An emotional roller coaster!

We travelled down from Beijing to Wuhan yesterday(Monday). It is rainy and cool, but's actually a relief after the heat of Beijing.It felt amazing to touch down in Martha's home province and we were remembering how emotional we felt when we flew her out of Hubei 6 and a half years ago. Chris's sister Tao Qui (Janet) met us at the airport. She is just the same...larger than life and has kept us laughing! The girls were shattered and fell asleep as soon as we got in the mini bus. Once we had them in bed, Janet had a chat with us. She said that unfortunately, on Friday, the authorities had issued a decree to all the orphanages in China that no adoptions were to be carried out and no orphanage visits allowed because of swine flu. She and Chris had both spoken with Wuxue orphange about us visiting on Wednesday, but the director was afraid to disobey the rule, so we would not be able to visit. He said he would not even be able to meet us off site.
The only way that he would agree to the visit would be for us to get "special papers" from Civil Affairs giving authority for it. Janet seemed doubtful about us getting it but said we would go to Civil Affairs on Tuesday am to "plead with them". We felt so downhearted when we went to bed!!
I woke up at midnight with jet lag and had a good old cry. Wuxue orphanage will relocate and shut it's current building in a few months and so this is Martha's last chance to see it. That is why we came now.....I couldn't help feeling,"You owe her this!" I've rarely prayed so hard!
Weds
The girls slept thro for the first time and Marthie woke up full of beans, asking me excitedly...."Are we going to my orphanage today Mummy?". I tried to explain what is happening and how important this morning was. Bless her, she put her best dress and shoes on and held her head up high.
When we got to Civil Affairs, Janet set to work talking with one of the officials.(I think she told them we've been in China for 3 weeks and nobody has been ill!!! )While she was talking, I noticed a lady walking into a neighbouring office. I recognised her as the lady who did our adoption of Martha and remembered her especially because she was very caring and had told us that the adoption was special for her because Wuxue was her home town. Janet called her over and she and Martha had a lovely reunion. She then joined in the negotiation and after a lot of talking, looking at our adoption certificate and Janet telling them they were the best Civil Affairs dept in China(!) Janet was given a form to fill in. As she filled it in she looked over at us, grinned and put her thumb up. I wanted to shout out with relief.
So.... the orphanage will receive faxed authorisation today and then it's up to them if they let us go into the building. The worst outcome will be a meeting off site, but compared to where we were last night, I'll settle for that! Janet is phoning the director later to ask if we can go inside, see M's foster parents, look at her orphanage file and go to the abandonment site. For all of you who said big prayers - THANK YOU!

We spent the rest of the day chilling as we have a long day tomorrow as the journey is 3.5 hours each way. We took the girls to a local supermarket to get supplies for tomorrow. It was wonderful to watch them having their fruit weighed and choosing sweets. Martha is not put off in the slightest when people jabber away to her in Chinese - she just smiles away and says what she can in Chinese back to them, She seems so proud to be here, but I'm sure there are a whole range of emotions and feelings buzzing about. We feel pretty emotional so can't imagine what it must be like for the girls.

Het is a lot happier today and has even started saying hello and goodbye in chinese. Still off her food a bit, but that is the bit that always goes haywire if she is out of sorts. She made us laugh in the Supermarket. There were lots of live fish swimming around in tanks as well as live turtles and frogs. She was delighted and we couldn't get her away...I think she thought she was in Seapets!!

Martha says," Hope Auntie Brennie's wedding went well and I liked it at Civil Affairs"

Esther said (to Gra) "It's my fault it's raining Daddy. Yesterday when I was so hot, I said a little prayer to God to ask him to make it cold. He listens to me doesn't he!"

We all send lots of love!