WELCOME HOME DINN FAMILY!

We made it home at about 1am Sunday morning. We were all so excited to be here. Joy Wenqian got excited when we pulled up and exclaimed, "Jia" (home). Then this morning, after I slept until 11am (thank you Clayton), Joy Wenqian went outside and took me to the front porch started pointing around and asked, "Ni de jia" (My home). It's so sweet to see her start putting pictures with reality. They are all playing nicely while we are resting and starting the putting away process. So far Joy Wenqian is a girly girl. She likes make up, doing her hair, pink, playing the piano, singing, and riding her bike. It is so fun watching them all play at home together.There are so many amazing things that we are putting together and processing now that we are home. There are many organizations that work with the orphanage Joy was in. One of the organizations is at www.anorphanswish.org. They are the ones that raised money for her surgery. One of the ladies that works with them was actually in her first surgery with her, praying for her. She even has a photo of her heart that she's sending us along with many other pictures and information about Joy Wenqian over the past 8 years. A group of bikers raised money and rode 1,000 miles to pay for one of her surgeries. Her foster family started caring for her after one of her surgeries. So she was with them since she was one years old. We are going to work on getting pictures together of her and us to send to her foster family and all those that have cared and loved her. The organization that she was sponsored in foster care through is at www.grace-hope.org. I really see the benefits of foster care when I compare our two adoptions. Joy Wenqian misses her China Nai Nai (foster grandmother) for sure and asks about her. We hope to get together with our friend from China to allow us all to better communicate tomorrow or Tuesday.We'll update in a week or so as to how Joy Wenqian is adjusting. Language is definitely an issue but we are muddling our way through and know that it is short term. We'll have her pediatrician, cardiologist, and dentist appointments in the next few weeks so please pray for us and the doctors as we make decisions and gain information. Thank you for praying for us during our trip to China. It was wonderful and we are glad to be home with our new daughter. To God be the Glory!!

*Please continue to pray for them all! Charlotte

Praises and Prayers from Clayton & Angie Dinn

I’m not even sure yet how to put into words what happened today. Honestly I thought about not even posting yet but I know everyone wants to know how our meeting with Menqian’s foster family went so I guess I’ll just do my best and write more about it after I have a few days to process it all.

We rode the train from Nanning to Guilin this morning and saw a lot of China’s country side. Very poor rural areas. I’ll post more about that another day I’m sure.

But at 3pm we were to meet her foster family and some caregivers from Guilin orphanage. As we pulled into the orphanage Menqian saw her grandmother… she ran out of the car and hugged her. We immediately followed and took lots of pictures (208 photos and videos today to be exact). Then we went into the office of the orphanage and spoke with the director for a little while. The whole time people were coming in and out giving greetings to Menqian and we’d take photos…. One day soon she can tell us their names. Then we went with the director and our translator to the courtyard area and officially met the foster mom, dad, and grandma. Her China mom, dad, and nai nai…. She is obviously closest to her foster grandma (nai nai). We exchanged thank you’s about a million times, told them that they have done a wonderful job with Menqian. Her nai nai told us not to spoil her…. We promised to love and care for her and that she’d turn into a wonderful young woman. We exchanged gifts…. We gave them a handmade bowl set, with our contact info in the bag. They gave all our girls red envelopes with money and it had a note in it for Menqian along with their contact info.

They asked if we could have dinner with them so we ended up taking them, the orphanage director, a person with foster care, the foster uncle, brother, and nephew to a very fun dinner. Really words just can’t express at this point the gratefulness…. Almost Cinderalla(ish) way this has all worked out. They seem to genuinely love Menqian and have actually cared for her since she was very young because her China mom and China dad both work in the orphanage. They told us stories and personality traits about her. The foster grandmother and dad were moved to tears at several points.

We don’t think Menqian “really” understands what is happening even though they have all done a seemingly good job at explaining it even in our presence so please continue to pray for her. We are not sure when the actual realization that this is more than a see you later will hit but we need wisdom when it does.

Please pray for Grace and Faith too… they are both exhausted, ready for some rest, less business, etc. We will get some down time in Guangzhou but that is still 3 days away so please pray for supernatural, God given strength for us ALL. We really want to be able to enjoy our days in Menqian’s hometown. We love you all and covet your prayers.

Please continue praying for them!
Charlotte

Praises from Angie Dinn

Having another great day! We signed the paperwork this morning to make Joy Angela Menqian officially ours and here are photos of some of the fun we had today!! Swimming, feeding huge fish, hamster balls, bumper cars, Pizza Hut, and WalMart!

We go to Guilin tomorrow so please pray for our meeting with her foster family and some care givers in the orphanage. Pray for Menqian’s and our Godly wisdom and understanding!

Angie

Continue praying for all of them!
Charlotte

Latest News from Clayton and Angie Dinn

Finally…. Here is what you all have been waiting for! We had a wonderful day. Menqian still doesn’t really realize she goes home with us. I guess it’s just hard to understand what a family is when you’ve really never had one and the only one you had was known to be temporary. We know we have a long road to go to show her what family is and means and for her to trust and attach to us as that forever family but we are concentrating on enjoying these moments of fun together as building blocks down the road to attachment.

Anyway… this is how the first meeting went down. Faith saw her pass the doorway of the room we were in. Then Clayton decided to go out and peek at her. About a minute later Menqian came bounding into the room. I don’t think her caregiver realized she had come in. No joke she came up to us and gave us a hug and showed us a book that she was holding about a cartoon character in China. Then, Clayton and I took turns playing with her and Grace and Faith while doing some paperwork. After the guide came up to the room with us we showed her her things we went to the park and had a blast. We went into the petting zoo and gardens area and then road some paddleboats. Super Fun!

Menqian’s favorite thing so far is her own digital camera like her sisters only a different color. She does everything they do! The picture of the three of them holding hands is one I have had in my mind for 10 months now. Praise the Lord it is finally a reality! Wow… what a day!!!

Please continue to pray for them all!
Charlotte

Prayers needed for Dinn Family

Everyone PLEASE read this email I just got from Angie and lift them all up in your prayers tonight and tomorrow. Love to you all, Charlotte

Charlotte,
Today at around 3pm we meet Joy. Please pray for our initial time with her and for the evening. Also, Grace woke up with a fever last night. Thankfully our pediatrician had given us some antibiotics to bring just in case so pray for God’s healing on her little body and that no one else will get whatever she has. She is hating not feeling well.
Thank you so much.
Angie

Update from Clayton & Angie Dinn

We are enjoying being in Nanning. We slept until 11am so we ate lunch at a nearby restaurant. It was kind of like a buffet…. It had pictures and you carry around your card and the cooks right down your order. It was good for the girls to have choices. But they didn’t like the western fried rice so they ate French fries and Faith liked some noodles that were in my soup. The picture I attached of the girls at the restaurant probably doesn’t show the looks on their faces well enough but in the restaurant they had definite signs of culture shock!!

We went to a wonderful park this afternoon. The girls played on these hamster ball things that float in the water. Just don’t look mom… my stomach hurt the whole time they were riding but they thought it was awesome!

We seem to be the only Americans in the city… at least that we’ve seen. We went to the grocery store near the hotel and it had lots of options. The girls found some snacks that we had brought home with Joshua so they are eating those and some Orange soda and Sprite. I think they are going to survive on Ramen noodles.

Everyone please continue praying for Clayton, Angie, the girls, and Joy!

Charlotte

update from Angie Dinn

Almost to Nanning.... wow over 24 hours on planes, train, and automobiles is a long time! Everyone has done wonderful though and we are ready for SLEEP laying down. The girls are having to get used to being celebraties. Faith already had a group of people want to take their picture with her when she was checking in with Clayton for our last flight. We keep telling Grace "Just smile and wave" and "Cute and Cuddly" to quote the penguins in Madagascar!

Love,
All of us

Please continue to pray for all of them! They get to meet Joy in one day!!
Charlotte

Prayers for The Dinn Family

Just a reminder to please keep Clayton and Angie Dinn in your prayers, their flight was at 6:30am so they are already on their way!

As soon as I get an update from them I will let everyone know.
Charlotte

Prayer Request for The Dinn's

As most of you know Clayton, Angie, & the girls will be leaving this week for China to bring home Joy Men Qian! I have asked them what they would like us to pray for while they are gone, please see their prayer requests:

For now please pray for:

· Joy Men Qian’s preparation for us and us for her.
· We will be able to share the Good News with our guides/ translators. We are praying for God to soften their hearts and they would see their need for Jesus.
· Joshua and Isaac (God’s peace, safety, and just a fun time as they stay with our parents and friends)

Again, we can’t thank you enough for your prayers. Our family is truly blessed by being a part of such an amazing church!
Clayton and Angie

I will update as I receive information from them, thank you for all your prayers!
Charlotte