Little Child

His room in the orphanage, his crib was the last one on the right in the corner by the window

*This blog is as much a journal for Jeremiah and I as it is a way to keep our friends and family informed. We have each had to deal with the way our son came into our life and have each chosen to write about it for our personal reflection. The following is representative of Robyn's feelings, Jeremiah has chosen to share his another day.*

It was a difficult decision to allow Jeremiah and his father to go to Anyang City and the village where our little boy’s life began. But it was the right decision. John Asher had a nickname while living in his foster home: “Xiao Hai Er” which means little child. This little child had very humble beginnings. Being that he was born a boy, he was more than likely favored over girls in Chinese culture. We assume that he would have been kept by his birth parents since boys are treasured. But almost one month after his birth, his parents more than likely discovered his heart was not perfect and they knew they could not give him proper medical care. Really, here in China, the poor peopel in the countryside don’t have many options; they could try to care for him, not knowing the severity of his condition, and he probably would eventually die without surgery. Or they could abandon him in hopes he would be found and given the medical care he needed. I imagine that one very cold night in March, a brave but frightened mother walked her baby boy to the east gate on the edge of town, wrapped him up and placed him by a dirty bridge in hopes that he would make it through the night and be found the next morning. John, Jeremiah’s father, likes to imagine that his mother hid in the trees and watched over him, like Moses’ mother stood nearby, until someone came to his rescue. Someone indeed found him and took him to the police station and for the next five weeks he was cared for in a medical clinic in his village. A notice was placed in the newspaper of his abandonment per legal procedure and eventually he was given to the orphanage to recieve care and given the name An, Meng Qiao (An is the surname of the orphanage director, Meng means dream and Qiao means bridge –the place of his abandonment). Because of his heart condition and a very generous person somewhere in the world, this little child was sponsored and place in a foster home where he received great love and attention. This we know as he loves to be held and has grieved tremendously in the last few days of his great loss. His first loss was the mother who could not care for him; his second was being removed from the only mother he could remember.

Jeremiah and John were given the privilege to go to this little child’s village and take photographs of his humble beginnings and his place of abandonment. Their guide Ping told a group of villagers standing nearby that a baby was abandoned here one year ago and these Americans were here to adopt him. No one said a word; it is illegal in China to abandon a child. Deep in my heart I pray that in this small village word will spread quickly and that a mother grieving the loss of her son will hear that Americans came to adopt him, to give him access to medical care, to see where his life began and somehow, her heart will begin to heal knowing that her son is being loved and cared for, never to face abandonment again. This makes my heart feel a little better too.

They also visited the orphanage where this little child lived for a short period (3 months) before being placed into foster care and where he spent the two days prior to being delivered to us. It was a living facility for the orphaned and the very old and also a school for young children. In the children’s building there were nine rooms with metal cribs placed wall to wall. Babies were covered up with blankets and layered in multiple clothes lying in their cribs and on this one floor with nine rooms, Jeremiah saw just one nanny to care for the babies. I am sure there are more at different times, but for that time period they were there, just one nanny.

This verse was shared with me by my friend Jenna and I think it speaks volumes not just for Jeremiah and me but also for our little child, who now has a name full of hope, happiness and blessing: John Asher Qiao Beall.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Do not be afraid for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east and gather you from the west. Isaiah 43:2,5

Through John Asher's finding ad, our guide Yisha, the orphanage director and Ping, the guide that went with them to Anyang, we have been able to piece together the very beginning of our son's life.

His building in the complex

Bridge where he was abandoned

Village street