Double Happiness!

Shuang Xin Li Men, literally translated means "Double Happiness Comes through the Door" with your support RTC will continue to cross thresholds by "Connecting Lives... Creating Futures" for children with special needs in Chinese orphanages and foster homes. Your gift will be doubled/matched by the support of our generous anonymous donors, up to $10,500 by donating on line at givenmn.org or by check dated through November 16.  All gifts in any amount are welcome.    http://givemn.razoo.com/story/Red-Thread-Charities

Red Thread Charities

redthreadcharities.org 

6632 West Shore Drive

Edina, MN  55435

Red Scarves to Red Guards

Sunday's event 

Well, Danling did it again! Her talk on Sunday about growing up in China during the Cultural Revolution held an audience of over 100 people spellbound!  I think about Danling's life as a teenager, forced away from her parents and school to work in the fields for long hours every day while being "re educated". I think about what her parents went through, forced away from their school aged sons who were left to fend for themselves...how they worried to the point of desperation.  Who could live through torture like this?  Amazingly, Danling and her family did live through this.  Her parents and brothers are alive and well in Beijing.  Danling has gone on to help countless people, myself included, adopt children from China.  She founded Red Thread Charities which has helped so many children live more fulfilled lives in orphanges in China.  Thank you to all who donate to our cause!  And thank you Danling, for everything you do!          

Danling and her mother.  Oct 2010

Another entry from our resident travel blogger, Tom

Yesterday, (actually 2 weeks ago) Tuesday in Beijing the weather was perfect, mid 60's to 70's and blue skies. We took in the Hutong area on our first outing leaving in heavy traffic around 9:00 am.  We had a rickshaw tour through the alleys of households that dated back to the Ming dynasty. This was a chance to see the ancient lifestyle that still exists today, despite the Olympic building program and an increase in high rise contruction..bikes everywhere, cars all over and lots of places in reconstruction..property goes for outrageous prices..in the millions for an apartment. Many share bathrooms and are lucky to have a place here.

From there we got dropped off and hiked to the Drum Tower (google it) and ancient time keeping building..the spot of the Bachman tradgedy in the 08 Olympics..Later we had lunch with a family..Homemade dishes spun around on a Lazy Susan..needless to say it made many stops in front of me..I am getting pretty good at the use of chop sticks..We got back to our hotel to check out around 2:00 pm and then off to Tian'men Square..the largest public square in the world..The square was filled with people and guards were scattered about. The size of the square is staggering and the  huge screen depicting scenes from  China was the screen seen during the Olympics. Across the way is the Forbidden City. Commoners were forbidden to enter and would be punished by death. It was home of the Ming and Qing dynasty emperor till the end of the Ming Dynasty in 1911. A day here might be enough to see all the courtyards and art collections. We had about 2 hours..then were off to Pearl City where shops are pilled on one another and bargaining is a blast..Later we had dinner and then made our way to the train station..Will down load some photos later... the food has been outstanding...I need to watch myself.  Tom

 

 

Children Helping Children

Half way around the world a child can make a difference in another child's life.  A brownie troop in MN hand made sensory blankets for the orphanage.  Sensory blankets are super soft and textural with ribbon tags around them.  Babies can bond with them and take them with them when they are adopted as a comforting transitional item from foster or orphanage care to the forever family.  Being an adoptive mom, I know that on adoption day, within 24 hours, that precious child has been bathed and dressed in cute Baby Gap clothing.  New parents, new language, new hotel with heat, new smells, new sights and sounds. Nothing is left from the child's previous life.  The sensory blankets are meant to bridge that transition, something that the child can hold onto that was a piece of his life before adoption.  Thank you to Brownie Troop 52931... Emma, Cece, Skylar, Sophia, Emily, Zoe, Misk, Abby, and of course our 2009 volunteer, Paige Indritz for making a difference in a child's life.