Ankang Orphanage visit

Yesterday, I was able to take a 4 hour train ride south of Xian to Ankang (where Karly was born). This city has 2.9 million people, but since it is in the middle of the mountains and is not near any other major cities, only about half the people in China have ever heard of it! It is a poor but beautiful city on a river and set in beautiful mountains. I received a nice book on Ankang from the former Director of Karly's orphanage (Mr. He) and I will post some pics of the city/region soon.

We were escorted to Ankang by Mrs. Han, a very high ranking official with the Shaanxi Civil Affairs. She is basically in charge of all the orphanages in Karly's province (Shaanxi) and wanted to know why we were going to Ankang and what we were hoping to accomplish. Marsha, out interpreter and the person responsible for the children's library in Xian orphanage, explained that we had been there last year and we were an organization from America that simply wants to help the quality of life for orphans in China. We explained that our daughter lived in Ankang orphanage before we adopted her and we had a wonderful relationship with Mr. He (although he is retired). She was fine with this and I truly believes she thinks we are there to help!

We had a short but sweet visit at the orphanage and I was able to see all the older and younger children (about 20-25). The best part was showing them the pictures of the children who have been adopted from there, as the nannies and the older kids in the ophanage (Wen Wen, Mei Ling, Ya Ya, Jo Jo, and Fong Fong) helped raise them when they were babies. The smiles on their faces were simply amazing as they saw their long lost friends with their families. In a way, though, it was sad.....as the older kids have not been adopted yet. Some day soon?

We spent about 20 minutes with the kids and then they escorted me upstairs to meet with all of the orphanage staff and 5-6 from the local Ankang Civil Affairs office. We discussed each of the older children's particular case and what are the next steps to either get them surgery or get the paperwork started for adoption. Many of the kids have gone to Xian for medical check-ups and are getting ready (hopefully) for surgery or adoption soon!!! I asked them what their greatest needs were and they said an air conditioner/heater for the playroom, a washer/dryer, and a new sterilizer. Once Marsha was convinced they really needed it, we went directly to the store and purchased them, courtesy of A Mother's Love. They were very happy to be getting these!! It is very hot in Ankang in the summer and cold in the winter, so I know the A/C and heater will get used!!

After the visit, it was time for a huge Chinese dinner at the finest place in Ankang. I told them about our reunion of the Ankang babies we were planning for next year in Orlando and they became very excited and really want to come to America for it!!! No joking! Mr. He told me repeatedly he will pay his own expenses and will be mad if he doesn't get invited. I hope we are able to get a good number of the children together so we can have a good turn-out for them!

Dinner was followed by a round of tea by the river at night and then back to the hotel for sleep. They all met me for breakfast and then took us back to the train station to head back to Xian (and then on to Beijing to visit Hope Foster Home again!). It is always emotional for me to go to Ankang, even though I was not able to visit Pingli (where Karly was found). To be able to help the children there in any way is a privilege.