Visiting the orphanage

Sidewalk poetry written in water

A flutist playing in the morning in the central part of Bengbu City

The proof of our relationship with Bengbu SWI can be found in orphanage where donations from Packages of Hope provide physical evidence to our devotion to the children and our support of the caregivers there. In return, the orphanage director, in continuing messages to me to the orphanage families, encourages a return to the orphanage and visits to China, in order to strengthen ties in our global community.

My good friend Kay had purchased a ticket for me for the 3.5 hour fast train ride from Shanghai to Bengbu. This was a huge difference from when I had visited in 2005. Back then the train was nearly standing room only, and took 8 hours with several stops. This time, the train was ultramodern, and zipped along at a brisk 140km/hour (around 88mph), and only stopped in Suzhou, Wuxi, Nanjing and Hefei before stopping in Bengbu. Although the train ride had been upgraded, the train station in Bengbu is still as it was, which was a bit older, but still serving its purpose well. The volunteer who usually helps me in translating with the orphanage, Sun Lele was not available to accompany me with Ms. Wan, on account that she is working in Hefei. Sun Lele is a Bengbu native, and will soon be getting married in September! I was instead joined by her student, Mr. Li Rui, a charming 19 year old boy whom I had never met and who had never acted as an intepreter before and who had never visited an orphanage before. I was met by Ms. Wan and Mr. Li at the gate, and we walked away to their parked car which was located about a mile away.

We were on our way to the orphanage, where I met with Director Song, and we presented letters to the director from the families of children who had lived in the Bengbu SWI before being united with their forever families.


From L to R: Li Rui, Jeff, SWI director Song, and orphanage director Ms. Wan