It’s Friday. On Monday, we met Evian for the first time. So much has happened during this week. Getting to know her, and seeing her study us and the photo of Elianna & Ember has been so wonderful. Evian really does have a contemplative expression, the kind where her delicate eyebrows crunch down and mouth looks as if she were saying “Hmmm…” Of course, she doesn’t take everything in so calmly. The thunder has scared her, sounds of construction, the silence of our room. We have no idea, really. Those of us who have other children all agree that it’s to our disadvantage in our “trying to figure out” our little girls. We’re all better off just fully enjoying the good and sticking with each other in the hard.
That’s the crazy thing about adoption in China-there are so many of us doing it together. It is such a well organized system. I think I mentioned before that everyone who adopts from China ends up in Guangzhou where we are because this is where the US Consulate is located. It’s hard to estimate, but there are probably a couple of hundred families here in our hotel , all doing the same steps…passport & visa applications, medical checks, etc…as we are. We see them in the hotel, around the island, at various offices in the city.
We all are going through the same experience on just a slightly different timeline. It’s like SURVIVOR. All of us are away from home for 2-3 weeks. Many have kids at home that they miss very much like we do. Some are adopting older children. Many are adopting children with special needs. Some are going home to major surgeries and other treatments. A good number are adopting for the second or third time. But, we are all doing it side by side with each other. Russ thinks this hotel holds the record for the most crying per hour per capita. I’ll bet that it holds the record for most love toward new family members in one building per minute.
You start the week by introducing yourself to every family, finding out where they’re from, sharing adoption stories…until you realize how many people there really are here. Then, you just become very open and friendly with just about everyone…this common experience forms a common bond…names are not necessary.
One Dad from our group commented that as much as they like all of us, it’s a bit interesting “having a baby” with complete strangers. These strangers are becoming close. We’ve been able to pray with and for some who are struggling. We are thankful to be in community.
Still, you end up overhearing some of the same conflicts among other couples that sound just like the argument you had just a half an hour before…that is refreshing in it’s own way, realizing we’re not the only ones.
Better than that, I glance next to me right now, and see Evian, snuggled up with her little blanket, hearing her little puffs of breath. It is a gift that even in the fatigue of jet lag and having a new baby, we are so refreshed and strengthened by the Lord.
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