After finalizing the adoption, we started the long drive to Taizhou, where Hannah is from. It is about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Hangzhou. Hannah fell asleep right when we left and slept most of the way there. The drive to Taizhou was beautiful, and I've included pictures of the scenery. When we got to Taizhou, we had to apply for Hannah's passport. Our guide was able to convince them to expedite it so we could get it by Friday instead of the September date that it would normally take to get the passport. The director and associate director were at the passport agency, and Hannah again would not go to them. We also found out while we were there that we would not be able to visit the orphanage after all. Yesterday the director agreed to let us come, but today she said we were not allowed. She said it was against the rules, and so we wouldn't be able to go. I was very emotional over this news, as we were fully expecting to be able to go. Other families who have adopted children from the orphanage before us under a different director were allowed to visit the orphanage. We are the first ones to adopt under the new director, so that's why things are different for us. She did take down our email address and promised to send us pictures of the orphanage.
After leaving the passport agency, we went to Hannah's finding spot. I am grateful that we were able to see where she was found, but it was an incredibly emotional stop. We took pictures and collected a rock from the ground nearby. Since this is a sensitive part of Hannah's past, we are not going to share pictures here of it.
Our next stop was to meet the foster family at a tea room. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were ushered into a private room. There was a large TV camera there videotaping our entrance. The foster dad works is the head of the Civil Affairs Office, and he and his wife fostered Hannah to set an example to the people to help orphans. He told us that he was keeping a blog detailing their times with Hannah, and so we think the camera was there to document this part of the story for people who are following the blog. The foster family treated us to a huge dinner, and they kept bringing out more and more food. Hannah's favorite was the shrimp, which she tried to eat whole-eyes and all! Hannah was very attached to the foster family, and it was another very difficult emotional experience for us all. They gave us a CD with many pictures of there times with Hannah, along with the journal that they kept (in Chinese). They also gave us several gifts including a jade bracelet and necklace for Hannah and a traditional outfit and silk dress for her as well. It is obvious that they loved her very much.
Pictures:
Official telling us that Hannah is ours!
Family picture with adoption certificate
Scenic pictures on way to Taizhou (3)
Roadside stand in Taizhou (there were many of these along the road when we got into the city)
Picture with foster parents
Foster parents and Director Lin and Director Chen
3 comments:
wow- that is so amazing you were able to meet the foster family and they gave you some wonderful presents and photos of Hannah. I know those are priceless to you guys! and praise God that she was so loved by this precious couple! what an answer to your prayers! Glad you were able to go to the finding sight even though it is quite an emotional thing to experience! it was be so essential for Hannah's story as she gets older!
keep posting updates! praying for you guys!
What an amazing trip you are on! It's such a gift to you and Hannah to meet the foster family and have photos to share with her as she gets older. I didn't get to visit Liam's orphanage either and never found out why, I know that's hard. I hope the passport comes soon and the flight to Guangzhou goes smoothly.
it really sounds like an emotional day. praying for you guys and for Hannah and the foster parents. it's so wonderful that you got to see her finding spot - and take some pictures.
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