Neesie's Update - The Finding Place - UPDATED with Pics

Monday Erica and I traveled 5 1/2 hours, on a very bumpy road to Zhanjiang where YouYou was born. We visited the orphanage where she stayed until she was about 11 months old. It is really a Welfare Institution according to Ms Yi (I think she might be the director of the orphanage). There were four tall buildings that formed a square with a courtyard in the center. The different units housed the children, the elderly, and the physically and mentally disabled. We saw a large playroom with lots of toys and the room where YouYou stayed. We were allowed to take pictures of YouYou's bed but not any of the other children.

Everyone at the orphanage seemed to remember YouYou. The nannies came around and talked to her; sometime she smiled and sometime she clung to Erica. We had lunch with Ms Yi and two other workers from the orphanage. Ms. Yi offered YouYou some candy and she finally warmed up to her.

After lunch we went to visit a very beautiful place where sweet YouYou was found. We are thankful that in God's perfect providence she was found here so that she could become a part of our family. Erica has chosen not to discuss the details of this place in this "public" setting because it is part of Clara's personal story.

Then we had another 5 1/2 hour ride back to Guangzhou. We traveled on the Expressway, and most of the way was much like our interstate highways. But about 1 1/2 to 2 hours of the ride was very bumpy. On the way back to Guangzhou, YouYou went to sleep in Erica's arms and if she did not hold her tightly, YouYou would have bounced out of her arms. She and I both were exhausted but I think Erica is very glad she got the opportunity to see both the orphanage and the finding place. It was something she needed to do for YouYou so when she is older and wants to know, Erica can provide some information.

This morning we went to the toy market. It was an 8 story mall with hundreds of shops of all kinds of things, not just toys. Tommy described it as Oriental Trading Company exploded. Some of it was about that quality but the 7th and 8th floors had really nice home furnishings. Erica did find a few things for YouYou's room.

We had lunch today at Lucys, an American restaurant. I had a grilled cheese sandwich, tomato soup and a quart sized glass of iced tea that came close to being as good at my own. We ate at outside tables and in the open area around the tables several groups of people were playing hakisak. Dixie bought hakisaks for the boys and they were playing around with them. A Chinese couple came over and started helping them learn how to kick them. It was very neat to see this couple and 3 American children playing together. I have to say again, that the Chinese people have been so friendly and nice to us.

We also met two Americans from the Atlanta area who are here teaching English. The schools here are on a winter break so they are touring during the break. They were very interested in why so many Americans were in Guangzhou. Of course, we were excited to share with them about adopting precious children.

On the way back to the Victory Hotel we stopped at The White Swan for the "red sofa" pictures. Erica and Kim bought Chinese dresses for YouYou and Suhui and they are both so beautiful.

Most everyone is resting this afternoon, and tonight we take a cruise on the Pearl River. Tomorrow we leave Guangzhou and go back to Hong Kong then Thursday.....WE LEAVE FOR HOME!!!

UPDATE from Melisa - Tommy and Kim have pictures on their website http://innocentlamb.wordpress.com/

I've posted a couple below.

This is Rachel Suhui with YouYou.