{longing for family}

a few weeks ago we contacted families that had adopted from this orphanage in the years past, asking if they'd be willing to share pictures of their children. we obtained photos of the children when they were either still here at the orphanage or newly adopted, as well as pictures of them today (which in some cases, is years later). we printed and laminated the photos, identified the children with both their original chinese and new english (if applicable) names, month/year of adoption and their family name.

i think i had close to 18 families in the final project, which was hung across the room where the nannies dress and bathe the children. (plans were to put a nice bulletin board or something together, but the orphanage director nixed the idea of putting a more permanent fixture anywhere. and because the local stores only sold fluorescent colored pieces of large paper, the final project was definitely a bit more elementary school style-ish than i would have liked, but it got done nonetheless.)

the nannies love updates, especially photos, of the kids they've cared for. i am hoping this might provide daily encouragement for them to love and care for the children well.

on christmas eve, when i took some cookies, christmas music, coloring, etc., and headed upstairs, one of the older non-verbal boys grabbed my arm. he loves treats, so i was sure he wanted to see what exactly i had with me. but it wasn't that. he took me into the room where the photos were hanging. he started verbalizing sounds, pointing at the photos, etc. at first i asked him if he remembered someone in the photos, as he'd older and probably remembers most everyone on the wall. but that clearly wasn't it. i watched his gestures again, and after pointing to the pictures on the wall, he kept pointing to himself. then i got it; he wants a family. when i asked him if he wanted a family, just like the kids on the wall, he immediately started shaking his head, "yes!"  

pray for zachery and all those he represents who long for family. even though some of them have never been around a family and likely have no real concept of that what is, they still long for it... to be loved... to have someone's attention... to be hugged.... and everything else their little minds hope "family" entails.