November 4, 2009
November 1, 2009
More articles on Child Trafficking and Tearful Reunions
Waking from a Nightmare by Zhu Zhe (China Daily) http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2009-10/30/content_8870545.htm
Nightmare Ends After 16 Years by Mei Jia (China Daily)
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2009-10/29/content_8864797.htm
Nightmare Ends After 16 Years by Mei Jia (China Daily)
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2009-10/29/content_8864797.htm
Looking for Answers by Mei Jia
Article published in the China Daily on October 29, 2009
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2009-10/29/content_8864792.htm
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2009-10/29/content_8864792.htm
October 26, 2009
October 17, 2009
China's Stolen Children by Jimmy Wang and Andrew Jacobs
China's Kidnapped Children
Thousands of Chinese children have been kidnapped, transported to other provinces and sold for profit in a crime authorities seem unable or unwilling to stop, Andrew Jacobs and Jimmy Wang report.
Video
Thousands of Chinese children have been kidnapped, transported to other provinces and sold for profit in a crime authorities seem unable or unwilling to stop, Andrew Jacobs and Jimmy Wang report.
Video
September 21, 2009
We are home!
It's been over a week now since we have been home and I am finally updating the blog. I always have such a hard time returning from China. I'm still waking up at 4:30 am every morning. It is nice to be home but it is always a tough adjustment to get back to a normal routine.
This was a life changing experience for all of us, but especially Christian. He really enjoyed being in China and now wants to learn Chinese, which is great. This will really help him be able to develop a relationship with his birth family. We have talked about taking a Chinese class as a family, although I do not have high hopes in ever being fluent in Chinese.
We have already received emails from Christian's brother and we plan to continue to correspond with all of them. I think it will have to be by snail mail for his grandmother and uncle since they do not have internet access, but that's okay. I already miss them!
It is going to take some time for Christian to process all that he has experienced over the last few months. Please pray for us as we try to absorb all of this and continue to develop relationships with our new extended family in China!
Also please keep our extended family in your prayers- that they are more at peace now and that his birth mother and grandmother live many more years so that Christian has a chance to develop a relationship with them.
Thanks for your support and encouragement. I do hope to write a book and so does Christian as we both have a story to tell from different perspectives. If anyone knows of a publisher that might be interested please let me know.
Thanks again for your interest in our story! God bless!
For I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds, saith the Lord. -Jeremiah 30:17
This was a life changing experience for all of us, but especially Christian. He really enjoyed being in China and now wants to learn Chinese, which is great. This will really help him be able to develop a relationship with his birth family. We have talked about taking a Chinese class as a family, although I do not have high hopes in ever being fluent in Chinese.
We have already received emails from Christian's brother and we plan to continue to correspond with all of them. I think it will have to be by snail mail for his grandmother and uncle since they do not have internet access, but that's okay. I already miss them!
It is going to take some time for Christian to process all that he has experienced over the last few months. Please pray for us as we try to absorb all of this and continue to develop relationships with our new extended family in China!
Also please keep our extended family in your prayers- that they are more at peace now and that his birth mother and grandmother live many more years so that Christian has a chance to develop a relationship with them.
Thanks for your support and encouragement. I do hope to write a book and so does Christian as we both have a story to tell from different perspectives. If anyone knows of a publisher that might be interested please let me know.
Thanks again for your interest in our story! God bless!
For I will restore health unto you, and I will heal you of your wounds, saith the Lord. -Jeremiah 30:17
Our Last Day in Beijing- Heading Home
I woke up early to pack and get organized. Our flight doesn't leave until 6 pm but we have another busy day planned. I had a 9 am meeting with two of the volunteers with "Baby Come Home." Later someone from Hunan TV is supposed to be bringing our videotape back and copy more photos from our computer for the documentary they are making.
After a busy morning we had lunch with Barbara Demick, writer for the LA Times and another colleague of hers. They are both US citizens living and working in China. Barbara wrote an excellent article on the story that was in the Baltimore Sun, LA Times, Chicago Tribune. We had a great lunch at a sushi restaurant in a very modern part of the city. I really enjoyed talking to both of them about China and their experiences. It was also interesting to get their perspective on the Reunion story and hear how well it has been received by local Chinese people.
After lunch we took a taxi back to our hotel, where we met Emily, our local guide and the driver to take us to the airport. As we were halfway to the airport at about 3:30 pm, I started looking through the flight information for Jamie's flight number. Jamie flew separately from the rest of us and we recalled that his flight was three hours from ours. As I scanned the flight information I realized that the 9:30 departure time I had previously seen was not his departure time from Beijing but from his connecting flight in Newark. Jamie's flight was leaving three hours before ours, not three hours after ours! He was supposed to leave Beijing at 3:30! So...Jamie got an extra night in Beijing! Kelly and I joked the whole way home about how we were going to tell our mom, because the last thing she said to Kelly was "don't lose my boy."
After a busy morning we had lunch with Barbara Demick, writer for the LA Times and another colleague of hers. They are both US citizens living and working in China. Barbara wrote an excellent article on the story that was in the Baltimore Sun, LA Times, Chicago Tribune. We had a great lunch at a sushi restaurant in a very modern part of the city. I really enjoyed talking to both of them about China and their experiences. It was also interesting to get their perspective on the Reunion story and hear how well it has been received by local Chinese people.
After lunch we took a taxi back to our hotel, where we met Emily, our local guide and the driver to take us to the airport. As we were halfway to the airport at about 3:30 pm, I started looking through the flight information for Jamie's flight number. Jamie flew separately from the rest of us and we recalled that his flight was three hours from ours. As I scanned the flight information I realized that the 9:30 departure time I had previously seen was not his departure time from Beijing but from his connecting flight in Newark. Jamie's flight was leaving three hours before ours, not three hours after ours! He was supposed to leave Beijing at 3:30! So...Jamie got an extra night in Beijing! Kelly and I joked the whole way home about how we were going to tell our mom, because the last thing she said to Kelly was "don't lose my boy."
Back In Beijing
After our quick stop in Chengdu we flew to Beijing for one last night before heading back to the states. The trip has gone by so fast and we are all wishing we had more time in Beijing. We land in Beijing by noon and were met at the airport by Emily, our local guide. She took us back to the hotel, where we had lunch with the former Director of Luoyang Children's Welfare Institute, where Christian was adopted. Director Pei recently retired as Director, which I learned is more like a "forced retirement" due to age. It was great to see him.
Christian and I with Director Pei
The whole gang with Director Pei
After our lunch we did some last minute shopping at the Silk Market, which is now inside a 7 story building. The last time I went to the Silk Market (5 years ago) it was still outdoors near the US embassy. It was quite an experience this time. The shopkeepers were much more agressive than the last time. You really have to be in the right mindset to go shopping here. As soon as you walk in "lady, lady you need Polo shirts, Coach purse, Gucci...how about some Uggs?" I got to bartering with this one lady and walked away when she wouldn't meet my price. She grabbed me by the arm and dug her nails into me saying "Lady, you are being mean....come on...you got to be kidding...these are Chanel (sunglasses)." I told her to get her hands off me and walked away again. She immediately yells "okay, lady...fine...come back." I wasn't going to come back but she came after me. I paid her as she was saying "lady, how can I make any money when you won't pay me what it's worth." I reminded her that they are fake and not worth much. "what? you are kidding...these are not fake, lady. Come on, lady." Needless to say, we only could take about an hour of this and then went back to the hotel.
We had plans to meet Wen-Chun, the CNN Producer for dinner. The guys decided they would rather shop longer so they passed on dinner (no, that's not a typo...the GUYS decided to shop longer and pass on dinner). Kelly and I met Wen-Chun back at the hotel and he took us to a very nice Taiwanese restuarant. We met up with the CNN reporter, John Vause and his wife at the restaurant. They are all really nice and we had a lot of fun hearing about their experience living in China as ex-pats.
Wen-Chun took us back to the hotel and we met up with Christian and Jamie to look at the video of our trip to the village.
Christian, Wen-Chun and me
Chengdu Panda Research Center
After touring the Terra Cotta Soldiers, we had lunch at a restaurant where we learned to make Jiaozi (traditional Chinese dumplings) before heading for the airport to fly to Chengdu. Our flight to Chengdu was quite interesting as it was delayed almost two hours and other passengers were getting really angry. Every time one of the flight crew would come off the plane to the check in counter, they would be verbally attacked by a crowd of angry travellers. We finally boarded but the plane sat on the runway for about 30 minutes. One man two rows ahead of us was shouting at the poor flight attendents, who would just nod and smile a lot. If this had been an American airline I think the man would have been thrown off the plane.
Chengdu is our last stop before going back to Beijing. We are only here for a day to see the Panda Research Center, which was Christian's request. He was the only one that had the chance to hold a Panda while we were there.
Chengdu is our last stop before going back to Beijing. We are only here for a day to see the Panda Research Center, which was Christian's request. He was the only one that had the chance to hold a Panda while we were there.
So cute!
One year old male panda born during Olympics last year
September 8, 2009
Xian- Home of the Terra Cotta Soldiers
Here are some photos from our day visiting the Terra Cotta Soldiers:
Kelly (my sister), me, Christian and Jamie (my brother)
Response to request about donations
Thanks to everyone for following along on our story. I really enjoyed reading all of your nice comments. I noticed a few people have asked how you can donate towards our trip. I just added a Paypal button to the top of the blog as one way. If you are not comfortable doing so through Paypal, we did set up a local Bank Account just for this cause. The name of the account is Birth Parent Reunion/Julia Norris and the address is:
Talbot Bank
212 Marlboro Rd
Easton, MD 21601
I guess I should have thought to do this earlier but it is really not too late since we still have a few days left and I have a big loan to repay when I return. :-) One thing I learned is never travel to a foreign country wtihout a credit card! Anyway, I am so grateful for any help you would like to offer.
I have more photos and stories to blog later today. I have more information about my son's history that has not been shared yet, but that will be revealed in a book some day if I can find a publisher interested.
I am so proud of my son and how he has handled this experience. My brother, sister and I have already noticed a huge change in him. He has matured so much and has expressed a new appreciation for the life he has been given despite the heartaches along the way. He really misses his little sister and is even a little homesick. He has said several times on this trip "I am so blessed." He also wants to learn Chinese again when we get home and probably return to China for work or study at some point. I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for him.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28
Talbot Bank
212 Marlboro Rd
Easton, MD 21601
I guess I should have thought to do this earlier but it is really not too late since we still have a few days left and I have a big loan to repay when I return. :-) One thing I learned is never travel to a foreign country wtihout a credit card! Anyway, I am so grateful for any help you would like to offer.
I have more photos and stories to blog later today. I have more information about my son's history that has not been shared yet, but that will be revealed in a book some day if I can find a publisher interested.
I am so proud of my son and how he has handled this experience. My brother, sister and I have already noticed a huge change in him. He has matured so much and has expressed a new appreciation for the life he has been given despite the heartaches along the way. He really misses his little sister and is even a little homesick. He has said several times on this trip "I am so blessed." He also wants to learn Chinese again when we get home and probably return to China for work or study at some point. I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store for him.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -Romans 8:28
September 5, 2009
Thanks to all of you!
I just had a chance to read the comments on the blog and wanted to say thanks for all of your kind words, prayers, encouragement and support. I am not sure I deserve such praise. I am just a mom who loves her children and a woman with Christ's spirit living inside her heart. He should get all the glory for leading me to this incredible boy and allowing this miracle to happen.
Please pray for Christian's birthparents and especially his uncle, aunt, cousins and sweet grandmother. I am especially concerned for the aunt and uncle that raised Christian those first 7 years. I can still hear in my head his uncle sobbing as we got into the van and pulled away the other day. I think it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I felt like I was taking their son away again...even though I know in my heart that this is not only what Christian wants but what is best for him. I am so thankful that his Chinese family (now a part of our family) wants the best for Christian. They are wonderful people who love him dearly and my heart breaks for what they are going through. I pray that knowing he is alive and well now will bring them peace. I will be sending them updates and photos regularly so they can be a part of his life again. I believe the Lord has big plans for Christian and his work on earth has just begun.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:16
Please pray for Christian's birthparents and especially his uncle, aunt, cousins and sweet grandmother. I am especially concerned for the aunt and uncle that raised Christian those first 7 years. I can still hear in my head his uncle sobbing as we got into the van and pulled away the other day. I think it was the hardest thing I have ever done. I felt like I was taking their son away again...even though I know in my heart that this is not only what Christian wants but what is best for him. I am so thankful that his Chinese family (now a part of our family) wants the best for Christian. They are wonderful people who love him dearly and my heart breaks for what they are going through. I pray that knowing he is alive and well now will bring them peace. I will be sending them updates and photos regularly so they can be a part of his life again. I believe the Lord has big plans for Christian and his work on earth has just begun.
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. -Matthew 5:16
We finally arrive in Xian!
The train ride was fun...my third time on a sleeper train in China. It's always an adventure trying to get them to understand our English/broken Chinese. We couldn't get them to understand "coffee" in the morning.
We are trying to have some down time here in Xian these next two days and then we do some sightseeing. I will post more later.
Oh, and for the people that commented wondering if Chrsitian would be staying in China, the answer is no, he will be returning with us to the US. There was never any intention of him staying in China. His birth family did not expect him to because they know it would be a tough adjustment for him. They want the best for him and want him to be happy and have a good future. He has a new love for China and the people of China now, so I will not be surprised if one day he chooses to come back to live here. If he does I will fully support him. In the meantime we plan to keep in touch with the family and visit as often as possible.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. -Romans 12:10
We are trying to have some down time here in Xian these next two days and then we do some sightseeing. I will post more later.
Oh, and for the people that commented wondering if Chrsitian would be staying in China, the answer is no, he will be returning with us to the US. There was never any intention of him staying in China. His birth family did not expect him to because they know it would be a tough adjustment for him. They want the best for him and want him to be happy and have a good future. He has a new love for China and the people of China now, so I will not be surprised if one day he chooses to come back to live here. If he does I will fully support him. In the meantime we plan to keep in touch with the family and visit as often as possible.
Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. -Romans 12:10
September 4, 2009
A Change of Plans
Christian requested to leave early. I couldn't bear seeing him go through any more emotional turmoil. It was incredibly hard for me so I can't imagine how he is feeling. We both thought that the longer we stayed in the village the harder it would be for his family to say goodbye.
We now have to reschedule our train tickets and pay for two extra nights in Xian, which was not in the budget. Please pray that we can make these changes and afford to continue our trip as we planned. I want Christian to enjoy the rest of our time here without more stress.
We decided not to go back to the village to say goodbye. Instead we asked the close family members to come to Longde (the closest town and also the town where his birth parents live) to say good bye. We asked for only his closest relatives to come (I was thinking about 4 people) but it turned out about a dozen people came. I also asked if the family could try to keep their emotions in check to make it easier on all of us. It turned out that I think my sister and I were crying hareder than anyone. It was such a difficult moment. I had our guide show me how to say that "I promise to take good care of him and keep in touch" and tried to tell each family member that in Chinese. I was crying too much so I just kept handing that little piece of paper to each family member. After we hugged everyone and said goodbye the four of us piled into the van with our guides and pulled away. The next hour in the van was quiet with nothing but sniffles.
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. -Psalm 31:9
The 5 hour drive between Longde and Lanzhou had some beautiful landscape shots. We stopped a few times to take in the beautiful scenery.
Once we arrived in Lanzhou we still had 6 hours before we could catch our midnight train to Xian. We killed some time by having foot massages at a local hotel, which was a treat (only $5). Did some exploring of Lanzhou on our own and got a lot of stares. I didn't see one foreigner the whole time there.
I hope to update the blog more when we arrive in Xian tomorrow. Thanks again for all your prayers and support!
We now have to reschedule our train tickets and pay for two extra nights in Xian, which was not in the budget. Please pray that we can make these changes and afford to continue our trip as we planned. I want Christian to enjoy the rest of our time here without more stress.
We decided not to go back to the village to say goodbye. Instead we asked the close family members to come to Longde (the closest town and also the town where his birth parents live) to say good bye. We asked for only his closest relatives to come (I was thinking about 4 people) but it turned out about a dozen people came. I also asked if the family could try to keep their emotions in check to make it easier on all of us. It turned out that I think my sister and I were crying hareder than anyone. It was such a difficult moment. I had our guide show me how to say that "I promise to take good care of him and keep in touch" and tried to tell each family member that in Chinese. I was crying too much so I just kept handing that little piece of paper to each family member. After we hugged everyone and said goodbye the four of us piled into the van with our guides and pulled away. The next hour in the van was quiet with nothing but sniffles.
Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. -Psalm 31:9
The 5 hour drive between Longde and Lanzhou had some beautiful landscape shots. We stopped a few times to take in the beautiful scenery.
It is very dry with a lot of terraced fields, which is part of a reforestation project.
Once we arrived in Lanzhou we still had 6 hours before we could catch our midnight train to Xian. We killed some time by having foot massages at a local hotel, which was a treat (only $5). Did some exploring of Lanzhou on our own and got a lot of stares. I didn't see one foreigner the whole time there.
I hope to update the blog more when we arrive in Xian tomorrow. Thanks again for all your prayers and support!
September 3, 2009
The Village Reunion
We are in the Ningxia Province, just south of Inner Mongolia.
We are in the town of Longde, which is in the southern tip of the Ningxia province just below Guyuan. Longde is a very small town with no major hotels. The village is located just 15 minutes outside of Longde. There are about 120 families (1000 people) living in the village.
We woke up and had a nice breakfast at the Jin family's home and then each of us packed a small bag in case we decided to stay the night at the village. Two taxis were waiting for us in front of the hospital to take us to the village. As we loaded up the taxis we noticed a crowd of people in white coats beginning to crowd around us. We assumed they were the colleagues of Gaoke and JuLian wanting to get a look at Christian. We were sitting in the taxi waiting for the driver, when the white coats started to multiply. They came up to our car window peering in with big smiles across their faces waving at Christian. That's when I told Christian, he should get out to greet them because it was obvious they wanted to meet him. I wondered how many of them remembered him when he was young and living with his birth parents.
It was an easy ride down one main highway and the village entrance was right on the highway. We drove down a dirt lane until it came to an end. As we were getting out of our taxis, the villagers began to set off fireworks to celebrate our arrival. There were crowds of people standing around watching and just one small camera crew (Henan TV). It was the same camera crew that we saw taping our arrival at Lanzhou Airport the day before.
Several people ran to Christian sobbing hysterically. One woman was so upset I thought she was going to collapse. I watched JuLian, Christian's birth mom comfort her and asked the guide who the lady was. It was Christian's aunt, the woman that helped raise him the first 7 years. It was incredibly emotional and took it's toll on all of us, but especially Christian. They were all so happy to see him, yet sad at the same time. He saw his cousins he grew up with, his great grandmother, many uncles and aunts.
Christian with his two aunts, uncle and the two cousins he grew up with thinking they were his siblings
Christian's aunt cried so hard almost the entire time we were there
Inside his Uncle's house many people crammed into this small room to get a chance to meet Christian
Village kids peaking in trying to get a look at Christian inside his uncle's home
Taking a tour of the village hand and hand with his cousins
We visited the school at the village that Christian attended. This man was Christian's pre-school teacher.
Here we are sitting on a Kang (traditional bed which is a cement slab with quilts on top for cushion. The Kang is heated underneath with straw to keep them warm. This is also where they eat. The table is placed on top of the kang. We had a traditional meal of dumplings, which was delicious. Pictured with us is his grandmother, who we call "Nai Nai." What a sweet woman!
There were many tears and finally after several hours the emotions got to Christian and he asked if we could leave. The mother bear that I am summoned the interpreter and said "Let's go!" Our interpreter looked a bit shocked and said "okay, but the family wants to take a photo of both families before you leave." So we did and then we grabbed our bags and piled into a van. The family and neighbors watched in tears as we pulled away. It was very sudden and I think they were surprised that we were not staying the night.
My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. -Psalm 119:28
August 31, 2009
Tour of the Beijing Hutongs
We spent the day touring the Hutong (traditional neighborhoods in Beijing) by rickshaw. After that we had lunch and then on to tour the Summer Palace and Tiannamen Square. This evening we had a great time having dinner with the volunteers from "Baby Come Home." Just a few minutes ago in the hotel room we saw the video coverage of the reunion on CNN. Christian is getting quite used to the reporters now. We have one more interview tomorrow morning before leaving for the village. The volunteers also gave us some of the local papers that had articles on the story. I can't believe how big this story is here. Christian is having a massage tonight here at the hotel, which he definitely deserves after all the stress he has been under the last few months. Not sure when I will get mine! :-)
I am tired as usual so I will blog again after we leave the village and arrive in Xian. Here are a few photos from today:
By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. -John 13:35
August 30, 2009
Exploring the Great Wall with our new extended family
I have so much to post but not enough time...of course. We are on a very busy schedule of touring each day. We are also trying to get together with some of our new friends in the evenings (the volunteers from "Baby Come Home"). Some of the foreign reporters we have gotten to know have been so helpful while here and we hope to get together for dinner with them (no more interviews though) as well. I wish we had more time!
Yesterday was great. The family enjoyed the Great Wall and we were all amazed at how agile Christian's 80 year old grandmother was. She was with us the whole time and often ahead of us. She won't let go of Christian's hand. At one time I tried to give Christian a break so he could take photos. I tried to grab her hand and she lifted up our hands, pointing to our hands, shook her head "no" with a smile and then scurried ahead to grab Christian's hand. So cute! It is so evident that this family loves Christian dearly. The birth dad and uncle are getting a long well (no more arguments or bitterness) and laughing together now, so that is nice to see. Years of anger and resentment seem to be healing between the two of them. Thank the Lord for that.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. -Ephesians 4:32
After the tour of the Great Wall, we went to a Cloisonne Factory and then to an Acrobatic Show. The uncle and grandmother were literally on the edge of their seats the whole time with a big smile on their faces. This is all so new to them having never been out of Ningxia. After the show we had a nice Peking Duck Dinner. We laughed and joked around a lot with the family. The birth father particularly has a great sense of humor. We talked about how the alittude is much greater in Ningxia and the birth father said he was worried we would have a hard time adjusting and breathing, so he got us some oxygen bottles. We think he was joking but not quite sure...after all he and his wife are doctors.
We leave Beijing tomorrow to head to the village and won't have internet access until September 5th unlesss we take a day trip to Longde and use the internet there. I will upload photos from yesterday later before we head off to the village.
Here is a great article from the LA Times:
Article on AOL- I haven't even had time to read this one yet.
Part 2 of CNN's original story
Thanks for all your comments on facebook and emails. I haven't had time to read them all, but definitely will when things calm down some.
Love to all of you,
Julia, Christian, Kelly & Jamie
Yesterday was great. The family enjoyed the Great Wall and we were all amazed at how agile Christian's 80 year old grandmother was. She was with us the whole time and often ahead of us. She won't let go of Christian's hand. At one time I tried to give Christian a break so he could take photos. I tried to grab her hand and she lifted up our hands, pointing to our hands, shook her head "no" with a smile and then scurried ahead to grab Christian's hand. So cute! It is so evident that this family loves Christian dearly. The birth dad and uncle are getting a long well (no more arguments or bitterness) and laughing together now, so that is nice to see. Years of anger and resentment seem to be healing between the two of them. Thank the Lord for that.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. -Ephesians 4:32
We are learning a lot more information about Christian's first family and his life before the orphanage. I am so thankful his birth family are they type of people they are and that we all just want the best for Christian.
After the tour of the Great Wall, we went to a Cloisonne Factory and then to an Acrobatic Show. The uncle and grandmother were literally on the edge of their seats the whole time with a big smile on their faces. This is all so new to them having never been out of Ningxia. After the show we had a nice Peking Duck Dinner. We laughed and joked around a lot with the family. The birth father particularly has a great sense of humor. We talked about how the alittude is much greater in Ningxia and the birth father said he was worried we would have a hard time adjusting and breathing, so he got us some oxygen bottles. We think he was joking but not quite sure...after all he and his wife are doctors.
We leave Beijing tomorrow to head to the village and won't have internet access until September 5th unlesss we take a day trip to Longde and use the internet there. I will upload photos from yesterday later before we head off to the village.
Here is a great article from the LA Times:
Article on AOL- I haven't even had time to read this one yet.
Part 2 of CNN's original story
Thanks for all your comments on facebook and emails. I haven't had time to read them all, but definitely will when things calm down some.
Love to all of you,
Julia, Christian, Kelly & Jamie
August 29, 2009
Reunion Day- A Media Frenzy
This has been the most exhausting day emotionally of my life so this is going to be a quick post. Everything went very well. I can not believe the attention that this story has gotten. It was a media frenzy when we walked into the room. The birth family was waiting for us when we walked into the room. As soon as the family laid eyes on Christian there were outbursts of tears. His birthfather literally knelt down in front of Christian holding his hands and sobbed. The media was fighting for a spot up front so much that my sister couldn't get through to take any video or pictures. We were all overwhelmed with all the media attention, but I was particularly concerned about Christian. I was so moved by the family's outburst of emotions. Even some of the volunteers had tears in their eyes. My heart just broke for the family because there was no doubt their tears were genuine and they loved this little boy who is now almost a grown man.
From left to right: Birthfather, Grandmother, Christian
and uncle
Christian with Grandmother and Uncle
I think there were at least 8 different media outlets present.
Interviewing Christian
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. -Psalm 147:3
Our first meal together
CNN producer, reporter and cameraman caught up with us again
at the lake (they were actually a lot of fun). We had to take this picture
because the reporter looked so funny crammed behind the helm in his suit.
We wanted to play bumper boats with them but thought
maybe the cameraman wouldn't appreciate that.
Christian at the helm- finally having fun and much more relaxed
We ended our day early because we were all so exhausted. It was an incredible day and I think it all went very well. Christian became much more relaxed and at ease by the end of the day. It is time for my head to hit the pillow. Tomorrow is the Great Wall!
CNN Video clips:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. -Rom 8:28
August 28, 2009
The Journey Begins
Madison and I
Some of us were up until 1 a.m. packing (yeah, that would be me). The alarm went off at 4 a.m. I never did find my camera, but I borrowed my mom’s. Thanks to Candice and Alisha (and any others I missed) that offered their camera to me!
We had an uneventful ride to Dulles and all went smoothly at check in. Jamie, my brother is flying separately and took off at 9:15 for a connecting flight in Newark. Christian, my sister and I had a direct flight on a packed flight. I got word just before taking off that our story was on the home page of the CNN website. I believe it is airing on CNN international also. A second part will air after the reunion.
Here are some shots of us flying over the North Pole.
We arrive in Beijing and only one camera person was there (CNN producer) so it wasn't too bad. The funny part came when we arrived back at our hotel, where the birth family is also staying. Our travel guide and the CNN producer go into the hotel to check us in and to make sure the birth family was not in the lobby area. They don't want us to run into the birth family before the actual reunion takes place tomorrow so the entire evening was very tricky. They thought the coast was clear so my sister and I go into the hotel and are standing with the CNN producer at the hotel front desk, when all of a sudden the producer very calmly says "uh oh, there's Granny. Quick...turn around, don't look back and go straight to the ladies room." We go into the business center by accident and ask where the ladies room is, so the very kind Chinese lady starts taking us to the ladies room. All the while Kelly and I are ten steps ahead of her trying to locate it based on her hand gestures so the grandmother doesn't spot us. We dart into the first stall together to hide and pulled out our cell phones to wait for further instructions. Finally Wen-Chun calls to tell us we are in the clear and can go directly to our room, where we have been ever since.
The night before the reunion with the "Baby Come Home" in our hotel room
About 6 volunteers with the "Baby Come Home" organization came to our room for about 2 hours tonight to talk about tomorrow's reunion. We determined the room they have reserved for us is not big enough for all the media now (ABC called in the middle of our meeting to ask permission to be there too). This is getting crazy! Kelly and I are so exhausted that all we could do is just laugh about it all. Jamie (my brother) and Christian pretty much went to sleep right after we checked in, so they missed all the craziness. Anyway, time for us to get some sleep so we are not zombies for the big day tomorrow! Thanks to everyone for your prayers!
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. -Isaiah 41:10
August 23, 2009
Henan Daily Newspaper- June 25, 2009
The following article appeared in the Henan Daily Newspaper on June 25, 2009. The reporter’s name is Ju Chang (朱长振)
Journalist’s notes
“I think my son has the right to know where he is from” an American adoptive mother described her response to her Chinese son’s request to find his biological parents. The son is 17 years old. He asked for help in finding his birth family when he was 14. Since then, this American mother has tried many different ways to help her son find his relatives.
This June their wish finally came true. Due to the help from numerous volunteers, they found the son’s home and got in contact with his biological parents. His past is not just “time spent in a Children’s Home in Luoyang” anymore.
The pain of losing a son in a Ningxia Home
In the last few days, whenever he had time, the 40-year-old Ningxia resident Jin Xiaowang (Christian’s uncle) sat guard by his telephone hoping that it would ring.
He spent more than 400 Yuan to install the phone about 10 days ago. Now it is bringing in one after another good news for the family.
The two brothers, Jin Xiaowang and Jin Gaoke lived in Ningxia, Longde County, Town of Shatao. The older brother, Jin Gaoke lives in the city of the county and works as a doctor. Around 1992, Jin Gaoke and his wife had their second child, Jiacheng. Jin Gaoke sent this child home for his younger brother and mother to raise.
Because he is poor, Jin Xiaowang did not think he would ever be married, so he raised this baby like his own. He gave the baby a nickname “Jian-Jian” and the official name Jiacheng (meaning “forming a family”). Maybe because of the name and the baby, soon after Jiacheng came to the house, Jin Xiaowang got married and had two biological children (a boy and a girl). However, Jiacheng always lived with them, and Jin Xiaowang loved him dearly.
When Jiacheng was 5 years old, he was sent to the village school. Jin Gaoke suggested it was time to take him to the city to study. Jin Xiaowang finally agreed with his older brother.
However, soon after, Jin Xiaowang heard from the neighbors that Jiacheng was lost. Jin Xiaowang hurried to the city to talk to his older brother. Jin Gaoke told him with regret that a few days before Memorial Day (Chinese memorial day is in early April- usually April 5th) in 1998, Jiacheng did not like the city life and cried to go back to the village. Therefore, he took Jiacheng to go back to his old home in the village. However, when he got to the bus station, the boy was lost immediately.
Jin Xiaowang was so angry that he picked up a bat and beat the hell out of his older brother. After that, the two families never talked to each other again until now.
Throughout the years, Jin Gaoke tried many ways to search for Jiacheng. He put notices in the newspaper, traveled to places to search. However, after years of searching and being scammed for a lot of money, he was left without any luck. Because she was missing her son so, Jin Gaoke’s wife fell sick and retired early from her hospital job years ago. Jin Gaoke himself has had a lot of health problems as well.
Jin Gaoke never thought that after so many years, he would get news about his son again.
In recent days, he kept getting phone calls describing the look of his boy and checking on many details.
After sending pictures and checking on names, Jin Gaoke finally confirmed that he found his son – he was adopted by an American woman at 8 years old, and was looking for his biological parents.
Jin Gaoke told his wife the good news. “Her sickness instantly got much better.” He said Jin Xiaowang still living in the village also got the good news.
An American Volunteer Adopted a Little Boy
No one knows how Jiacheng got from Ningxia to Luoyang. On February 17th, 1999, he was found under an overpass bridge, the police from the Tang-kung Rd. Police Station brought him to the Luoyang Orphanage.
On the 23rd of this month, when the journalist arrived at the Luoyang Children’s Welfare Center (the orphanage), the person in the office looked at the boy’s pictures downloaded by the journalist from the computer and called out “Jiacheng, it’s Jiacheng” again and again.
Another worker – Ms. Chang- who was a care taker for the children also remembered him. “Jiacheng was very smart and friendly. Everyone liked him.”
Jiacheng was adopted by an American woman named Julia in 2001. She volunteered in the orphanage for over a month and liked Jiacheng very much.” Chang said.
Because the person in charge of records was not in that day, the journalist was not able to read Jiacheng’s file from the orphanage. Yesterday, the journalist arrived at the orphanage again and met the director of the orphanage. He said, Jiacheng was brought to the orphanage by the police. Before the adoption, his record was posted in the province level news media. Moreover, he himself went to the United States for a post adoption visit at Jiacheng’s home in the United States.
The journalist asked if he had tried to look for Jiacheng’s family based on the information he provided. The Director said no because the public notice went out and looking for the family is the police’s responsibility. The Tung-Kung Police Station told the journalist that the police staff had been changed many times, and the records were not well kept from that long ago. So how Jiacheng was sent to the orphanage was not possible to know now.
April 28th this year, Beijing Law Firm, Attorney Zhang Zhiwei received an English letter. It was a letter looking for help mailed by Jin Jiacheng’s adoptive mother, Julia.
In the letter, Julia described that she adopted a Chinese boy from Luoyang Children’s Welfare Center in 2001. The missing children notice said his name was Dang Ziyang. He was about 8 years old when he was adopted. Now he is seventeen years old. His name is Christian. When Christian was 14 years old, he asked his mother if he would help him find his biological family.
Julia said “I feel that my son has a right to know his past.” From that day on, this American mother started the journey of helping her son look for his family.
From Christian’s fragmented memories, Julia organized the original pieces of her son’s memories: he was born in Dongjiagou Village. His name is Jing Jiacheng. His parents are both farmers. His mother and grandmother made noodles and hung them to dry. He also had adoptive parents. They are both doctors. Mother’s name is Shao JuLian, and father’s name is Jin GaoKuan.
Finding family on line
Chang Chu-Fu (volunteer) posted Christian’s information on the missing children website “Baby Come Home.” The volunteers started helping to look for the family based on the information. They looked for Christian’s parents’ names online and found a “Shao JuLian.” She published a medical related paper in a journal. There are two authors in the paper, and the other author was Jin Gaoke. This is very close to Christian’s adoptive father’s name.
Volunteers also found out that Shao Julian was a doctor in a small city in Ningxia. That matches Christian’s description. Later, volunteer “One Meter of Sunlight” asked volunteers from Ningxia to help check into their information and found Jin GaoKe’s cell phone through the county hospital.
“One meter of sunlight” kept up with sending Jin Gaoke short letters and sent him Christian’s pictures. Jin Gaoke soon determined that the boy in the pictures was Jiacheng.
Jin Gaoke identified a birthmark on Jiacheng. After contacting Julia, it was confirmed to be true. At the same time, volunteers also got in contact with Christian’s uncle, Jin Xiaowang. From him and the grandmother, they confirmed Julia’s report of the two birth marks on Jiacheng.
Preparing to Come Home
These days after looking at the pictures sent by the volunteers, Jiacheng remembered more. He recognized his uncle, Jin Xiaowang and his grandmother in the pictures right away and also remembered the small farmhouse courtyard he played in while he was little.
Now Jiacheng has a wonderful large family in the United States. He has a mother, a little sister, two aunts, three uncles, two first cousins and a grandmother. Julia hopes to have some of the family accompany Jiacheng to visit his family in China. She is trying to find enough funding for the trip and hope to have Jiacheng meet his family soon.
Julia wrote in her letter that Jiacheng has grown up to be a handsome young man. He is a junior in high school, and is doing very well at school. He likes to play lacrosse and has won a lot of awards over the years.
When the journalist talked to Christian’s uncle, Jin Xiaowang yesterday morning, he was very emotional explaining how he saw the pictures of Jiacheng sent by the volunteers. The family was crying when they saw the pictures. The grandmother could not stop saying “that is my “Jian Jian,” my Jiacheng.”
Jin Xiaowang said he will not fight for the child with the American adoptive mother. The adoptive mother raised the child so well. He is very appreciative.
Journalist’s notes
“I think my son has the right to know where he is from” an American adoptive mother described her response to her Chinese son’s request to find his biological parents. The son is 17 years old. He asked for help in finding his birth family when he was 14. Since then, this American mother has tried many different ways to help her son find his relatives.
This June their wish finally came true. Due to the help from numerous volunteers, they found the son’s home and got in contact with his biological parents. His past is not just “time spent in a Children’s Home in Luoyang” anymore.
The pain of losing a son in a Ningxia Home
In the last few days, whenever he had time, the 40-year-old Ningxia resident Jin Xiaowang (Christian’s uncle) sat guard by his telephone hoping that it would ring.
He spent more than 400 Yuan to install the phone about 10 days ago. Now it is bringing in one after another good news for the family.
The two brothers, Jin Xiaowang and Jin Gaoke lived in Ningxia, Longde County, Town of Shatao. The older brother, Jin Gaoke lives in the city of the county and works as a doctor. Around 1992, Jin Gaoke and his wife had their second child, Jiacheng. Jin Gaoke sent this child home for his younger brother and mother to raise.
Because he is poor, Jin Xiaowang did not think he would ever be married, so he raised this baby like his own. He gave the baby a nickname “Jian-Jian” and the official name Jiacheng (meaning “forming a family”). Maybe because of the name and the baby, soon after Jiacheng came to the house, Jin Xiaowang got married and had two biological children (a boy and a girl). However, Jiacheng always lived with them, and Jin Xiaowang loved him dearly.
When Jiacheng was 5 years old, he was sent to the village school. Jin Gaoke suggested it was time to take him to the city to study. Jin Xiaowang finally agreed with his older brother.
However, soon after, Jin Xiaowang heard from the neighbors that Jiacheng was lost. Jin Xiaowang hurried to the city to talk to his older brother. Jin Gaoke told him with regret that a few days before Memorial Day (Chinese memorial day is in early April- usually April 5th) in 1998, Jiacheng did not like the city life and cried to go back to the village. Therefore, he took Jiacheng to go back to his old home in the village. However, when he got to the bus station, the boy was lost immediately.
Jin Xiaowang was so angry that he picked up a bat and beat the hell out of his older brother. After that, the two families never talked to each other again until now.
Throughout the years, Jin Gaoke tried many ways to search for Jiacheng. He put notices in the newspaper, traveled to places to search. However, after years of searching and being scammed for a lot of money, he was left without any luck. Because she was missing her son so, Jin Gaoke’s wife fell sick and retired early from her hospital job years ago. Jin Gaoke himself has had a lot of health problems as well.
Jin Gaoke never thought that after so many years, he would get news about his son again.
In recent days, he kept getting phone calls describing the look of his boy and checking on many details.
After sending pictures and checking on names, Jin Gaoke finally confirmed that he found his son – he was adopted by an American woman at 8 years old, and was looking for his biological parents.
Jin Gaoke told his wife the good news. “Her sickness instantly got much better.” He said Jin Xiaowang still living in the village also got the good news.
An American Volunteer Adopted a Little Boy
No one knows how Jiacheng got from Ningxia to Luoyang. On February 17th, 1999, he was found under an overpass bridge, the police from the Tang-kung Rd. Police Station brought him to the Luoyang Orphanage.
On the 23rd of this month, when the journalist arrived at the Luoyang Children’s Welfare Center (the orphanage), the person in the office looked at the boy’s pictures downloaded by the journalist from the computer and called out “Jiacheng, it’s Jiacheng” again and again.
Another worker – Ms. Chang- who was a care taker for the children also remembered him. “Jiacheng was very smart and friendly. Everyone liked him.”
Jiacheng was adopted by an American woman named Julia in 2001. She volunteered in the orphanage for over a month and liked Jiacheng very much.” Chang said.
Because the person in charge of records was not in that day, the journalist was not able to read Jiacheng’s file from the orphanage. Yesterday, the journalist arrived at the orphanage again and met the director of the orphanage. He said, Jiacheng was brought to the orphanage by the police. Before the adoption, his record was posted in the province level news media. Moreover, he himself went to the United States for a post adoption visit at Jiacheng’s home in the United States.
The journalist asked if he had tried to look for Jiacheng’s family based on the information he provided. The Director said no because the public notice went out and looking for the family is the police’s responsibility. The Tung-Kung Police Station told the journalist that the police staff had been changed many times, and the records were not well kept from that long ago. So how Jiacheng was sent to the orphanage was not possible to know now.
April 28th this year, Beijing Law Firm, Attorney Zhang Zhiwei received an English letter. It was a letter looking for help mailed by Jin Jiacheng’s adoptive mother, Julia.
In the letter, Julia described that she adopted a Chinese boy from Luoyang Children’s Welfare Center in 2001. The missing children notice said his name was Dang Ziyang. He was about 8 years old when he was adopted. Now he is seventeen years old. His name is Christian. When Christian was 14 years old, he asked his mother if he would help him find his biological family.
Julia said “I feel that my son has a right to know his past.” From that day on, this American mother started the journey of helping her son look for his family.
From Christian’s fragmented memories, Julia organized the original pieces of her son’s memories: he was born in Dongjiagou Village. His name is Jing Jiacheng. His parents are both farmers. His mother and grandmother made noodles and hung them to dry. He also had adoptive parents. They are both doctors. Mother’s name is Shao JuLian, and father’s name is Jin GaoKuan.
Finding family on line
Chang Chu-Fu (volunteer) posted Christian’s information on the missing children website “Baby Come Home.” The volunteers started helping to look for the family based on the information. They looked for Christian’s parents’ names online and found a “Shao JuLian.” She published a medical related paper in a journal. There are two authors in the paper, and the other author was Jin Gaoke. This is very close to Christian’s adoptive father’s name.
Volunteers also found out that Shao Julian was a doctor in a small city in Ningxia. That matches Christian’s description. Later, volunteer “One Meter of Sunlight” asked volunteers from Ningxia to help check into their information and found Jin GaoKe’s cell phone through the county hospital.
“One meter of sunlight” kept up with sending Jin Gaoke short letters and sent him Christian’s pictures. Jin Gaoke soon determined that the boy in the pictures was Jiacheng.
Jin Gaoke identified a birthmark on Jiacheng. After contacting Julia, it was confirmed to be true. At the same time, volunteers also got in contact with Christian’s uncle, Jin Xiaowang. From him and the grandmother, they confirmed Julia’s report of the two birth marks on Jiacheng.
Preparing to Come Home
These days after looking at the pictures sent by the volunteers, Jiacheng remembered more. He recognized his uncle, Jin Xiaowang and his grandmother in the pictures right away and also remembered the small farmhouse courtyard he played in while he was little.
Now Jiacheng has a wonderful large family in the United States. He has a mother, a little sister, two aunts, three uncles, two first cousins and a grandmother. Julia hopes to have some of the family accompany Jiacheng to visit his family in China. She is trying to find enough funding for the trip and hope to have Jiacheng meet his family soon.
Julia wrote in her letter that Jiacheng has grown up to be a handsome young man. He is a junior in high school, and is doing very well at school. He likes to play lacrosse and has won a lot of awards over the years.
When the journalist talked to Christian’s uncle, Jin Xiaowang yesterday morning, he was very emotional explaining how he saw the pictures of Jiacheng sent by the volunteers. The family was crying when they saw the pictures. The grandmother could not stop saying “that is my “Jian Jian,” my Jiacheng.”
Jin Xiaowang said he will not fight for the child with the American adoptive mother. The adoptive mother raised the child so well. He is very appreciative.
Beijing China Times
The following article came from the Beijing China Times (京华时报). It was posted on June 23rd onto the “Baby Come Home” website. The reporter is 张瑾 (Chang Jin).
American mother, Chinese adopted son, an orphanage in Luoyang, Henan Province, Chinese volunteers, Dongjiagou Village, a Ningxia doctor and his wife. All these elements combined together is a true story of cross-country search for family. During this process, kindness and love crossed each other many times, changes and passes added up to a “butterfly effect.” Searching for his roots with the American mother’s support.
An e-mail letter from United States was lying in Beijing attorney, Zhang Zhiwei’s inbox. The time was April 28th this year. The sender was an American mother named Julia. She was looking for help from Zhang Zhiwei. Zhang Zhiwei is also a main coordinator for “Baby Come Home,” a non-profit organization that helps parents search for their missing children.
Julia described in her letter that she adopted an eight-year-old Chinese boy from an orphanage in Luoyang in Henan Province in 2000 (actually 2001). She named him Christian. Christian has grown up to be a kind, handsome young man. The family lives a happy and peaceful life together. However, in 2006 when Christian was 14 years old, he asked his mother if he could find his biological family and the village he remembered growing up.
“Sure, why not?” Julia said, “I felt that my son had the right to know his background.”
From that day this American mother started the task of helping her son search for his family. Not understanding Chinese, the most she could do was to go through her Chinese friends to start the search.
The American mother’s first try failed.
Her first try started with the orphanage in Luoyang, but it also stopped there. Julia noticed that in the adoption record, Luoyang Orphanage gave Christian the name “Dang ZiYang,” but they all called him Jiacheng. Also, with regard to the time he entered the orphanage “it seems there was some confusion.”
In the record for “Dang ZiYang” at the orphanage it says on February 27th, 1999, he was sent to the orphanage by Tang-Kung Rd Police Station, West Subdivision of Luoyang City Public Safety Bureau. The record showed that he was found under an overpass bridge in an area full of commercial buildings.
However, the date in the record is somewhat different from what Julia learned. A nanny in the orphanage had told Julia that “Jiacheng” was sent to the orphanage in 1997 or 1998. Julia also saw Christian in a photo taken by an American that had visited the orphanage 1998.
This conflicting information did not help at all. After more than two years of searching without success, Julia felt lost.
A Chinese stamp was included in the letter looking for help.
A turning point happened in April this year. Julia was doing some research on the internet and found the website for “Baby Come Home” – a non-profit organization that helps locate missing children. She immediately sent a letter to ask for help. In the letter to the lawyer, Zhang Zhiwei, Julia included as much Chinese information about Christian as possible.
Most information came from Christian’s recount from his memory during the first six months after his adoption:
Born in – Dongjiagou Village, Province – Shanxi, Name given at birth – Jing Jiacheng, mother’s name – Shao Julian; father’s name – Jing Gaokuan.
Christian remembered both his parents were farmers. His grandmother had taken care of him. The place he slept at home was a cement stove or “kang.” He remembered his grandmother had told him that he had a twin brother, but he was given up for adoption at birth.
He remembered that his father often went to Luoyang to sell grain and food. His old home grew corn and potatoes and had yaks. The local area seemed to face a drought. Some small rivers were dried up. He remembered his family used vinegar in their cooking. He liked to mix vinegar with potatoes in the US. He remembered there was a lot of garlic in the foods too.
He also remembered his mother and grandmother would make noodles and hang them to dry. He believed he has an older brother or a younger brother, but he could not remember their names.
He felt that his father really loved him, but he was not sure if his mother loved him the same because she never talked much to him.
Other stories from Christian included that when he was around 5 years old, his parents sent him to live with another family. His living environment changed to a big city. He was not sure whether he was related to his adoptive parents, and he did not remember why he was sent away. His adoptive parents had another boy who was older than him.
Christian remembers that both his adoptive parents were doctors. They owned a medical clinic (possibly an OBGYN clinic). His adoptive mother delivered many babies. He thought they were much wealthier than his earlier parents. However, Christian did not remember much of the family life with the adoptive family (except the boy was very nice to him). He had tried to run away to go back to the village where he lived, but he was brought back quickly. The next day, his adoptive father took him on a trip by bus. He thought maybe he got on the wrong bus. After about three days, he somehow ended up in Luoyang. Later, he was sent to the orphanage by the police.
Christian remembered being on a bus for three days and then being in Luoyang. In Christian’s young mind the chain of events that happened during this period were scrambled and he did not remember clearly anymore.
Analysis Finding Out The Birthplace
The unmodified and fragmented memory pieces from years ago got passed onto Zhang Zhiwei’s hand. Gradually, he translated them all into Chinese, and last month, this information was picked-up and posted on the “Baby Come Home” website by a volunteer with the screen name “a meter of sunlight.”
“A meter of sunlight” posted the search for family information on the “Baby Come Home” missing children website. There are 10,000 volunteers from around the country and an online group divided by geographic regions.
According to Christian’s memory his family liked to eat vinegar and raw garlic and slept on a heated Kang. However, these customs are common in the northern and mid-western regions in China.
Julia also provided that according to Christian’s memory he thought the village was located in the Shanxi province. However, the Director of Luoyang Orphanage had told her that Christian’s accent sounded more like one from the Henan province. Therefore, they don’t think Christian is from Shanxi, instead it is more likely to be Henan or the surrounding regions.
Very quickly, based on inputs to the website and other volunteers, “A Meter of Sunlight” decided this direction was not presumable because there are too many uncertainties. Christian also remembered that his mother and grandmother made noodles and hung them to dry. A Henan Province volunteer responded that region does not have that custom; moreover before being sent to the orphanage, Christian rode the bus for three days before arriving in Luoyang. It means he is from far away, possibly other provinces.
As for Shaanxi or Shanxi’s Dongjiagou Village, they were both geographically possible, but both locations do not have yak. So these villages were also excluded by the volunteers.
The neighboring Henan Province has cities, yak, often face drought and water shortage and had a Dongjiagou Village. According to the four factors, it seems that the mystery associated with Christian’s story could be solved.
Putting the four factors together, Dongjiagou Village in Qinghai became the very likely location. However, other volunteers suggested that based on the geographic characteristics Ningxia was possible as well.
First Finding of the Relative on Line
While “One Meter of Sunlight” and others were searching based on the geographic characteristics, other volunteers started trying another route earlier this month.
“KuangJu Mother” (volunteer’s screen name) searched on line for the name “Shao JuLian”, and found that a person with this name had published a medical paper in a journal. The article had two authors, and the other author’s name was Jin GaoKe.
This name is very similar to what Christian remembered as his father’s name.
The author’s bio-sketch in the article also shows that Shao JuLian is a doctor in a county in Ningxia Province. Christian remembered that his adoptive parents were both doctors.
The news was passed on to “One Meter of Sunlight.” However, the “Baby Come Home” website does not have a Ningxia online group yet. “One Meter of Sunlight” therefore, passed on the related information to all online groups for help. She asked volunteers at the nearby regions to help find out who the two authors were. A volunteer from “JanJiang” soon responded that he has relatives in that region, and he could help out.
The volunteer’s relatives found that the address for both authors was the same, so the preliminary information suggested that they could be married. Other volunteers also found that there is a Dongjiagou Village near the county of interest. Things were coming together.
The First Phone Call Required Explanation and Patience
From the county hospital the volunteer got Jin GaoKe’s cell phone number. When he called, the person who answered said his name was Jin Gaoke, and his wife was Shao JuLian. However, it surprised “One Meter of Sunlight” that he denied that he had a missing child, and he hung up the phone right away. No one answered the following phone calls.
A doctor from the county hospital proved to the volunteer that Jin Gaoke and his wife had a boy who was lost. However, the volunteers could not understand why the couple rejected talking to the volunteers on the phone. “One Meter of Sunlight” continued writing to Jin GaoKe short letters to explain the story and sent Christian’s pictures from the United States to him. Finally, Jin agreed to talk.
Father-Son Relationship Connected Again from Across the Ocean
However, “One Meter of Sunlight” was surprised again by Jin GaoKe’s first sentence “I am Jiacheng’s biological father.
Jin GaoKe explained that Jiacheng was “chaoshang” (“over the quota” child due to the one child policy) so after his birth he was sent to be raised by Mr. Jin’s younger brother and mother in the village. When the child was 6 years old, Mr. Jin brought him back to the city with him. One day in 1998, he took his son to go back to visit the village, but the child got lost on the way. In Jiacheng’s young memory, he mixed up his uncle as his biological father.
The father said after he was lost, he felt guilty for years, and searched for the child for many years. However, he could not find him. During that period, he was taken by many scams. Therefore, when the volunteer first called, he was very doubtful.
Jin GaoKe identified a birthmark on Jiacheng. “One Meter of Sunlight” contacted Julia in the United States and proved that to be true. The two sides finally decided to reunite.
Jin mailed pictures of Jiacheng’s uncle and grandmother. After “One Meter of Sunlight” emailed them to the United States, Christian recognized his grandmother and uncle. In his letter to the volunteers, Jin Gaoke said that “All your hard work reunited my family and made the dream I have had for 12 years come true. I am an internal medicine doctor, a good husband, but I am not a good father because I did not fulfill my responsibility of being a father.”
Julia also said to the volunteers that she and her family all believe that Christian was lost by accident and not for other reasons. She will be bringing her family to China in August and hope to meet Jiacheng’s biological parents.
For Christian, hometown has never been so close after so many years.
The Winding Road Home for a Chinese Adopted Son Searching for His Family
American mother, Chinese adopted son, an orphanage in Luoyang, Henan Province, Chinese volunteers, Dongjiagou Village, a Ningxia doctor and his wife. All these elements combined together is a true story of cross-country search for family. During this process, kindness and love crossed each other many times, changes and passes added up to a “butterfly effect.” Searching for his roots with the American mother’s support.
An e-mail letter from United States was lying in Beijing attorney, Zhang Zhiwei’s inbox. The time was April 28th this year. The sender was an American mother named Julia. She was looking for help from Zhang Zhiwei. Zhang Zhiwei is also a main coordinator for “Baby Come Home,” a non-profit organization that helps parents search for their missing children.
Julia described in her letter that she adopted an eight-year-old Chinese boy from an orphanage in Luoyang in Henan Province in 2000 (actually 2001). She named him Christian. Christian has grown up to be a kind, handsome young man. The family lives a happy and peaceful life together. However, in 2006 when Christian was 14 years old, he asked his mother if he could find his biological family and the village he remembered growing up.
“Sure, why not?” Julia said, “I felt that my son had the right to know his background.”
From that day this American mother started the task of helping her son search for his family. Not understanding Chinese, the most she could do was to go through her Chinese friends to start the search.
The American mother’s first try failed.
Her first try started with the orphanage in Luoyang, but it also stopped there. Julia noticed that in the adoption record, Luoyang Orphanage gave Christian the name “Dang ZiYang,” but they all called him Jiacheng. Also, with regard to the time he entered the orphanage “it seems there was some confusion.”
In the record for “Dang ZiYang” at the orphanage it says on February 27th, 1999, he was sent to the orphanage by Tang-Kung Rd Police Station, West Subdivision of Luoyang City Public Safety Bureau. The record showed that he was found under an overpass bridge in an area full of commercial buildings.
However, the date in the record is somewhat different from what Julia learned. A nanny in the orphanage had told Julia that “Jiacheng” was sent to the orphanage in 1997 or 1998. Julia also saw Christian in a photo taken by an American that had visited the orphanage 1998.
This conflicting information did not help at all. After more than two years of searching without success, Julia felt lost.
A Chinese stamp was included in the letter looking for help.
A turning point happened in April this year. Julia was doing some research on the internet and found the website for “Baby Come Home” – a non-profit organization that helps locate missing children. She immediately sent a letter to ask for help. In the letter to the lawyer, Zhang Zhiwei, Julia included as much Chinese information about Christian as possible.
Most information came from Christian’s recount from his memory during the first six months after his adoption:
Born in – Dongjiagou Village, Province – Shanxi, Name given at birth – Jing Jiacheng, mother’s name – Shao Julian; father’s name – Jing Gaokuan.
Christian remembered both his parents were farmers. His grandmother had taken care of him. The place he slept at home was a cement stove or “kang.” He remembered his grandmother had told him that he had a twin brother, but he was given up for adoption at birth.
He remembered that his father often went to Luoyang to sell grain and food. His old home grew corn and potatoes and had yaks. The local area seemed to face a drought. Some small rivers were dried up. He remembered his family used vinegar in their cooking. He liked to mix vinegar with potatoes in the US. He remembered there was a lot of garlic in the foods too.
He also remembered his mother and grandmother would make noodles and hang them to dry. He believed he has an older brother or a younger brother, but he could not remember their names.
He felt that his father really loved him, but he was not sure if his mother loved him the same because she never talked much to him.
Other stories from Christian included that when he was around 5 years old, his parents sent him to live with another family. His living environment changed to a big city. He was not sure whether he was related to his adoptive parents, and he did not remember why he was sent away. His adoptive parents had another boy who was older than him.
Christian remembers that both his adoptive parents were doctors. They owned a medical clinic (possibly an OBGYN clinic). His adoptive mother delivered many babies. He thought they were much wealthier than his earlier parents. However, Christian did not remember much of the family life with the adoptive family (except the boy was very nice to him). He had tried to run away to go back to the village where he lived, but he was brought back quickly. The next day, his adoptive father took him on a trip by bus. He thought maybe he got on the wrong bus. After about three days, he somehow ended up in Luoyang. Later, he was sent to the orphanage by the police.
Christian remembered being on a bus for three days and then being in Luoyang. In Christian’s young mind the chain of events that happened during this period were scrambled and he did not remember clearly anymore.
Analysis Finding Out The Birthplace
The unmodified and fragmented memory pieces from years ago got passed onto Zhang Zhiwei’s hand. Gradually, he translated them all into Chinese, and last month, this information was picked-up and posted on the “Baby Come Home” website by a volunteer with the screen name “a meter of sunlight.”
“A meter of sunlight” posted the search for family information on the “Baby Come Home” missing children website. There are 10,000 volunteers from around the country and an online group divided by geographic regions.
According to Christian’s memory his family liked to eat vinegar and raw garlic and slept on a heated Kang. However, these customs are common in the northern and mid-western regions in China.
Julia also provided that according to Christian’s memory he thought the village was located in the Shanxi province. However, the Director of Luoyang Orphanage had told her that Christian’s accent sounded more like one from the Henan province. Therefore, they don’t think Christian is from Shanxi, instead it is more likely to be Henan or the surrounding regions.
Very quickly, based on inputs to the website and other volunteers, “A Meter of Sunlight” decided this direction was not presumable because there are too many uncertainties. Christian also remembered that his mother and grandmother made noodles and hung them to dry. A Henan Province volunteer responded that region does not have that custom; moreover before being sent to the orphanage, Christian rode the bus for three days before arriving in Luoyang. It means he is from far away, possibly other provinces.
As for Shaanxi or Shanxi’s Dongjiagou Village, they were both geographically possible, but both locations do not have yak. So these villages were also excluded by the volunteers.
The neighboring Henan Province has cities, yak, often face drought and water shortage and had a Dongjiagou Village. According to the four factors, it seems that the mystery associated with Christian’s story could be solved.
Putting the four factors together, Dongjiagou Village in Qinghai became the very likely location. However, other volunteers suggested that based on the geographic characteristics Ningxia was possible as well.
First Finding of the Relative on Line
While “One Meter of Sunlight” and others were searching based on the geographic characteristics, other volunteers started trying another route earlier this month.
“KuangJu Mother” (volunteer’s screen name) searched on line for the name “Shao JuLian”, and found that a person with this name had published a medical paper in a journal. The article had two authors, and the other author’s name was Jin GaoKe.
This name is very similar to what Christian remembered as his father’s name.
The author’s bio-sketch in the article also shows that Shao JuLian is a doctor in a county in Ningxia Province. Christian remembered that his adoptive parents were both doctors.
The news was passed on to “One Meter of Sunlight.” However, the “Baby Come Home” website does not have a Ningxia online group yet. “One Meter of Sunlight” therefore, passed on the related information to all online groups for help. She asked volunteers at the nearby regions to help find out who the two authors were. A volunteer from “JanJiang” soon responded that he has relatives in that region, and he could help out.
The volunteer’s relatives found that the address for both authors was the same, so the preliminary information suggested that they could be married. Other volunteers also found that there is a Dongjiagou Village near the county of interest. Things were coming together.
The First Phone Call Required Explanation and Patience
From the county hospital the volunteer got Jin GaoKe’s cell phone number. When he called, the person who answered said his name was Jin Gaoke, and his wife was Shao JuLian. However, it surprised “One Meter of Sunlight” that he denied that he had a missing child, and he hung up the phone right away. No one answered the following phone calls.
A doctor from the county hospital proved to the volunteer that Jin Gaoke and his wife had a boy who was lost. However, the volunteers could not understand why the couple rejected talking to the volunteers on the phone. “One Meter of Sunlight” continued writing to Jin GaoKe short letters to explain the story and sent Christian’s pictures from the United States to him. Finally, Jin agreed to talk.
Father-Son Relationship Connected Again from Across the Ocean
However, “One Meter of Sunlight” was surprised again by Jin GaoKe’s first sentence “I am Jiacheng’s biological father.
Jin GaoKe explained that Jiacheng was “chaoshang” (“over the quota” child due to the one child policy) so after his birth he was sent to be raised by Mr. Jin’s younger brother and mother in the village. When the child was 6 years old, Mr. Jin brought him back to the city with him. One day in 1998, he took his son to go back to visit the village, but the child got lost on the way. In Jiacheng’s young memory, he mixed up his uncle as his biological father.
The father said after he was lost, he felt guilty for years, and searched for the child for many years. However, he could not find him. During that period, he was taken by many scams. Therefore, when the volunteer first called, he was very doubtful.
Jin GaoKe identified a birthmark on Jiacheng. “One Meter of Sunlight” contacted Julia in the United States and proved that to be true. The two sides finally decided to reunite.
Jin mailed pictures of Jiacheng’s uncle and grandmother. After “One Meter of Sunlight” emailed them to the United States, Christian recognized his grandmother and uncle. In his letter to the volunteers, Jin Gaoke said that “All your hard work reunited my family and made the dream I have had for 12 years come true. I am an internal medicine doctor, a good husband, but I am not a good father because I did not fulfill my responsibility of being a father.”
Julia also said to the volunteers that she and her family all believe that Christian was lost by accident and not for other reasons. She will be bringing her family to China in August and hope to meet Jiacheng’s biological parents.
For Christian, hometown has never been so close after so many years.
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