There is so much to catch up on and I will do that in my upcoming posts. We have recently welcomed a foreign exchange student from China into our home. When we first decided to begin this journey we were so excited to bring a little chinese culture into our home, especially for Maddie and Mia. Minghui Zhang arrived on August 3rd after spending 1 week in Los Angeles at English camp. She is exactly representative of the people in China. She is very respectful, sweet and a bit meek. She is very beautiful and is up for anything - she wants to try and experience new things. When I ponder her journey as a 16 year old girl to the United States to live with a family who she has never met and knows very little of - the word BRAVE keeps coming to my mind.
She has started school and likes it very much. She has had a very warm welcome from the kids in her school as well as Lizzy's friends. Two of my close friends are also on this journey with me and have welcomed chinese students into their homes, all 3 of which are friends. So Minghui is not alone and with the other 2 students they feel better having each other to talk to and hang out with.
In the days since Minghui has arrived we have introduced her to several of our friends, neighbors and family. With each introduction I find myself giving Minghui a little history on how long we have known each friend/neighbor, how they are connected to our family, etc. In this process I have realized just how richly blessed I am to have such wonderful friends and family. To have those friends that I have known my whole life, those that have been part of my entire adult life and those that are recently part of my life and all add so much to who I am. It's quite humbling when you stand back and look at it.
Minghui will spend the entire school year with us and I hope to learn a little chinese before she leaves. We have many things planned for her time with us. We will be traveling to Hawaii for Thanksgiving and Montana for skiing, concerts, art projects, athletic events, camping trips - you name it - we are making sure she has the experience of a lifetime!
One thing we knew about Minghui before she arrived is that she is unchurched and potentially does not know who Jesus is. What an opportunity for our family to show the love of Jesus through our actions in our every day life, as well as allow her the opportunity to possibly come to know him through our church home.
Maddie and Mia immediately loved her and are very attached. Maddie likes to spend her free time in Minghui's room, talking and digging through her things. We have had to counsel Maddie on this and insist that she give Minghui some space and time to herself.
What an amazing year we are going to experience.
Minghui and her friends that are staying here too. L to R Fiona, Minghui and Bella. (Minghui and Fiona are going to the same school)
Arrival Welcome at the Airport
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