http://blog.thequonk.com Thu, 08 Dec 2011 21:39:52 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en http://blog.thequonk.com/2011/12/05/teaching-in-china-2012-2013/ http://blog.thequonk.com/2011/10/22/toronto-vegetarian-food-festival-2011/

A year ago, my friends met a beautiful, eight-month-old boy and his mother in the streets of China. The boy was born in a poor, farming village with a cleft lip and palate. I'll leave the details to the blog posts I've linked below but in a series of divinely-orchestrated events, Qian Qian's cleft lip has been closed and he is getting ready for his next surgery in November to close his cleft palete. Doctors say it is crucial he gets his surgery done soon or else it will affect his speech. The surgery to close his cleft palete was scheduled earlier in the year but Qian Qian didn't meet the weight requirement and was refused surgery. My friends are working with the family and a friend that lives near the village to make sure Qian Qian has enough provisions to gain the weight he needs to be accepted for the surgery. The following series of blog posts is Qian Qian's story. If you feel called to contribute to his surgery, there is a ChipIn widget in the top, right-hand corner of the blog I've linked here. The money will go towards the provisions for Qian Qian to gain enough weight for the surgery and his transportation and boarding to the city where the surgery and recovery will take place. God bless.

1. Humanity, Pt. 1 - October 15, 2010 "We were carrying on our merry way over the pedestrian overpass when out of the corner of my eye I saw them..."
2. Humanity, Pt. 2 - October 16, 2010 "The Bug, eyes wide said, "this is why we are Here...He wanted us to see her tonight!""
3. Humanity, Pt. 3 - October 18, 2010 "I know that there are many more who need help.  But for now, the opportunity to minister to Him exists in little Qian Qian's need...to be His hands and feet...and for His glory alone."
4. Quick update - October 19, 2010 "That is 7 times the cost estimate of yesterday...but translation is a tricky thing...maybe it was 10,000 for only the first surgery...or maybe the doctor today didn't want to bother with a poor woman who couldn't possibly pay?"
5. Looking Ahead - October 21, 2010 "But I see now more clearly...it is an IMPOSSIBLE circumstance.  How could a "median income" family keep their newborn?"
6. Qian Qian's Photo - October 23, 2010 "Two organizations can help us, but Qian Qian and his mother would have to travel several hours away for the first surgery alone (and he will need several over time.)"
7. Qian Qian Update - November 8, 2010 "Now as we are on the verge, Lord willing, of Qian Qian's first surgery, he told me that he sees what is happening as a "God arrangement," too fantastic for coincidence...but a clear indication of a love he believes the world needs."
8. Hospitality - November 13, 2010 "Both Qian Qian and I are known, loved, and He desires our return of wrshp in response to His love."
9. More on Qian - We need some Prayer - November 17, 2010 "no matter what others say...or how Qian Qian's family might act (his Aunt also recently offended the native helpers)...that we're doing this because HE said to...and that it is for Qian Qian...and he is an innocent boy who needs help."
10. Surgery - November 26, 2010 "We are in awe of His mercy and the privilege of watching this healing.  What a beautiful way to remember this Thanksgiving.  We will continue to lift up Qian Qian's family as they begin a new chapter together."
11. It's about people... - November 30, 2010 "I very nearly missed the beauty of getting down on the pavement, of sitting with his mother to hear her story...the deeply spiritual experience of looking into his eyes and seeing my Lrd staring back...inviting me to wrshp him by helping this little one, the least of these...in need."
12. I saw him! - December 1, 2010 "All the way home in the taxi, all I could do was sing praises...the sky was alight with an very unusual sunset...my heart filled to the brim with divine joy...over the horns honking, the radio blaring a Chinese news report, the throngs of people pressing together to get to their homes...I'm pretty sure I could hear the very heartbeat of my Father."
13. Transformation - December 2, 2010 "He was just as darling as I remembered him from the street that night.  He has such personality and was so curious about the foreign woman in his hospital room."
14. Life on the Range - April 7, 2011 "We have good news on the Qian Qian front...looks like in about 3 weeks he'll be traveling with his parents to have his palate surgery!  We've been waiting all winter for him to gain enough weight (now that his lip is closed, it has been much faster) so that he could undergo anesthesia under the hospital protocols."
15. Strengthen your hands - May 19, 2011 "We thought for sure that in 6 months, a normal 14 months old baby (at this point) should have gained weight.  Sadly, we got the call after they had arrived for the pre-op physical that our precious boy had LOST weight in the past 6 months."
16. Qian Qian Update - June 8, 2011 "We have very limited contacts...almost none outside of our city...but here He has brought us a connection that leads to the very village where QQ's family is!  Praise Him. Praise Him, Praise Him."
17. Back at it... - September 3, 2011 "How thrilled we are that we've been privileged to be a tiny part in the Plan for this boy, his family, and his fellow villagers."
18. Encouragement - September 4, 2011 "Then they all hear."
19. Qian Qian - The Next Step - September 28, 2011 "At any rate, he has been gaining (up 1.5 kgs in the past 3 months) and we are setting our sights on November. "

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