What a great week I just had in Zhanjiang working at the orphanage.  We had our very first Shining Stars Summer Camp and it was a hit!  We had craft time and played outside and the children had a great time.  We were given permission to take the children to the zoo the last day of camp.  This was a huge sign of the trust that the orphanage has in ZKO.  The children had never left the orphanage, and by the time we actually got the children to the ground floor and outside, it was just too much for two of the little ones.  One of the teachers stayed behind with them because  they just could not handle being outside.  It was so tramatic to see them melt down.

Jessica and her teaching team had been practicing for weeks walking the children  in a straight line in order to have them prepared for our outing.  The first day of camp we learned about tigers and made tiger hats that I meant for the children to wear to the zoo, but the day of the outing they all came downstairs with lovely white hats on their heads.  Of course the teachers had thought about protecting their faces from the sun!  

With the help of the Dallas team, the Ohio team and other volunteers we started off for the zoo.  I will say that the nerves of all of the adults were on edge since we had been given such responsibility and we wanted to make sure that we didn't even have a skinned knee when we returned the children to the orphanage.  Every child was holding the hand of a volunteer, some going at a brisk pace while others lagged behind taking in the sights and sounds (and smells!) of the big city. 

I wish that each of you could have been there to see the faces of the locals as we passed by on our 15 minute walk to the zoo.  At first they were staring because here came a long line of Americans with Chinese children, but I believe they soon realized that we were from the orphanage.  Their stares turned into wide smiles and thumbs up gestures!  You could tell that they were genuinely touched by what we were doing.

The zoo has just recently gone through a much needed renovation and was filled with new exhibits, yet small enough that we were not too worried about losing someone (I can say that now that it is over!).  Some of the children were taken in by the fish exhibits right off the bat while others ran from one exhibit to the other.  The monkeys were a hit of course and because small tree branches had just been left for the giraffe to nibble on we were able to pick up the branches and feed to the beautiful animal.  Many of the  animals were not in exhibits where you had to stand 15 or 20 feet away, they were literally right behind a fence so you could reach out and touch them or even feed them like we did.  

The more "dangerous" animals like the bear, lion and tiger were in enclosures made of a thick plexiglass material so you could literally touch the glass and see the animals who were only inches from you!  The kids loved seeing the lion and tiger!

The highlight of our time at the zoo had to be the Sea Lion show, much like a show you would see at Sea World.  The kids squealed with delight at the tricks the sea lions could do.  It was a joy to watch their little faces, something that I will never forget.

At the close of the show we walked back by the giraffe cage and I guess the zoo workers had been watching us feed the giraffe before, because now they had set up a table by the cage and were selling the tree branches!  Seems that we taught them how to make a few extra rmb!

It is always hard to leave the children and I will confess I usually have tears running down my face when I say goodbye.  This was actually the first time I have left them with a smile on my face.  It is obvious to all that they are dearly loved by their teachers and that the children love them in return.  The children were all so happy and in such great shape that I left knowing they would be taken care of and happily awaiting me next time we get to have an adventure together.

Thank you all for your prayers on behalf of the children and the camp.  We certainly felt the prayers and needed them on our outing!  Please continue to remember these precious little ones, some of whom are awaiting their forever families.  Files have been sent to Beijing and are now in the hands of an American adoption agency for several of the children.  If you feel a tugging at your heart and would like more information, please reach out to us!

So thankful for my ZKO family!  What a blessing it is to get to love these children!

Susan Doshier
ZKO Board Member
Proud Mom of Kristen and Kaitlyn (Zhanjiang 1996) & Rachel (Dallas) 1997

Updated Grace Village Needs List

 In only 3 days ZKO will take possession of our first Grace Village Home.  The Bennett family is gathering their cleaning supplies and are ready to start scrubbing and sweeping.  The Orphanage is ready to bring 6 babies to us.  These are the babies currently in the orphanage nursery in need of extra love and attention.  Our hope is that they will be placed for adoption but until then, they will get loving care at Grace Village.  The Zhanjiang adoptive family has really come through for us once again.  A big thank you to all who have so generously donated.  Together we can make Grace Village a reality!

Updated Housewarming and Baby Shower List

Nursery: 

9 Bedding Sets (sheet, blanket, pillow) $70 each
3 Monitors $40 each
Decorations $100 (can give all or toward)

Bathroom:
2 bathtubs $15 each

Playroom:
6 Shelves $60 each
Toys $1000 (can give all or toward)

Dining Room:
5 High Chairs $110 each

Start Up:
3 Strollers $70 each
Misc. Supplies $2000 (can give all or toward)
  clothing, pajamas, bottles, first aid, hand sanitizer, wipes, baby soap,      
  shampoo, lotion, diapers, formula, etc.

Please go to www.zhanjiangkids.org.  Click on "give now", choose Grace Village, the dollar amount of your donation and in the memo box please tell us what you are purchasing.  A special thank you note from the children of Grace Village will  be sent, as well a a picture of the items that you purchased.  Thank you for joining the party!

Enjoy your weekend, and happy shopping!

Susan Doshier
ZKO Board Member
Mother to Kristen Gui and Kaitlyn Wei, adopted 1996 (and Rachel too 1997)



  

Update on the Virtual Housewarming and baby Shower

Dear Friends,

Before we know it the doors of our first Grace Village Home will open and we will have babies on site.  I cannot begin to tell you how thrilled we all are at this thought.  The local government officials in Zhanjiang are over the top excited about what we are doing, and quite amazed actually.  Today government leaders paid a visit to the Bennett family in their new home to welcome them to Zhanjiang and offer any assistance that they could provide the Bennett's and ZKO.  For those of you who don't know, Guangdong has always been a very closed Province and not very welcoming to outsiders even setting foot in orphanages.  To think that ZKO has had programs in place at the orphanage since 2006 and taken teams in once or twice a year since then is simply amazing.  Now for the local government to tell us that they want to help us and work with us even more is just beyond belief! Can you tell that I am excited?!

Gifts continue to come in for the housewarming and baby shower.  A big thank you to those who have already contributed.  I am attaching a new and revised list of items that still need to be funded.  Please feel free to share with friends and family members, and remember that even $15 for a bathtub will make a difference!  Everything will be purchased at the local wholesale market in Zhanjiang and we will provide you with pictures of your gift!

Blessings to you all,

Susan Doshier
ZKO Board Member
Mother to Kristen and Kaitlyn, adopted 1996 (and sister Rachel too)


Virtual Housewarming and Baby Shower - Updated
Still Needed:
9 Bedding Sets $70 each (sheet, blanket, pillow)
Flooring $120
6 Shelves $60 each
4 Monitors $40 each
5 CD Players $15
1 DVD Player $30

Decorations $100
3 Rocking Chairs $120 each
Toys $1000 (give toward or all)
2 Bathtubs $15 each
6 High Chairs $110 each
4 Strollers $70 each

Kitchen Supplies $300 (give toward or all)
Living Room Furniture $1000 (give toward or all)
Misc. Supplies $2000 (give toward or all for clothes, pj's, bottles, first aid, hand sanitizers, wipes, baby soap, shampoo, diapers, formula, etc.)

Simply go to:
Zhanjiangkids.org, 
select Give Now, 
Grace Village, 
Select an amount (cost of items), 
In memo box name the items(s) you wish to purchase.

Thank you from all of the children!

Virtual Housewarming and Baby Shower for Grace Village

Virtual Housewarming and Baby Shower

To turn a house into a home, Grace Village needs you…

to fill the children’s new house, and their hearts too.

You are invited to a Virtual Housewarming Party for  ZKO’s first foster home in Zhanjiang, Grace Village.  The Bennett family has arrived in town and are preparing to receive the first children in Grace Village on June 1.  So that everything is ready for the children, we are throwing a housewarming party for them! 

How do you have a housewarming party for a home all the way across the ocean?  We thought about that dilemma and decided it wasn’t a dilemma at all!  We are going to have a “virtual party” and you can join in the fun from the comfort of your own home!

We have listed the “gift registry” below.  Because of high shipping costs and lower purchase prices available in China, donations for the items will be collected and then purchased by Jim and Vickie in country.

To join in the fun, just select the gift that you would like to give from the list below and then head over to the Zhanjiang Kids Organization website (www.zhanjiangkids.org).  Click on “give now”, select “Grace Village”, then type in the dollar amount of the item(s) listed and in the comments section let us know the name of the item(s) you would like to purchase. 

We will keep the list updated to show what gifts have been sponsored, and what is still needed.  Once purchase has been made we will be sure to send a picture of your gift back to you!

The opening of Grace Village is a dream come true for us.  Thank you for showing the children our love by helping prepare their new home for their arrival.

This is Baby Angel our very first occupant who was born with no eyes.