The Orphans

Wednesday, we visited the orphanage that Maisey was living in prior to coming to live with us.  I’m writing this from an emotional perspective, not a technical one.  I don’t want to be in anyway critical.   Suffice to say, Maisey was very loved, and very cared for during her time there.  But, I’m grateful to God that she no longer has to stay there.

Maisey's name in lights!

We arrived in Taihe County’s Children’s Welfare Office after a nearly four hour drive.  We were welcomed like celebrities, complete with Maisey’s Chinese and American names displayed on a big marquee as we drove through the gates.  They also lit about 1000 firecrackers off when we arrived to give tribute to Maisey.  It was a very happy day for the staff.  Their little “Fen-Fen” or “Fen-ba” (Fen-Treasure), was going to be with a family and given great opportunity.  The staff was so happy for her. 

We met with the head of the facility, which is also a home for the elderly.  She is very, very proud of this facility and what it does for the community.  We were treated to fresh watermelon, and we were able to ask a lot of questions about Maisey.  We asked how she lived from day to day, and how she was cared for while at the orphanage.  We were allowed to record these on video so we can show them to Maisey when she’s older.  It was important for us to be able to have as much information about her life prior to adoption so we could help Maisey fill in the blanks about her past. 

My personal assessment was that she was a precious gem there.  They talked about how much they loved her, and told funny and telling anecdotes about how she interacted with the other children, staff, etc.  Turns out she practically ran the place; she had the entire staff wrapped around her finger.  They were very willing to admit she was demanding, but so cute that she always got her way.  Something she will learn does not apply at home, well maybe a little.

We were given a complete tour of the facility, even the elderly part.  We saw where the only five photos we had of Maisey were taken, her crib, and her living area.  We met her Nanny too.  In this facility they have two full-time, live-in Nannies.  Each Nanny is in charge of up to ten children of varying ages.  Each group is called a family.  Each family had their own living area, which consists of a common room, bedroom, and kitchen area. 

We met with the Nanny who took care of Maisey, and she immediately took her from us and was hugging her and talking to her.  She was showing us around while holding Maisey and she showed us which crib was Maisey’s.  She then tried to put Maisey in the crib, but Maisey would have nothing to do with it.  The cribs have only a thin bamboo mat, no mattress.

The area itself was pretty open.  Doors were open without screens, no air conditioning, and it was over 100 degrees and 95% humidity, very uncomfortable.  There were several children there who were from less that one year old to seven years old, sitting on either potties or chairs in the common area.   They were quite inquisitive about who we were and why we were visiting.  From what I can gather, the orphanage does not tell the children that there’s a chance they could be adopted, probably a good idea since many of the older children will not have the opportunity.  When they were told, “they are Maisey’s parents and they came to take her home.”  They then kept saying, “Call my parents and tell them to get to me, too.”  That broke my heart.

Steve with the boys at the orphanage 

 I asked the children if I could have a picture with them to make them feel a little special, too.  We brought a bag of lollypops and made their day.  I feel sadness for all those children who are still in the orphanage.  There was a little 7 year old without legs and flip-flops on his hands, which he used to get around.  There was also a one year old with an unrepaired cleft palette that was just sitting on her potty.  It was, so far, among the most difficult moments of our trip.

On our way home, our hearts were very happy that our Maisey was in our lap, heading for a better life.  At the same time, our hearts were very heavy knowing the children we left behind, not just in Taihe County but also all over the world.

I want to be clear; it was not the orphanage, but the orphans, that just broke our hearts.  Maisey has been rescued but so many more await their rescuer too.