Day 7-- The Guangzhou Zoo and More Testing

Our day started with an early morning visit to the zoo. We saw a variety of monkeys, bears (including a Panda!), big cats and antelope. The whole trip was very pleasant. Jadon did a great job asking to be able to take pictures and returning the camera when he was done. He actually took a few really nice pictures!

After the zoo we went to a nearby 7-11 to purchase some lunch items for Jadon. While I (Ruth) took Jadon to the room, Alan took Andrew and purchased some lunch for the rest of us at McDonalds (Jadon didn't want McDonalds again although the rest of us had that because the price is right). We ate in the room and after a brief rest wandered down to the pool for a swim. Jadon continues to become less fearful of the water. We spent a couple of very nice hours there.

The boundary testing started in the evening. After confronting him over some items he'd taken without permission from my purse (we'd already dealt with this before) Jadon made a dash to escape from the room. When Alan stopped him a great deal of crying ensued...eventually leading to him pulling his hair and slapping himself. At that point Alan enveloped him in a great big bear hug (whereupon the crying turned to screaming--eek!) But after several minutes he settled down. We called Amy (our Chinese guide in Guangzhou)and let Jadon express his feeling to someone who could understand him. It seems the whole incident frightened him (I understand that...it would me too). As we talked about it later Alan likened this process to justification and sanctification. Jadon has been made part of the family (as justification does) but he still needs to to learn to function as part of the family (a lot like what sanctification accomplishes in our lives). I think the whole thing probably did a lot to solidify the relationship rather than weaken it. Afterwards there were smiles and hugs in abundance.

Continue to pray as we learn the best ways to establish the boundaries with love. Pray that our communication will become more and more effective. It's so very difficult for a couple of communicators to feel as though our best parenting skill has evaporated. Also pray that the trip to the orphanage tomorrow will help to bring us together in a greater way rather than create confusion for Jadon.