Exchange Student

Today is an exciting day for our family.  We will go to the airport and pick up our CCI Greenheart exchange student.  She is a lovely girl from China.  Her name is Eve and she is 15 years old.  She will spend the school year here with us to practice her English and learn American culture.  

When we first adopted Mia, I thought since she was nine at the time that she would be able to keep her Mandarin language.  Especially since she attends Chinese school during the year.  However, this is not the case.  She doesn't want to speak her native language.  Perhaps it is too difficult to go back and forth in her head.  Especially since we do not speak Mandarin.  Maybe she thinks "what is the point of having to do extra work and effort."  So, how do you make an 11 year old understand the importance of one's own language and culture?  I will not give up and I know some day she will appreciate the prodding of her parents.  It is my prayer that having Eve here will give Mia the opportunity to keep her language and she will see that she can be a Chinese/American girl and have the beauty of both cultures in her life.  

"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." 

Hebrews 13:2