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While at the airport,Daniel's dad Roger and my folks prayed over the 3 of us as we got ready to board our flight for Hong Kong,China.I will never forget the quiet in the wee hours of the morning with the sun just peeking over the mountains as we prayed in the airport restaurant,giving thanks to such a Mighty God for all His myriad of blessings.At the time I didn't realize just how much the LORD was going to show me in such a beautiful picture,how deeply He loves me.
Gabby proved to be a wonderful little travel companion,as she soaked everything in and making conversation with those around her.We stayed the first night in Hong Kong and really enjoyed getting to know our group,which was made up of 11 families,including ours.Everyone enjoyed each other and as with all groups,their were some funny ones who kept everyone in such high spirits throughout the trip!We went to one restaurant and there was a lazy susan in the middle of this very large,round table.Well,the hostess brought in a steaming tray with noodles and what was that?! Tiny squid!
Gabby picked one up and asked what it was,to which I replied,"Honey,that's squid,you can either eat it or take it back to the room and play with it."All I got from her was a rather crooked smile!
Well,the next day,we headed inland to Nanchang,China.We were told Danielle was found by an employee on the steps of a Civil Affairs Bureau and they turned her into the police there.She was found in a box with 10 Chinese Yuan which is the equivalent of $1.20 U.S. dollars.We didn't know until later,the significance of that money and what it was for.....a burial.Seems to my best understanding,is that Danielle had a mother who loved her so much,she placed her in a public place to be found,but if she died,she wanted her to have a proper burial.This mother loved her baby....
On October 31,2004,after getting settled into our hotel rooms,everyone was called to meet in a conference room near the lobby.We all came in and everyone waited to hear their names being called.We watched,and cried,as families were called to gather their babies from the nannies.The looks on these new parents faces were priceless,as they held their babies close and looking down at their new pride and joy with tears in their eyes....then we heard our names.I held Danielle to my chest and...she cried!She sure had some strong lungs on her.I thought she may very well end up an opera singer.We were then told to take our precious,priceless,bundles to our rooms and change them,look them over,in case they had anything that needed immediate medical attention.Danielle Xu Qian didn't come to us cooing and doe eyed.Instead,she came to us crying and sobbing,her face wet with shed tears.Her hair and skin didn't smell sweet or look clean and shiny,no.Instead,she came with patches of hair completely missing,a flat head in the back,jaundice skin and black thick dirt under her long fingernails.[We were told later that she had a serious vitamin D deficiency]. Danielle came so different than I expected.NOTE:Never! And I mean never! Underestimate where the LORD is going to speak,how He is going to speak,what He is going to say and assume you'll be ready when He does.....I sure wasn't!
Back in our hotel room, as I undressed her,taking off the torn and tattered sweater and the stained shirt that had been patched together several times,God whispered into my heart"This is how you came to me." After giving her a bath,I went to put on new clothing,the LORD continued to speak to me,"And this is how I covered you."It was such a profound moment for me! I still have Danielle's orphanage clothes with all her baby memorabilia,and every time I take them out,I am sweetly reminded that I too,was an orphan.Like Danielle's plight,I came to God with nothing but a sin stained soul and the promise of death and He sent Jesus to rescue me.To save me from death.But not only that,He could have stopped there,but He didn't.He gave me a new name....His.
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