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| Women of Vision teams traveled to Africa and Mongolia in 2007. | |
Read about Mya's 2011 Heritage Trip to Mongolia!
This letter was written by Darcy Jewett, a dear friend and Partner of Columbia-Willamette Women of Vision, who moved away several years ago. Before going, Darcy traveled with our group to Mongolia in 2004. Her niece, Mya, was one of the first Mongolian children to be adopted out of Mongolia 13 years ago. Mya's family took her to Mongolia for the first time this past year, 2011. Please enjoy reading about Mya's Heritage Trip!
Dear LuAnn and Women of Vision: Ulaanbaatar has grown and developed since I saw it with you and WoV in 2004! Thank you so much for putting us in touch with Zina and other members of the WV staff. Becky, Don, Lindsey, Mya, David and I had a wonderful visit with World Vision in Mongolia. Zina and other members of the WV staff were a delight to be with and were so helpful. This is what I recall of our visit.
Zina showed us the drop off center where the children enter the system. They can stay there a maximum of one month. The police and social workers try and locate their families and then assess if it is best for them to be reunited with the family or placed into a Light House (World Vision program) or state orphanage.
We then visited the three World Vision Light Houses: The Girls Light House, The Boys Light House and the Toddlers Light House. At each house they performed for us: songs, poetry reciting, and dance. All of the Light Houses were immaculately clean and organized. The children were getting ready to go to summer camp for fresh air and fun so we were lucky to see them before they left. The Toddlers Light House (ages 2-6) is located outside of Ulaanbaatar as the air is cleaner and hopefully the children will be spared lung related illnesses due to pollution. When my niece, Mya, came to the USA she had to have treatments each day for several years to help with her severe asthma caused by the air pollution. We were all so impressed when a two year old recited a long poem. The children were so well behaved! Zina, Lindsey and Mya had a powerful discussion about being abandoned, orphaned and reasons why a mother might turn her child over to be adopted or put into a group home or orphanage. We have been discussing these issues off and on over the past several years. Zina's words and thoughts helped Mya and Lindsey feel that their birth mother made the best choice she could to insure that they would have a better life than what she would be able to provide for them and that the decision was made with deep love and concern for them.
World Vision has done a tremendous job training the Children of the Blue Sky Choir which has 30 or so members. 19 of them performed for us (the other members had already gone to summer camp). They sang, had a hand bell choir, and danced. They brought tears to my eyes and goose bumps to my skin. If I understand correctly they have toured Asia. What a powerful experience for them. Some of them are from the Light Houses and others are from other programs for children with disadvantaged backgrounds. When they came into the Light House they had nothing and were probably angry and/or sad. Now they have wonderful relationships with others in the Light House, they go to school, they eat and shower on a regular basis and they perform in the Children of the Blue Sky Choir! They are singing and dancing, developing their artistic talent, gaining experience and self confidence. What a wonderful development for them.
A Police officer, WV social worker and WV staff member took us to several of the tunnel locations. We met with a family who had been living in the tunnels during the winters for several (I think 10) years. In the spring and summer they were living near the manhole opening to the tunnel in a trash heap. Their home was made out of a cardboard box with a sheet over it. They collected plastic bottles to earn some money. They have never been able to earn enough money to get a government identification card so that they can get assistance. 
The WV social worker indicated that WV would start the process to help the two children (aged 2 and 3 years ?), and pay the government fee so that their parents can get the government identification card so they can get assistance from the government and perhaps monthly food assistance from WV. I was astounded - 82,000 children are sponsored in Mongolia. How wonderful that they are able to receive this assistance and stay with their family.
WV made our heritage trip for Mya very special. With Holt, Mya was able to see her finding site and play basketball with the kids in that neighborhood. With Holt and WV she was able to see how other orphans live: in Light Houses, in orphanages, or on the streets. She was also able to see and experience the many wonders of Mongolia. We lived out in the mountains in a ger for two days. We also had a delightful time shopping - Becky purchased a beautiful king sized camel hair blanket, two sweaters and three scarves. I purchased a singing bowl. Lindsey purchased a horse fiddle. Mya got treats for her sleep over birthday party which we are having in Shelburne June 30-July 1. We had delicious Mongolian food and visited several museums. It was a wonderful heritage trip - many thanks and blessings to all of you - Darcy