Three Weeks!

Three weeks from now, if all goes according to plan, my little sister and I will be sitting on an airplane heading for China.  Right now our now our communication goes something like this:

Me: Three weeks!
Her: Yay!
Her: Which reminds me... you should be getting about 100 (inflatable) balls in the mail next week.
Me: WOO!
Her: I didn't get air pumps...
Etc., Etc.

Because there are a lot of little details that go into this big, important trip.  And even though balls sound like a little thing, they are a big ice breaker for some of the kiddos, so they are an important little detail.  As are the hairbows, the mirrors, the caps we are taking for the little boys this year.

 

Last year we watched eyes sparkle as we showed girls how beautiful they were with bows in their hair.  We printed pictures for them and tried to communicate to each and every child that they are beautiful and precious.  We had the older ones draw self portraits looking off of the pictures we printed.  This year we are adding a project.  We are taking a polaroid camera.  We are planning to take photos of each child as Superkids volunteers interact with them.  We will then punch a hole in the corners of the photos and put a ring through them to make a little flip book.  Our hope is that, not only can help help each child to feel loved, beautiful, and precious, but that we can preserve those memories for them.

We are getting more and more excited as the time to leave gets closer.  I think of the children I met last year who won't be there because they are home with their families, I think of the children who now have families working hard to get them home, and I think of the ones who are now a year older and still waiting to be chosen.  I can't wait to see each child.  To spend the little bit of time I have with each one.  To hug, to play with, to pray over these perfect children.  I just can't wait.

If you are wondering what you can do, there are plenty of ways to help financially or by sending things to the children.  And you can pray.  Pray for the volunteers who are traveling.  Pray for the children.  Pray for the orphanage directors and nannies. And pray that God is already preparing families for the children we will meet.