One of the things that has really bothered me since coming to China three months ago has been the depth of my interactions. I can barely speak the language, so most of my conversations are very utilitarian and superficial. I’m foreign to the culture, so usually I’m simply trying to understand what’s going on. And I’m finding that Chinese people hold their hearts very closely … they’ll gladly share who, what, when, and where but are hesitant to delve into why and how.

So even though I’m teaching something very valuable (English!) to over 1,000 students, I sorta feel disconnected. My mind wants to know what the passions, fears, and insecurities of these people are … but instead, it’s been occupied by language study, lesson planning, and learning the simplest details of this culture. My heart wants to pour out kindness, but it’s been forced to have restraint and patience, serving practical needs instead. And my spirit longs to connect with other people, sharing the peace and hope and love that I’ve found … but I’ve had to wait patiently, praying for a chance to connect on a deeper level.

On Thursday, however, I got an email from Jennifer, an American with a daughter who was adopted from Loudi. She asked me questions about the city, the culture, Chinese perspectives, and ethnic minorities. She told me that there is an orphanage in the city where hundreds of parents from around the world have adopted children from, and she told me about a charity, Love Without Boundaries, that works to provide foster care, surguries, nutrition programs, and education programs to orphans in Loudi. Jennifer even showed an interest in my photos from Loudi … apparantly these families are eager to learn more about their child’s heritage and former home but most haven’t been able to visit or find resources about Loudi.

Wow. I was absolutely floored. I had been praying for months for this very thing … a practical and tangible way to serve a deeper need in this community and beyond. And here it was, laid out right in front of me … Provided.

I live here … and I can easily provide an insider’s perspective, asking the local people about issues, finding information about the city, and taking photos of important places and events in Loudi. I can be a resource for families who want to visit, answering questions, connecting them with a local guide, and even providing a place to stay. And finally, I can help to support a charity that is doing something significant in this city, something that I identify with and believe in. Maybe it’s not a mistake that I’m virtually the only waiguoren (foreigner) around!

So the ball is rolling. I’m in the beginning stages of planning a fundraiser that will benefit the orphans of Loudi. At this point, I’m thinkng about using my photos to create prints, books, postcards, and calendars … then selling and distributing them to families in the States. It’s a complicated idea … especially while I’m still living in China … but something that seems to have potential. So if you have any ideas, or know anyone who has done something similar, or have any connections in the printing/publishing world … let me know!

Posted to webeldotnet on Sunday, October 29th, 2006 at 11:28 am EST in China & My Life (comment feed). If you refer to this post on your blog, please trackback. Thanks!