A scrapbook is a way to document a precious collection of moments.

I can
imagine a mother sharing a book with friends or family, chatting away about all the
incredible sights and emotions seen and felt throughout a special time. The same is
within this book, holding memories and excitements of how a family was
established through having adoption mix two cultures. Finding a womans blog of
how her family adopted a Chinese orphan in 2014 through a Christian adoption
agency called Lifeline, I used Sherry Ausbuns photos and descriptions of their 2
week trip in China, having her share the familys journey.
Traveling to China to receive their new daughter Esther in July 2014, the
family of five was able to explore the countrys rich culture to absorb facts and
details about her culture so [they] can share them with her as she grows up
(Ausbun, What). The family reached Beijing first to see the Great Wall of China
and museums nearby, as well as a local village to see the working class that Esther
came from. The following days, they stayed in the Guangzdong province where their
daughter was being housed at an orphanage. Finally uniting with Esther and then
visiting her village, they discovered that she was left by a body of water in hope
that someone would care for her medical needs, having the family see how
disabilities disrupt a Chinese household. Despite the sad truth in this, the family did
not want to shut their new daughter off from where she came from: Esther's
orphanage and finding place are very important to us so we can help Esther as she
grows up and asks questions about her past (Ausbun, Exploring).
Wanting to discover more about Esthers past, the family attended Lifelines
heritage tour that guided them throughout the city of Guangzdong: "it's so
important to not only welcome her into our family, but also help her to remember
who she is culturally" (Ausbun, What). The family was able to walk the streets of

the markets, visit the local zoo, and tour religious temples. They were able to
interact with the Chinese faith but became aware of how little their own religion,
Christianity, was established in China due to the countrys strict forbiddance. When
attending church one Sunday, they learned only that foreign passport holders were
allowed in because its against the Chinese law to allow local citizens to attend
(Ausbun, The). Another discovery was what I previously mentioned on how
disabled children are shunned and given little hope of love. The Ausbun family
shared a post on their blog when returning home that stressed the importance of
adopting from China: Orphanages at best become construction workers. There's
not much of a future for Chinese orphans. Family heritage is highly valued and being
an orphan is a social stigma. (Ausbun, 6). However, their trip allowed the
disgrace to be replaced by love, and led to one less orphan in the world (Ausbun,
Final).
Of course the Ausbun family is not the only family to have adopted
internationally. In 2013, U.S. families adopted 7,092 children from other countries
(Freivalds, International). This trend is becoming more popular as years progress,
for many of the same reasons the Ausbuns had, such as saving children who have
been abandoned due to medical reasons. In 2009, Better Care Network found that a
child has a 46-times increased likelihood of being in an orphanage if being
disabled, a scary number that is hoped to decrease as more Americans are
encouraged to save these children. Heritage tours for adoptive families have also
become more prevalent. The Ausbun family traveled with Lifeline, but other
organizations like this exist. Journey Legacy is group that offers guides and
accommodations for families to explore their new childs country and even allow
adoptees a cost-free trip.

Every page of the book is different, resembling how every day of the trip was
different. As the journey goes on and pages turn, the sheets become busier and
fuller to represent how much excitement Esther brought into their lives within just
the first few days and how much knowledge was absorbed while in the country. The
book concludes with lessons learned while in China but does not conclude the many
more that will be captivated; Esther is sure to bring new experiences and teachings
into the familys life as time progresses. Overall, the pictures and quotes show the
bond created between a Chinese orphan and American family by opening their
hearts to different cultures and exploring a foreign country through a heritage tour.
With many sights seen and many emotions felt, none will be forgotten through a
book being held together by memories, excitements, and a little bit of glue.

Ausbun, Sherry. "6 Lessons in 16 Days in China." Daniel Ausbun. Weebly, 6 Aug.
2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2015. <http://www.danielausbun.org/home/6-lessons-in-16days-in-china>.
Ausbun, Sherry. "Final Blog Post in China (from Sherri)." Daniel Ausbun. Weebly, 6
Aug. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2015. <http://www.danielausbun.org/home/final-blog-postin-china-from-sherri>.
Ausbun, Sherry. "The Lord's Day in China (from Sherri)." Daniel Ausbun. Weebly, 3
Aug. 2014. Web. 30 Mar. 2015. <http://www.danielausbun.org/home/the-lords-dayin-china-from-sherri>.
"Exploring Guangzhou" Daniel Ausbun. Weebly, 30 July 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.danielausbun.org/home/exploring-guangzhou-from-sherri>.
Freivalds, Susan. "International Adoption: Fast Facts." Building Your Family. 1 Jan.
2010. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.

HandsToHearts. 1 Aug. 2009. Web. 22 Mar. 2015.

"What a Ride" Daniel Ausbun. Weebly, 25 July 2014. Web. 28 Mar. 2015.
<http://www.danielausbun.org/home/what-a-ride-from-sherri>.