The Holloways' Journey to Jin: Ringing in the New Year with Yong Ming

Jin's best buddy and playmate in the orphanage was Yong Ming. Two newborns growing up together, there is a good chance they were in the same room. Yong Ming, now named Joshua, was blessed with a forever family last summer. He was adopted by wonderful people, Doug and Terrie Pilz, from Michigan. The Pilz family had earlier adopted a little girl from the same orphanage. Her name is now Brianna and is approximately the same age. For more than a year all three of these children would have been together in the orphanage. We were told from the orphanage officials that Jin became very depressed and withdrawn when Joshua left. Can you blame him? He lost one of the people in his world he loved the most. Doug and Terrie have been a blessing to us from the moment we received the first email. Their wonderful advice, important information, wise experience and many prayers eased our anticiapted trip and adjustments with Jin. We knew we had to meet and reunite the boys. What a blessing it was!

We love to play

My dear, thoughtful husband loves surprises. He is good at keeping them and this one was a doozy! The Pilzs drove to Indiana to meet us! Yes, can you believe it? Clint told Terrie we would be there for Christmas and wondered the possibility of meeting them half way? After looking at the map they are only 4 hours away from goood 'ole Bluffton. Jin was very excited and repeated Yong Ming's continuiously until his arrival. Our entire family awaited this exciting event. For Jin to see and spend time with his best buddy and "family" was going to be just perfect. And perfect it was. The boys seemed to pick up where they left off. They played, laughed, ran around, colored, ate, hugged and read together just like brothers. Jon Campbell didn't want to miss one bit and loved sitting next to Yong Ming for dinner. As for the adults, we laughed, talked, talked some more and shared stories. Yet again it was perfect!

Jin and Joshua

The sweet little girl in the picture below is Joshua's sister. Brianna or "B" was adopted by the Pilzs when she was 14 months old. B is from the same orphanage as the boys; it is likely that all 3 kids were in the same room as babies. So we had a house full of 4 year olds- Brianna, Joshua, Jin and Jon Campbell.