Introducing. . .

Two precious children who need loving families to say a simple word. . ."Yes"

Yes, I will be the Lord's vessel to bring you hope.
Yes, I will love you always.
Yes, I will get the medical care for you that you have waited far too long for.
Yes, I will be your family - forever.
Yes, little one, I am on my way to bring you home.

Mei Mei, as Leiney Grace calls her is now "Maria" and Di Di is now "Ricky" on BAAS's individual list.  From what I know, "Maria"and "Ricky" have been on the shared list for quite some time - perhaps even a year or more.  Xiaoqing with BAAS contacted the international adoption orphanage who did Leiney Grace's adoption papers to inquire about these 2 children.  After finding out they were already on the shared list, Xiaoqing requested their files and will have them for 3 months. 

"Maria" is 8 years old and has lived in the orphanage with Leiney Grace since she was 2 years old.  She had a benign tumor in her lumbosacral area and deformed feet upon admission.  She was given surgery in 2006 to remove the sacral meningocele and repair her tethered cord - based on this information- I am assuming she has spina bifida although her file does not state that.  According to her growth report in her file and according to our Leiney Grace, "Maria" is a smart little girl and is developmentally on target except for gross motor due to her feet.  Her deformed feet have never been treated.  From what I have read in her file and asked Leiney Grace, I believe she is continent, but I am asking Xiaoqing to check on this. "She is expressive and a sensible, strong, and brave child. She has difficulty walking in shoes because of deformed feet so sometimes she only wears socks.  Especially in winter, she has chillblain (blisters?) on feet which may break, but she still insists on walking alone.  All caretakers are moved by this."  Leiney Grace says that she and Mei Mei went to school and that Mei Mei reads every day.  She also says that Mei Mei played the violin with her.  The two of them slept together and apparently were very close yet when Leiney Grace left the orphanage to come meet her mama, Mei Mei did not cry and told her to "Go to Mama and Baba"  Oh, how I want this child to know the love of a family and most importantly the love of Jesus and the hope He brings.

"Ricky" just turned 7 in March.  He has been in the orphanage since he was a newborn.  He is postoperative for polydactyly of hands and feet (extra fingers, toes) and is listed as having cleft lip, palate, deformity of tongue, and cleft vermilion tubercle.  I do not see a cleft lip in his photos.  He does have a deformity of his tonuge and mouth.  He can speak but Leiney Grace says his tongue is a circle - not so sure about that.  He will likely need surgery and speech therapy though.  He is described as "a very diligent child, takes an initiative to clean the room, clever and gentle." 

Honestly these two children have a lot stacked against them.  They have been on the shared list a long time and after 3 months on the list, the odds of a child being adopted goes way down.  Di Di is a boy which is a huge strike against him because most adoptive families want girls.  They are both older children which is another huge strike - most people want babies or toddlers.  Then you add in their multiple medical needs and the bottom line is - these kids need a miracle.  Please pray for just that!

I have more pictures and more information so please spread the word to everyone you know and feel free to contact me if you or a friend has questions.  dfbjhb@windstream.net