China Update #7

Good morning from China! It's Wednesday morning here and I just wanted to share a brief update about yesterday.  As me sweet sister in law, Anna, reminded me this morning of the lyrics of the song I referenced in my last post "the sun comes up its a new day dawning....it's time to sing Your song again". And that's what we're going to do this morning.

Yesterday was filled with hugs and kisses and even an English "I love you" from Levi.  He's understanding his name and he's using sign language to ask for help rather than whining and stomping.  He's sleeping and eating like a champ.  He's singing the Barney "clean up" song as he helps put away his toys.  He's building Legos and drawing and listening to books.  He's saying "gentle" and understands the meaning.  And he's going freely to both Andrew and I.  He's understanding when one of us leaves the room for a moment and not fearful.  This is a SMART kid!!

Intermixed with all those awesome steps were some hurdles too.  It's apparent that there were probably not many behavior expectations in the orphanage.  And he was perhaps a bit of a class clown.  His behaviors are not terribly atypical of a young 4yr old but the language barrier makes it difficult to correct using other words beside "boo" (no).  He often acts out to elicit a laugh- which of course we're not giving but it doesn't seem to phase him.

Anyway, last night dinner was pretty rough- we ended up abandoning ship after prying chopsticks out of his hands and headed for the hotel.  It was very emotional for us.

I want to share what I wrote in my journal yesterday morning...the Lord is so faithful to prepare us for what lies ahead and His Word never returns void:

"They will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works.  They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds." Psalm 145:3-6

Let us embrace what You have for us here in Your present presence today.  the past and the future - even another place, like home- are not in Your present presence.  let us embrace this circumstance before us and live fully in it.  All else is outside of where You've allowed us to be present.  Yet You are there- across all time, as farms the farthest reaches of the earth and heavens - and YOU ARE TRUSTWORTHY.  I leave all of the otherwise places in Your hands.  Thank You for this present reality.


Please pray that we will obey the Word given to us.  That we will allow every thought and emotion to be taken captive to the authority of Christ. That The Lord would grow the love in our hearts for Levi.  That we will praise Him for the steps we are making and consider the hurdles gifts from Him too even though we can't quite see or understand their value yet.

We love you all and are so strengthened knowing you are standing with us in this journey from across the globe!!

P.S. For any of you wondering about the toddler split pants - it's not an orphanage thing - it's a China thing.  And apparently, when you gotta go...it's ok to go.

Love,
R & A