Hope and Heartbreak in Luoyang

I cannot imagine a more heart-breaking yet inspiring experience in my life than today's visit to the Luoyang Orphanage.

The assistant directors of the Orphanage and the Children's Hope International representative from another orphanage welcomed us with fruit, bottled water and tea this morning, while giving us an overview of the facility and its children.
The 600 children who reside here range in age from one-month old to 18 years. The children attend regular school with non-orphans. Special education programs also are available for those who need them. The government supports each orphan
with 150 RMB a month. In China, children are only eligible for adoption until age 14, but they can continue to live at the facility. Children who cannot function independently as adults are allowed to continue to stay at the orphanage. Volunteers to the orphanage include college students.

About 50 children from the Luoyang orphanage facility find homes each year. Many adoption agencies facilitate these adoptions, including Children's Hope International.

When touring the facility, the happiness and friendliness of the children was just amazing. We were constantly greeted with "nee hao"s and hand waves, and the children love to flash their fingers in vees and also give high fives. Many of the older children greeted us with "hello." I have never seen more beautiful children. Their spirit is absolutely incredible, and these are very happy kids..The orphanage truly functions as a family and community. Older children help take care of the younger ones. It was very clear that every staff member, including the director, truly loves these children and gives them excellent
care.

I was struck by how many boys there were; I had an impression of Chinese orphanages being filled with girls because of the one-child law. But many children including boys are given up because of medical conditions. We saw a boy with a black birth mark covering half his face. He has already undergone two laser treatments. One boy was deaf, another was an Albino and a baby girl was blind. Many of the children had scars from brain surgery or cleft lip and palate. Many babies still have cleft lip and palate; they will have their surgery when they reach a certain age or are healthy enough for the surgery. We met children in wheelchairs and others using walkers or crutches. Several have cerebral palsy, Down's Syndrome or autism. One toddler
rocked side to side constantly, but stopped for a good 20 seconds when I showed him his photo from my digital camera.

The Chinese have a different system for toilet-training children. The babies and toddlers do not wear diapers when awake. Their pants have openings, and each room has several small pails that they go sit on.

The children listen to music and dance, including the Hokey Pokey and Chicken dance. We saw children receiving physical therapy, and having electrolysis to stimulate their muscles.

While the children napped, we ate lunch, then sorted all of the items we brought with us for the orphans. We are so grateful to everyone at Bank of America who donated during our fund-raising drive. We brought three large suitcases of clothing, toys, books and supplies with us. The orphanage was especially appreciative for the several tubes of diaper ointment, Vaseline, formula and fleece baby blankets. There are many boxes of donations still in the US. There was some difficulty with the government allowing the shipments, but the Jacksonville office has sent some boxes as a test. Federal Express is donating the shipping cost.

Some $5,000 in cash donations have been collected for the Luoyang orphanage. We have asked the orphanage director to prioritize what is needed most for the children's benefit. New washing machines and electrolysis equipment probably will top the list.

Karen and Rich are sick with bad colds. The orphanage staff gave them vials of a bitter herbal medicine to take after meals.

We had a few hours to play with the children this afternoon. Karen brought many small bottles of bubbles, and they are a huge hit with the kids. Some toddlers like to hold our hands and walk. The babies enjoyed being held. A few children cried, being faced with strangers, but later warmed up to us.

We are uplifted but exhausted. It is very hard to take in the reality of the challenges of these children's lives. But the happiness the kids exude is truly inspiring. The next three days will continue to be just amazing. I am so glad I am here, and I hope other bank associates will volunteer next year to keep this effort going and perhaps even organize two trips. CHI also has facilities in Ethiopia that desperately need help.

I also hope associates will consider additional donations to Children's Hope or another adoption charity. The work these groups perform is so wonderful. http://www.childrenshopeint.org/ Earmark it "Bank of America Luoyang orphanage"

I'm downloading nearly 1,200 photos from my full photo card and will send some later. Take care.