Waiting on Him: About Josiah

These are the wonderful stories and pictures we have received of Josiah. We feel so blessed to have seen and heard them...

April 25, 2010

OUR INTRODUCTION TO JOSIAH

(From the Harmony Outreach webiste)

Josiah came to us from the Hengyang orphanage in Hunan province on June 10, 2007. His arms and legs are deformed and are missing some bones. However, he manages amazing things with his legs and feet, using them more like arms and hands. In the picture above he is waving - with his leg and foot.

In spite of his limitations, Josiah has a happy, upbeat personality and is a favorite with the nannies and visitors alike.

We want to see Josiah receive corrective orthopedic surgery so that he can run and play like a normal child. And most of all, he needs a forever family to adopt him.

June 6, 2010

We decide to adopt Josiah.

June 14, 2010

We receive the monthly newsletter from Harmony Outreach which has an article about Josiah written by Linda Huckaba.

SWEET JOSIAH

On the floor of Harmony House - our orphanage we were entering on the other side of the world - sits a three-year-old, lost from view by the group of children staring at the arriving foreigners. He waits patiently as I greet children I've previously known only by their pictures. As the children press forward, leaving him behind, my eyes fall on Josiah. I call out, "Josiah," and he flashes a smile that can only be reflective of the Light of heaven.

Josiah remains seated because he cannot arise to meet me, but his beaming face is more welcoming than all the others. As I make my way toward him, his gaze holds me as surely as his arms would if he could only move them. I sit on a couch and lift him to sit beside me. Patting my chest, I say, "Lin-da." Touching his, I say, "Jo-si-ah." This three-year-old - accustomed to being called Yang Henghai - listens intently as I once again identify myself. Then he proudly proclaims, "Leen-da!" It becomes a game which he loves, and the other children gathered around watching are introduced to me by one of their own.

As must surely be the case in any orphanage, each child seeks attention. A couple of kids pick up the chant, "Leen-da." Others shyly stand back just watching. Two even recoil when my eyes meet theirs in greeting, beginning to cry and flee to the safety of the closest nanny's arms. But Josiah is unperturbed. Eager to impress me with his abilities, he maneuvers his little body off the couch, onto the floor and toward a small toy. He deftly picks it up with his toes and throws it to me. It is a game, and I fetch and return it to him. Unfazed when another child grabs his toy, he substitutes another to continue the game.

Who is this child with useless arms and hands who so captivated by heart over the next few days, his sweet little round face and sparkling eyes so full of life and hope? We know that he was born August 11, 2006 and came to us ten months later from Hengyang Orphanage in Hunan Province. We can only surmise that he was abandonded because of his malformed little body.

And what of his future? We know God says He has plans for each one of us - plans for good and not for evil, plans for a hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Does that include Josiah, with his strong legs but with feet malformed so that he can only stand on the tops of his feet and ankles? Josiah, with his useless arms and hands who uses his feet to feed himself and wave goodbye? Yes! Especially Josiah!

Will you be God's instrument to further Josiah's hope and future? He is ready for his Forever Family. Were my husband and I not in our late 60's, we would certainly now be filling out paperwork to adopt him. Please contact us if God is speaking to you to provide a loving home for our sweet Josiah. He will teach you more than you can ever teach him!

June 15, 2010

Pictures from Linda

THE GANGSTER SHOT

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SMILE

June 18, 2010

Update photos from the adoption agency

LONGING FOR A FAMILY?

AWW...SHUCKS!

DOH!!

MOVE OVER...

I'M DRIVIN'!!

June - July

Pictures I found

ONE YEAR OLD

ONE AND A HALF YEARS OLD

TWO YEARS OLD

WHAT A TEASE

ISN'T HE A SWEETHEART

July 13, 2010

Blogpost from Liz after visiting Harmony House

The children captured my heart immediately. Many of them already have forever families working to bring them home. Harmony House has seen around 40 children adopted over the years. The sweet faces and eyes work into your very soul. One 3 year old boy is an example of how God's love is making a difference in this orphanage. He has no use of his arms and his feet turn in making them unfit to walk. Yet, the boy is full of joy. His smile lights up the room and he captivated my son.

July 27, 2010

An Encouraging email from someone who met Josiah

Linda Huckaba at Harmony shared with me that you are interested in adopting Josiah, and I was so excited to hear that God is answering our long-time prayers for him to have a family of his own. I met Josiah in April 2009 when I led a team to China to minister to orphans... I was completely taken in by him, as were the other members of our team. He has such an engaging personality - very positive, very communicative, and a can-do outlook. I wanted to share that of all the children we met, he was the one who stood out the most in terms of being someone we wanted to earnestly pray for a family. He is so resourceful and positive and outgoing. He was always one of the first children to engage us in play - whether it was rolling a ball or sharing a book that he wanted to show us (he turned the pages with his feet with amazing dexterity).

Pictures from her visit

HOLDING HIS TEDDY BEAR THE ONLY WAY HE CAN... WITH HIS FEET

OPENING HIS CARD

August 24, 2010

Pictures from Jennifer

BEAUTIFUL BOY

FUNNY FACE

August 29, 2010

Blogpost by Annie

I know Sunday Snapshots are usually about your family and the things that touch your heart. Tonight my Sunday Snapshot is not about my family but is however about a very special little boy who has touched my heart and many others' hearts. That very special little boy is Josiah.

If you have been following my blog and my weekly "Waiting Kids" posts, you are very familiar with this precious boy. Josiah lives in a wonderful group foster home in China called Harmony House where from what I understand, he has totally enchanted any and all who meet him.

Josiah was born without the use of his arms and with double clubfeet but that has not stopped this amazing little boy. He has learned how to do things for himself using his feet.

At a very early age, Josiah has overcome so many obstacles and yet continues to smile and to love and now...

He finally has a family, a wonderful family, to love him back, to help and support him as he faces future obstacles. No longer will he struggle without a family to encourage him, no longer will he overcome without a family to celebrate every single, little triumph with him...

I have been in touch with Josiah's beautiful new family and they are working very hard to bring him home and are praying that God will provide what they need to do so...when you look at this sweet face, you will faith that those wonderful smiles will not fade!!

So while this weeks Sunday Snapshot is not about my family, it very definitely is about a precious child who has touched my heart and I feel very blessed to be able to "know" his family and rejoice in their journey!!

September 2, 2010

Blogpost by Liz

The Unwanted Becomes Wanted

Before receiving Lily in China, our family visited Harmony House...Seeing those children and nannies was a life changing experience. My heart cried out for those little ones. It is heartbreaking to see those eyes and know that they were unwanted and abandoned.

Unwanted.

Like this little guy-

When I met Josiah I felt such pity for him. Who would want this child? I remember commenting to Jon that this child was most likely unadoptable. His arms are useles and he has club feet. He would spend the rest of his life in China begging. A life of poverty and hardship.

Imagine my surprise when I received an email from a family who had found my blog. They informed me that they were already in the process to adopt this little boy. I was stunned. This unwanted child was wanted! This boy who has no family will belong!

Joyfully, I discovered that I am not the one who is to say who is adoptable or not. What a great lesson for me to learn. God's hand is clearly seen in this little boy's life...

October 10, 2010

Update photos from Lilly, she says he is a smart boy and knows some simple English now

PRECIOUS

ENJOYING THE OUTDOORS

HAVING FUN

November 4, 2010

Email from Tamera

Little Josiah had a lump on his forehead as earlier that week he had insisted on going down the stairs on his own - the nanny tried to grab him before he fell - but it sure tells alot about his determination. Another thing that really stood out to us is that Josiah was writing on a magnadoodle board with his foot - and writing well to boot. He was so clever, sweet, and loved attention. He is such a sweet, smart and innovative little guy.

I FELL DOWN THE STAIRS AND GOT A BRUISE ON MY
FOREHEAD, BUT DID I LET THAT GET ME DOWN...

                         NO WAY!!!

GOOFBALL

These pictures bring back sweet memories. Josiah was rocking Trinity in her little infant seat. He was so gentle and again so innovative. He was rocking her with his foot and then tenderly giving her little kisses on her cheek.