eQuilter Blog

Today I want to share with you the highlight of our trip to China. Many of you have written to me asking about Sophie’s return to her orphanage. It was profoundly emotional, especially for Sophie, because she has never visited any orphanage before. She lived there from the day she was found (at 2 days old) until I came to China to adopt her. (8 months old)

These days there are hardly any healthy babies waiting to be adopted. Most of the kids abandoned and living in the orphanages have physical and/or mental disabilities…also known as Special Needs kids. As you can imagine, these kids are less likely to be adopted, but there are still loving families who seek out these children to adopt. I have been told by an American doctor that the areas with the most pollution and industrial toxins, have the highest percentages of kids born with these problems…up to 30%-40%…but fortunately China is now starting to take action to clean the air, water, and land.

First we visited the new orphanage and the babies and young children living there. Sophie fed, played with, and held several of these children. I know she will never forget these children, because I can never forget the kids I have met in orphanages. The little boy who could not sit up or walk, who showered her face with sweet kisses when she held him, I know will be in her heart forever. When she put the boy down and we had to leave the room, she wept for those children who will never have a family. However the nannies were wonderfully tender and caring to these children, the kids and facilities were clean, and they were being fed a very nutritious meal when we arrived.

We know it can’t be this kind of care for all orphans and homeless children around the world, so we continue to focus on helping these kids living in neglect and poverty, through our charity programs – with Altrusa, Mission of Love, and Engineers Without Borders. Again, we thank you so much for your support of our business and our charity programs, so we can continue to help those in need.

The other part of the story is when the staff went with us to visit her ‘finding place’ – the place she was found when abandoned. In her file was the letter written by the policeman who found her and brought her to the orphanage. What a precious document! Then we piled into 2 cars and drove around looking for this building.

We arrived at a dilapidated old building, and the staff said “Oh no this can’t be right” and they walked away to talk to people on the street to find out where was the building. She was found at the gate of a village community center building. As Sophie and I stood alone in front of this building we were both having the same feeling – got teary-eyed – and agreed that this was indeed the right place. After awhile the staff came back and said – Yes! – this was the village community building! It was old and crumbling, due to be demolished soon. So if we had waited any longer to visit, it might not be there.

I will continue to add to my Travel Diary here, and I have uploaded photos from our day at the orphanage on my photo page. We just got back late Sunday night so give me a few more days to catch up!

Sincerely,
Luana and Paul

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eQuilter Classroom & Travel Calendar:
Jan 12 – eQuilter Charity Sewing Day – Please RSVP
Jan 24-29 – Luana @ Tokyo Quilt Festival
Feb 14-16 – ‘Love Your Mother‘ exhibit at Mexico Quilt Festival in Mexico City
Feb 20-23 – QuiltCon – Nashville TN
Feb 24 – Lynn Koolish CQC Workshop @ eQuilter
Mar 28-30 – ‘Love Your Mother‘ exhibit at Spring Quilt Festival in Chicago

July 11-14, 2019 – Cindy Lohbeck – Shibori, Ice-Dyeing and Ombre Dyeing Workshops @ eQuilter
4 Classes $50 each – $80-$100 Materials Fee

Happy New Year from China!

Sophie and I are heading into the last part of this 2 week trip, after experiencing the iconic mountains of Guilin over the last couple days. Today we fly to Hefei in the Anhui province, to visit her orphanage in Anqing. She has made very close friendships with the other adoptees who have been on this trip, but now we are all splitting up to visit the original orphanages.

Here in China we are nearing the end of the Year of the Dog, and on February 4th on Chinese New Year it will be the Year of the Pig. However for Sophie and I, it will be the year of the PANDA! Our stop in Chengdu at the Panda Center was definitely a highlight. I could have spent several days there, just photographing the Pandas, especially the babies. Here are a couple photos from our day at Chengdu. The cub is about 3-4 months old. The cubs are busy busy busy … wobbly and clumsy but absolutely adorable … and then they just plop down and fall asleep. The team at the center are focused on reproduction, in an effort to save the species, but the real problem is human encroachment on habitat.

I met with the China representative of our newest charity recipient – the Wild Foundation – while in Beijing. They helped to found the International Wildlife Congress, whose goal is to preserve 50% of the land in the world for wildlife and habitat. Now is the time to work on preserving these wilderness lands, while they are still viable. We can’t recreate wilderness, once it is encroached upon by human activity.

You will see that I have been posting on my travel blog as time allows. I will probably have to post photos once I get back due to internet restrictions here. Don’t worry, I am taking notes and will tell you all about it when I get back. If you have questions feel free to send them to Customer Service, and I’ll make sure your questions are answered in my blog.

Saturday we will have a Day Tour in Shanghai, and then will be flying home Sunday. Sophie is proud of her Chinese heritage, but also very happy to be an American citizen. This trip has really opened her eyes, which is a good thing for any US teenager. The trip to the orphanage is going to be quite emotional. We appreciate that the China government pays for adoptees to return to experience their home country.

Thank you for your support of our family business and our charity program. We are nearing $1.6 million raised for organizations who help orphans, those living in extreme poverty or needing disaster relief, and also organizations helping to protect the ocean, the environment and the wildlife who live there. We all share this beautiful planet and the more I see of this Earth, the more I feel committed to making this world a better place for all…with your help. Thank you for sharing our business with your quilter friends!

Wishing you a New Year full of peace and health, creativity and love.

Sincerely,
Luana and Paul