Update From Luke

I want to tell you all about how much fun my life here in America is.

I've been home for one week now.

I love my mom, dad, and all my siblings. 

This is the picture of when I saw my room for the first time. It's blurring because my family couldn't get a good picture of me. I couldn't stay still because I was so excited. 

I love playing dress up!

 

Ice cream and Popsicle's are my favorite! 

Baseball is fun! 

I love taking baths! In this picture I don't look too happy, but every time I look at this picture now, I laugh. 

We took a quick trip to grandma's and grandpa's house. I tried some spaghetti and a cupcake. They were both really good!

The other morning, I got my first ride on the lawn mower. It was so much fun! My brother even let me drive it.

The swings and sandbox are so much fun.

 Best of all, I even had my first squirt gun water fight with my brother and sisters.   

That's all I have for now! Thank you all so much for praying for me. I love my new life with my family.

Two Weeks Since Luke's Gotcha Day

Luke has had a lot of firsts, since his Gotcha Day.

His first time meeting us.

His first McDonald's Meal!
He loved it from the first bite.

First time being in an airport,

and first time flying on a plane, from Zhengzhou to Guangzhou.
He could not wait to get on the plane.

First doctor's appointment with us.
There will be lots more to come in America.

First time going to church.
What a blessing, it was in China.

First time being part of a family.
...and it will continue

 More to come later on.

Welcome Home Luke

Luke is home. Hooray! Welcome to America buddy!

They arrived home at 10:15pm last nigh.! It was really suppose to be at 5:20pm but their plane from Chicago to Cleveland got delayed.

Once they arrived at the airport, Luke was pretty happy and loud. Then once we got into the car to drive home he was pretty quiet, but the minute we got into the door he was running around, laughing his head off. I still wonder what is going through his head right now. 

He is doing great! He laughs and signs, and makes lots of noise. He even tries to talk and can read  lips very well. He signed and even said the word "apple"! 

He loves to run around, play dress up, and wrestle. We even played baseball with him and he did pretty well for it being his first time.

He loves animals, but is not too sure about the dogs. I remember when Nathan came home, he would scream at the dog and rabbits.  Luke just gets a little frighten and hops into whoever is standing closest to him whenever he sees one of the dogs.  

I can really see the hand of God through this all! Even though it has been a long hard journey, God has always been with us every step of the way.

Thank you all so much for praying. We really appreciate everything you all have done for us.

~Sarah

Jeremiah 29:11
"For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." 

Couldn't Figure Out A Title For This Post

Another update: 

When we got to Guangzhou we settled into our room and the next day was Sunday.  We were able to go to church (a real church) in our area. We got there 30 mins early as the church was packed and the message did not hold back.  300 Chinese and 2 Caucasians all worshiping God.  Awesome!  I never thought that we would be able to pray and worship with our brothers and sisters in Christ in China! What a great experience.  Thanks all for praying it is really helping. 

The next day we went to get a quick medical check up for the Visas. The doctor thought Luke might be able to hear something. Praise God. We will continue to pray for the ability for Luke to hear.

For dinner we stopped at Lucy's, a Chinese / American restaurant. Look, Luke can use chop sticks to eat! 

Please pray for my parents. They are leaving tonight, which is tomorrow morning for them, but there is a typhoon coming their way. Pray that their flight is not delayed or cancelled. Thanks! 

~Sarah  

Some McDonald's and Off To Guangzhou

Here is another update from my parents:

We got back from the orphanage and thought we would take a walk to the local area.  We stopped at a local park and then had Luke's first McDonald's meal.  Looks like Luke will enjoy the American (fast) food.

 This next part is a couple days later.

 After lunch, it was off to the airport to fly to Guangzhou.  The last step of the journey.  There we will get Luke's visa and final Immigration papers from the US embassy. Our guide Cindy was such a great help in Zhengzhou. She said that we being Christians are so nice to adopt Chinese children.  She could see the love of Christ through us and we will be praying for her.  Thanks Cindy for making the adoption so easy.  It made the transition for Luke much better than expected. God bless!

   

Luke's Orphanage

Here is an update from my parents: 

 Hi all. We were invited to visit Luke's orphanage and had a special VIP welcome.  They had some reporters there to film us as we met the director and other managers of the facility. They used this adoption and visit to help the orphanage get higher certification with the China social system.  It was such a blessing to see Luke's family and where he lived for the last two years.

The orphanage got a lot of help from an organization called International China Concern (ICC) that helped with getting the orphanage equipment and organized.  The leader for the organization for ICC gave us such good information about Luke's personality and interaction with the other children. We were so blessed to know that Luke has been taken such great care.

 

Luke is the one in the blue shirt.  

Update On Luke

Mom and Dad say that Luke is doing very well! They are having so much fun with him. He is a happy little boy, who is very smart. He knows a lot of signs and communicates very well. He even tries to talk.

We have skyped with them a couple times, and each time Luke seems very happy. Last night when we skyped with them, he was playing Fruit Ninja on my dad's phone. Each time he finished a round he would hold up the phone to the camera and show us his score. We did the sign for " I love you" and he signed it back! We cannot wait to get him here in America. 

I'll be posting more later. Please keep on praying for all of us.

~Sarah 

Gotcha Luke!

Hooray!!!! Mom and Dad have Luke!

This is from my parents!

Hi all.  We got Luke Fengzheng Duryea at 10:30 am Monday morning.  He was very tired from the 3 hour trip from the orphanage to the Provence capital city of Zhengzhou where we are staying.  He had a hard time at first but warmed up fast.  He already had his first taste of McDonald's French fries and was out for the rest of the afternoon.  He is very smart and knows a lot of sign language.  He laughs and even tries to talk.  What a blessing.  He is very strong willed but that is expected from a boy like this that has survived.  Tuesday we travel to his orphanage in the county seat to get his passport.  Continue to pray for our bonding and because he seems a bit scared.  Have the peace of God on him and know that everything is OK.

Dave and Laura

Gotcha Luke! Gotcha FOREVER!!!!!

³  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Off To Beijing

They are now on their way to Beijing! Hooray! Thanks so much for your prayers!

They left this morning from Newark at 7:22am and will arrive in Beijing at 8:08am China time. So really they will arrive 8:08 tonight for us.

Once they get to China, the next couple days they will do some sightseeing. On Sunday, mom and dad fly in to Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province, which is where Luke is from. On Monday morning at 9:30am their time, they will meet Luke. This is what we call "Gotcha Day"!!!!!! They will then spend the next couple of days doing paperwork, sightseeing, but most importantly bonding with Luke. Then they head on over to Guangzhou, and spend those days working on getting Luke's Visa, sightseeing, shopping, etc. After that, they will FINALLY fly home.

Please pray for safe travel for my parents, to China and from China. Pray for Luke, that the Lord will prepare his heart for all this. Pray that everything runs smoothly in China for my parents. And pray for safety for us here at home. Thanks again!

~ Sarah

And They're Off

OR AT LEAST THEY WERE


Mom and Dad left the house at 5:29am this morning for the airport! Then they boarded their flight from Cleveland to Newark.

They arrived at Newark around 9:15am and were getting ready to board their plane to Beijing, which was scheduled to leave at 11:55 am. Well, some of the toilets on their plane got clogged and flooded some of the luggage. Thankfully, their luggage was not on yet. So it has been delayed because they are cleaning the plane, which is taking awhile.

They are not expected to leave until 7:00am tomorrow morning. The airport is trying to get a new plane for them, but it may take awhile.

Please please keep my family in your prayers right now. The devil is at work right now and who knows what else he is planning on doing next. This has not been an easy process, but we know that the Lord is going to be with us every step of the way!

Sarah
(writing for Laura)