About 10 days after we first moved to East Asia. . . and spoke no Chinese whatsoever . . . this dear sister, LY, came to work for our family. She helped watch Caden, cook and clean. This allowed David and I to meet our company’s requirements of an intense language program. She came to work joyfully EVERYDAY! I’m not kidding. . . EVERYDAY. (I wish I could say the same for myself). As our language SLOWLY improved, we were able to talk more and more each day. She was also very patient with us. Can you imagine working so closely for someone and not being able to communicate well? It wasn’t without it’s problem days. Our culture’s are different of course. She would tell me I couldn’t nurse Caden while I was sick, or we shouldn’t be drinking cold water ever, or our kids were sick because they weren’t wearing enough clothes (for us it was sufficient, but not compared to their many layers of clothes). Looking back I wish I would have had the vision to see that she was just CARING about us and not get aggravated at her seemingly “pushiness.”

Uncle Liu with our crazy kiddos and his daughter . . . they were just driving up and down the sidewalk (don’t worry)

One day I found out she told a friend, who told my friend, who told me (yes, it’s more “appropriate to go through mutual friends than talk face-to-face regarding some issues). . . that she wanted a pay raise. Initially, I was offended. I thought, “I already do a ton to make your job easier. I think you get paid enough for what we ask you to do.” So, at the time, we didn’t respond back to our friend to her friend to her (that’s confusing).

As time passed though and we, again, learned more language. . .we were able to understand her story which we posted at www.forakidney.wordpress.com. Thank you to so many of you who have given.  You have greatly encouraged and blessed not only their family, but our hearts too in sharing this burden with us!

She REALLY was in need of a pay raise, which we glady gave her! Man, not being able to communicate can really have some disadvantages at times! Regardless, through the year and a half that she lovingly served our family, we became dear friends!

Our nanny became one of our dearest friends!

I was talking with her this morning. She is due with their second child on August 2nd (that’s Colt’s bday by the way!). I asked her if she would follow their cultural customs and not touch water or use fans/cold air. She said of course she would, but she admitted it would be hard to bear because of the intense August heat!! I agree!! Of course, I’ve already told her that we don’t have those customs, and my body is fine so she doesn’t HAVE to do that She said I’m American and she’s Chinese, so our bodies are different!

Sweet family that loves the Father and loves and serves others so joyfully!

Thank you to so many of you who have given to their family in their time of need. Again, this morning talking on the phone to her she expressed how moved and grateful they are! Her husband is in a lot of pain and discomfort, so we are asking the Father that LDH receive the right donor soon! We are also asking for a healthy baby to be born in the next 2 months time! We will definitely go back to CD to see them and the baby. They will be forever friends I know!

They have loved on our kiddos and our kiddos love them too!