- At the start of the trip i was planning on doing weekly updates. However, this trip is very different to the last. I'm very comfortable in China. Things aren't new, different or challenging because i've been here before. I have a specific role this time, which is fairly normal and routinely, so life is mostly calm and the days are filled with doing my favourite thing : teaching beautiful kiddies and holding them as much as i like!
However, many exciting trips and moments have happened since my last detailed update on life at Hope. I wanted to share a few trips and stories with you all.
1) Maria's Big House of Hope
The Foster home that i am at is part of a bigger charity called "Show Hope" - a huge advocacy and adoption charity based in the states. They have special care centres for children who are sent needing palliative care. As i've previously said, most children are in need of major surgery, but it is often correctable and these 'dying children' are often saved. The biggest centre is Maria's, named after the daughter of the Chapman family who run the charity. She was adopted from China but tragically past away. ( read all about the Chapman's story in 'Choosing to See' by Mary Beth Chapman). Due to the link between the homes, Jordan and I got to visit Maria's for a long weekend. This was unbelievably exciting for me because Mary Beth's book about this place is one of the ways in which God ignited my love for China's abandoned children.
Here is a picture of the Big blue house.
Maria's has beds for approx. 150 babies - 1 nanny to 3 kids. The children have a range of disabilities, unlike Hope where the special focus is heart/bowel/cleft lip/clubbed limbs. They also have many tiny babies. One of my aims was to find the smallest baby i could and hold it! - the challenge was complete when i stumbled across a baby girl ( 2 month year old premie).
I also made friends with a gorgeous boy called John, who was brought to Maria's only 2 weeks previous to my trip. He loved cuddles, smiling and 'row row your boat'
The Martin family also live at Maria's. - Dr Steve is the permanent Doctor on site and covers all the other centres too. I can't post a picture of their family, but I'm so grateful for my time getting to know them. Laura (the mum) was such a blessing to me! Chatted about all things China and life in general.
And she is basically wonder woman. Living in a different country and homeschooling 6 kids!
Last thing about this trip. (there is so much more to tell). An unexpected visitor appeared, after we worked out he was only half an hour away by bullet train. Extra happy time seeing Jamie love on the kids, and stealing an extra unplanned day together was so great.
2) Beijing Aquarium.
The preschool classes are doing themed weeks over the summer months. This past week we did 'Under the Sea'. This has been heaps of fun. I found myself trawling pintrest for sea related crafts. We covered : glitter fish, paper plate jelly fish, swirly seahorses and hand print crabs! On the last day (Friday just gone) we took the morning pre school classes to the Beijing Aquarium. My buddy for the day was Wen Hui - he's 18 months and ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. are you allowed to have favourites?! The kiddos loved the bus ride just as much as the fish and sharks. Wen hui slept both ways after being excited for the first half an hour. Enjoy his cuteness and some pictures of us all on the bus and in the aquarium. (p.s it is SO tough to get photos of moving babies in a dark aquarium!)
Wen Hui and Rosey
He was a bit unsure to start with about the bus!Dong Wei - the oldest kid at Hope loved the whole thing!
Sleepy baba so cute!!!
There is a turtle or something behind the glass...
3 ) Baby Tate
I may cry as i write this.
This is Tate. He's two, but he's not a 'terrible two'. He is the cuddle monster, the podgiest baby i have ever met and he smiles SO much. He's also recently started taking his first steps, but i think his belly holds him back...
Sadly, the organisation that 'own him' as such, are taking him away from us on Tuesday and this breaks my heart! He loves pre school, he loves his nannies and he is very settled here. I also took him for his first swim in the big pool this week and he loved it so much! We will all miss him so much when he leaves. Please pray that he would feel the love of Jesus all around him. This transition will be very distressing and traumatic for him.
that belly! 
That's all for now, thank you for reading! I miss home, a lot!
If you chat with God here are some praises and requests :)
Praise :
-He is so faithful - I've had mixed emotions over the past month but my one constant is Christ - rock solid foundation.
-He is able to do so much more than I hoped or expected - the people I am meeting/resolving of any issues/ an incredible church/ so many healthy babies/ opportunities to speak with the nannies even though I barely speak Chinese!
-For Jordan and Jenni, the other two volunteers here
-For such wonderful friends back home, Sarah, Abbie, B&S Deare, Brentyface, Callum, Tom - your recent communications have meant so much.
-That Jamie and I get a week together this Thursday.
Requests :
-I've had pretty bad back pain, similar to last year. Most likely from picking up kids, often two at a time!
-Baby Tate.
-I get random days of home sickness and lonliness. This is also a praise cos my reliance on Abba has naturally grown so much because of this.
-Dong Wei, the oldest boy is due to have eye surgery, but there have been many complications.
-Please would you also pray for my poppa. He broke his leg pretty badly on holiday. Pray for healing, and less discomfort.
In Him, always.
Rosepose x
