It's Orphan Sunday today and I wanted to share a little on something I looked into a while back.
There are approximately 32 provinces in China.
Lilah lived in an orphanage in the Guangdong Province.
In the Guangdong Province alone, there are about 58 known orphanages. I can't even tell you how shocked I was when I saw this map (pictured below) and realized the staggering number of orphanages and orphans, in just one province of China. Never mind the rest of the world. We've seen our Lilah's orphanage. We've been called out to and touched and held onto (through the windows of those little baby rooms) by those sweet little orphans. We'll never forget the look on each of their little faces or how some sit in their cribs swaying from side to side - rocking themselves. We say a special prayer for them every single night, that they will each get a family that will love them, with all their hearts. Because of this experience, we have a greater appreciation of the Lord's compassion and love for the orphan. We are so blessed that He made our circumstances so and asked us to adopt. He was leading us every single step of the way and His reward was huge! I have to direct you to Ni Hao Y'all, because Stefanie's post today, is incredible.
Lilah lived in an orphanage in the Guangdong Province.
In the Guangdong Province alone, there are about 58 known orphanages. I can't even tell you how shocked I was when I saw this map (pictured below) and realized the staggering number of orphanages and orphans, in just one province of China. Never mind the rest of the world. We've seen our Lilah's orphanage. We've been called out to and touched and held onto (through the windows of those little baby rooms) by those sweet little orphans. We'll never forget the look on each of their little faces or how some sit in their cribs swaying from side to side - rocking themselves. We say a special prayer for them every single night, that they will each get a family that will love them, with all their hearts. Because of this experience, we have a greater appreciation of the Lord's compassion and love for the orphan. We are so blessed that He made our circumstances so and asked us to adopt. He was leading us every single step of the way and His reward was huge! I have to direct you to Ni Hao Y'all, because Stefanie's post today, is incredible.
The pictures below are from our time in China - Dec 2008.
Our beautiful daughter, Lilah Grace Xiao Tong. Orphaned no more.
Psalm 68:5 - A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.
We haven't seen our daughters orphanages. We really wanted too but were not allowed. Our oldest comes from the Jiangxi province which is huge in the adoption world. She was well cared for and we still have contact with the director and e-mail her several times a year. Our youngest (who is a little sn-girl) is from Shaanxi province and she was extremely loved and cared for. We stay in touch with her director as well but even though we stayed really close to the orphanage when we picked her up we weren't allowed to visit. We have photos of both orphanages though and both girls really cherish them as do we.
ReplyDeleteErika B
wow, I had absolutely no idea until I saw this map!
ReplyDeleteLea
xo
Beautiful. BEAUTIFUL!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures speak MORE than volumes!!
I think I remember thinking the same thing when I saw the map of known orphanages in Hubei, as well! Our God is an amazing God! And has certainly blessed our families through the gift of adoption. Look at how much your sweet Lilah has grown since 2008!
ReplyDeleteKim
oh my - that is staggering . . . I didn't realize it was Orphan Sunday yesterday. I want to do something this month - Thanks for inspiring me.
ReplyDeleteLOVE the photo at the Great Wall - I just said yesterday I wish Tia was with us when we were at the Great Wall as she is not in the photo. I guess we will just have to go back to China!
Have a great week!
Wow, that map really puts it into stark perspective. Lilah looks so tiny in these pictures.
ReplyDeleteMy girls are from the same provinces as Erika B. I remember the first time I saw the Jiangxi map and just could not believe how many orphanages existed.
ReplyDelete