💞💞💞C H I N A 💞💞💞 L O V E 💞💞💞

9 years has passed since I first stepped into the wintry foreign land of China. I never expected or thought of being ever to be in this country, not as a Nurse anyway. I was very ambivalent with my feelings as I made my way to the customs area. The feeling of uncertainty increasing as I was getting lost at the airport and the people I approached walked away immediately as soon as I opened my mouth. As the airport staff rummaged through my luggage, I was hanging by a thread to keeling over out of nervousness. The seemingly unending luggage checking came to an end and they allowed me to get out. As I looked around the throng of people waiting for their loved ones, I was feeling that urge again to turn back and demand for a ride back to the Philippines.

I thought someone calling my name amidst the chaos was the sweetest sound I ever heard in my life. There in the horde of humans were two people jumping up and down to catch my attention. I readily burst with energy and forced them to listen to my barrage of "how the english language failed me in china". Th enthusiasm of being in the red country started to creep into my system as I watched through the car's window and quickly the landscapes and people flicked by.

Entering the building of New Hope Foundation in Beijing for the first time met me with trepidation as this little girl met us. I never saw a blue baby in my life and here greeting me with the brightest smile was one. She reached her hand and I instantly held it, it was expectedly cold and purple, I was about to carry her when her nanny approached us and led her away pointing at her wet trousers.

Jenny who was responsible for pushing me to apply for the job gave me an overview of how the foundation was operating and what kind of paediatric conditions were being admitted at the foundation's different unit but I was still surprised to see and discover the number of babies afflicted with these various conditions, most of which I only have seen and read on my nursing books before. 

These conditions has kicked in to me hardly, I was scared and my confidence plummeted 6,000 feet below sea level. I was silently castigating myself for putting myself into the situation and not preparing myself emotionally and mentally. But with the people around me, I was able to rally around and find solace in my new environment.

I learned slowly to see beyond that beneath those unfocused eyes were sparkly and laughing mirrors of joy. The gaping lip and split palate emanates the most radiant smile that melts the heart and the sweetest hug and slobbery kisses envelope your whole person with love's purity. 

Loneliness and longing are part of these love but undeniably, witnessing the children's lives changing for the better and best overwhelms the sadness felt of losing many of them which is an often occurring tragic reality.

8 years since I left, memories are still as vivid as if it happened yesterday. these children and nannies have learned to trust and love each other, and this writer has been given the most amazing opportunity to witness and experience it. Loving a stranger unconditionally is the greatest emotion this has sparked and it will always linger in the heart.

Thank you for the love!