Third Day with Benjamin!

This post is to document our time visit to Benjamin’s orphanage. The details may not be of interest to some, but one day he will be able to read this post and possible know a little more, although very little, of the place he spend the early part of his life. 

We arrived at the Kunming Social Welfare Institute and was quickly escorted to a conference room where we could ask questions. Problem was, they either didn’t want to give us the answers, or they didn’t know.  We were told that he spent 5 months at the foster village but they couldn’t give us any information about the family or if he had any foster siblings. He was returned to the orphanage a week before we met him.  We asked about any special care givers that he was attached to. But we were told they are moved around a lot so the kids do not get attached to any one person.  SO SAD! We were told that he likes to eat fruit and cake – and anything sweet. But we have found this to not be true. He really does not like sweets at all and will drink some fruit juice but he will not eat any fruit that we have found. We were also told he is stubborn and that is really true.  There were other questions that we tried to get answers too without success, and we know that this is just the lay of the land for international adoptions.  But we had hoped to be able to piece together some of his early history, but there was little information given.

The orphanage was very clean, and somewhat sterile.  And strangely quiet. There are 700 kids connected with this orphanage.  550 are in foster care and 150 are living at the orphanage.  The kids in foster care typically have a better start in life, and we feel that this will be the case with Benjamin.  I was surprised, and a little disappointed, that he was only in foster care for 5 months. But feel that this did impact him in a positive way. He came to us plump, healthy, and developmentally on target.  He also is very interactive and returns affection easily.  Which means he was most likely shown affection. 

We saw some children today during our visit, and they were all plump and being attended to.  Most were under the age of 6 months.  From reading other families accounts of their visit, most children are sent to the foster care village around the age of 6 months.  Which seemed to line up with what we saw.  We did see some other older children being cared for. Two children that were blind, were outside for a walk with a caregiver. We also saw a special needs room that housed older kids that had more severe needs.  The equipment seemed up to date and the rooms were well staffed. I know this can be a show put on for the foreign visitors, but in any case, it did seem that the kids were well cared for. 

Its always hard to see so many children with out a family.  We have visited 3 out of our 5 youngest childrens’ orphanages, and 2 of them we were allowed to interact with the kids.  It leaves an impression on you that changes you forever.  If I could be granted one wish in life, it would be for each one of these very special treasures to find a family that would love and celebrate them and call them their own. 

But to focus on our little man – he is such a sweet and stubborn and strong willed little thing.  He will lay in my arms like a young baby and let me kiss his sweet little chubby cheeks. He smiles so big and has the cutest little laugh.  When one care giver (older lady in the pictures ) was holding him, as soon as I finished taking the picture, he leaned towards me and when I held him, he laid his head on my shoulder and snuggled so sweetly.  He also can throw a mean fit, bite and hit.  But that’s pretty normal even for a child that has grown up in a family. 

We are so thankful that God would allow us to add both Benjamin and Samuel to our family.  They are both so full of life and love and many gifts that we will spend a life time discovering.  We are so in love with them both and celebrate their little lives now and forever.