{Guest Post by Hannah}

So this is my first time on the SuperKids trip,and not only that but Also my first time in China! I have had a lot of exciting new experiences-trying to fumble food into my mouth with chopsticks, dodging the motorcycles on the sidewalks, watching people work in their rice patties with the water buffalo, interacting with the sweet children that we flew around the world  to see. It is so rewarding to see the kids' faces light up! Who says you have to speak the same language to have fun?! We pull out the balls,bubbles,mirrors,hair bows, and fruit snacks and before you know it we are having a party!

But then there are always the ones that hang back and are not quite as quick to jump in on all the activity and fun. I cannot describe the thrill I get when one of those sober little faces finally crack into a smile. Or when they finally mold into your arms and lay their sweet head on your shoulder. This is when I am reminded that each child no matter how withdrawn or outgoing or tiny or sick or handicapped each child has a purpose and value.

I am so excited to think about the potential and opportunities some of these kids will have when they find their families and can love and be loved and have the chance that all children should have.

On To The Jiangxi Province

Today we spent the morning seeing more children in the Hunan province.  I keep mentioning the children that was saw last year and again this year, but we also met a bunch of new sweeties.  One of the things we like about the orphanage is that the children really know how to play, this is somewhat unusual and shows that they are exposed to play activities.  Each morning the nannies gathered children around a little table just outside of the room we were in and did various activities with them.  It was so good to see this type of interaction!

This afternoon we got in a van and drove to our first stop in the Jiangxi province.

We again saw some kiddos we met last year as well as some new babies.  What a bunch of cuties!  We got to cuddle a little girl who was only about 3 weeks old!  We all watched in the awe the tiny babies inspire as she yawned, sneezed, and hiccuped. Why is it that only babies can make those thing look so cute?!

We also had the experience of presenting a walker to a girl who needed it rather badly, but I'm pretty sure Pat will want to tell everyone about that!

As I lie here on the bed after another delicious dinner (OK.  Not the soup.  I wasn't sure if Rocky said it was duck or donkey we were eating, but Hannah found a knuckle that looked pretty duck-ish and I found things that pointed more toward donkey, so I decided maybe it was both...)  I am listening to the constant blowing of the horns and trying to figure out how we are going to actually sleep tonight.  Hannah just laughed when I suggested running the noisy shower all night.  Admittedly the drain isn't the greatest, so not the best idea.  So now I'm going to try to find white noise on the TV.  It is pretty hot in here and the AC shows no signs of correcting that any time soon.  The bed is hard, and ash trays and matches are provided in a "non-smoking" room. And...

I just can't get over how blessed I am to be here.  To meet these amazing children, to have moments that will be memories I will cherish for a life time.  Most people don't get to do what I am doing.  And I am truly thankful!

Impressions

I came back to the hotel over lunch time and thought I would take the time to record a few of  my impressions from the morning. Again many of the children I recognized from last year.  It is such an amazing privilege to be allowed to go in to the orphanage and take so many pictures and to kiss and cuddle babies and hear the older children express their desire to belong to a family.

Well, I didn't get far with my impressions over lunch time.  It is now evening.  We are finished for the day and back in our room.

First I just have to say how much I am enjoying having my little sister with us this year.  She is such a huge blessing!  She has jumped right in and is making herself part of the team.  The children love her.  And it is so fun for me to watch her interacting with and loving on the kiddos!

I wish I could tell you all about so many special little moments of this day.  Today I was less busy than I was yesterday and had more time to hold little ones. There is just no feeling like recognizing a child you have thought about all year then taking them in to your arms and hugging and kissing them!

This morning Chelsea and I weren't needed in the room for a bit and went exploring.  We ended up seeing a little boy who seemed sad so went in to play with him.  He was in a wheelchair and really just wanted some interaction so we played with him for awhile and were soon joined by another little boy who wanted to join in the fun.  Neither could walk, but they ran Chelsea ragged with the game they invented with a ball.  We printed pictures for them and generally enjoyed interacting with them.

Please keep praying for us and for the children we meet!

In China Again

As soon as we walked into the orphanage yesterday I began recognizing little faces.  One after the other. Children I have thought about, prayed for, advocated for, spoken with families about, and rejoiced as their families found them. Sweet, familiar little faces to me, and I am an utter stranger to them. It is a strange feeling. But it is an amazing feeling to be back and to see them all again and  see how they have grown and changed.  It is fun to see little ones who were just babies last year now up toddling around.

But it is hard too. For each unmatched child they have spent another year without a family and it is not known how much longer their wait will be.  I look at them and see them growing up and it is so bittersweet. I want their  mommies and daddies to be watching the changes and rejoicing over the milestones.

And so here we are, back in the middle of what we do in China. It is so wonderful and it is so hard. It is so sweet and it is so bitter. There are such happy moments and such hauntingly sad moments.  Yes, we are definitely back in China!

And ready to go do it all again today!

What A Lovely Day!

First of all, Hannah and I both slept last night.  This is the first time I've ever traveled internationally without waking up in the wee hours of the morn on the first few nights.  So we started our day feeling refreshed.

We met Pat for breakfast then Rocky picked us up and took us to the Temple of Heaven.  What a beautiful place!  We saw a lot of people dancing and doing tai chi in the surrounding gardens.  The temple itself is incredibly ornate.

Rocky waiting for us at the Temple of Heaven

After lunch at a dumpling restaurant we proceeded to the Summer Palace.  Again, an absolutely amazing place.  We road on the dragon boat across the lake and walked through the long corridor, where there are 8,000 unique paintings.  It was cool and there was a lovely breeze blowing.  It was such a beautiful, relaxing, fun thing to do.

Making dumplings.

For dinner we had Peking Duck at a restaurant famous for that dish.  It was fun to try it since it is the dish Beijing is famous for.

Carving the duck.

Proof that Hannah can use chopsticks! 

All in all it was such a wonderful day!  We are tired now so we are hopeful that we will sleep again tonight.  Tomorrow we are planning to leave here to travel to the Hunan province where we will go to the first orphanage on Monday morning.

We Are In China!

After many long hours of travel, we are here.  The flights were good and the planes relatively comfortable, there isn't much else you can ask for!  Rocky met us at the airport and now we are settled into our hotel room.

 

Here are a few pictures.  Tomorrow's post will be more exciting.  For now I need to try to sleep.

It's GO TIME!

The Superkids 2014 Team is on the move!

Today my sister, Hannah, is flying in to Harrisburg.  We leave shortly to go pick her up.  Chelsea left the US today.  She will be visiting family for a couple of days before joining the rest of us in Beijing on Sunday.  The team is officially on the move!

I have two big suitcases packed, the last package I was expecting arrived just a few minutes ago.  These suitcases are filled with things for the children.  I have a few clothes in one of them, the rest is all bottles, hairbows, balls, etc.  I have a few last minute things to put in the last suitcase.  I'm charging batteries on all electronic devices.  Pretty much I'm ready to walk out the door.

I will try to post updates here daily.  We are also hoping (internet and VPN permitting) to post a daily video diary at this Youtube channel.  Follow it to follow our journey.

Superkids 2014 is underway!