Care Package #2

There is a neat woman in China through whom one can send care packages to future adoptees in China after you are far enough in the process.  You look at her website www.redthreadchina.com and choose preplanned package with a theme such as PJs or Birthday or Moon Cakes or choose individual items and put your own package together.  Payment is easy through Paypal.

We sent a Hello Kitty bookbag for which Ann creates a tag that says that the bag belongs to Minlan and includes a request for the orphanage or foster family to place all her precious items inside.  That way, a child is assisted in being sure anything that she now owns (her care package items) come with her.  We sent two dresses (Auntie Kayce and I chose the "strawberries" dress with the stylized little girl and Ann at Red Thread China chose the pink and white one) and matched them with hair clips we ordered.  We also requested a small cuddly toy or doll as well as green tea and cookies for the foster family.  Ann was out of shoes at the time so we will order those later.

We were also allowed to send a letter to the orphanage director that Ann translated as part of our order.  Here is the text of the letter:

Dear Orphanage Director,

I would very much appreciate it if you could give this package and these items to my future adopted daughter (we listed her full name and DOB), and her kind foster mother.

We are so grateful for everything you are doing for Min Lan and the other children under your care.  We were very glad to see that Min Lan now has glasses and a patch in her December photos.  Thank you for providing that care for her and helping her with her vision.

I wonder if you might answer a few questions for us about Min Lan.  I have sent an addressed card that you might send back to us:
1.  In what city is she living with her foster Mother?
2. What does Min Lan like to be called?  Does she have a nickname?
3.  Does she have a bestfriend or frequent playmate?
4.  What is her favorite color?
5.  Is there a children's song or other song she really likes or that her foster mother sings to her?
6.  How do you know when she is upset or angry?  How is she calmed?
7.  Would her foster mother like to stay in contact with us as Min Lan grows up?  We would support that if allowed.
8.  May we have her foster mother's name for her memories?
9.  Is there a foster father?

I thank you for taking the time to read my letter and I hope you will respond.  We will have your note translated here when it arrives.

With great respect and gratitude,
Karin and Thom Harp

Ann sent us the photos today and said that the package should be received within a few days.  It feels so good to be able to send something to our darling girl.  It feels like a link or connector has been placed as we now have a way to show her that we are thinking about her.   Who knows what kind of preparation she will have before we arrive.  Hopefully with the blankie, Winnie-the-Pooh, dress and family photo-album in the first package and now these fun goodies, she will start to make positive connections between these far-away family members and her own life.