Where is Adam Part 2?

Adam is in the Gansu province of China in Zhangye (which is not shown on either map but is about 200 miles north and west of Lanzhou). Since Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu, he will be brought there to join up with us.

More Pictures of Adam

We are not exactly sure when these pictures were taken but they are probably at least a year old. We can't wait to see what he looks like now!

Why We Adopt

It is always amazing to see how God work's in each family when it comes to adoption. Each story is different, but God's purposes are the same. He really cares for the orphans. Our story began several years ago shortly after our son was born. We were told we probably would not have more kids and were lucky to have him. God had introduced the idea of adoption to us (especially to Karyn), but for several reasons (finances and getting comfortable with just 1 child) we never acted on it. Well, when our son was fourteen years old God blessed us with the birth of a daughter. We truly were not expecting that. After about a year God hit us again with the idea of adoption. What's your excuse this time? After raising an only child for 14 years the idea of raising our daughter with a sibling and playmate seemed like the right thing to do. Two years ago, Makayla came into our lives. She is a beautiful healthy Chinese girl from Nanchang. She has truly been a blessing and Makayla (3) and Mackenzie (4) have been sisters and best friends ever since. But after the long trip home from China we told ourselves we were done. God knew differently - and Jeff couldn't keep Karyn away from our adoption agency’s (A Helping Hand) special needs list. Last March God put Zhang Bei (Adam) on our hearts. And we are not sure if he is to be the last member of our family. It's amazing how many families go back and adopt again. Once you understand the heart of an orphan, and have seen what God can do, it's hard to forget them. We have also started volunteering with AHH held an adoption seminar at our church last month. God has truly given us a heart for adoption. We covet your prayers in this journey.

This will truly be an amazing adventure.

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Our travel itinerary

BEIJING, CHINA

October 19 - Arrive in Beijing 2:25 PM after 14 hour flight frm Chicago
October 20 - Visit jade market, Great Wall & the Summer Palace
October 21 - Visit pearl market, TianAnMen Square & the Forbidden City

LANZHOU, GANSU, CHINA

October 22 - Gotcha Day! - Fly from Beijing to Lanzhou - Get Adam in the afternoon!
October 23 - Register adoption at Civil Affairs office
October 24 - Visit Five Springs Mountain Park
October 25 - Visit White Pagoda Mountain Park
October 26 - Visit 1st Bridge of the Yellow River

GUANGZHOU, CHINA

October 27 - Fly from Lanzhou to Guangzhou
October 28 - Get visa photos, medical check-up, and do some shopping
October 29 - More shopping
October 30 - Paperwork goes to Consulate in AM & Pearl River cruise in PM
October 31 - Oath ceremony at Consulate
November 1 - Fly to Hong Kong then to Chicago then to Dayton - Adam is Home!!

This is Adam

This is Adam. Right now he is at the Zhangye Social Welfare Institute (SWI) in the Gansu Province of China. Adam, know as Zhang Bei, was found as an abandoned boy in September 2003, approximately 2 months after his birth. He was found at the gate of the Bank of China at Dong Da Jie where it is estimated he had been left for 2 days. A passer by found him and called the SWI. Adam was born with a cleft lip and palate. His lip has been surgically repaired. A few months after he gets home we will begin the process of repairing his palette. We will be traveling to China in mid October to bring him home. Our travels will take us to Beijing, then Lanzhou (the capital of the Gansu province where we will adopt Adam) and Guanghzou.

Where is Adam?

Adam is in the Gansu province of China. From Wilepedia, Gansu is a province located in the northwest of the People'sRepublic of China. It lies between Qinghai, Inner Mongolia, and theHuangtu Plateaus, and borders Mongolia to the north. The Huang Heriver passes the southern part of the province. It has a populationof approximately 25 million (1997) and has a large concentration ofHui Chinese. The capital of the province is Lanzhou, located in thesoutheast part of Gansu. Gansu is a multi-cultural place. Han Chinese form the majority inits population of 23 million, but there are also many Muslims,Tibetans, Mongolians and other minorities - 41 ethnic groups intotal. Gansu occupies an area of 454,000 square kilometres. Within Gansu Province there are 18 colleges and universities and33,000 tertiary students. Gansu is thought of as the birthplace ofChinese agriculture. Farming began there around 3000 years ago. The Great Wall of China ends in the Gobi Desert in the north westernend of Gansu Province. As no rock was available in the area the hugestructure was constructed from earth. We will be traveling to Lanzhou. Lanzhou is the capital of Gansu. It is the second largest city in northwest China, and also thepolitical, economic and cultural center of the province. It is listed in Frommer's travel guide as the most polluted city in theworld. Adam's orphanage is north and west of Lanzhou.