More Reflections

On day four we relaxed. We walked to McDonald's, one of China's finest eateries! Joy tasted her first ice cream . . . not so sure about this cold stuff! She now loves her icey cream! :)

We strolled around the park and experienced the incredible culture of China.

David and the kids swam in the freezing cold pool which requires swim caps to be worn by all. Classic!

 

The fifth day was our last day in Nanning. We felt bitter sweet. Our hearts were connected and were only growing fonder of this place. However, leaving meant getting one step closer to bringing our little girl home! We had lunch with a special family we met who also were adopting a little girl. Our special guide, Hannah, joined us after orally translating all of the records given to us by Joy's orphanage. This was an amazing gift! We never expected to receive any more information than what we already had (and it wasn't much). Yet, Joy had been a part of the Half the Sky Foundation. Her nanny wrote of her development every three weeks from the day she entered the orphanage to the day before we met her. Priceless, wonderful, emotional, and miraculous. So many things written by Joy's ayi are exactly Joy! To read of her development just makes us feel even more connected. God in His goodness allowed us to receive another piece of the puzzle! Late that night we were off to Guangzhou where we would have our appointment at the Consulate and receive Joy's visa to go home.

 



Reflections

So much has happened in the past month . . . it will be hard to put it all into words. But I am going to try to reflect when I feel inspired. Our time in China, meeting our little precious, was AMAZING! It seems like yesterday in so many ways, yet it seems so long ago. I can hardly remember life without our little Joy! So, she came to our hotel room on a rainy day at the end of October (the day after my birthday). As she entered the room, she immediately began pointing to each of us and calling us by name, "Ba Ba, Ma Ma, Jie Jie, Ge Ge". She smiled, played, and entertained us. (That hasn't stopped!)She said goodbye to her caretakers and settled right in. I fed her some noodles (a favorite food), and she patiently let me. However, after a bit, she took over and handled the chopsticks like a pro.

We gave her her first bath, which she loved, and we dressed her in new pajamas. I lovingly folded her clothes and put them away as a keepsake. The only time she showed any sorrow was when the lights went out. She and I cried together as I held her, rocked her, and grieved along with her. Yet I am thankful that she embraced her emotions and allowed herself to feel the hugeness of what was happening. To jump ahead a bit . . . I knew that we had made progress when she no longer cried at bedtime. After about a week of being home, our daughter was at peace at bedtime. It was a joyous night! We went through the routine . . . bath, jammies, brush teeth, read books, the whole family singing a goodnight song, hugs and kisses for everyone, and Mommy laying down in bed with her as she drifted off with a smile on her face. Praise God! Our daughter felt safe, protected, loved and peaceful.

 

Back to China . . . the second day was our official adoption day. It was October 30th, the exact day that she had been abandoned. We went through the ceremony promising to care for this precious child. She had her footprints stamped in red ink which she loved. Joy Yun became a Metzgar! She was ours, she is ours, she is dearly loved, and she is a part of us just as God had planned from the beginning of time.

The third day we went to Beihai to visit Joy's orphanage and her supposed place of birth. This was the emotional day. Seeing where she had lived for the past three years. Hugging her special nanny who loved and cared for her. Saying goodbye to her nanny and shedding many tears. Witnessing the exact spot where she was forsaken, out in the open just around the corner from the orphanage. Knowing that her birth Mother loved her and was trying to do the best she could for her. Meeting the shop owner who called the police. Grieving for her loss and accepting the fact that she had to wait for us for three years. Feeling connected to a place so far away. Wanting to return someday to show our daughter where her life began. Remembering to trust in the Lord with all of our hearts and to not lean on our own understanding. Knowing that His ways are right, good, and perfect.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Joy, Joy, Joy!

Our lives are filled with incredible joy! Our little precious Joy joined our family just over a month ago. Here is a video montage of our time in China from our first meeting with Joy until we brought her home. The pictures tell the story!

Beijing and Beyond!

We had an amazing time in Beijing! What a privilege to experience the Chinese culture! Here are some pictures of the highlights. The only thing missing is Joy!

 

 

 

We are now in Nanning, and we are just a few hours away from meeting Joy. We found out that the supervisor of the orphanage will be bringing her to our hotel instead of the civil affairs office. This is a blessing that we weren't expecting. We will be united in the comfort of our hotel which will hopefully be a more peaceful experience for all of us. Our guide, Hannah, is so helpful! She actually talked to the orphanage supervisor who told her some details about Joy. Apparently, she does indeed talk a lot! She knows she has a family coming for her. She told everyone that her parents sent her the cakes! :) She also informed her nanny that she should talk to her a lot and give her a lot of food because she is leaving and moving to another country! She sounds like a funny little thing! We pray that we will get to see that little personality come out in time. It's almost here!

"Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Joy, Here We Come!

"One more day" . . . we have been waiting and waiting to recite that phrase! We made it to the end of the countdown . . . Joy, here we come! Mia and I had so much fun organizing Joy's clothes and packing her suitcase. This is all about to become reality!

The bags are all packed, and we are all so excited, we can hardly stand it! We can hardly believe we are going to China, and we can hardly believe that we will meet our little Joy face to face and bring her home. Now, we just pray that all these bags make it to their final destination!

 

 I am thanking the Lord this evening amidst all of the excitement and busyness, that my heart is truly at peace. God is in control, He is sovereign over all! He has planned this adoption since the beginning of time. We are just thankful that He has chosen us to be a part of His plan for Joy's life. There are so many unknowns, yet we know the One who holds the future in His hands. We continue to fervently pray for Joy, as her life, and ours, is about to be changed forever. We pray that God in His mercy will help her, and us, to feel His perfect peace. We can't wait to tell her about Jesus! Precious, little one, we love you and can't wait to meet you! Please join us in praying for Joy and for the country of her birth!

 

"The joy of the Lord is my strength." Nehemiah 8:10

Prayers for Joy

We are so grateful for our wonderful church body! On our final Sunday as a family of 5, we were prayed over by our church. God has blessed us with a loving and supportive community of believers! We were showered with encouragement, and it brought such joy to our hearts. In addition, my sister's family is also about to bring home their little ones. God has orchestrated every detail, and He has ordained that our two families would experience this all together. What a kind and good Father we serve!

 "God sets the lonely in families." Psalm 68:6

So many precious people are praying for us and for Joy! We continue to stand in awe of our Lord and how He has surrounded us with His love through His saints. Today we paid our final adoption invoice, and we had just enough! God has consistently and miraculously provided financially for our adoption expenses. Again, we stand in awe! We have not always known how He would provide, but we believed that He would. Even when I doubted, He provided. Even when we had a major water leak in our house, He provided. Even when we had no idea where the money would come from, He provided. When we tallied up our fundraising efforts, and it was the exact amount of the matching grant we received, we were convinced that he provided. He has proven Himself faithful time and time again. How could I ever doubt?

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation." Isaiah 12:2-3

Joy's Cake

We had a special cake sent to the orphanage in honor of Joy's homecoming! Here it is along with a couple of fun, new pics. Gotta love that face! :)