Summary of Our Journey to LydiaOur journey towards Lydia began in January 2005 through New Hope Child and Family Agency when we began the process of adopting an infant from China.
February, March, and April of 2005 passed quickly because of the activity related to our application and homestudy.
In early August 2005, our dossier was mailed to the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs in Beijing, China. Then the wait began. (Little did we know then that Lydia was not even born yet.)
Lydia was born in January 2006 in Fengcheng, Jiangxi Province, China and was found on that same day. When she was discovered, a note was also found that stated her birth date. A day later, instead of being sent to live in an orphanage, she was placed with a foster family.
Ten months later, on Thursday, November 2, 2006, we reacted with great excitement and joy when we learned about Lydia’s identity when we received our referral. Six weeks later, on December 13, 2006, we learned about our travel approval from the Chinese Center for Adoption Affairs, and two days later, we were notified about our US Consulate appointment.
We leave on December 29, 2006 for China with great anticipation for 2007. We will arrive in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China on the last day of the year, December 31, 2006.
January 4, 2007 will be a landmark day in our lives and Lydia’s life as we meet each other for the first time on that day in Nanchang, China. January 11, 2007 is the day of our US consulate in Guangzhou, China, and we will return to our home in the US two days later on January 13, 2007.
Itinerary in China
Dec. 29, 2006 (Friday): We depart from Los Angeles, California, USA.
December 31, 2006 (Sunday): We arrive in Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China.
January 1, 2007 (Monday): Bernard and Ma Wee arrive in Nanchang, China from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
January 2, 2007 (Tuesday): We meet the Powells, Lydia’s US sponsors. On this day, they will be receiving their second adopted Chinese daughter, Renee, who will soon be 14 months old.
January 3, 2007 (Wednesday): We meet the other three families in our group who are also adopting through New Hope and Danlin Sheng, New Hope’s representative in China.
January 4, 2007 (Thursday): We pick up Lydia (“Gotcha Day”) in the morning (most likely at the local Civil Affairs Office) and do adoption paperwork and apply for Lydia’s Chinese passport in the afternoon.
January 5, 2007 (Friday): We say good-bye to Bernard, who will be returning to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
January 6 and 7 (Saturday and Sunday): We will do some local sightseeing. (We hope to meet with Lydia’s foster family and visit the Fengcheng orphanage in Jiangxi Province.)
January 8, 2007 (Monday): We celebrate Lydia’s one-year birthday.
January 9, 2007 (Tuesday): We pick up Lydia’s Chinese passport and fly to Guangzhou, China later that evening.
January 10, 2007 (Wednesday): Lydia has her mandatory medical examination, which usually takes place in the morning.
January 11, 2007 (Thursday): The US Consulate appointment in Guangzhou, China occurs at 9:30 AM.
January 12, 2007 (Friday): We pick up Lydia’s US visa in the late morning or early afternoon. Then we, Ma Wee, and Lydia depart from Guangzhou, China to return to the US.
January 13, 2007 (Saturday): We return home!
Lydia’s Name
Over a year ago, we agreed that Lydia Christine would be her future legal American name. Lydia, a name of Greek origin, means “beautiful light” or “womanly” (1). She was a “Gentile adherent to Judaism, a successful businesswoman who sold purple cloth, and the apostle Paul’s first convert to Christianity in Europe. As the head of her household, she may have been widowed or single. So strong was her faith [in Jesus Christ] that her entire household followed her example and was baptized. She extended hospitality to Paul and his companions, and her home may have become the very center of the church in Philippi.”(2) Christine is a name of French origin that means “follower of Christ” or “true disciple”.(3)
(1) Dorothy Astoria. The Name Book. Bethany House Publishers: 1997. page 189.
(2) Ann Spangler and Jean Syswerda. Women of the Bible. Zondervan: 1999. pages 412-413.
(3) Dorothy Astoria. The Name Book. Bethany House Publishers: 1997. page 68.
