In China
All Days  |  Previous Day  |  Next Day

Friday, September 10, 2010 "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand..." Psalm 139:16-18 Each of us has a story…a beginning, a destiny, a purpose. The Author of our story knows each of us closely and intimately. Bella’s story began in Henan, China. She was born in the beginning of 2009 with spina bifida, a lipoma, and club foot. She was born to a family that chose life for her, chose to carry her full term, and chose to tenderly care for her the first two months of her life. She was born to a family who then choose to place her into the hopeful care of others. Bella’s birth and abandonment, her entry into the world, and her care thereafter, were no accident. This was her destiny. This was all known to God and He alone would choose to turn her life circumstances into something beautiful. Her name, meaning beautiful imperfection captures tenderly and luminously this little treasure. Her story is unique; yet not completely uncommon. Her story is painful; yet full of grace. Her story is hers to be told; yet ours to steward for her. Her story points brilliantly to the hand of God that has orchestrated every event in this little girl’s life. Her story is one of hope mixed with pain, love mixed with confusion, loyalty laced with despair. But none of this is a mystery to her Maker. “'For I know the plans I have for you,' says the LORD. 'They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'" Jeremiah 29:11 Today Bryan and I had the opportunity to go to the very spot that Bella was abandoned. Our guide took Bryan, Bella, and me in a taxi cab to the Zhengzhou City Children’s Hospital in the capital city of the Henan province. This hospital is one of the most prestigious hospitals in all of Henan, China. The doctors are known for their skillful, medical knowledge and their expertise in treating challenging medical issues in children. This hospital is also one the most expensive facilities in all of Henan. Like all hospitals here, when an individual needs medical treatment, the family must pay for the treatment prior to any assistance received. After speaking to our guide, we learned that the cost of treating little Bella Trinity’s medical issues would have likely been more than several year’s total income for an average family. We went to the main lobby, the place where Bella was abandoned. The hospital was buzzing with activity. Several guards stood monitoring the lobby and several greeters stood welcoming patients and their parents in. The main registration windows are at the entrance and people filled the lobby. The main lobby is a place that opens up largely offering hope and promise for those seeking medical care. The facility was somewhat clean and extremely full of people. It is located in a densely populated community and store fronts are on the opposite ends of the corner hospital. For me to wrap my mind around what Bella’s birth mother or father felt when Bella was taken there is near impossible. I do not know their life circumstances. I do not know their frame of mind when they arrived at the hospital. I do not know if they had hoped to pay for her care or if they knew from the start that they had no means to provide for her. I do not know what it was like for them to care for Bella the first two months of her life. I do know that they could visibly see that their baby had medical needs. I do believe that they brought her to the finest children’s hospital in the province to assure that she would get the help she needed. I do believe that it was a selfless act of love to carry her, give birth to her, and seek care for her. While we do not know the exact circumstances around March 6, 2009 when Bella was abandoned; I do believe that she was loved. She was strategically placed in the main lobby with expectation and optimism. I do know that God was right there with her, looking over her and protecting her. It was a sobering morning to witness this “finding spot”- the actual abandonment spot, the very spot that Bella’s life took a turn and the very spot that she was found by strangers. After she was found, as is custom in this province, she was taken to the police station where they attempted to find her birth family. After no success, they then brought her to the local orphanage the same day. Just a month later, Bella was purposefully sent into the care of Harmony Outreach just outside of Beijing.

The Zhengzhou City Children’s Hospital Just Outside the Finding Spot The Very Spot that Bella was Abandoned and Found This Picture is for Liz and Tamra – She Looks Thrilled with the Big Bow The First Tentative Kiss for Patient Daddy First Flight for Bella - We Are on our Way

With the gentle care of this organization and the thoughtful support of sponsors and contributors, Bella Trinity was taken in and shown love and compassion. She was soon sponsored by several families who sent money each month to help pay for her care. Someone, kind and generous, sponsored her surgery in July of 2009. You see, the Lord used many willing souls to care for Bella Trinity. He used sponsors, nannies, administrators, and volunteers to lovingly provide for each of our little girl’s needs. He is so good. He is so loving and kind. He uses His people to turn a bleak, hopeless future into a future of bright hope and promise. Bryan and I are honored and privileged that He has called us to be her parents – her forever family. We consider it a great blessing and a serious responsibility to steward Bella Trinity’s story. As we have fallen in love with this little girl, our Bella Trinity, we thank each and every one of you who has generously contributed to her life thus far- the sponsors, the contributors, the nannies, the administrators, our sweet sister- Lily, Harmony Outreach, the prayer warriors, and the family and friends that wait on bended knee to welcome this treasure into the fold. You all are loved and held closely to our hearts. “Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 After a morning of facing the reality of abandonment that occurs for many orphans around the world, I felt that we were blessed to witness firsthand the ways that the Lord provides and cares for each of us in our circumstances. Now we have searched the past, prepared for the future, and will live in the present. And presently our little girl grieves. She is still refusing food and vomits immediately after consuming any fluids. We started giving her very small portions of Pedialyte in order to ward off dehydration and we will continue to offer her familiar, comforting foods that she is used to consuming. I am not clear if it is just anxiety, if it is that she has a bug of some sorts, or if it is part of digestive issues that can come with her special need. Either way, I am doing my best to put a “Band-Aid” on it and keep her hydrated. We shall see if time heals this wound or if further medical intervention will be necessary. This afternoon we packed up our belongings and made our way to the airport. We said our goodbyes to our amazing CCAI guides, Yisha and Rita. They have been phenomenal hosts, detailed at paperwork, and genuinely sweet friends. We boarded a plane and headed to the next stop - Guangzhou. We will complete the next phase of the trip at this stop - immigration requirements and then we get to go home. Bella did wonderful on the plane. She utilized her most common coping tool – sleep. She simply closes her eyes, nestles her head into my chest and lets sleep take her away from all of her troubles. Once in the new airport, we saw small glimmers of Bella coming out of her shell. Her body relaxed a little and her eyes danced a little. Each time she began to let her guard down, she would quickly hide her face and pull back in. Time. She just needs more time for her loyal heart to dare to trust others and to abandon her somber front.

Website by myadoptionwebsite.com