My Visit to Shanggao

Greetings from Nanchang, Jiangxi!

I just returned to Nanchang China from my daughter Zoe's hometown Shanggao. The purpose of my visit to Shanggao was to take a second look at my daughter's finding place, have a better understanding of how she lived, and develop a closer relationship with her caregivers. It is customary for Chinese people to be gracious and hospitable. Director Wu, Assistant Director Huang,and the Civil Affairs officials were all so kind to me. I had the good fortune to spend the night at the orphanage and tour all of the buildings. Shanggao is a social welfare institute that cares for abandoned babies,orphans and seniors. I was surprised to learn that a majority of the babies are living in foster homes vs. the orphanage. A family environment is perferred as each child can get more one on one attention. Holt and Altrusa are doing a wonderful job of providing financial support to the foster families. I saw three young babies at Shanggao. One baby has a severe cleft problem, one had a unidentified health issue and the other baby was healthy. I have posted her picture to the right.

I told my kids that I would find them a "special baby" to sponsor. Well kids, I did not find your special baby, but rather a "special friend". I met a sweet little eleven year old girl that arrived at Shanggao in August. The police in another province found her walking the streets. She disappeared from the police station and could not be found. Later the police in Shanggao county found her wandering the street and brought her to Shanggao. Her birth parents can not be located. This sweet girl had evidence of abuse when she arrived at Shanggao. The orphanage staff feel that she may have been stolen from her birth parents at a young age by some unkind people. She then escaped from these people when she was old enough. The Shanggao staff is doing its best to nurture and love this girl. This little girl walks around all day helping the nannies with the babies, helping the cooks and visiting with the seniors. She brings such joy to the babies and seniors at Shanggao. She is a little miracle! I asked Director Wu to take her shopping for some special toys and new clothes for winter. I hugged her a lot and we watched Chinese tv together. She smiled and smiled and smiled! You can see her in the background in the photo to the right.

I was also pleased to see a beautiful new Chrisitan church being built across the street from Shanggao. I offered the suggestion to Director Wu to take the seniors there once a week to give them the opportunity for socialization. He nodded yes, that he would try to do this.

I also spent a lot of time with the Civil Affairs officers discussing the needs of the aging population in China and the advancement of the rural farmers. I visited the country side with them and met several families and their children. I also visited the elementary school in the farming village.

I also noticed that a large High School was located right next to the Shanggao orphanage. I asked director Wu if I could visit the school. In one brief phone call I was on my way to visit the school. Well, let me tell you, I have NEVER seen anything like it!! First of all, the campus was beautiful. When I walked inside I saw several stories high of thousands of roaring Chinese students. The sound of the students echoed throughout the place. When the students started to see me the word spread fast that a foreigner was there. I then had thousands of Chinese students staring and smiling at me in excitement. It was truly astounding! The overwhelming feeling of recognition was good for my soul. It gave me a tiny peak into what heaven will be like when the angels roar and God says, "Welcome home good and faithful servant!" I felt so energized by the students and inspired! I was lead up several flights of stairs to a English classroom. The Chinese English teacher was surprised to see me and a dozen other people walking into his classroom. He did a wonderful job of composing himself and explaining to his class that I came to visit them. I seazed this opportunity and shared my hopes and dreams with them. I explained;life is short, life is not easy,being a young student in China is hard. I encouraged them to continue to study hard, but also to try and find a balance so that they can enjoy life. I asked them to do me a favor and take some time to help the orphanage babies and seniors. I told them that Linda and I are working hard to unite groups and empower these groups to serve. We are determined to transform the minds and hearts of youth, teens and young adults around the world! I invited them to join our army of Kids Care members. The students then asked me questions and I answered. The students were so happy to hear that I adopted a Shanggao baby. I thanked them for their kindness and I told them to stay in touch with me.

If you have the motivation to help kids grow into service minded individuals please contact me. There are groups of kids every where in America and China and we need your help to share our mission with them. If you feel inspired to join us please call me at 480-290-1372.

Jiangsu Provincial Children's Center Event

Let me start out by saying this, "The people of China are the most gracious and hard working people!" I feel so honored to be called "A friend of China".

When I arrived at our partner school the Jiangsu Provincial Children's Center two large electric signs read Welcome to Mrs. MaLeesa Meyers, President of Global Child Advocates. I was given a tour of the school and saw children playing intruments, dance lessons, martial arts, English classes, etc. The school was enormous and impressive! The confidence and determination on each child's face as they studied and practiced caught my attention.

I was given the opportunity to stand on the stage with all of the school directors. I gave a brief introduction about Global Child Advocates and informed everyone in attendance about our "My Special Baby" program. All of the kids in our program were invited to join me on stage. I gave each of the kids a honor certificate for their participation in our program.

Later in the day, I met with some of the smaller kids and their parents. I read them a story about adoption. It was hard to get through it without crying as I realized that I may be the first person to share this information with them.I felt responsible to convey this message to the kids and parents in such a way that they could understand and accept it. I then explained to them that sign language is a universal language and that we can communicate with each other without using words. We played the sign language game for a while and then musical chairs. Some of the kids sang songs and played instruments for me.

Later in the evening, I gave my presentation to the older students and their parents. Going into the presentation I had no fear, I was so excited to get to share my message with them.

My message to the children was that we are all human. Even though we have different facial features and cultural influences, inside we are all simply HUMAN. I then explained to them that there are two meanings for the word RACE. One meaning is to compete to win and the other meaning is our nationality. I explained that we as humans are all in a HUMAN RACE. My goal was to ask the kids questions to get them thinking about their purpose for being here. I explained that we are all racing against each other to get a good education, get a good job, make more money, etc. My questions to the kids were;

1. If we are all racing, do we really ever win or lose?
2. Can we discover our purpose if we do not slow down enough to ask what it is?
3. Do we really win if we hurt our fellow man sprinting to the finish line?

I explained that if we do not help each other that we are all going to CRASH. I shared my adoption story with them and explained how the Chinese birth parents' greatest sacrifice is our greatest joy. I thanked the Chinese people on behalf of all of the adoptive parents in America for giving us the opportunity to love their children. Linda and I both had a hard time continuing the presentation through our tears. What an amazing ooporutnity that we had to demonstrate God's love! I can not explain in words the deep feeling of gratitude and respect that I have for the Chinese people. I wish that you could understand.

If you are reading this, I encourage you to join me and learn more about the culture and customs of the Chinese. The Chinese admire America and the American Dream. They crave more information about how we think and feel. This country is crying out for information and because they are seeking it they are growing in knowledge and technology at an astounding rate! Why is it that we do not want to know about them? How will it serve us as Americans if we do not get to know and have acceptance, reality and communication with the people in China? China is a nation of dedication, respect, loyalty, adhearance to policy and a clean slate to be re-written. As the Chinese continue to evolve they will also evolve in their quest for more answers. It is my hope and prayer that we as Americans and a united nation can share our values and beliefs with our Chinese friends. It is not our job to preach to them, but rather to witness to them by our actions. We should support and love them like they have never before been loved. We should be humble and walk with quiet dignity. It is our responsibility as Christians (Christ followers) to pick up that cross and carry some of the burden. To cross cultural barriers and walk many miles (or fly many miles)to help others find their way home. If we do not do this, who will? China is saying, "TELL ME MORE!!! I WANT TO KNOW EVERYTHING!!!" Should we be afraid to tell them? What right do we have to keep the GOOD NEWS to ourselves? How will this benefit our children or our children's children in the future? Does anyone care? I care and God certainly cares.

Linda and I visited with Reverend Li Lan Cheng yesterday. He is the senior pastor at the Mo Chou Road church in Nanjing. Reverend Li understood our intentions and he has agreed to partner with GCA and our US church partners. Together, we are going to do amazing things! We are going to empower our kids in the US and China and inspire them to help those less fortunate! Praise GOD!! I can not think of a more worthy or necessary goal than this.

I want to thank you for taking your time to come to my blog and read about my mission. I am excited to share and I am grateful for your interest. Please tell others and invite them to join us in this mission!

Today is a BIG day!

Romans 10:14

But before people can ask the Lord for help, they must believe in Him, before they believe in Him, they must hear about Him, and for them to hear about Him, someone must tell them, and before someone can go tell them, that person must be sent.

Today, I am being sent to share God's message to many children, teachers and parents at our partner school in China. I will be giving a presentation entitled "What Does It Mean To Be HUMAN" and this message serves God by encouraging others to care for others and orphans.

I will also be traveling to a local orphanage with the school administrators to solidify our new GCA advocacy program called "My Special Baby". The program allows kids at our partner school in China and youth in the United States to be matched up with a orphan baby. The kids in our program will save their pocket money and donate it to their special baby!

What a glorious day for me as I get the opportunity to feel God's love with each word, hand shake and step that I take today. Praise God!

Greetings from China!

Good morning friends!

Well, I have made it to China in good order. It has been smooth sailing! The long flight to China is always daunting, but once you get off the plane and a new world unfolds, you forget the pain.

I stayed in Shanghai my first night. Traveling from the airport to the city was really cool! Shanghai at night is amazing! It reminds me of Las Vegas and New York City combined. The traffic is always interesting to watch. It was a bit unsettling when I found out that the seat belt was broken. Linda told me that no one uses seat belts in China. "All of our drivers are experienced",she said with a smile.

Yesterday I traveled by train to Nanjing. This was really fun! The thousands of Chinese friends looking at me with eyes of curiosity made me blush and giggle. I wish I knew what they were thinking as they passed by. Linda said, "They think you look like a Barbie doll. We always want what others have, blue eyes, blonde hair, etc."

The hotel boy that helped us with our luggage wanted to know how Americans felt about President Obama. He also wanted to confirm the name of our Phoenix Suns basketball team.

The cute little kids on the street are so happy to see me. They smile and try to engage me by practicing their hello in English. SO CUTE!!!!

Today I am meeting with Linda (my China Program Director) to discuss the itinerary for our event at the Jiangsu Provincial Children's Center tomorrow. I have finished my presenation and I look forward to meeting all of the kids in our Kids Care program. I will post more about this later.

Tonight, I am getting treated to an authentic homemade Chinese meal at Linda's house. Her husband Vincent purchased silverware and plates for me as they do not use silverware here, they use chopsticks.

I am off to China on November 11!!

Hello Friends,

I am busy packing today as I am off to China on November 11. I will be returning to Arizona on November 23, 2008. It is my intent to post to this blog while I am away. However, it may be difficult as I will have to use the hotel business office to do so. I may not have internet access while staying at the Shanggao orphanage. I plan to journal every day and then post these journal entries when I return home. Please check back later.

Thank you to all of you that gave donations toward this trip. Your kind donation will be used to provide aid to the orphans after I assess their needs. I also want to thank you all for your words of encouragement and kind prayers while I am away.

Hugs,

MaLeesa

"We all smile in the same language"

Adoption Options Seminar a huge success!

The Adoption Options seminar hosted by Phoenix Children's Hospital was a huge success on Saturday! We had over 60 people in attendance! Thank you Phoenix Children's hospital doctors and staff for partnering with us! November is National Adoption month! We were so glad to see so many Arizona families interested in adoption. Should any adoptive families have additional questions please do not hesitate, give me a call!

Channel 12 news helps GCA!

I would like to thank Phoenix Children's Hospital and Tram Mia (Ch 12 news anchor) for helping us to spread the word about our mission to help disadvantaged children. I am so grateful for their kind support and we are optimistic that families will be united with children as a result of these collaborative efforts! You can view the channel 12 news segment by going to the GCA website at www.globalchildadvocates.org and looking in the Who We Are section.

My Mission trip to China

October 25, 2008

Dear Friends,

How excited I am to share with you what God is leading me to do! God is leading me to go and be a part of His work in China on November 11-23, 2008. I will be working with different churches, schools and orphanages in Shanghai, Nanjing and Shanggao China. Global Child Advocates is a child advocacy organization. We are dedicated to improving the physical, mental and emotional health of abandoned and abused children worldwide. To find out more information about our mission go to our website at www.globalchildadvocates.org

You may also follow me along on my trip in China by returning to this blog at http://kidscareccclub.blogspot.com/

I would like to invite you to participate in this missions project. You may want to become a prayer partner or financial partner, or possibly both. My prayer partners are asked to pray for me as I am traveling alone on this trip. During this timeframe, I ask that you pray each morning and evening. Financial partners are needed so that we may begin our orphan scholarship program in China. You can become a member of our Founders Club and change the lives of orphans forever! Your kind donation can help us to cover our translator/facilitator fees associated with this mission trip. In addition your donation will be used to provide aid to the children in orphanages after I assess the needs.

I am covering the cost of this trip using my personal finances. I want you to know that your prayers, encouragement, and financial help are such a blessing to me! You will be a part of His work, as well as what God is going to do in my personal life. Thank you for prayerfully considering partnering with me in helping the disadvantaged children in China! Global Child Advocates is a 501 (C) 3 non profit corporation and funds contributed will be tax deductible in the United States. Please forward this information on to anyone that may have a heart for China’s orphans.

All for His glory,

MaLeesa D. Meyers


“We all smile in the same language”

GCA Orphan Scholarships

We are excited to inform you that Global Child Advocates will soon be offering education scholarships to orphans in China! Check back in with us later for more details. To become involved contact us at 480-585-6279! Our kids and teen mentors are speaking to churches, schools and clubs all around the valley. Your kids can join us as a Child Advocate and change the life of an orphan forever! Global Child Advocates is a 501 C 3 non profit corporation.

My Journey To Zoe- Why I do what I do!

By: MaLeesa D. Meyers Drafted November 30, 2007

I would like to thank you for taking your time to read about my adoption journey. The Chinese believe that we are all connected by an invisible red thread. It connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place, or circumstance. It is a very strong thread; it cannot break. It pierces every impossible barrier, and it travels every possible distance. The only thing that happens to this thread is that it gets shorter and shorter as the people in your life get closer and closer to you and to people you meet. Then it is gone. I believe that you and I are connected and are part of a very large family, an adoptive family. Since I view you as family, I would like to take this opportunity to share some personal information with you. I have learned much along my adoption journey, and I hope that I can help you in some way.

Our human experience is quite dramatic, and I am sure that you would agree. We have all been on many journeys. Some of them heart breaking, some of them heart warming, and some of them leave you wondering why did this happen to me? As a young girl my dream was to get married and one day have a boy and a girl. This dream has come true for me, and I feel very fortunate. I did not get to this place without going on many journeys, however and the terrain was brutal at times. So brutal, in fact, that I truly could not see the forest for the trees. I had always had a longing in my heart for a girl. This longing was hard to explain in words. It seemed as if there was a void, something missing inside of me. I always felt that if I found my girl, life would be good. Good for me, good for my son and good for my husband. My decision to have a girl was as much for my family as it was for me. I did not want my son to be an only child, and I wanted my husband to have the experience of being a father to a daughter.

Many years ago, I was approached by a stranger at a seminar in Chicago. He came up to me and stated that he saw a dark cloud around my head. He asked to sit down and chat for a while. Being the type of person that looked for such “red thread” encounters, I invited the man to sit and share his opinions. I was feeling very sad that day and was about to make a life-changing decision that was weighing heavily upon my heart. The man told me some interesting things. He told me that my husband and I were going to have a daughter together. “This daughter will bring you closer together. She will change your life and give you direction,” he said. He advised me not to make any major life changes. “Just wait and just hold on,” he advised. The next day I told my husband about the strange encounter with this man. My husband, being a very sensitive and intuitive man, was not surprised. He was intrigued and interested. This man put up a sign on my life path that said GO THIS WAY. I had two choices. I could have decided that the man was a real weirdo and dismissed this encounter, or I could heed his advice and follow the sign. Being a risk taker, I followed his sign. I am always up for a challenge, and I never turn down a good fight when I believe strongly about something. Those that know me personally know that this is true. My life path was changed that day. It changed because of a strange encounter on a day that I was willing to listen and take a risk.

Life Lesson 1: Always look for a “red thread” encounter. Do not go through life with blinders on. When you get to a fork in the road and do not know which way to go just wait. A sign (or a person) may appear to guide you.

Being a risk taker means taking the most treacherous path. I believe that God gives us just what we need in this life in order to evolve and come closer to Him. I have found that God will make life as interesting as you would like it to be. The sign that said GO THIS WAY was pointed left. I found out right away that this path was not going to be easy. Having the desire to have a daughter was not a desire to have a biological daughter. Many well-wishers thought that this was strange. “Why not just try to have a biological daughter and save yourself from all the headaches?” they said. The reason was unclear and my answer was, “In life there are no guarantees.” I knew that I would have a daughter, but I had no idea how it was going to happen. So, moving forward on my journey, I considered becoming a foster parent. “Maybe I will find my daughter if I go this way,” I thought. So, I proceeded ahead on this path. This was a short path but the most “safe” path at the time.

Life Lesson 2: Even if you take baby steps, you will eventually get to your destination. Always look for opportunities to help others. If you do this, your chance for more frequent “red thread” encounters will occur. Giving of yourself to help another is never a waste of time. Helping those less fortunate is your gift back to God.

A short time after this decision, I was asked to be a host mother for two young orphan girls from Russia. “Maybe I will find my daughter if I do this,” I said to myself. So, again being a risktaker and having the support of my family, we welcomed these girls into our home. I knew right away that these girls were not to be a part of our family. My daughter was not to be found in the eyes of these girls. So, I asked myself, “Who am I to meet as a result of this opportunity?” I started to look. “Was it another adoptive family? Were these girls here to teach me something? Was it my responsibility to find them a mother? Oh yes, this was it! I was to help find them a mother!” So, I proceeded ahead on this path to find them a mother. The girls told me often (through a translator) that they did not want to find a mother in America. They wanted to go back to Russia. No one listened, including me. This experience taught me something very important.

Life Lesson 3: Adults do not have all of the answers. Listen to a child when they are old enough to speak. If we listen to the desire of their heart, they will find peace. It is our job as adults to listen more and talk less. When a child cries, God cries.

These girls taught me to be a better listener. I work with foster children now, and because of these girls I have learned to listen without feeling the desire to have to “fix” the problem. God is the only one that can fix the problems in our society. It is our job to support those in need by being kind and caring. It costs nothing to listen.

During this hosting experience, I did meet a lovely Russian girl. She had beautiful dark hair and eyes. Her cheeks were round and her smile was perfect. She grabbed my heart, and I felt a special connection with this girl. She was a young lady looking for love. Unlike the other two girls, this girl came to America to find a family. She longed for a mother, and I could feel this. She and I had this special connection. She was a girl transitioning into a young lady. She would only be a girl for a little while longer. I had so many fears, so many concerns, so many hopes, and so many unanswered questions. I had so little time to get answers and the decision must be made now! It is now or never! I could not let this girl leave without a mother! Again with the support of my family we began the process to adopt her. That year proved to be one of the hardest years of my life. The terrain was rocky. I had boulders to climb with regard to my family. Fear of the unknown and questions left unanswered left me shaking by the side of the trail. It was dark, and it was lonely. I could not see because of the darkness, and the stars seldom shined. To me, being a risk taker meant NEVER doubting your decision. To do so, would mean complete and utter failure. I made a promise and only liars break a promise. My desire to find my daughter was great, but my desire to protect the child I already had was even greater. It was my responsibility to make the right decision for everyone involved. I came to a crossroads again. This time I followed the sign that pointed to the right. The sign read THIS IS NOT YOUR DAUGHTER, YOUR JOB IS DONE HERE, LET HER GO, PROCEED AHEAD. Oh my GOD, how would I let her go! As I sat there and pondered this difficult decision, I realized that this was not my daughter. I knew that this girl and I met for a reason. She has since found her mother and her family. She found them, but I first had to let go and acknowledge that she was not mine. I recently saw this girl, and she gave me a wonderful gift. The gift of understanding. I thank her for her courage and bravery. I thank her for coming into my life to teach me this important life lesson.

Life Lesson 4: It is okay to let go. It is wise to think of others and how your decisions will affect them. You are not a failure if you disrupt an adoption or cannot follow through. Sometimes letting go is the best thing to do. Letting go allows your red thread to grow stronger. Time and time again, I have heard stories of the heartache families suffer after a disrupted adoption. It is truly a loss. Just as a miscarriage is a loss to a family, so is the loss of any child that you consider your own. Experience is the only reality, and if you have not experienced this situation you will never know. I ask others not to negatively judge families that have had to face this in their lives. Many children have found their correct family because loving parents had the courage to let go. To let go is to love.

This path led me to a high mountaintop. From here I could see the entire forest. I could see all of the paths that I had taken. I could see the path ahead of me, and it was clear. The sign on the top of the mountain said YOUR DAUGHTER IS IN CHINA, GO THIS WAY. I sat for a while in the grief of my loss. I was confused and bewildered. China was calling me. A mother in Asia was going to give birth to a beautiful girl whom she could not care for. She needed me and I needed her. I could feel the peace in this decision, and it felt right. Our red thread was strong, and it reached from my soul to her womb. We were one. She need not know me and I need not know her for God made this match in heaven.

Life Lesson 5: Trying to anticipate the future is futile. Live in the moment. Try not to live with regret over the past. Living life is a lesson in its self. To understand yourself is to understand God.

The path down from the mountain was easy. It was an effortless journey. I stopped to smell some flowers along the way. I had fun buying baby clothes. I decorated my daughter’s room. I studied about China and researched the journey ahead of me. I rested, I prepared, and I planned. I waited in great anticipation until I could see her face. Finally, that day came on lucky St. Patrick’s Day in March, 2005. Seeing her face made the long and painful journey worthwhile. I felt refreshed. I was now ready to be a mother to this girl, my girl. My journey to the mountaintop took three years. In our “instant mashed potato society” we want what we want now, myself included. If God allowed us to see the journey that lay ahead of us many of us, would choose not to take it. We would not learn, we would not grow, and we would not learn to over come. It is the journey that prepares us and makes us strong. God will not give us His most precious gift unless we are ready and prepared to receive it.

Life Lesson 6: Things happen in God’s time not our time. The sooner you realize this and accept it the happier you will become. You will enjoy the journey more if you avoid rushing to the final destination.

GOTCHA DAY

Gotcha Day will always be one of the most magical moments in my entire life. Have you ever had a birthday that you thought no one remembered? Then you walk into your home and find all of your family and friends singing…. happy birthday to you! They gotcha! What a feeling of surprise that is! For the mom’s that have biological children you would probably agree that Gotcha Day was very much the same as giving birth. Everything that leads up to the BIG day is the same. Telling your husband that you are pregnant and seeing a smile appear on his face is the same as saying, “Heah honey, I would really like to adopt a child,” and your husband says, “Yes.” Completing the adoption paperwork is like having morning sickness. Waiting for the fingerprint clearance is the first kick. Waiting for a log-in date is like a food craving. Anticipating the referral is like watching your stomach grow. Getting the referral is like finding out if it is a boy or a girl. Getting travel approval is like getting your expected due date. Seeing your child for the first time is like seeing a birth child for the first time. With each birth God surely smiles and says to Himself, “Gotcha, didn’t I?”

I remember the exact moment when I first laid eyes on my biological son Quinten. After giving birth they took him across the room to clean him up. I was looking closely for a breath and listening for a cry. It seemed like an eternity when in reality it was a few seconds. I was awestruck when his eyes opened for the first time and he looked right at me. I must tell you that I saw stars and fell deeply in love with that little rascal.

I have heard from other adoptive parents that Gotcha is the exact same. It is hard to believe this, I know. Well, let me tell you…..Gotcha Day is equally heart stopping.

On our Gotcha Day we were not sure where or when we would meet our Zoë V. Yi Yang Meyers. We were nervous, excited, anxious, and concerned parents. I could appreciate what many men must go through when they are waiting for their wife to give birth to their child. The waiting and worrying is agonizing and the anticipation is almost too much to bear.

8:00 a.m. still no call from the facilitator, 9:00 a.m. still no call, 10:00 a.m. still no call, and 11:00 a.m still no call. I then heard the first cry outside our hotel door. Oh my, it was a baby! I ran to the door and, sure enough, here came two orphanage workers with a beautiful baby. The parents across the hall opened the door, and they handed her to them. I smiled, shut the door, and fell to the ground in tears. A few minutes later another cry. I opened the door and there was another beautiful baby being given to a family. I lay on the bed and listened to all of the crying. I was wondering what was happening in those rooms. What I would give to be a fly on the wall this day. It was Mother’s Day in May, 2005 in Jiangxi, China. The most amazing things were happening at the Gloria Hotel!

I could not stand the wait any longer. I called our facilitator’s superior in China to inquire about our daughter. I was told that he would be calling us. “When and where?” I begged. “Don’t worry, he will call. He is traveling to your location,” she said. Then another cry came. I opened the door again. Another baby and family being united. It was enough to push me over the edge. I just could not handle the excitement and the anticipation any longer! We did not know if our facilitator would be showing up at the hotel with our baby like the other children. We knew nothing. Finally, the call came. Our kind facilitator informed us that we would be meeting our daughter at the Nanchang Civil Affairs office at 6:00 p.m. It was only 1:00 when we got the call. I did not know how I was going to wait until 6:00 p.m.! For five hours we listened and watched as parents walked the hall trying to comfort and console their new babies.

Our facilitator finally showed up and we were off in a taxi heading to see our baby girl. When we arrived we waited some more. Another hour passed and the orphanage director called to say they were running late. Then we waited again. Another call came that said they were ten minutes away. The anticipation was building again. I had finally calmed myself enough to converse and make small talk with our facilitator. I felt like a volcano laying dormant waiting to erupt.

We heard a door open and the words, “She is here!” Then I heard footsteps and stood up. In walked a Chinese women carrying the most beautiful one year old child with the most beautiful head of thick, silky, black hair. She had on several layers of old, worn clothes. Her face was stone cold almost as if she had seen a ghost. She was clearly traumatized. In that moment, this day was no longer about me and my journey. My thought was how would I ever help this child to feel safe again? My heart broke for her as I realized that she would be leaving what was familiar again. Just as she left the safe womb of her birth mother, she will be leaving the only family she had ever known. I felt like a hero and I felt like a robber. Who was I to take such a beautiful child from her birth country? Why did God grace me with the task of parenting this girl? I realized that I was totally responsible for ensuring that this child feel safe, loved, and secure in her new family. All that I am was grateful for the opportunity to share my life with this darling girl. I knew that I was not only responsible to care for her but also responsible to God for entrusting her to my care.

She was handed to me without a whimper. She stared into my eyes. The lady that was holding her kept saying, “Ma, Ma, this is your Ma Ma!” Zoë never took her eyes off of me. It was a very hot and humid day. My little Zoë was so hot and sweaty. All of the old wool layers made me realize that life had been hard. She seemed totally exhausted from the fight. She had nothing left to give. All she could do was just sit there and let it all happen to her. My God, what a brave girl she was! She became my hero that day! My life was changed forever as I realized I was no hero. All of the beautiful children are heroes! They are our gift from God, and if we cherish them, listen to them, and most importantly try to understand them, we will be blessed. Our adopted children will always serve as our reminder that miracles can happen. Even today, I am stopped on occasion to admire this girl of mine. I always tell her, “You are a miracle baby, and I thank God for allowing me to be your Ma Ma.” When Zoë gets all dressed up she says, “Look at your miracle baby! Don’t I look cute?” I smile and say, “Yes you are and yes you do!”

As I begin my next journey, I recognize that you and I may meet some day along this path. I look forward to this. As you are reading these words please know that I send you heartfelt good wishes. As each of you takes your journey through this life know that God is with you. We are all connected through His love. We should greet each other as family along the way and help each other. I hope that this book inspires you to keep moving along your path. I hope that you can feel God’s grace through the words on each page.

Help us to spread the word!

Hi Kids,

Did you know that 60 million Americans volunteered 8.1 billion hours
of service in 2007? They collected and distributed food. They
raised money. They spent their time helping neighbors.

Guess which state has the most service hours?

If you guessed Utah you are right!

Residents of Provo, Utah, offered up the most time-132 hours, on
average, per person! GO UTAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here are the states where volunteers were most likely to give more
than 100 hours of service.

Utah 44%
Nebraska 40%
Minnesota 40%
Alaska 39%
Montana 38%

If your state is not listed here then we should get busy!!!!

I have begun our church outreach program here in Arizona. I will be
speaking to three different church youth groups next month! We are
looking for kids to join our Kids Care club and help us to further
our mission. You can get more involved and help us to spread the
word in your state. The beauty of our program is we can spread our mission to kids
everywhere! We are "global" thinkers here at GCA so think BIG!!

Also check out the new changes to the GCA website at
www.globalchildadvocates.org

Hugs,

MaLeesa

"We all smile in the same language"

I am adding a few photos from our Candelight Service

I want to thank all of the Kids Care members & parents for their kind assistance in putting together our special service. A special thank you to Stephanie Withrow for her suggestions and assistance in making this service move forward.

Candlelight Service/Quake Fund

Dear Kids & Parents,

On Sunday evening a special candlelight service was held in Mesa AZ
to show our support to the families in China that have lost a loved one
and to remember the countless lives lost in the quake. It was a
special evening. Several Kid Care members showed up to decorate in
the morning. Lit candles were all around, our posters were placed to
educate people about our mission. Quinten (Qdog) did a wonderful job
explaining about our mission and inviting others to get involved.
Judy (Xin) Ye also did a magnificent job with her PowerPoint presentation
and showed us wonderful photos of brave Chinese soldiers, success
storied about children saved and sad stores that brought tears.
We touched the hearts of the Chinese at the event. One young
Chinese women came up to me after the event with tears in her eyes.
She was so surprised and touched that we as adoptive moms would unite
and take our time to serve as the voice for the hurting in China.
She could barely talk...this made it all worth while. I will see about
adding video You Tube clips of the service to my blog at a later date.

As of today we have raised $695.00 for our Earthquake Relief Fund!
Lets continue to work hard this summer to raise more money. I would
like to travel to China in September and personally guarantee that
these funds are used to help the quake victims. We are trying to
locate funding to help support our programs at this time. We are going
to be working hard this summer sharing our Wellcome Home video with others.
We are requesting donations from individuals and corporations to sponsor our duplication and distribution fees associated with the video. With their help, we can give this video to adoptive families and orphanages for FREE. What a blessing this will be to families and children!




__._,_.___

Earthquake Relief Fund IS Growing!

Hi Kids,

The word is starting to spread and I have had several more donations come in today and several promises for funds to come. I will post our new total after the service on Sunday.

Kids Care Candlelight Serivce in Mesa Arizona

Community Unites as Advocates for Quake Victims in China

(May 20, 2008-Scottsdale, Arizona) – Members of the Global Child Advocates’ Kids Care Cultural Communication Club are inviting our community to join them in a special candlelight service. The service is being held in remembrance of the lives lost this past week due to the devastating earthquake in China. It is the mission of the Kids Care Club to unite with children in China as advocates to help children in orphanages and foster care around the world. Many children in China have lost their lives this past week leaving their parents childless. Many children have lost their parents and now find themselves orphaned. Kids Care members are taking action to show the world that kids really CAN make a difference. Their club motto is “We all smile in the same language”. Global Child Advocates is a 501 C (3) non profit organization with offices in Scottsdale and Nanjing China. Global Child Advocates has set up an Earthquake Relief Fund. Donations will be used to provide emergency and long term relief to children and families affected by the disaster, including emergency shelter, food and medical care for children orphaned or separated from their families. To make a donation or join the Kids Care Club to make this world a better place go to www.globalchildadvocates.org or call MaLeesa Meyers at 480-585-6279. The candlelight service is being held on Sunday May 25, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. The Rockin R Ranch has kindly donated their space located at 6136 East Baseline, Mesa AZ 85206.

Money Raised For Earthquake Fund

As of today, we have raised $45.00 for the earthquake relief fund. We are expecting more donations as a result of Dr. Meyers' Golf Holeistic program. A special thanks goes out to Dr. Meyers and Bob Frost (GCA Board members) for doing such a great job at our Troon Presentation on Thursday.

We are in the process of uniting the Arizona community to join us for a special candlelight service. We will be showing our support and love for the victims and families in China. Just as soon as our location is confirmed I will post this information to the group.

China Earthquake Relief Fund

A massive earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale struck Sichuan province in China on Monday. Because of its magnitude and closeness to the earth’s surface, the quake released so much energy that it caused enormous loss of lives and massive destruction to a number of areas. As of 5/14/08 the death toll has exceeded 12,012 people, 7,841 are missing, 26,206 people are living in temporary shelters. Only 30 children of 900 have been rescued from the collapsed high school in Dujiangyan, Sichuan. At least 20 children were buried in the collapse of a primary school in Liangping, Chongqing.

Advocates from Kids Care Cultural Communications are asking for your kind financial donations to a special Earthquake Relief Fund being set up by Global Child Advocates, Inc. GCA will be working with the Chinese Government to ensure that your donation helps the children and families devastated by this disaster. This fund will provide direct aid to the thousands of children and families who are suffering in the wake of this disaster.

You can make a donation by going to www.globalchildadvocates.org and clicking on Donate (option 2). Your donation is tax deductible. You may also mail donations to:

Global Child Advocates
Attn: Kids Care Club
9309 East Vereda Solana Drive
Scottsdale, AZ 85255

Our motto: We all smile in the same language

You Gotta Be...A Song that Inspires

The song that I chose for this blog has special meaning to me. The first time I heard it I was inspired to inspire. It stirs in me the desire to take action and over come adversity. The words repeated in this song are You Gotta Be

Bad
Bold
Wise
Hard
Tuff
Strong
Cool
Calm
*You gotta stay together
*Remember: Love will save the day!

In life when you identify your purpose you may need to call upon these words in order to survive! When people tell you that you are crazy, wasting your time or that your purpose has no purpose you must stand strong.

WELCOME

If you are reading this blog then you must be curious to find out what is happening with Global Child Advocates or you want to become involved in some way. I am glad that you are here and I hope that you check back often. Stay tuned as we utilize this blog to spread the word about our mission.