Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Going against the grain

This morning, rather than making my usual visit to the orphanage to see Darya, I decided to take the morning off.  A couple of reasons being that the Parkers have court and I didn't want to go with another driver than the one we have (and risk my life!) since Lydia would be driving them (we usually carpool to the orphanage).  Also, my stomach has been a tad achy (too much chocolate and gelato perhaps?).

Anyway, I decided to go for a walk and wander aimlessly to explore more of this beautiful city on an absolutely gorgeous day.  While meandering along a path, I saw an old babushka and her grown daughter (I'm assuming it was mother and daughter, of course) sitting on a bench. What  caught my eye was that the daughter has Down syndrome.  I decided to sit down across from them for a few minutes.  I could tell the daughter just loved her mother.  I just imagined, had Darya's birth mother kept her, this could be them in 40+ years.  It just touched my heart to see this woman go against the grain of the society to keep her daughter, especially in the day and age in which her daughter was born.  I have no doubt she faced much opposition for her decision.  If the mother had given her daughter up, there is no doubt that she would have died many years ago alone in an institution.  The daughter and I made eye contact a couple of times and smiled and waved at each other. She had such a beautiful and gentle spirit about her.  I took a picture of the couple from my phone (I'll have my camera tomorrow when my sister arrives), so pardon the low quality.  But I just thought what a kind providence of God to allow me to see them.  It was such a blessing to me and I hope it is to some of you, too.


14 comments:

  1. Amazing!!! Thank you so much!!! This is just wonderful!!!!

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  2. It touch my heart to read what you have posted. I was 1st born female with congenital heart disease, in my culture, it is a dead sentence but my great grand mom hided me for 9 months before the village mob got to me. My parents still harbor the guilt that some where along the karma (last life or the life before last or before last... they had committed big crimes and so this life they were punish with a 1st born daughter with a defect). Growing up, I was left at home but my sister and brother who are healthy got to go places with them.

    The man whom I engaged could not go against the odds, he did break off the engagement because it was too much pressure from his family and society to marry a woman with congenital defects.

    Of course the Lord has his hand, if only they knew it took only 2 hours for one of the best cardiac surgeon to correct the congenital heart defects :) and cost us less than US$200 for the surgery because of hubby insurance :)

    It touches my heart to read all the families who adopt the 'unwanted'

    You should really blow this pictures and frame it in Darya room :)

    Hugs
    Jamy

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  3. Oh what a beautiful thing to have seen and witnessed...change can happen in that country. I just know it!

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  4. This just touches my heart in so many ways! This is wonderful!

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  5. Oh what a beautiful blessing for you to have witnessed. Just think of all the things that had to happen for you to see them today. You didn't go to the orphanage as planned, you went for a walk etc. etc. So amazing what a path God has sent you on. And I love the idea above about framing this picture for Darya's room. Hope your tummy feels better soon.

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  6. God is truly sovereign over ALL!!! He revealed so much to you in that short walk and gave you a way to remember it forever. Do print and frame the picture. And in 40 years put your own beside it. May God continue to walk beside you and guide you in all that you do!! Hugs and blessings! Pat McNeill :)

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  7. Wish I had your email. I would love to send you a picture of a mother and daughter we saw walking right next door to the orphanage. Same situation...older woman with older daughter :-) It was striking!

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  8. That sight is a beautiful rarity in that country! What a blessing!

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  9. What a wonderful thing to get to witness. Bravo to that mother who kept her daughter in a society that so often shuns these children.

    To Jamy who posted above - thank you for sharing your personal story. I love that your grand mother hid you for 9 months to protect you. What a smart, brave and wonderful woman. We are lucky in the US to see these biases finally melting away.

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  10. Hope to one day see a picture such as this in other countries as well as the USA and have it be the norm instead of the exception! What I mean by this is to have the abortion stats go to zero in our country. Also, other countries as well as the USA have families intact, with all babies being reared by their mama's and papa's!

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  11. This is the first time I have posted, but I have been faithfully reading your posts and praying for you, Darya, and the rest of the fam. Thank you for your heart and for these real life updates. Our family is looking forward to meeting Darya soon. Love, Melanie Van Steenburgh

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  12. God places people in front of us sometimes to keep us in check and remind us of what our goal is. The other day I met a person that happened to be the same religion of the main religion in Yana's country. That day, I needed it. This is wonderful!! Darya is gorgeous, congrats!!

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  13. Bulldogma,

    Thank You.
    It is amazing after 42 years being saved by my great grand mom in a 3rd world nation, I was asked by the MD here in the US if I want an amnio test to see if my child is normal and that I have a choice to abort my baby. According to the medical statistics, I am high risk. I told the MD God never said Sarah was high risk ?

    The situation turned around here, in the past, the 3rd world nation, people had no resources to bring up special need child but here people chose not to have special need child.

    My baby boy is not only normal , he is a Math math prodigy.

    On the Sunday we got the news that Joe and Marianne arrived Ukriane, the elder of the church asked the kid in church what is the time in Ukrain as they are 7hours ahead, my son answered without even think much. It was 1am and pastor Joe and Marianne were sleeping (we were 6pm Eastern time when we gathered).

    It was amazing, He can do this kind of Math @ 7years old in less than 1 second : 1287x379
    (tell you the truth, I need a calculator for that). I encourage and inspire my boy to be a great Christian doc / surgeon or a great Christian scientist and aim to go to MIT. He is to use his talent to serve the living God.

    I pray an Anna pray when the MD wanted me to do the amnio test that God will raise this boy up like Samuel ... And that he is HIS.

    Man can only do so much but God is in control.

    Jamy

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