Leaving Mia's city.

Today we will be leaving Hangzhou and flying with the other families to Guangzhou, where the adopted children will become US citizens at the Consulate. Leaving Pinyi's city brings a lot of different feelings, of course – and there are a few things I want to document about our time here.

First, my husband. He is a brave man. He is the only testosterone representative among 4 women, and he is amazingly still not "outnumbered". He is a pillar of strength. I hate to say it, but there have already been times when all 4 of us women were crying at the same time, and he is still kind, and masterful in how he handles it. He's a natural father and husband, and I'm blessed.


Hangzhou is famous for many things – one of which is its West Lake. And it truly is amazing. It is what I pictured of China, serene and mysterious.




Hangzhou is also famous for its green tea, and we were able to go with our guide and group to the tea village for a tasting. It was really lovely, hills of tea plants and gardens, with many little rooms filled with people listening to lectures about tea. It was such a cool thing to experience, although we all felt bad about the Cheerios crunched into the floor in the tasting room (sorry, tea room).


We also were able to visit Mia's orphanage, yesterday. It was a very good place, as orphanages go. The director had made a keepsake book for each child, documenting her growth and milestones, which includes the only pictures we have ever seen of Mia as an infant. Precious.
We got a tour of her playroom and living area: there was a chair, a bathroom hook, and cubby for her toothbrush, with her tiny picture above each. We saw her crib, which was already occupied by another toddler. It was heartbreaking to see, but priceless. Also, they took us to the medical room and unwrapped/rewrapped her leg. The burn is almost healed, but the original injury was even worse than we imagined. They were very sweet and gentle with her, and the nurses and nannies came up and loved on her… so Pinyi did well there and was not upset. Although a couple of hours later, after some fun playing and laughing, she suddenly started crying. She cried for longer and harder than we had seen her do, holding herself up on all fours, not letting anyone touch her, and cried until, nearly an hour later she collapsed and slept. We wonder if she was grieving about leaving the orphanage, and what must be going through her heart.

Even with the lovely areas of the city and culture, it is still very easy to say we have no qualms about adopting her and bringing her home. Hangzhou is no place for an orphan. The beautiful parts of the city do not make up for the rest of the city. I'm trying to be careful here, because everyone has different experiences. I'm only speaking for myself. But for me, the loudness and chaos of the city is overwhelming. It is not an alive, metropolitan kind of chaos – a "we can navigate this" challenge – but rather, a "don't-let-go-of-your-kids-or step-to-the-left-at-the-wrong-moment" kind of chaos. And it seems that way for everyone, not just for white people from Chattanooga.

Each day stepping out the doors of the hotel, I wondered if it was even worth it to get groceries or coffee, or to make the short 10 minute walk to West Lake. There is a built-in street for scooters and bikes (and the occasional car) which you have to cross before you can even get to the crosswalk for the motorway. If you make it across that scooter-street, you might as well close your eyes and run across – because red lights, green lights, policemen directing traffic don't make any difference to the cars. The sidewalks aren't even always safe, numerous times I have turned around and there is a car or scooters honking behind me. And the funny thing is, there is nowhere to go in order to move out of their way.


At a more serious level, heartbreaking poverty is woven into the life of the city as well. We saw neighborhoods where people were 'farming' in the median of the road. In some parts, there is rubble everywhere from torn down buildings, and people cooking and eating on top of the piles. The houses in that area were dark openings under abandoned construction sites. Then add 7 million more people in a tight geographic area, and this is the Hangzhou we experienced. I know this is why God moves in people, so that He can use them to penetrate poverty and despair, sometimes one child at a time. I won't forget that this is a bright spot, because it is.



At one point, a few days ago, I wondered if people would understand why were were in Hangzhou once Pinyi was with us. If the unapologetic staring would diminish. Instead, it has ramped up, full force! Some people come over really close, stare at each of us, then begin to clap and laugh with Pinyi, trying to make her smile – like a peace offering, a blessing for her and what we're doing. Others look right at us and shake their heads, disgusted. But yesterday, we were in an elevator and an elderly lady was staring at us from the corner. She started nodding her head, and in English said: "Thank you. You are taking her to a good land, thank you." We replied, "Oh no, thank you." We truly are thankful to China, and to the people who saved Mia's life and have helped her so much. But at the same time, we agree. We are taking her to a new home, and it is a good thing.

This week has deepened my patriotism. It is a great day to be leaving Hangzhou, going to the US Consulate in Guangzhou, and making this girl and her little mates U.S. citizens.