Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Jim, Vickie, Amber, Anagrace and Austin!
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Home Update - The End of Another Chapter ~ The Beginning of a New One
For those of you who follow The Story of You journeys, you know that most families end their journeys talk about things like their flights home from China. Maybe even the tales of delays or lost luggage. And of course about their newest addition to their families and their adjustment into their new lives. But we’ve decided to use our limited space to talk about what led us on our first journey to China and what led us to travel back again just 15 short months later.
We are the parents of three biological children, Adam-24, Andrew-21, and Amber-16. Our children have been our greatest accomplishments in our adult lives and for them we are very thankful and blessed. With our last child gearing up to enter high school and the nest starting to feel eerily empty, it laid the foundation for what was to happen next. While attending a marriage conference in November 2003 I sat and listened as Stephen Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth spoke about their adoptions from China. When it was over, there was no doubt in my mind that this was what we were supposed to do. God used that message and spoke very clearly to my heart that evening that our task of raising children was not even close to being over (well there went early retirement-ha!)
Fast forward to December 2004, we stepped off the plane in Guangzhou China for a journey that would change our lives forever. On December 13, 2004 we flew to the Zhanjiang City orphanage where we were handed our beautiful daughter, Zhan Wen Xue, whom we named Anagrace Wenxue Marie. There were 8 other families with us that day that received their daughters as well. These families, along with the other families from our travel group have now become our extended family and will forever be. We truly are blessed to be able to maintain not only our friendships, but also the connection to our daughters’ past from China.
After we received Anagrace that December morning, we snapped those last few photos of the orphanage, we scooped up our babies and then we all loaded up on the bus to start on the journey home. But what about those who were still there, what about all those children who are still left behind that need forever families? As our bus rolled out of the orphanage gate my husband and I just looked at each other for a moment and then Jim said, “we’ve got to come back, you know that don’t you?” I nodded. And while this was a wonderful, happy moment in our lives and in our new daughter’s life, the feeling of sadness for all of the children left behind was simply overwhelming.
For those of you who may not have followed along on our journey, I would invite you to read our journal from March 6th in which we returned to Zhanjiang to visit the orphanage. A day and an event that has and will forever change our lives. As I was reading a book recently written by C. Thomas Davis, titled ‘Fields of the Fatherless’ I was stunned when I read the words that so perfectly described my heart and how this past trip to China has affected both Jim and I.
This is what he wrote: “I think a lot of us have a very limited concept of joy—we tie it to what makes us feel happy. But real joy goes even deeper, and it’s not always found in obvious places. Instead, it hides in corners, waiting to be discovered when we sacrifice our desire for God’s desires. For a long time, I missed the kind of joy I’m talking about. Then I stumbled into some fields filled with treasure: the Fields of the Fatherless. There I discovered what was really on God’s heart and I was stunned. It changed my life forever”.
So here we are at the end of a chapter, only to begin a new one with our son, Austin Rongjun James Bennett. Austin continues to be a ray of sunshine in our lives. He has adjusted so well to his new life and has brought so much happiness to our family already. We had a few sleep issues with him the first couple nights that we were home, but once he was able to get his clock adjusted to the time difference, he’s been sleeping all night for us. I love to sit in the mornings watching Austin and Anagrace play while I sip on my coffee. I still sometimes find it hard to believe that we’ve started our family all over again. These children have been such a blessing in our lives and we are so blessed to have been chosen to be their parents.
We want to thank all of you who followed along on our journey with us. Your prayers and support have been amazing. We know that Austin’s smooth adjustment and Anagrace’s successful stay at home are testament to all of the prayers that were given for them. Thank you to all of you who emailed us while we were in China. They served as a constant comfort to us. And to our family and friends, we want to thank you for the support that you’ve given us over the past 15 months. Even when everyone thought that we were crazy for starting our family over again, you were there for us with love and support, trusting in our obedience to doing God’s will in our lives.
What does the future hold for us, that remains to be seen. But for now we will enjoy the two beautiful children that God has brought into our lives and all of the madness and fun that goes along with raising two 2 year olds. One thing is for certain and that is there is a lot of work to be done in the orphanages of China. And there are a lot of children who are in need of forever families. In the days and years to come we will be committed to that work and to those children.
With that, I wanted to leave all of you with these final words. I recently purchased a book called ‘Mei Mei’. The book has no words, simply black and white photographs of Chinese girls who are currently living in various orphanages throughout China. The proceeds of this book go to Half The Sky Foundation (you can visit their website at www.halfthesky.org ). In the Afterward Karin Evans, journalists, author, and adoptive mother herself, wrote down the words so eloquently that described our hearts, our thoughts, and our heavy burden for all of the children who remain left behind in the orphanages. Here is what Karin had to say:
“In the cities of China, tucked somewhere off the beaten path, are the buildings that house the local social welfare institutions, and inside, the small faces, the children left behind in the shadow of progress. Walk through an orphanage, and you’ll be forever changed. Newborns, newly found. Toddlers in their wheelie chairs. Older children who have been in the institution for years and will be there years more. Little ones with cleft palates, burns, and other scars, visible and invisible. Totally undeserving of the world’s hardship, they represent each of us at our smallest and most vulnerable. The human family is meant to fill such immense primal loneliness. A mother’s embrace is needed, a father’s hug, a grandparent’s indulgent smile. Yet these children have lost everyone at once.” Afterward Copyright 2005 Karin Evans
If you would like more information about adoption in China or if you have any questions regarding our experience with the adoption process, please feel free to email us at vbennett123@yahoo.com
For more information about our adoption agency, Families Thru International Adoption, please visit their website at www.ftia.org.
For more information about serving some of the orphans who remain in the orphanages in China, please visit www.bringmehope.org (this is just one of many organizations in which you can become involved with)
We hope you’ve enjoyed following along on our journey to Austin and for allowing us the opportunity to share with you our hearts.
In His Grip,
Jim & Vickie Bennett
Adam, Andrew, Amber, Anagrace & Austin
