Grace Finds a Home

Bidding farewell to China is harder than we thought it would be. Tonight we ate in the Italian restaurant on the island and then took a slow walk home...lingering a bit longer in this exotic (to us) atmosphere. The people of China have been very gracious to us. There has not seemed to be any resentment or rancor that we are taking one of their own to another life in another culture. Rather, there seems to be appreciation that a little girl with nothing and no one is now going to have a decent shot at life. We have great appreciation for the way they cared for our daughter. They sent her off with a backpack full of clothes and pictures of her friends and gifts. There was even a banana packed in a pocket for the ride home. She has been well loved even before we arrived.

As I write this, at about 9:15 in the evening, we are anticipating a short night. We have to be in the lobby for our ride to the airport at 6:30 am. Grace has a case of the giggles and can't seem to get settled down. Kathy is singing Jesus Loves Me to her. Intermittently, she sings along, mimicking the words without knowing what she is saying. We are praying she will drop off soon since we have such a long trip tomorrow. We fly from Guangzhou to Beijing for about three hours. Then we fly from Beijing to Newark for about 14 hours. Then we fly from Newark to Charlotte for about an hour and a half. We'll be home by 9:15 pm.

When we touch down in Newark, Grace will automatically become a US citizen. All that will be left to do is to get her a Social Security card and a US Passport and everything will be official. Now the real work begins. Parenting. Thanks to all of you who have followed our blog with your interest and your prayers. Now we seek an interest in your prayers as we begin to proctor this young lady for the Kingdom.

If you think of it, check this site from time to time. Periodically, we'll post some pictures and let

you know how Grace is doing.

See you stateside,

Rick, Kathy, Bradley, and Grace

Success! This morning Helen called us to report that all of our documents were ready a whole day early. This meant that we were to be at the United States Consulate at 4:00 pm to receive them and take our oath. The consulate is in downtown Guangzhou. We went up about four levels of escalators and were herded into a large room along with many families, all of whom were adopting Chinese children. After queuing up to have our passports checked we took a seat. Children were everywhere...laughing, crying, sleeping, screaming, and playing. Parents were swapping their stories and trying to keep kids in line. Eventually, the consulate general came out and took the microphone. He welcomed us to Guangzhou and congratulated us on our expanded families. He noted that November is National Adoption Month in the USA. Then he shared some statistics. Today, 52 families from 29 states were receiving immigration documents for their children. Then he mentioned that several of the children are having birthdays this month. He shared that Grace Minjun Russell's birthday is November 30 and that she will be 4 years old. Everybody cheered! Then he had all of us stand and raise our right hands. Next came the oath: "Do you certify that the paperwork and documents you have submitted are authentic and true?" Everybody said "I do" and that was it. We received three important documents at this point. One was a sealed brown envelope with various documents inside for the customs/immigration officials at Newark, NJ where we will land in the USA. This package is only to be opened by homeland security at that time. The second document we received was the adoption decree. The third document was Grace's Chinese passport with a visa to the USA in it. She will be traveling on a Chinese passport...but when she lands on US soil she will become an American citizen. The picture at left shows Grace proudly holding her new passport. When we get home we will apply for her new USA passport.

It felt almost like a graduation...as though we had recieved our diploma for completing our BS degree in adoption and immigration. Anyway you slice it, we won the paperchase and we're bringing home Grace!

After yesterday's post a comment was posted asking how it was that Grace ended up in the orphanage in the first place. Sorry for not sharing more about this before. Back in July we received our referral of Grace. This is a document that has medical reports, and a narrative about Grace's activities in the orphanage. Here is what it says about how she arrived there:

"Admission course and physical condition at that time:
Zhong Minjun, Female, DOB: Nov. 30, 2004 was picked up under a tree on Wenhua road in Minzhong town on May 16, 2005, and then was sent to our institute by Minzhong town police station. After admitted, Zhong Minjun was sent to our medical room for examination at once, and then was isolated for observation for one week. With the physical examination, she was identified no infectious disease, and was transferred for collective life. Since she has congenital heart disease, and was weak, it was difficult to be fed. But she still got the excellent care from the caretakers. She had VSD repair surgery on Dec. 7, 2005 in the people's hospital, and recovered well. She takes a bath each day whether in summer or in winter, and insists on taking activities outside for 2 hours, and goes to take class..."

That is what we know. Most likely, she was wrapped up in a blanket and put in a box or a basket and left in an a place where she would be sure to be found. Her parents obviously wanted to remain anonymous. We are told that the police always try to piece together evidence that will help them to find the parents. If they ever do, which is rare, the child is returned to them and they are penalized with a fine. We do not know if there was a note attached to her blanket which established her date of birth, or if the orphanage just made an educated guess.

We have often speculated as to the reasons why her parents would have abandoned such a beautiful child. Perhaps it was because she was sick and they had no way of affording the necessary surgery. Or maybe it was because of China's one-child policy and they had had their hearts set on having a son to care for them in old age and to carry on the family name. Or maybe it was a combination of these reasons. In Chinese culture, especially in the countryside where traditional ideas prevail, it is very important to have a son. Maybe this was the father's idea to abandon this girl and pressured his wife into it. Who knows? We have a copy of the newspaper ad that ran for some days advertising for her parents to come forward and identify themselves. They never did. On this side of heaven we will never know the whole story. It's our job now to raise Grace in the knowledge of Jesus and the gospel so that someday she can learn the rest of the story from the One who created her.

It's a sad story that has turned out with a happy ending!

Next time....

Rick

Trying not to cry after the Bee ride

Got eels? Live eels and shrimp in the vats. Live bullfrogs and turtles in the cages.

A Guangzhou native market shopper who was gracious enough to have her picture taken with Grace.

Big hat

Helen, Guide and paperwork expert.