Walked the Wall for China's abandoned and disabled

International China Concern is making waves, improving the lives of many young people with disabilities in Changsha and neighboring-city Hengyang. So proud to have this organization in our own community! Inside orphanages they are raising standards of care. They are empowering disabled adults with job skills and semi-independent living. Personally, I think ICC's initiative offering therapy to families with special-needs kids and thereby prevent abandonment is so exciting and brilliant! 

Last weekend our family and visiting friends -- Emily & Jesse and their sweet baby Ezekiel -- joined Walk the Wall march to raise awareness and funds. A group of Drew's coworkers participated. We exchanged smiles with lots of kids and staff who we know from the orphanage. Wheelchairs rolled alongside the 1500 who walked. In a nation that's a little sensitive about public demonstrations, that's a privilege and a great success.

Here's to Changsha's special-needs folks -- dignified, capable and valuable.

International China Concern website.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

unexpectedly, classes are over, so I won't miss any while in MN, and I have all of Dec. to write two term papers

Mike singing songs from preschool

Amy posting a wise and loving letter from Grandpa Gordy; Julia sharing encouraging insights in email

cousins new babies: Essie and Gordon

kids' imaginative, cooperative play on the sunporch -- hangers, a tent and a bench become a moon-bound manned space rocket

Auntie Wang's joyful support this week

Julie will have rides to China Place -- only you could have arranged that so perfectly

raincoats and rainboots for a stormy morning walk to school, to keep the boys dry and warm

Drew has to work on a project after-hours but he has such a good attitude about it

Small Feature on Local News Site

Although this video is in Chinese, perhaps it can give you a feel for aspects of our life in Changsha. We hope that for local Chinese viewers it will serve to raise awareness and advocate for our local children in need of families.

(How did this come about? It was a friend who recommended our story to her friend, a reporter. Why do I resemble a zombie? As I recall, it had been a long day and I fulfilled the evening interview somewhat begrudgingly.)

counting the graces

thank you Father for

captivated by anthropology textbook, in the 10th floor study cafe, windows open and sun warming my skin

kids did not protest going to school today

comfortable and honest communication with Auntie Wang, and she was eager to come four days rather than two

expert direction from Jon's speech therapist Angela in Shanghai

just me and Drew and nobody else around

chance to remind the truth to ZT, and also share in our enthusiam for our respective research

eclectic group of dinner guests tonight, yet, lively interaction and meaningful conversation, including testimony

Camp Out

The site was only a 20-minute walk from our apartment, in the hillside woods, but it still felt like a genuine 18-hour getaway. Best part? Finding ourselves dressed, fed, surrounded by trees, rocks and sunglow at 7am. Worst part? Michael diving off a park bench on the walk home and gashing the inside of his upper lip, requiring 4 stitches. But even that wasn't so bad.

Vision sparked: Inviting a friend or two along on future outings could be the ideal setting for deeper connection.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

insights and questions brothers and sisters share at fellowship discussion

work of ICC

sense of inadequacy in many facets of life, which renews a sense of dependence on your power not my own ability

Jon can eat oatmeal

I was cold last night but Mike came to snuggle with us, a warm bundle in his fuzzy footie jammies

kiss initiated by Titus when I dropped his naptime bedding off at school mid-morning

content in the plans you have for me today -- meeting my advisor, yoga class, picking up the kids, cleaning the house

Two weeks from now Mai-Mai & I will be in Minnesota!

Not joking! Sudden and expected, here we come!

It's like this...
(I'll try to explain clearly, but complex cultural and political realities may render this difficult to understand if you aren't especially familiar with Chinese society and politics.)


My neighbor and friend is pregnant with her second baby, a surprise baby, a baby that is conceived in violation of China's population control plan (the one-child policy, which may be reformed in the near future). Many in this situation would choose to abort the baby, but my neighbor is fortunate to be in a position to keep the child. The means? Read on please.

My friend is five months along and has been concealing her expanding abdomen. Her husband's employment is technically a government position, so the one-child policy is strictly enforced and consequences would be severe if his leaders were made aware of the pregnancy: forced abortion, termination of her husband's employment, or reduction in his salary or the salary of his entire work unit -- actions that we would certainly consider violations of human rights.

There are several means to evade forced abortion or economic consequences. My friend is fortunate to have an ideal option: relocating outside of China for the second half of the pregnancy and the baby's birth. The child would have foreign citizenship and -- jumping through the policy loophole -- they would face no immediate or future penalty.

It's actually rather difficult for Chinese to obtain a visa to the United States; the extensive application process concludes with a face-to-face interview in Beijing. Fortunately, my friend already completed this process last spring, as she accompanied her husband, a materials scientist, on a visiting-scholar trip in the US. Otherwise, it would be difficult or impossible for her to obtain a visa now.

At first my friend planned to stay in a Chinese maternity home in California (it's a phenomenon for Chinese women to give birth abroad so these kinds of guesthouses have sprung up in cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco). She never really felt at ease moving to a foreign country, alone, and lodging with strangers for pregnancy and childbirth.


Drew's parents thought carefully, and graciously opened their home to my friend. She accepted their kindness, and will live with them at least for the first couple months as she adjusts to life in the United States. Personally, I'm so grateful to Mom & Dad for opening their home. My friend is going to be perplexed, wonderfully perplexed by this hospitality that asks nothing in return.

Well then my friend presented me with an offer -- If I would accompany her back to the US, she would gladly pay my airfare. She prefers to travel with a companion and saw advantages in having my presence to establish good communication and relationship with Drew's parents, especially because her English is not so hot.

Sorry, impossible, I said. Yet inwardly I was intrigued...Drew and I talked it over. My professors said it would be no problem to miss class. Incredibly, unexpectedly -- yes -- I am going to Minnesota for two weeks and Mai-Mai is coming along with me! Our dates in the States are Nov. 15 - Dec. 1st.


This is an amazing gift of impeccable timing that was entirely beyond our control and absolutely perfect. I could go on and on about how astonishing, intricate and wonderful-by-design this whole affair is!

for my friend and her family

for the baby who gets to live

for me and Mai-Mai

for mutually-missed family in Minnesota, I think particularly my parents who we haven't seen for two years, Drew's sister Mandie who has never even met Mai-Mai, my and Drew's brothers who we haven't seen for three years

and also for Drew, Jon & Titus staying in Changsha who will be fine while I'm gone



Overflowing, our cups of goodness and blessing.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

reading spot in the office -- facing the window, new futon with Mom's quilt, books all around and a mug of chai on the sidetable

big pack of notes and gifts to bring for Liao Sha

promises in Jeremiah

happily prepping supper's roast and bread with Drew at 5am, dark outside and yellow lamp glowing in the kitchen

visits with Emily & Jesse always leave our hearts feeling fuller and stronger

when a day with an impossible schedule pans out like clockwork

husband's soft and caring brown eyes; and his determination to support and empower me

class lectures are not as intimidating as they were six weeks ago

work week's over -- Friday night dinner table with a handful of favorite friends, talking - storytelling - laughing free

strumming and singing loudly with same friends in the living room, hilarious, cut-loose, and I can't think of anything more fun and fulfilling