July 15, 2010 Our guides informed us this afternoon that they typhoon has taken a turn and will stay south of Guangzhou, however the forecast is for heavy rain on Saturday. Please continue to pray! We only have about an hour and a half layover in Seoul, so we don’t need any delays! The only thing I can tell you about the Guangzhou Botanical Gardens is that it was VERY hot! My two travel mates opted not to go, which was fine, so Ruthie and I went with our group by ourselves. It was miserable. I think it was probably beautiful, and I would’ve loved to explore more of it had I not had sweat running in my eyes and causing them to burn, therefore unable to see! Our new friends from Alabama and I found a shade tree and sat for the good part of an hour that we were there. Everything was either up a hill or up stairs, and with a stroller, stairs aren’t easy. The whole group was miserable, and we ended up leaving earlier than planned. While we were away, Caryn and Jon Milledge walked across the street from our hotel to the Friendship Mall to do more shopping. Jon Milledge was so excited to find a Columbia store where he could get something for his daddy and Anderson. Caryn got a duffle bag to carry her treasures home in…we’re running out of suitcase room here! This afternoon we went to the US Consulate to take our immigration oath on behalf of our children. I don’t really know what I expected, but the consulate was on the 4 and 5 floor of an office building. I had pictures of some grand building behind iron gates in my head, I think. Anyway, we went through security and up to the 5th floor where we waited for an immigration officer to call us to a window to sign another form. There were about 40 families in there today, everyone was talking, and the microphones that the officers were using made them sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher. Our guides tell us to be listening because they would call us by our child’s Chinese name. Seriously??? I can’t understand them, and I’m having to listen for Chinese words?? To me several of the kids in our group have names that sound alike, including Ruthie, so I was scared to death I would miss my turn. I think the officer that called us knew that I was slow when deciphering Chinese, because he said her name very slowly and several times! I was so proud that I heard it AND understood it! After signing the form, we were asked to sit back down and wait until everyone had been called. Once everyone was done, we all stood up, raised our right hands and swore that we had given correct information during our adoption process…four years! I started crying because then the officer congratulated us and informed us that all of our hard work and efforts were over, and we were done! I honestly never thought I would hear those words. Ruthie is officially ours, and we are done with paperwork! Thank you God! It was also very emotional for me to look around and see all of these Chinese children that China had labeled as orphans, but who were now being held by or standing beside their forever families. It reminded me of the song “Orphans of God”, which basically says that we are all orphans in one way or another but “hallelujah, there are no orphans of God”! I felt very small compared to what I felt God did in Guangzhou, China, today, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere else. I have no idea what God has planned for these children including Ruthie, but I was extremely moved by witnessing and by being a small part of their story today. May they always feel safe and loved, know happiness and the peace that passes all understanding that can only come from Christ. This evening we went to the Italian restaurant with our Alabama friends, and it was delicious, probably the best meal we have had in China…including McDonald's! Jon Milledge had lasagna, and Caryn and I split a calzone…delicious! We had a great time of food, fellowship and new friends. We are starting to pack our bags and getting things ready to leave on Saturday. It is going to be a bittersweet couple of days. As much as I want to go home, I know that I will be leaving a part of my heart here in China. I will forever be grateful to this country for the amazing gift it has given me. Good night from China! Angie I'm coming to America!!!     Guangzhou Botanical Gardens   Turtle Tree     Ruthie and her new friend, Sanoi     Rose Garden     Snack time at the gardens!     Me and Ruthie outside the US Consulate after taking the final adoption oath!!! We're DONE!!!         This page hosted by