True Children's Home

Save for the day when we took Marin into our arms, this may have been the most treasured day of the trip. We had the pleasure, honor really, of visiting the True Children's Home in Dongguan, about an hour and a half drive from Guangzhou. Dongguan is a VERY industrial, factory town that is oppressed with smog. In fact it is the heart of industry in the Pearl River Delta. The Pearl River Delta being the place of origin of almost every manufactured thing all of us own. As you look out over the vast expanse of gloom, to factory after smoking factory, the thought of light, sunshine, a bright spot of any kind is the furthest thing from your mind. You simply can't believe that hope can exist here. But, in fact, it does. The True Children's Home is located in a rather nice gated complex within the city limits. The home is actually two, three-bedroom apartments across a common hall from one another, housing ten to twelve kids each. One apartment is for young babies, usually prior to surgery, and the other for older babies and toddlers that have either recovered from surgery or are in need of ongoing care. Mikel, the home's director met us at the front door. We were invited into the main living room of the "toddler house" and were greeted by ten happy kiddos all in the hands of their smiling nannies. Marin was in Val's arms and as we entered the room hands went up in all directions to greet her. We sat her down and she immediately started playing and smiling with her buddies and the nannies, who ooh'd and aah'd over her. She was so content, and we left her in good hands as we took a tour of the facilities. Each home has three bedrooms with three to four bright white cribs each. Every room was clean and welcoming with colorful paint and cheerful decor. A small, clean kitchen was located off the main living area. Mikel also pointed out a wall in the apartment where the kids' treatment records, feeding schedules, and medications, were posted. She also explained a colorful family tree of sorts, that is utilized to track the status of all the children under TCH's care. In addition to the home residents, this charity also places kids in foster settings before they can be formally adopted. After the tour we joined Marin on the carpet with her peeps. The nannies were friendly and warm to us, although we could sense their bittersweet feelings about Marin leaving with her forever family. Marin came back to use willingly, but not necessarily eager to leave. It was exactly the response we wanted, Marin's willingness to go with us, but doing it with fondness for those who had fostered her. We were touched by one special little boy with spina bifeda, who asked the director if he could come home with us too. She gently told him to be patient; his family is on their way, and they truly are, having already adopted two special needs kids from the True Children's Home. We would love to show you the pics we took for Marin of her happy aunties, brothers and sisters, but for privacy reasons (requested by TCH), that will have to wait until you come meet Mi Mi in person. :)

The most intriguing member of the staff was Mikel. She is the twenty-something, maybe early thirties, West Virginian who was teaching English in China when she found herself the director of this small, but very demanding enterprise. She is uniquely suited for the job and seems to have the passion, drive, and energy for this program. She is so selfless as a young, single woman, in a job that never sleeps. These people have chosen to make a difference in these little lives, one baby at a time, and they do it so well. We feel so fortunate to be directly touched as beneficiaries of this care. They have four programs: Foster care for the babies whenever reasonable and possible, home care within their twenty-bed facility, surgical care, and community outreach. The outreach program is so important, to help moms who love their babies but don't have the resources and support to keep them in their own homes; the all important outcome being a reduction in the rate of child abandonment.

We traveled back to Guangzhou very touched by the inspiring people we met today. The experience reminds us of what Mother Teresa once said, "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love."