4/14/2013
We went to the Guangzhou Folk Art Museum. It wasn't like any museum I've ever been to. The building looked more like an ancient temple. It used to be home of the Chen family when they came to the city for business during the Qing Dynasty. It has the most beautiful, intricate, and detailed carvings all over...on the posts, the ceilings, etc...there were so many a person may never see them all. The front doors have huge paintings of Chinese warriors that were meant to keep away evil spirits. This Ancestral Hall was overtaken by the renegades during the revolution and used for a variety of things, so many things were destroyed or heavily used during that time. What is still there is absolutely beautiful. There are beautiful courtyard gardens inside, and they have opened up the individual outer rooms to be a museum of sorts with many different kinds of local artistry and skilled craftsmanship displayed. There are even a few master craftsman (and women) who are onsite sharing their gifts. We purchased some hand painted items, some calligraphy work, and a few other souvenirs here. We could have spent a lot more time at this location, but unfortunately we had to leave with our group. Actually we were the last ones and Shiyan had to come find us....oops! There was so much we didn't get to see...the history here is so interesting and we were just in compete awe of all of the many different types of craftsmanship we saw. Everything from miniature paintings on grains of rice that could only be seen through a microscope, to unbelievable carvings out of wood, bone, ivory, jade...some of which were 8-10 feet high. The embroidery items were simply amazing as well! Most of them looked like paintings from a distance, and the closer you got they looked almost three dimensional. They were beautiful works of art!
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| Our whole group! |
After our outing, Shiyan came to our room to talk about a paper we had given her to translate. Leah's orphanage had sent a sheet with an update of her development and daily schedule, but it was all in Chinese. She told us she was concerned by some of the things they had said, and proceeded to translate while I wrote it down. It basically told us things we had already realized on our own by this point. That she was behind developmentally, that she doesn't speak, she is very timid and shy, likes to be tickled, can eat as much as a grown up, etc. Shiyan was concerned that she was farther behind developmentally than we might realize and told us that we might need a lot of help getting her back on track, if that was even possible. However, after talking with us for a while and watching her play with Aaron, she was surprised at the difference in her, and even said she wasn't concerned anymore and thinks she will be fine once she has exposure to all the things we have at home...toys, other people, doctors to examine her and keep her healthy. Shiyan told us that Leah would have been ruined (her word) if she had stayed here in the orphanage, but will thrive in our home where she will get the love and care that every child deserves. Talking with Shiyan made us feel so much better. Just another glimpse that God has given us to let us know we have truly answered His call! We already can tell that the little girl with us tonight is not the same little girl we brought home with us last Monday. We worry about when we get home, though, because she is so shy and timid that new people and places send her back into her own little world. She is a different person in the room with us than she is out with the group. With us she runs around the room, giggles, coos, and comes to get us to play. She has even started looking right at us and holding our gaze for a while. When we are out with the group she won't walk or look at anyone even if they are speaking right to her. We hope that her setback will not be too great as she once again has to get used to a different set of surroundings and added people. We know, though, that God has prepared that transition just as He did this one! I don't know how people get through such huge life changes without Him!
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| Out for supper with the group. |
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| Yes, Leah, you are adorable!! |
Very interesting...we can see a difference in her from the first day too...she seems content with you guys and her trust is growing in you. Happy to hear she looks at you now when you speak. No one knows how sad her little life has been and I think she is doing exceptional considering all she has been through. As much as we all want to see and hold her when you get back, for her it is best to take it really slow and give her the time she needs to bond with you and her brothers and get used to the different culture here first. Her age is to her advantage and before you know it, she will be a different little girl as we can see she already is becoming. She is a special little one. Love and prayers with you all everyday and can’t wait for you to get home. X0X0
ReplyDeleteRemember that God chose her to become part of our family. He knows what he his plan is for all of us. She will become her own person in a very loving environment. We love her already and haven't seen her face to face yet. Maybe she is what the boys need too. She can show them how to be shy, calm, and quieter?! LOL. We are eager to have you all home. Love.
ReplyDeleteLike mom said, she can have all the time that she needs to get used to us all. You made it clear before you left that she would need plenty of quite bonding time with just you guys before the rest of us have a chance to meet her. It sounds to me like she will need a little extra portion of that time (to everyone's disappointment of course!). I'm glad she is happy with you and the bonding is already being established. I'm sure that what you are providing is worth more than everything she has ever had up to this point.
ReplyDeleteYou have a long road ahead of you, but it's nothing that prayer and love can't handle! :-)