A Child Lost in China A Child Found in China

Today we left the safety and easy-going nature of the island and walked over the pedestrian bridge to check out the local markets.

Incredible.

The infrastructure here is remarkable to me. How goods are transported via bicycle piled 25 boxes high, shop after shop selling everything from frog legs and dried seahorse to auto parts and underwear. It amazes me how it all comes together to sustain such a large population.

Anyhoo, it's crowded......crowded being a HUGE understatement. You move with the throngs of people or you get run over.
Keeping tabs on 6 boys in that.....well, let's just say we are brave to give it a try......brave.....or crazy stupid......I'm not honestly sure which one.

And after I tell you what I am about to tell you I can say it was definitely crazy stupid.

We had a great walk though and after about 30 minutes we were headed back to the island for a slurpee from the 7-11and that's

when.
it.
happened.

Jacob had to go to the bathroom and mercifully after a few minutes of looking we found a public restroom right before the stairs to the pedestrian bridge.
John took him in and I corralled the other 4 kids off to the side to wait.......
wait.....hold on.......4 kids?
and
then
I
realized
.....there were only 4 others.

Where
was
Justin.

I immediately start calling shouting his name and frantically searching everywhere, my eyes were darting from face to face looking for him amongst the sea of people my heart pounding out of my chest.

Nothing.

He was gone.

I had even managed....in my crazy momma yelling..... to get John's attention all the way in the bathroom{yes...that's how loud I was. He could hear me all the way in the bathroom through all the noise of a busy Chinese sidewalk street.}

Do picture this scene clearly in yo head.
Ya know, me standing there holding onto all those little hands in a sea of Asian faces screaming {and I do mean screaming}
"Stellaaaaaa" "Juussstttinnnnn" over and over and over again,
voice cracking in fear,
ever increasing in volume,
you get the nightmare picture.

It's making my blood pressure rise and a lump form in my throat just recounting these few minutes.

And the crowd that gathered.

Oh.
The.
Crowd.
That gathered.

All huddled around me staring at me in confusion.

Awesome.

Like we aren't a spectacle enough.
Some were yelling something back at me in Mandarin, some were gesturing, most were just standing there watching this white woman with all those boys lose her ever-loving mind smack dab in the middle of the street.

Finally Jason had the where with all to go look up the stairs of the bridge that we were about to cross back over and sure enough.....

there
he
was
browsing some wares that were being sold on the bridge.

Thank you Jesus.

He came down at which time I wanted to hug him, yell at him and find a baby carrier that would fit his 8 year old self in it and carry him the rest of the trip.
The crowd then began to dissipate but not before I got a lecture or two from some elderly women that I did not have Joey and Jacob dressed warm enough.
Hello.
It's 68 degrees and they are wearing pants, a long sleeve shirt and a coat.
We are good.
Thankyouverymuch {though I do find their concern slightly endearing. What must they think of us.}
So all is well, we applied for their passports today at the police station and played at the park again this evening.

I would share more but I have to go and count kids again.......just to make sure I didn't lose anyone....
not that I would ever do that.

Home in 10 days.....with all 6 children.