Jess Goes to China

exciting things.

So many exciting things are happening here in China and especially with our foster home. Many of these things I cannot post, but I will just say that He is working and working mightily! Today was a wonderful day. Having all these things happening makes me not want to leave even more. I don't want to miss a single thing!

One amazing and exciting thing that I can blog about, though! Hosea (who one of my former roommates named!) has a family and his name is now Henry! And, guess what we found out today! Evan's family got their PA and he's officially matched! His name is now Cooper (which I think is an extremely adorable name) and he'll get to Skype his family next week! How great is that? My sweet boy has a forever home! He is really one of the most sweet and well-behaved children I have ever met in my entire life. Just a joy to be around and never EVER gets in trouble. And as cute a boy as I've ever seen, too. I'm so excited for him. When he got pictures of his family today, I started getting teary right in the middle of preschool! So happy for you, sweet boy.

Cooper!:

just some pictures

Debra left yesterday to meet her adoptive family. It's funny because we didn't even know she was matched until last week! Anyway, please lift her up as she makes this huge (but wonderful) transition! 

This is Jayce. He came to us when he was just a few weeks old. He's now almost 2 months and he's grown so much! Jayce has spina bifida and I just can't wait to see how much progress he'll make in the coming months.

I rode the rickshaw home on Friday night and this is just the view from the back of it.

Last but not least, here's my Shaun on the day before he took his first steps! He's growing up so quickly. I'm going to be a mess when I have to say goodbye to this little boy.

1 month.

In exactly 1 month, I will be home. This is crazy to me. How did time go by so quickly? Where did the past 5 months go? How will I ever say goodbye to everyone here that I've grown to love so much?

I've been really bad about blogging and email-updating. I've been spending most of my blogging time/energy over at the ND blog.

Anyway, it's Saturday morning and I'm in a daze. Maybe because I only slept for 4 hours, or maybe because I know I have to start thinking about "the end" soon.

A huge part of me does not want to leave. I do not want to have to pick up each of the children and kiss them goodbye. I really do have a hard enough time leaving them at the end of each day. I don't want to say goodbye to this village, to the friends I've made here. Another part of me just wants to be home. I just want to see my family and I cannot wait for the feeling of going to service at my church and just standing in the presence of my dear brothers and sisters and singing praises to Him together. I miss my friends and I miss Boston and I just miss home. 

I'm asking Him for peace and that I'm able to rest in the truth that His plan is perfect and that I will not be here for even a single day longer or shorter than what He had already ordained.

 

Wordless Wednesday: found in the preschool room

what I know you wanted to see

One of my mosquito bites:

Some of the different remedies I tried on one of my mosquito bites:

Scotch Tape:

 

A Chinese medicinal oil:

Ice pack:

It started streaking up my arm:

Baking soda and water paste:

Lime Slices:

Cortizone cream:

It was pretty annoying... but in the end went away after a few days (and about 15 different remedies. I'm not sure which one actually worked).

I'm sure you wanted and needed to see all that... but hey that's my life in china.

this is not OK.

It's 6:45 PM and this is how hot it is out right now. This is unacceptable. Also, our power was out most of the day = no air conditioning ANYWHERE at the foster home, school, or dining hall.

further proof that he's mine

 I walked upstairs to visit the babies the other day, and look what Shaun was wearing.

I did not buy that shirt, and I didn't put it on him... this is clearly a Boston boy at heart.

And a really, really cute one at that.

ornery.

another goodbye.

I just found this picture on my Photo Booth... from several months ago? I'm posting it because my roommate BB is leaving tomorrow morning. She's been here since January and has made a big impact on the children and on us. I'll miss you, BB.

OUCH!

I'm being eaten alive by mosquitos. I've always been pretty allergic but the mosquito that bit my left arm must have had some extra punch. It swelled up overnight and within 24 hours was the size of... i don't know. It's a huge circular swollen mass... about 4 inches in diameter. When I went in to work today, I got lots of sympathy and lots of suggestions.

Here are all the ideas people had to reduce the swelling/pain/itch:

1) White Flower Oil (白花油)
2) Benadryl Spray
3) Iodine
4) Rubbing Alcohol
5) Toothpaste
6) Saliva
7) Hot shower
8) Claritin
9) Advil/Tylenol

I've tried ALL these things today and the only thing that seemed to help for a while was the iodine (gross!) and the toothpaste followed by a hot shower. That seems to be keeping the itching down for now.

I also have a medium-sized bite on my forehead and a bite on my forearm and one under my right foot. Gross.

I don't know how I'll fare in the next 6 weeks. I'll need to douse myself in bug spray and wear longsleeves/pants. Eek!