“I Have More Planned For You”

Out of everything we had the opportunity to see and visit in China, what I will always remember most is going back to Hefei, the city where I was found, and the place that I lived for 8 months in the orphanage.

One thing that was so special about going back there, was realizing that I wasn’t alone. Sometimes when we go through tough situations, or feel confused, lost, and doubtful we feel like we are the only ones going through that situation. But seeing all of these children, and families going to Hefei together, visiting the orphanage together, it all reminded me that I wasn’t alone.

I wasn’t the only person that grew up in that orphanage. I wasn’t the only one who had been left by their birthparents. I wasn’t the only one who had questions about where they came from, and I wasn’t the only one who wanted to know why their birthparents could have even thought of giving us up.

I can’t remember the exact order of the events that happened when we visited Hefei, but I remember going to the orphanage, and going to the street where I was found by the police officer back in December of 1993. These are the two things that I am going to focus on in this blog post.

The Orphanage

When we went to the orphanage, it had been renovated and transformed into a completely new building. Back when I was adopted, it was a very old building, and one could tell that it was poorly made. But now, it had been turned into a two story orphanage.

When we were there we got to spend time with the children that were there. We gave them stickers and played with them. We also got to meet the directors of the orphanage.

My family was able to meet with the man who helped my parents adopt me. I don’t remember all of the details, but I do remember going out to lunch with him, and other directors of the orphanage that played a role in the adoption process for us.

I couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like if I hadn’t been adopted. What if I was still in the orphanage? What if all of the children and teens that we met had been my friends, what if we had all grown up together in this place?

I realized how blessed I was to have been adopted. Out of all of the babies and the children that could have been adopted by my parents, it was me. If I’m being completely honest, I don’t know how the adoption process works, but I do know that I was chosen. Not only chosen by God, but He had it in His plans for the orphanage, and the agency, and everyone else who was involved to pick me to be adopted by my parents.

Words cannot describe how thankful and blessed I am for that. I don’t think I realized all of that at the time, but looking back on it now, and thinking of what my life could have been like, I am so thankful.

The Street

The next event that I want to tell you about is when we went to the street where I was found.

I remember being really nervous, and I was not happy about going back to that place. Knowing that this is where my parents had left me, knowing that this is where I was abandoned, I didn’t want to see it.

It was really hard for me to go and see that street. I kept imagining a young couple leaving a baby on this busy street. And on Christmas Eve, in the middle of winter, in the cold, all alone.

I think that I saw it as a scary place. It was a place where all of my anger, frustration, confusion, and hurt had started. It was where I was abandoned. It was where my life could have been in danger. It was where the two people who were supposed to love me more than anything in the world had left me.

But looking back on it now, it was the place where God took control. He brought the police officer to that bench at the right time. He was the one who guided the officer to the orphanage. He was the one who made sure that I was taken care of because He had a plan for me. One that did not involve my life ending on that bench.

He had so much more planned for me. And He still does.

For anyone who may be reading this: If you are feeling alone, unwanted, or unloved, please know that you are not any of those things. If you have no idea why you may be going through a hard situation right now, I pray that you quickly come to understand that God is still with you, and He has a plan for you despite the hardships you may be facing.

Psalm 55:22 says “Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you, He will never let the righteous fall”.

Psalm 119:50 says “My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life”.

I hope that you take these two verses and carry them with you from this day, and forward. God is with you, He is there to comfort you, and He is there to life you up. All we need to do is to trust in Him, and let Him guide us through the hardships, struggles, and trials that we may be going through.

Once again, if you have any questions please feel free to comment below! Or you can reach me via email, katyschultz1@gmail.com