Meeting the Foster Family

(Just a note: you may want to read the post before this one first if you haven't.)

On the way to visit the Foster family an overwhelming sadness came over me and I began to question the whole day. Everything felt out of sorts and wrong. I think at that point if someone had asked if we would just like to head back to Nanchung I would have said yes, I am glad they didn’t.

Here I am bewildered as the mother takes Eve from me and out of the van.

When we arrived in this small village we first went to the home of the Tate’s foster family. We knew that the two foster families lived very close to each other so we knew they were right there. At this point Eve had finally fallen asleep in my arms and I said to Chris “you go ahead and take some pictures, I will stay here and let her sleep”. He headed out and suddenly I could see out the window a little lady seeming to be in an absolute tizzy and looking everywhere in a panic. I suddenly sensed that this was Eve’s foster mother and she was desperately trying to find Eve. Through the translator Chris told her that Eve was sleeping in the van and without any hesitation she marched right over to the van taking loudly and very fast as if she was upset and opened the door came right up to me, grabbed Eve out of my arms, woke her up and took her out. I stumbled out behind her in a daze as this all happened so fast. By the time I got to her she was surrounded by 5 or 6 of the neighbor women all kissing on and adoring Eve. I swear her foster mother kissed Eve’s cheeks a million times.

One of the many kisses

As I watched this scene unfold I felt so happy that I had come. The orphanage seemed so cold and stark and here at least there was love. It made me so grateful that Eve had been one of the lucky ones to go to foster care.

All of us Together

This mother never let me hold Eve again the whole time we were there. She kissed and kissed her cheek and showed her off to everyone as if she was proud and wanted to show everyone that Eve was well dressed and had a good family. The home was small and made of only concrete with no heat.

The bed that Eve slept in

I can now see why these babies are always so bundled up. These homes are freezing and the only way to stay warm is to put on layer after layer of clothing. The foster mother showed me that she had 3 other babies that she was taking care of. I went in and looked at each of them and they were all bundled up. I touched each of their cheeks (the only skin exposed) and knew that in the next few weeks or months mothers like me would come and give them a new safe and loving home.

One of the children she is also caring for.....

I am sure her forever mom and day will be coming soon

As I left the foster mother I thanked her for taking care of my daughter for 8 months and gave her a gift. The orphanage director told her to give Eve to me, she did reluctantly. Then a minute or two later she grabbed Eve back out of my arms and kissed her some more. The orphanage director came back and gave her a little scolding and then looked at me and motioned for me to take Eve back. It was a little battle but I understood, I can’t imagine caring for Eve for 8 months and then having to just give her up.

Eve is loved.

When she took her back and I had to almost wrestle her away.

Oh I understand her heart. I could never giver her up and I have only known her 3 days.