "someday" but it is finally here.  We went to our first adoption seminar from our agency last Fall and we were planning on starting the process this January but Jeff felt a strong "wait" command from God so we did.  In about March, my cousin Suzette asked if I wanted to go with our agency on a trip to China.  I figured this was a great way to learn about the kids and see what their life was like before they find a family.  It was an amazing trip as you can see from previous blogs.

The urgency to adopt became so much more real and Jeff felt released by God to move forward.  So we began the process at the beginning of July.  Since then we have been approved by our agency, started our home study and become matched with a child.  It has been a whirlwind of paperwork, social worker appointments, emails, fingerprints, signatures, doctor appointments, TB tests and emotion so far.  Right now we are pre-approved for our child in China and we are considered a "paper-chasing family".  We are trying to get all of our paperwork in a row so that they can give final approval and we can start the waiting process for being approved to travel and bring him home.  

Our girls are excited and so curious about what life will be like with a brother.  Jeff and I are so extremely thrilled to have a son.  There is so much to be joyful about but so much left to do.  

One thing I'm trying to work on with my kids is contentment and trust because they are always asking a million questions.  They want to know what we are having for dinner, where we are going, what is going to happen next every moment.  I make them a yummy dinner, we go cool places and do fun things every day and yet they just NEED TO KNOW.  I'm praying about this and asking God, "Why do they do this? I give them every thing they need!" And always, He reminds me that I'm just like them.  There is a new Christian song out from Moriah Peters called, "You Carry Me", where she sings the line, "I don't need to know what's next. You'll be with me every step."

What a statement. I don't need to know what's next.  I just need to be ready and available.  I don't know how long the rest of this adoption process will take, when our son will come home or what his medical outlook will be.  But I know He will be with us every step.  It make take us places we don't expect. It make be a longer road than we want to travel.  But I'm going to trust.

One of the scariest parts to me is the money.  Chinese adoptions average about $30K and we don't have that at the moment.  I didn't expect this process to go as quickly as it has and I have no idea how we are going to finish paying for that right now.  But I have to get up every day and believe that He has that step figured out.  If He brought us to this child on the other side of the world, he surely can figure out how it is going to be paid for.  

I ask for your prayers not only for the money and the process but for the health of our son as he waits to come home. Pray that God carries all of us.

China Travel Tips

I was so thankful for all of the information on our conference calls leading up to our ACT trip to China because they did an amazing job letting us know what to pack and what to expect. I've only been to China once and it wasn't even very long of a trip but I thought it would be good to blog what I learned and what I would try to remember for when we return!

-All hotels are different in the amount of outlets they offer but ours did not have many. I'm going to remember to bring a small power strip so that I only need one adapter to plug in several things. I also assumed that there would be a hairdryer and there wasn't so next time, I'm going to bring my own. I will be buying several small outlet adapters just to be on the safe side.

-I'm so thankful for my cousin advising me to get a VPN service before we left. I used it both on my phone and computer so I could access Facebook, Twitter, etc that are blocked in China. I didn't make any voice calls while I'm there but I was able to use Facetime over wifi at the hotel on my iPhone.

-Our hotel did not have Western breakfast options on the buffet and my stomach just can't do noodles and broccoli at 8am so I'm very thankful I brought protein bars and peanut butter crackers. We only had Chinese food except for one McDonalds break (something I very grateful for even though I don't eat there at home) and I was glad I had some other options in my luggage. I also brought some energy/vitamin drink packets that they sell at Costco so I could add to my water bottle to keep up my energy and have a different flavored drink.

-The security while flying domestically in China is different than in the US and other international airports. They do not allow any liquids in carry on luggage. Not just less than a certain number of ounces...none from what I could tell. So I packed all of my toiletries in my checked bag. They also do not allow batteries. I had the little battery that is supposed to be a back up charger for my iPhone taken from me. Thankfully, it was just $5 at Five Below and hopefully it is bringing the "Chinese TSA" agent that took it from me much joy!

-Be prepared for any medical situation. Bring a first aid kit and any medications you could possibly need. When we go back to adopt our child, I will also bring children's ibuprofen because you do not want a low grade fever to keep you from leaving the country. I brought ibuprofen, Imodium, Themocare heat patches and Benadryl this time. I had a little stomach discomfort one day, took one Imodium and felt all better. Its better to have more medication, then to be in China and not have something you need. Chinese pharmacies are very different than ours.

-Next time I'm bringing a fanny pack.  Yes, I know how they look but when I have a larger camera around my neck, I don't need another bag hanging off of me. Fanny packs are a great way to have money, your passport, and other small items handy. They even have some with water bottle holders so everything you need would be right where you need it. It also is easier to keep safe in places where you might encounter pickpockets like the Great Wall.

-Instant coffee is a must if you are a coffee drinker. Our hotel did not have coffee but it did have a hot pot in our room. Once I got a mug, and make sure you read the mug story, I was able to boil water from my water bottle, mix in a packet of Starbucks instant cafe mocha mix and have a wonderful treat in my room.

A small list of my must bring items for next time:

• small umbrella
• snacks
• hanging toiletry bag
• comfortable shoes
• socks
• light rain jacket
• fanny pack
• Instant coffee
• powdered creamer
• mug

The best thing is just to be flexible and prepared. Our hotel's air conditioning wasn't as cool as we were used to so we bought a $7 fan and it was much more comfortable. Most things you can find at a nearby market if there was no way to bring it there but just don't expect the same offerings as your local Wal-Mart.

Sarah's trip to China

Less that two weeks ago and I feel like I am still there looking at the pictures.  I went to China with America World Adoption Agency's ACT program.  This program is open to anyone who wants to go visit the orphanages that they partner with in order to build relationships with orphanages, love orphans and advocate for these kids.  I truly believe that we were able to do all three during our trip to China.

Our group consisted of teens, moms who have adopted, teachers, pastors, a nurse, photographers but mostly just 13 people who love God's children.  We started in Beijing with a tour of the Great Wall and the Summer Palace.  It was a beautiful, awe-inspiring introduction to China.

 

Then we were off to the Shaanxi province.  We worked in both a larger and smaller, more rural orphanage meeting kids that you couldn't help but instantly fall in love with.  I think one of the biggest surprises was how happy and welcoming both the orphanages and the staff were.  

We started by doing crafts with the kids and getting to know them.  The kids at these orphanages are labelled "special needs" and had a variety of conditions ranging from fixed cleft lips, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Spina Bifida, and many others.  They seemed healthy, happy and full of joy.  We got to stay long enough each day to see the rhythm of their schedule at the orphanage.  We helped take them to the playground outside, blew bubbles, fold origami, watched them perform songs, fix their hair after bath time and a million other wonderful moments. I was the photographer on the trip and focused on taking portraits of the children in the American World system for those who already were assigned to parents and those who will soon be on the waiting child list.  

We had the honor to throw an entire room full of the kids a group birthday party, paint a mural and use the money we raised funds for to buy new toys and clothing.  The joy in the room during the birthday party is hard to express. The presence of God was so real and so tangible in the faces of each child.  It is so hard to put each moment and emotion in a blog post.  Our leader prayed before we left that God would go before us and surround the children and that was answered so clearly.  I pray that each child we saw would find a home where they could know Christ and know the love of a family.

Here is my blog on our team journal.

Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. James 1:27