After a good night's rest (for most, and relatively-speaking LOL) we met for breakfast to make some tentative plans for the day. The SWI's driver was waiting for us at the hotel and we loaded up the suitcases of supplies for our week. They are full of testing equipment, toys, games, and snacks. At the SWI, Ms. Yi and Dir. Su welcomed us in the conference room, and introduced us to the guides they had found for us. We have a teacher and two students from Normal University, which means it's a school for teachers as our helpers for this week. Ruth is a teacher of Comprehensive English, and Stefan and Vincent are English Majors. They are wonderful people as well as terrific interpreters.
They asked if we wanted to start our week by visiting the babies---isn't that the VERY best way to start anything? We played, held babies, rocked, and tried to bottle it all up in our memory banks for about two hours. It was absolutely wonderful. Our team's expertise was drawn-upon during that time for various medical issues the staff wanted to address in some of the children, and we are so grateful for all they bring to the team. The babies in OpenArms are doing so well. It was very evident what one-on-one care is bringing to their little lives. The babies know their individual aunties--when one was inconsolable, the auntie gave the child to to her own auntie, and the wailing stopped. These children were giving high fives, dancing, throwing balls, and just having a great time. Their apprehension of us was short-lived as they warmed right up to us. One by one, they drifted off to sleep as it was time for lunch and naps. Our hearts were full from seeing the results of the love of strangers from half a world away. Thank you, thank you, for being a part of this vital program.
Dir. Su and Ms. Yi took us to a lovely lunch to welcome us. It was beautifully presented as always, and the table was full of amazing, delicious food. After lunch, it was time to go back to the orphanage to start on "real" work. We decided that the afternoon would be spent just playing with the preschool candidates to help them warm up to us before the individual assessments begin. To honor the directors' wishes, we have no photos to show of this phase. The children were delightful, and the team members took notes as they played, deciding in which direction to go with this new program. Seeing what they did with stickers, crayons, and paper made our teachers ache to give them art supplies. We will definitely be incorporating art, music, and games. We left with minds whirling, full of questions and ideas and possibilities. We are so anxious to see what we can do with the potential that is evident. Thanks to the generosity of your gifts and trust in ZKO, these children will have the gift of education and enrichment very soon.
In the evening, our interpreters--and new friends, took us to a wonderful little Mongolian restaurant. We had delicious food (again!), and great conversation. We were fading fast once our feet stopped moving, and once we got back to the hotel, we decided to make it another early night and re-group the next morning when we could again think straight. Thanks for following us, and for your kind words and thoughts.
Val, for ZKO
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