{"id":2402,"date":"2013-07-24T05:05:36","date_gmt":"2013-07-24T12:05:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/?p=2402"},"modified":"2013-07-24T08:05:33","modified_gmt":"2013-07-24T15:05:33","slug":"loudi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/?p=2402","title":{"rendered":"Loudi"},"content":{"rendered":"

We had the privilege of driving out to Isaiah’s home area, Loudi, Hunan.<\/p>\n

We drove south out of Changsha, over the river Chairman Mao tried to swim across in his youth. I say tried, because apparently he would swim as far as a large inhabited island to rest before setting off for the far bank once again. A number of years ago, the inhabitants were removed from the island and it was closed to the public. \u00a0I recent years, a 100 metre high bust of the Chairman, himself, was erected there and orange groves and parkland were revitalized there. \u00a0 It is now referred to as the “Orange Island” and viewing it form the bridge as we crossed the river, it indeed seemed like a lush Mt. Rushmore.<\/p>\n

Heading southwest we again came across the tall farmer’s homes, and the rural fields backed up against reddish-orange earthen hillsides. \u00a0But this time, the hills became rolling mountains covered with thick forests. \u00a0Logging trucks passed us on the freeway and in the distance long used rice paddy terraces covered the mountain sides. \u00a0And the crazy horn honking, long distance city to city bus drivers. \u00a0Whooooeeee! \u00a0Hang onto your hats boys and girls!<\/p>\n

Our driver knows we don’t mind detours by now, but today, a wrong turn led us along some deeply pot hole ridden roads. \u00a0Bang! \u00a0Thud! \u00a0There went the suspension. \u00a0Or so we thought. \u00a0Nope. \u00a0On we went.<\/p>\n

Suddenly, we drove into the city of Lou Di. \u00a0Four and a half million people and an obviously large investment into constructing a beautiful new government headquarters. \u00a0If our hotel is palatial in an aging, yet charming way, the new government headquarters are leaning towards the palaces of Europe. \u00a0Quite spectacular.<\/p>\n

We pulled off a side road to the new orphanage building and were greeted by the staff we’d met earlier at the adoption proceedings. \u00a0We paused for photos under a scrolling billboard sign, welcoming Isaiah home. \u00a0Ironically, he’d only stayed in that building for a few short nights before we met him.<\/p>\n

After the requisite official refreshment and Q&A time in the meeting room, we toured the upstairs wing where the roughly twenty children lived. \u00a0Now, at first that may sound a small number, but we were told that there were another 80-100 in foster care, and a number at boarding school for high school.<\/p>\n

I have so much on my heart regarding our visit with the children. \u00a0It was very difficult. \u00a0I just want to leave you with a thought.<\/p>\n

We were graciously given access to those precious little souls for only a few minutes of their lives. \u00a0Around the world many, many people waited days outdoors just for the moment that the new royal prince would be born. \u00a0What do those two things have in common? \u00a0Well, the prince lives locked up because of media scrutiny and by the protection of his parents. \u00a0One day he will step into the royal limelight and move into his earthly role as heir to the throne. \u00a0Those children I met today? \u00a0They also live literally behind lock and key. \u00a0But not by a doting public or a watchful parent. \u00a0They are hidden from the public now, but they will not see the light of freedom. \u00a0Not unless they are pursued, relentlessly<\/em>,\u00a0like a parent for their child.<\/p>\n

We pursued our Isaiah. \u00a0Will you consider pursuing your own precious son or daughter?<\/p>\n

After our time with the children, we were invited to a lunch with the staff and officials. \u00a0It was a beautiful lunch in an interesting restaurant with a giant drum and a fountain of water that flowed next to the staircase that led to our private room. \u00a0Many Hunanese delicacies were served including local eel, cow stomach and frogs legs, alongside sweet potato greens, custard and desert balls, among many, many other dishes. \u00a0I ended up holding a very upset Isaiah and they kindly packed up a box of watermelon and buns for me to take with me. \u00a0I wasn’t sad to miss out, this time, but I appreciated their kind hospitality!<\/p>\n

We followed our lunch with a quick photo op at his finding location, before heading back onto the expressway and driving the 2.5 hours back into Changsha.<\/p>\n

Isaiah woke with a temperature and a nasty diaper. \u00a0He has continued to fight the fever and tummy bug all day. \u00a0It was a rough day heading back to Lou Di compounded with not feeling well. \u00a0Stephen and I took turns trying to comfort him and he’s moaning a lot in his sleep. \u00a0We felt terrible for dragging him to the SWI today, but we’ve learned that sometimes we have to do hard things with our kids for the long range goal of their grow and development. \u00a0Having these photos from today will\u00a0help him hang one more piece of his past in the correct sequence. \u00a0Such an important thing as kids ask the deeper identity questions about themselves. \u00a0I just wish I could explain that to his sad little self!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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We had the privilege of driving out to Isaiah’s home area, Loudi, Hunan. We drove south out of Changsha, over the river Chairman Mao tried to swim across in his youth. I say tried, because apparently he would swim as far as a large inhabited island to rest before setting off for the far bank […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[9,49,48,20,34,29,13,14],"tags":[63,62,8,72,6,68,66,59,61],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2402"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2455,"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2402\/revisions\/2455"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2402"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2402"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.learningtogetherathome.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2402"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}