September 4 - The Orphanage Visit

Jonathan only woke up once for about 30 minutes last night. He calmed down quickly and off to sleep again. We all

got a fairly good night's sleep. Yeah! We have a big and messy eater on our hands. Definitely need to buy some bibs today and diapers. Thought we were through with our diaper changing days but alas, we are not! Had to change his clothes after breakfast. He was soaked through from milk and congee. 

We met Lily at 9 AM to go back to Civil Affairs for all our paper work. After we finished there we went to the orphanage where Jonathan grew up. Much nicer than I thought it would be.  There were cheerful wall hangings and it looked fairly clean. We went to his classroom that is run by Half the Sky Foundation. We were able to meet his teacher. They were very nice and you could tell they loved him very much. When we went into his class he went straight to his chair and sat down. Some of the children we saw in his update pictures were in his class and his foster family.

Next we got to meet his foster family. They stay in an apartment on the compound. It was a nice clean apartment. Very hot and humid. His two sisters in the foster family are Hua Sha Tong and Jin Bi Fan.  There was also an older brother but we didn't get his name. The parents name was in Chinese so I can't read it.

We found out, Jonathan's original name when found was, Zhang le. He had 2 silver engraved bracelets on his ankles and an Jade Buddha amulet around his neck. We got a copy of the note his parents had written on his blanket. It read, " Your family is sorry for you! May you be healthy and happy!" (loosely translated). It also had his birthdate on the tag. 

We then got to walk along the street where he was found outside the orphanage and got some pictures. He was found on Mingfu lane. We went to Carre Four for supplies after the orphanage. Got water, honey, bibs, diapers, wipes, sippy cup, cereal and dry fruit. Was going to get a new pair of shoes but he wouldn't let us put them on to try. His others keep falling off because the velcro has about had it!

Nap time back at the hotel and then we went exploring. We saw a big mall from our hotel room and we set out to explore. Lots of American stores there. We picked up a Nanjing travel mug at Starbucks and went to McD's for dinner. Jonathan enjoyed his first bath. Andrew had not when we got him.

Time for bed. More later. Thanks everyone for your prayers and support. We love you all.

Lisa 

Outside the Nanjing Orphanage compound

Jonathan's first picture at orphanage

A message from Lisa and lots of pictures!!!

Hello to all,
As you have probably figured out by now, we have not been able to get on Facebook or our blog. One of my dear "gabby girls" travel buddies, Sharon Teague, is going to update it for us until we are home. Thank you so much Sharon. 
Thursday, August 30
We were up at 2:15 AM and out the door by 3:30 to leave for the airport in Greensboro. Our flight left at 6:15 for Dulles. We had 4-5 hour layover there and spent time with our friends, Jamie and Karen and their daughter Aliza. Karen's sister Kristi is also traveling with us. We all took a turn keeping the children busy. Karen had brought some crafts along. So Andrew and Aliza made necklaces and Andrew a boat with tissue paper,poster board and straws. Quite creative. I got to wear the necklace all the way to China. It was a very long 14 hour flight over to Beijing! Andrew slept about 4-5 hours total and Kevin maybe the last 30 minutes. I think I nodded off and on for about an hour. Andrew did pretty well. 
Friday, August 31
We arrived in Beijing around 2:30 PM and got to our hotel around 5. Walked down to the Carre Four, similar to Walmart back home. We got  some snacks, bread, jam, yogurt and water of course. Made peanut butter sandwiches for dinner and went to bed by 7:30.We were exhausted.
Saturday, September 1

Getting closer to our Jonathan. Two more night nights! It was very hot and hazy this morning. Today, Sherry, our local AWAA guide took us to Tianneman Square and the Forbidden City. I am still amazed by the architecture and size of this place. I don't think any of us had a dry stitch of clothes or body it was so hot and humid. Everyone soaked clean through! We did get to cool off a little at the pearl factory store. They sale fresh water pearls which are harvested from Kunming Lake which is part of the Summer Palace grounds. While we were eating, it poured rain. It stopped long enough for us to walk around the lake area at the summer palace. We also walked on the 17 arch bridge and it has 80 carved lion heads on the bridge. Then we went to Dr. Tea and experienced a tea ceremony. We got to taste Jasmine, oolong, pueur tea which is from the tea tree not a bush, and a fruit tea or children's tea. The pureur tea had a strong taste and was a little woody. The fruit tea was a little sweet but very good. They had magic tea mugs that would change color and the picture changed. We were also shown little clay pee pee boys that peed a certain distance when the water got to the right temperature for one tea and then a different distance for another. It was pretty funny! Andrew loved that!. He has definitely been a little better about trying new foods. May not eat much of it but he has tried it! I am so proud of him! Next, we were off for more Chinese food, with some Peking duck included. They have kept us very busy so we would stay awake and get ourselves adjusted to China time. It worked. We crashed by 8PM that night.

Sunday, September 2

One more night night Andrew! We started our Sunday off the best way ever. We got to spend time worshipping our Lord and Savior at the Beijing International Church Fellowship-East. They rent an auditorium from the 21st Century Hotel. We got to enjoying fellowship with other believers in an English service. We sang praise songs and enjoyed an great message on small groups and their importance to believers.Their were people their from the British Isles, Brazil, South Africa, Guyana, and other countries. What a sweet time!
Next we went to the jade factory store, lunch and the Great Wall. It had been raining when we woke up this morning. We thought we were going to have another trip to the wall where we could not see a thing. Last time, the clouds had settled in and there was snow everywhere.This time it was clear as a bell. We could see a very long way. It was beautiful! We drove by the Birds' Nest and water cube so people could take pictures if they wanted to.
Tonight some of us went to the Chinese Acrobatics Show. It was phenomenal! The guys were jumping through hoops that had to be 8 feet high and some of the girls were doing things that I could not believe. They had to be double jointed in multiple areas and very flexible! Andrew really enjoyed it! It did fall asleep before the end because he was so tired. We just put him in bed clothes and all! They had a clown running around before the show and between sets. He gave Andrew a poodle shaped balloon.

Monday, September 3

Today is Jonathan Day! We were up at 3AM this morning! We had to finish packing and be ready for the bell boys to get our bags at 4:30, check out and be on the bus at 5:10 AM. Sherri had arranged for the hotel to have bag breakfast ready for us to take with us. The family going to Hangzhou had left last night after dinner. The 3 Nanchang, Jiangxi families left at 7:20 and we left for Nanjing, Jiangsu at 07:50. Our flight was 1 hour 40 minutes. We got checked in to our hotel and went over to KFC for lunch. The boys were very ready for some Western food. Not quite the same as our KFC. 
We met our guide, Lily, in the lobby to go to Civil Affairs to meet Jonathan. Not near as crowded as the office in Lanzhou. We recognized our sweet Jonathan when we saw him. He is a sweet heart. He went right to Kevin and Andrew. I got stuck filling out papers and then I got to hold my sweet boy. We went by a little grocery on our way so we would have some milk and snacks for the boys there. We have also met some Canadian and Belgium families adopting here. I think we have a big eater on our hands. He'll be able to eat us out of house and home! Already had my first kiss from Jonathan. Having a few jealousy issues but I think it will get better with time. We are having to make a concentrated effort to make sure Andrew is not filling left out. So prayers will be appreciated in that area. 
Andrew used to such on 3 fingers for comfort. Jonathan loves his thumb and his shoes. He is a great sleeper. We went to bed at  8 PM  and only woke up once around 2:30 and with a little comforting he was back asleep in about 20 minutes.

Nanjing

                                 Garden in front of Mandarin Garden Hotel, Nanjing

        Aqua City Mall, Nanjing. It's the ink building on left. That's where Starbucks, etc was. 

PICTURES!!

Back in the room!

Meeting Jonathan at Civil Affairs!

The 3 Friesen's before we become 4!! (Great Wall)

Kevin and Andrew at the Ju Yong Pass, Badaling section of the Great Wall

Look how far up we are Mom!

Tiannemen Square in front of the entrance to the Forbidden City.

Bridge of 17 Arches at Summer Palace

Our family with our Beijing guide, Sherry

Stretching the next layer for the silk blanket

Double silk worm cocoons.  

BCIF church service

Can definitely see better today!

Andrew taking my B/P with poodle dog balloon 

Hotel lobby in Beijing

PTI airport before we left GSO

Civil Affairs Office 9.04.12

Jonathan 9.03.2012

This didn't show up in my post.

What a beautiful boy!!!

We Have Jonathon!!!

Hello family and friends from Lisa and Kevin.  This is Sharon from Texas posting for them.  We traveled with Lisa and Kevin in 2008 when we both met out sons together in Lanzhou.   They wanted you all to know that they cannot access Facebook or their blog in China so I will be posting for them as I receive updates.  This is what Lisa emailed me today:

"Andrew loves being a big brother but is feeling a little left out and is jealous.  We had some tears at bedtime last night.  We were all exhausted last night so I did not get any other pictures..."

I know first hand how exhausting traveling, the time change, meeting your little one and having other children to attend to can be.  Please pray for Kevin, Lisa, Andrew and Jonathan.  It is not uncommon for your child to come to you sick (as the Friesens know VERY well with Andrew in 08).  They have not mentioned that but pray that they all are well and will stay well.  It is also a huge transition for everyone with the language barrier and so many new sights, sounds and surroundings for Jonathon.   Pray also for Andrew.  As you know he recently had surgery so I am sure he is still recuperating.    

He is certian to have some anxiety over the arrival of his new brother and although I am sure he is excited it can still be overwhelming,  It is not uncommon for kids his age to begin having questions about their own adoption so pray for Kevin and Lisa and they many encounter some new questions or uncertiantities they may not have seen in the past.  

As we are headed to bed tonight they are beginning their Tuesday.  I expect they will finalize Jonathans adoption on the Chinese end today so pray for all the paperwork and details that will happen today.  

I will update again as soon as I hear from Lisa.  I know she and Kevin appreciate all of you and your following them on this very exciting journey.  I will make sure they see any comments you leave on her blog. 

Sharon for Lisa and Kevin