Day 6– School Farewell & Family Time

Ka Hei’s school is on the edge of his estate grounds and looks toward Lion Rock.

Ka Hei said goodbye to friends and teachers today.  We came to the school at the very end of the party and were given a tour of the school by Ka Hei and several of his teachers.  His teachers were so kind and clearly cared about Ka Hei.

 

I teared up several times watching him interact with his best friend (who even waited for us after our tour to ask if he and his mother could come to the airport to say goodbye to Ka Hei) and with his teachers and thinking about all the relationships he will be leaving behind. 

In so many ways, it is so unfair. 

Yes, I know he has no family that can take care of him (and money/poverty is not the reason) and the HK government decided to only allow him to be internationally adopted.  And yes, I know that we can provide the family stability and love that he needs.  But right now, looking at everything that he is leaving…it's painful.  One of his teachers gave him a teddy bear wearing a Hong Kong tshirt.  She told us that she told him, “When you first go to America, you might be lonely…you can hug this teddy bear and remember us.” And considering how hard a time I am having processing all of this…at some point all of his loss will surely overwhelm him.  I pray God gives me grace and wisdom to help him get through to the other side.

Now that I’ve drug you near the depths of my thoughts, I’ll pull you back to the shallow end so we can finish the rest of our day.

After we finished the school tour, he went to his apartment so he could get changed and we could sign some paperwork.  The adoption representative from ISS (the primary child welfare agency in HK) was with us for a time at the school and went back with us to the apartment.  We learned more about Ka Hei’s story from her…I would have enjoyed spending more time with her.  She clearly has a tenderness for Ka Hei and she was able to fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge.

While we were talking, Lucas, Ka Hei and Timothy played international checkers, which T&L had to teach to KH first, but he picked it up very quickly!  Then we went out for supper.  Ka Hei chose a Chinese restaurant that was nearby (~ 20 min walk).  Our younger kids were a bit excited to see fish in tanks at the restaurant until we told them that those would be our supper :).

Actually, we only ate 1 of those fish :).  Steamed…and it was good :).  We also had beef and chicken.

Yes, those are heads, my friends!  Don’t worry – all the organs had been removed :).

Tonight I also felt we had a little breakthrough in relationship building.  As we walked to the restaurant, Timothy and Ka Hei laughed with each other as they played with the umbrella they were sharing.  As waited for the restaurant to open for supper (6 pm), TKL&A taught KH how to play Stix (the finger adding game…again he learned very quickly) and there was a lot of laughter as they beat each other and got a bit silly with the game.  Then on the way home from the restaurant, as I stood at the back of my brood (my favorite position so I can make sure we don’t lose anyone in the crowds) I heard a lot of laughter and saw a lot of this…

What a beautiful thing!  I’m lovin’it!!!

 

ps.  Just moments before I snapped the picture, Lucas’ arm was around Ka Hei as well…10 yr old boys just don’t stay still for long :).