Andrew Ellis is the kind of boy no one forgets, especially best friend Xiau Ding. Xiau Ding, protective of Andrew while living in-orphanage, now lives in Ohio, happily adopted. Although he was living within the peace of a loving family, he still worried for his best friend left behind in China.His new mother contacted Marianne Adams, Children’s Hope Southwest and Arizona regional director, looking for AndrewMarianne put the call out to the Ellis’ who had placed Andrew from the Waiting Child list and were waiting for travel approval.
“At first when she told me this family was looking for him, it kinda scared me,” says Becky, already protective of her precious son. “I was like, ‘Look he’s being adopted!’ But when Marianne explained ‘I think they have a child that knows him,’ the whole thing changed!” Becky laughs. Xiau Ding was happy and relieved to know Andrew had found a home and would be joining him in the United States, for the older boys in the orphanage were known to be rough.
When Becky and Dan arrived there in Changsha Hunan, China, they were bearing gifts and wearing t-shirts imprinted with Andrew’s face. They were nervous. The social worker had prepared them: at night they were to double-check their room locks; some of the older children attempt to run away. They braced themselves, unsure of what to expect.
But when they met eight-year-old Andrew, he came barreling into the room grinning. Before they could even offer him their stowed gifts, he was opening his bag pack to give them their gifts! Andrew had even purchased his maternal grandmother and his godmother gifts as well, jewelry and a small trinket in the shape of a duck. They were to learn later that he had taken his friends out for ice cream during their last night together with the little money he had left of his savings.
After dealing out his gifts, he ran over to Dan and began to stroke his arm. He murmured, “Oh baba, oh baba,” oh father, oh father, in Mandarin. Dan began to cry.“Which is a good thing,” Becky laughs, “I am an ugly crier and Dan is a pretty crier. I was so scared he wouldn’t want to come home with us after seeing my face contorted with tears!”
A lesson in Chinese checkers later, the family of three went out to eat. At the table the young boy toasted to his new family and prayed.
“You know, they don’t really pray over there, but he took up in his hands a Buddah necklace that was given to him and said a prayer to God, thanking Him for the day.”
Back home, the Ellis’ found their lifestyle drastically changed. They had lost their first son years before and the house was then quiet. Although Andrew was never meant as a replacement, he now fills their house with so much love and laughter.
Becky home schools Andrew. The two of them learn from each other, Andrew English and Becky Mandarin. They laugh when they learn that mountain is sun in Mandarin and sun is mountain. The family cooks together, fixing Tandan—a blessing of egg rolls and dumplings. They laugh as Andrew’s dumplings are made so much better.
Andrew loves hiking with his dog Honey and playing pool. “He can play pool until the cows come home!” says Becky. The Ellis’ live right on top of a mountain. Everyday when he goes down the mountain, Andrew is offered a different view; the sky is always changing. Sometimes on a particularly cloudy day, it is almost as if the other mountains sit like islands in the sky.
“Ooo, mama! Ooo, mama!” Andrew whispers in wonder.
How is life now? “Life is beautiful,” Becky sighs. “Andrew has brought great joy into our hearts. It’s almost hard to even say. ...I don’t know how we ended up with the most wonderful child in the world.”
It’s easy to believe this child is one whom no one will ever forget and everyone is glad he’s made this home into a family.
--Becky, Dan, and Andrew Ellis, NC
Written by Jennifer Newcomb, Children's Hope Communication Coordinator
