China Update #6 - A Sea of Faces

Today has been an amazing day. Thank you, Lord, for the work you are doing in so many families. To start, we had a great breakfast at our hotel with about 50 other adoptive families. Next, we met up with another Holt family and headed off to get the kid's Visa pictures taken. After that, we walked to the Medical Clinic for the medical exam and TB test. Now, we are waiting for the medical exam results - which Jay will pick up around 2:30 pm.

In the midst of all this - we have had the opportunity to stop and talk with many people. Everyone has a story and some are nothing short of remarkable. Here are some of the stories we have heard today.....

We met a blind man from New Jersey who is here adopting a little blind 3 year old. We ate lunch with them and it was extraordinary to hear his story.

We met a chef from London who is here visiting with her publicist - she is working on a new cook-book. They wanted to know all about Lori and were so taken by her. I'm sure they are used to all the attention - yet here we stood on the street telling them the story of this little 2 year old that had them captivated. Maybe this will inspire them to take up the cause of orphans and help bring change to the life of another child.

We met a woman here adopting a 12 year old girl because she is already the adoptive mom of this little girl's best friend from her orphanage. This is her 11th child.

We met a woman here who was adopting her 5th Chinese baby. Her and her husband are in their early 50's. Her oldest daughter is 32 and is here with her.

We met 2 families adopting the most adorable little girls with Down Syndrome. I got teary eyed as we sat and watched them committing to a life of self-sacrifice as they give these daughters a new lease on life.

We met a family from Illinois adopting a 6 year old little girl with a connective tissue disorder. Her movements are severly limited and mimick a child with severe cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy. They have 3 other kiddos at home who are excited to meet their new sister. Their life is forever changed and the work of getting help for their new daughter has just begun.

Just when we think we've actually done something slightly out of the ordinary - we are quickly humbled by these stories. We are among a sea of faces here and have seen about 100 kids this week meeting their new forever families. These people are just like you and me. They come from all backgrounds, incomes, places, walks of life. The common thread is their love for these orphans.

Let me put out a plea - if you have even remotely ever thought about adoption - Please act on it. Don't wait until the time is right for you. It's not about you. It's about the millions of kids in dire need of parents, in dire need of medical care, in dire need of food, clothing, shelter, in dire need of love, and most important - in dire need of a Savior. Bring them home - love on them - and teach them about the only One who can truly give them hope and a future. Don't delay. I sit here in beautiful South China begging you because I am seeing them with my own eyes. I've seen them this week, I saw them last night, I saw them at breakfast and lunch - and I'll see them at dinner. Hundreds of children desperate for HOPE.