Back in Beijing

We're back in Beijing now, but finished up our time in Changsha by having dinner with our guide, Ashley, from a previous adoption trip. Ashley was our guide for Sarah Mei's adoption in 2007 and is on my top 2 or 3 list of all-time favorite guides in China. He graciously agreed to give up family time with his wife and two sons and joined us for supper.

We had a great time catching up with what's been going in his life and hearing about his travels. He works for a travel agency and travels to Europe, America and most recently to Taiwan as a translator and guide for Chinese nationals. Growing up he was inspired by his father, a Chinese national but French professor on a college campus. His brother is an English professor at a local university and always maxes out his classroom each semester at 120 students. Ashley continues the family legacy, although not in the education business, he obviously has a love for learning and discussion. Fascinating!

 

I also took a few candids of the girls while we were waiting in the lobby of the hotel.

 

 

 

Today we visited New Hope Foundation which is where Savannah Faith has lived for the last four months. Savannah was taken back to her orphanage this morning, for paperwork processing, so sadly we didn't see her.

I was SO blessed by the care that New Hope offers their children. You can read more about their ministry here www.hopefosterhome.com

Here are some photos of the rooms where Savannah lived and played including a preschool room that made this homeschool mom envious and Peter Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh murals on the walls.

 

 

 

To say we are thankful for the medical intervention and care that New Hope and Love Without Boundaries offered her is an understatement.

We were also able to meet the ayi (nanny) that gave Savannah so much love over the last 4 months. We gave her a scarf that my niece, Lauren, knitted. We also left scarves for the 2nd and 3rd shift nannies that cared for Savannah. Those scarves were made by Michaela.

 

Tomorrow we get to tour The Great Wall!