Just Another Day in China

Today was the scheduled shopping excursion.  Lots of outside walking in the HEAT.  Our Mary is NOT a shopper (sorry Jen).  She cried every time we walked into a store.

Each day as our group boards and unloads the bus I have the wonderful priviledge of lifting this sweet angel on and off.  So happy that she is going home to a wonderful family. Her mom is her adopting her while her dad is back home.  She and I have become a team.

It was around 100 degrees today.  I can't think of anything much more miserable than 1) shopping, 2) with a 2 year old, 3) in excessive heat.

We came home and stripped down to cool off.

Being a Barbee and loving OREOS go together!

We start each morning by sitting here and Skyping with family back home.

Faith In China

Things are still going extremely well with the best Mary girl in the world.  Today 4 additional families with our agency arrived in Guangzhou.  They have spent the last week in their child's province.  Lucky for me, Mary's province is right here in Guangzhou so we have been here already.  As I sat with the new 4 families tonight at supper, I was almost embarrassed at how my girl was acting.  It took about 30 minutes for everyone to get their food and meanwhile their children were everywhere.  Running, screaming, yelling and banging spoons on the table while my girl sat quietly beside me eating her cherrios.  She is amazing.  Still goes to bed around 8 or 9 and I am forced to wake her to go eat breakfast.  Many prayers were answered for this trip.

These two girls are being adopted by families in our group.  I wish that you could see them and feel their excitement about finally having a family.  You're never the same after you witness such joy and hope.

I will say that I did find out that Miss Mary can cry.  Just like our experience with water today I found out she also hates doctors.  We  had our required medical exam today and she let me know that her voice is very strong.  She still has not muttered a work, but crying she can do. Every child is required to have a TB test before leaving.  Please pray that Mary's is negative so we an be on our merry way without further testing and a delayed homecoming.

This is our dear friend Elvin.  He will definitely go down as one of the people who has had the most lasting impression on my life.  He was our guide for our first three adoptions.  This time our agency uses a different guide service, but I have had the pleasure of running into him several times.   I'll devote a whole post to him later.  He is the most humble and compassionate man I have ever met.

I want to tell you a story about last night at supper.  When you are the only family for a week in your province, you have a lot of time to walk and find different places to eat.  Mary and I put on our finest attire and took off for an adventure.  After walking about 40 minutes, we came upon a wonderful Italian restaurant.  Wow, we had some great spaghetti but that was not the cool thing about the night. 

Another noodle lover!

Being in China and talking about your faith and walk with God is not something you do on the streets in a loud voice.  As I stroll the streets and eat in restaurants, I always wonder who is a believer and who is not. 

I had the opportunity to speak with 2 college girls that were sitting next to Mary and I.  They asked me the obvious question that everyone thinks but will very seldom ask, "why do you adopt from China?"  I simply told them that it is something that my God has led my family to do and we do it.  I saw one smile and ask me if this was the Christian God and I said yes.  She told me that she, her mom and sisters were Christians but her dad was not.  Also her friend said that she was a Christian also.  So I sat in a Chinese eating establishment talking to 2 new Christians about their faith!!!!!  How cool was that!!!!  I remember My pastor, Jeremy,  and also my father-in-law talk about how China was exploding with new believers everyday!!!!  And with very, very few church buildings!!!!!  I think America needs to learn how the revival is working in China and start rolling up our sleeves and meeting the lost where they are, not where we want to take them!!!!!

Guangzhou Social Welfare Institute

On my itenarary for July 10th was this. " Meet in lobby at 9:45, visit orphanage."  It should have read like this, "We will meet in the lobby at 9:45 and what you are about to see will change your life forever!!!!!!"  I have always considered myself to be a man that gives a lot of me.  I have always loved doing for others.  Making sure that the other person got what was best!  It made me feel wonderful knowing that I let someone win, come in first or made someone else comfortable by me taking something last.  That all has new meaning now.

It started when we first walked into a class of boys at the orphanage ranging from age 7 to 14.  5 of them sitting in desk looking at books with English and Chinese writing.  My guide, Miko, told me that all of these boys have a forever home (been adopted) and they were preparing them for the transition. 

I noticed the oldest boy in the back of the room talking to a cell phone.  He was obviously an albino boy.  Very tall, and very white.  The lady helping him asked me if I would like to talk to his family, from Oklahoma, and I said sure.  He was able to "face time" with his family!!!! How cool was that!!  I was able to grab the phone and talk to his mom and tell her how good he looked, how clean and nice the place was and that he was very excited about coming to their family.  As I talked to the family, I noticed another albino boy in the back ground.  She told me that he would be there 8th child.  I chuckled to her and said she got us by one.  She could see the beautiful Mary in my arms!!!  What a giving family from Oklahoma.

After wiping the tears from my eyes and leaving with all the boys waiving goodbye to me, we walked to what I knew was little pre school rooms.  Classes that were ready for all the kids to come and play and learn.  Miko looked at me when we turned the corner and said that this was Mary's class.  A chill went all over my body.  Knowing that for the last year she was in this room daily with her other friends and teachers.  One of the helpers brought me over to the table in the center of the room and showed me the sweetest picture of a little girl taped on the table where she would do her work.  It was my Mary!!!  Let the emotions flow.  I took pictures of the photo and then the lady took it off the table and handed it to me.  As I cried some more I could only pray that many more children could have their pictures removed off of the tables in orphanages and handed to their forever families.

Mary's photo that marked her seat at the work table.

Mary's picture outside her classroom door.

Then I heard the sweetest voice come into the room with a joy that I will probably never hear again.  Miss Mary has not smiled much and has not shown much emotion but when Yang Na, the sweetest lady that I will never forget, came and saying her name, she smiled the biggest smile I have seen. She talked to her as sweet as I have ever heard any voice of any teacher.  I knew that she loved Mary as if she was her own.  I made sure that Miko told her that I thanked her from the bottom of my heart for loving her and caring for her like she did.

Mary's teacher

After some more tears and pictures we made our way down a walk way that had cribs and beds in it.  I was about to see where Mary stayed every night.  But before I saw that, I saw about 60 to 70 tiny little faces looking at me.  Boys, girls, tiny babies, 3 year olds waiving so big at me.  Children in corners and children with the saddest faces you have ever seen.  Children that looked like our American children and children that had major special needs.  My heart has not ever hurt like this.  I was never able to visit our other girls orphanages and foster families but this time God knew I needed to be shaken and I was!!!!!

Finally I passed these rooms which seemed like miles, I came up on the last room with cribs.  First crib on the right as I walked in was Mary's.  It looked exactly like the other cribs but it was very special.  Mary has slept in it.  On the outside of the door was a chart of children and they were in color code, blue for boys and pink for girls.  Only one pink name tag and it was my Mary's.  Again I was given the pick name tag and again I thought, when will the rest be taken?

Mary's teacher showing me that Mary can indeed walk.  She just doesn't like it!!!

As I left the hall way and waved goodbye to all the kids, about 30 watching a cartoon, I could not help but think, how can I make more of a difference?  How can each child be saved? How can I make it where every, and I mean every family in the US, Canada, UK, Germany and the far reaches of the world see what I have just seen?  Great question!!!!!  Don't know!!  Some how, some way I am going to be an advocate for every child in an orphanage!!!!  Every child needs to have a chance to have a mommy and a daddy to wrap their arms around them and call them there own!!!!  I do not know what that is going to look like and I do not know my next physical step to take but I do know this.  When God calls us to do something, he has promised that mountains can and will be moved!!!!!  Please pray for guidance that God will show Jennifer and I what to do next.  Secondly, pray that God will move in you and your families lives to act in some way.  Adoption is something that is very scary but if you will see the faces of these precious children I promise God will take the fear away. 

I am sorry that I sounded preachy but I do not care!!!!!  These children need homes.  You cannot save all 147 million orphans, but you can save 1. 

Love,

Bobby 

 

More From China......

I've discovered one thing Mary does not like..... WATER!  She hates a bath and she absolutely hated the pool.

This smile was short lived.  She started screaming as soon as my feet hit the water.

She loves yogurt!

Pretty in purple!

Mary likes to ride in the stroller!

Thankfully, She calmed down quickly after her bath!  Here she is playing with blocks after her bath.

My wonderful daughter is an excellent sleeper.  Down at 8, up after 6:30.  It gives me time to get ready for the next day.  It is 5:46 am in China.  The curtains are pulled back and I am waking to a beautiful day in Guangzhou.   I love thunderstorms and will sit on my porch at home and watch and listen to the power and yes beauty that it brings.  Well, being on the 16th floor of a hotel in a major city gave it new meaning.  One of the biggest lightning storms I have ever seen last night.  Still was not scared but a little anxious at how close the lighting was.

So what did the father/daughter team do when you can't go out because of rain?  Put on our finest attire and went to the 2nd floor of the hotel and spent way too much money on sweet and sour pork and drinks.  (Have you priced apple juice lately at your local fancy resturant?)  No worries though, we had a blast.  After dinner we came back to our room, woke up the whole Barbee family with Skype and they were able to see the miracle that is  Mary Anna XiaoJun Barbee.  I asked many of you for one specific prayer, that she would fall in love with her Daddy!!!!  God is good.  She loves me!!!  Last night Jennifer was amazed at watching her put her hands together with mine to patty-cake.  I even got a small smile!!!!  Oh well, got to go get ready for the day.  Get to visit the local Police station and start the process for her passport.  We may do some swimming today also.

PS.  Had lunch with the Mullins today.  Ethan is still the cutest boy in China.  Love knowing that Mary and Ethan are the same age and will get the opportunity to grow up together.  The Mullins will be heading to Hong Kong tomorrow to begin their journey home.  Love everyone!!!!!  Take care.  Bobby and Mary

There's Something About Mary....

Jen here.  Bobby has sent lots of pictures overnight.

Mary playing at the Civil Affairs office while her Daddy signs the paperwork to make her officially a Barbee!!!

Date night with Daddy!  Bobby said they had a great night eating out together.

Branching out on the hairdos!  So proud of Bobby !  He might just get himself a new job in the mornings when school starts back.  We have lots of little girls that need hair help!

Bobby says she is a wonderful sleeper!  Hope that continues to be the case!

A Quiet One....

It may very well backfire, but we have a quiet Barbee!!!!!  It all may change, but she is very quiet and has not even whimpered a cry.  I think she is still in shock over me but that is totally understandable. 

Mary is very little.  You can see that in the pictures.  She does eat anything I give her so I think we can get her beefed up for the summer.

I wish I could convey the emotions that is running through me these days.  Knowing that I am all she has for the next 11 days is quiet overwhelming.  Knowing that she is ours has not really sunk in.

The prayers all around the world are wonderful!!!  I cannot thank everyone enough for keeping up with us and praying daily.  My pictures and videos are going to be hit and miss.  I hope Jennifer can find them on Google Plus and post some.  Take care all.  Mary has been asleep for 9 hours straight and I think I hear some rustling in the other room.  O yea, up every hour last night like a new father putting my finger uder her nose making sure she was breathing.  A couple of times I had to laugh at myself!!!!!  

Love you all! Bobby

PS. The Mullins are doing great!! Ethan is quiet the handsome man and very funny.  He loves to give his mama kisses!!!  Eating lunch with them today.

 

Cute pigtails that that someone at the orphanage had done.

After spending time skyping with Jen and kids, we changed clothes and headed to dinner.

Then it was time for PJs and bed.  She loves her yellow cup.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update from Jen:

I have spoken with Bobby since this post.  Mary did wake up after nine hours and reached for him from her crib.  Many prayers have been answered.  She is comfortable with her daddy!  She has a yellow cup that she loves.  She only chews on the top.  The only time she cries is when she has to put the cup down.  Amazing.  

This morning we got dressed and headed to breakfast.  Mary loves the hotel breakfast.  It is great.

Today we are headed to sign papers at the civil affairs office.  Didn't push my luck trying a new hairdo.  We just repeated the one from yesterday.

In her daddy's arms at last!

Jen here.  Just skyped with Bobby.  He has our girl!  He said she came to him without crying and hasn't cried at all, but is very timid and unsure.  We will have to wait and see how the day unfolds......  Thankful for now that she isn't screaming and kicking.  Prayers answered once again.