Last post from China

Well, our 19 day, 16,000+ mile trip is coming to an end.  Thursday we had our U.S. consulate appointment to apply for Brooklyn's visa to enter the U.S. When we touch U.S. soil she will automatically become a citizen of the United States!  I am thankful that she will be receiving new citizenship. She will be leaving her birth country for a country where there is freedom.....to worship the King of Kings and Lord of Lords (Although we do acknowledge that the underground Christian church in China is thriving).  Brooklyn was once an orphan and now she is a chosen child.  Earthly adoption is just a veiled glimpse of the gospel. Doug and I decided to adopt this cute, sweet, cuddly little girl who needed a forever family.  Earthy adoption is an imperfect reflection of our adoption into God's family.  When God chose to adopt his children, we were not cute, sweet or anything to be desired.  Rather we were shaking our fist at God, opposed to Him and hating Him.  Yet He set His amazing grace upon His children, not while we were cute and cuddly, but while we were shaking our fists at Him.  He decided to forgive His children (me) of all their sins.  And he didn't stop at forgiveness of sin, but chose to bestow a full inheritance upon His children through adoption into his family. This truly is an amazing mercy received! No one deserves this kindness: "But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"  So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God."  Galatians 4:4-7.  It is our greatest desire for Brooklyn, and all of our children, to know this adopting love of God through Jesus Christ.  He is the reason why we can step out in faith to bring children into our home....because we have been shown His overwhelming kindness and mercy.  We can only love others because we have first been loved.

Brooklyn continues to open up more and more with us each day.  She is such a sweet little thing!  We definitely are in love with her.  But keep praying for us as we balance training her and being sensitive to the trauma she has endured of being stripped away from her foster family.  I have been trying for a week to get a kiss from her....2 days ago she gave me my first one.  Tonight she took a bath without screaming...actually she screamed when I took her out.  Forward progress I would say.  We keep hearing more giggles out of her too.

Yesterday we explored a nearby museum.  The sight of the museum was originally planned to be a hotel before they discovered it was a burial place for an ancient king.  We were able to explore where the tomb was and some of the items found.  After the museum we walked around the block.  We discovered a neighborhood where the locals live and shop.  Doug has always wanted to see something like this so he was excited (but it made some of our kids pretty nervous).  One area we entered had any kind of meat you would like to buy.  Pork, chicken, beef, octopus, squid, eel, frog, and a few mystery meats.  It was quite the site.  No food safety standards in this market.  And if you were in need of a new bra you could buy one of those on your way out.

Today we visited the Safari Park like we did when we adopted Jack.  It was quite the adventure again.  The kids will not be satisfied with the Chaffee Zoo for some time.

Well we are packed up and boarding a train at 9am tomorrow.  We will then start our journey from Hong Kong to LA all day Saturday.  We will leave at 3pm July 11 and return at 6pm July 11 in LA.  The nice thing about traveling back is we get our day back.  We will then stay the night in LA and travel home on Sunday.  I am really looking forward to my own bed, drinks with ice, and something other than dumplings to eat.  I love the food here but I think I'm done with it for a little bit.  Please keep us in your prayers. Pray that we can keep Brooklyn entertained on the long flight home and that she will get some rest too.  I forgot to mention that after our consulate appt on Thursday we took her back to the medical clinic to see the doctor.  He prescribed her some antibiotics for bronchitis.  She had a cough since day one and it has continued to progress.  Hopefully the antibiotics will have begun to alleviate some of her discomfort.

I'll leave you will some pictures from the last couple of days:

Being silly at Shamian Island

Our new friends  

Brooklyn and her foster sister

One of our travel families

Local market

Bath time fun!