Qu Jiang Orphanage Visit

Director Wong met our van just off the main freeway and escorted the group of seven adults and siblings to a restaurant for a very special lunch. Truman and Andrew distinguished themselves by trying most every dish that was rotated in front of them...I was very pleasantly surprised. Our lunch was followed by a chance to ask the director and his staff more questions about the children. Before we could ask, Director Wong let us know that all the children in our group had the chickenpox back in January. Surprisingly, we learned that they all received smallpox vaccines - no longer given to children in the U.S. When asked about what needs the orphanage was experiencing, Mr. Wong mentioned that a water storage tank was needed to hold fresh water for emergency situations. The orphanage narrowly averted a crisis recently due to flooding and a fouling of the water supply. The 1,000 gallon fresh water tank costs about 1,000 Yuan or roughly $120.

We toured the orphanage after lunch and found the facility very simple, but clean. There were 32 healthy babies (all girls) in the room where Catherine spent her first months. This orphanage has seen around 100 of its babies adopted since approximately 2003. Her crib, pictured farthest right, is already occupied by a new baby but a sticker with Catherine's name and birth date remain fixed to the crib.

Visiting the orphanage was a great experience for Truman and Andrew. They were both touched with the number of waiting babies. They are pictured below at the gate of the Social Welfare Institute (orphanage).

Before leaving, we met one final time with director Wong. He was overjoyed to learn that our group had donated enought money to purchase two water storage tanks.