It's after noon here & I wanted to let you know nothing else has been changed EXCEPT we did get GiGis visa today! All the families in our group got their child's visa this morning. YEAH! I'm so thankful because we had friends that really needed it to fly out today! I'm so glad they are not further delayed! We have been so blessed with Christian friends to be here with us through it all! They have come to our room, held hands, prayed with us, encouraged us & been a rock when we were weak! We are so very grateful!
As far as flights, nothing has changed YET. However, I received a personal call this morning from Kim Chamberlin (she is from the office of junior US Senator Roger Wicker) -- first person I've spoken to from the United States since we left for China. She was so kind & said that the problem Friday was Not with the printers but a malfunction in the computer system linking back to Washington & it has affected approximately 2,000 visas. She has told us that Senator Wicker & his wife are both concerned and that she is personally updating them.
Kim is calling United Airlines to see what she can do for our families. She was hopeful but could not promise anything. Kim will let me know as soon as she hears something.
This price inconsistency & gouging should NOT happen to ANYONE! We paid $10,000 for our tickets at the first of July & now we have paid over $4000 more just to have the return date changed to a different date (NOT a date we picked, but a date that worked for United Airlines). If you know how we can work to prevent this in the future, PLEASE let me know! I've heard from others that it's at the discretion of the personal you speak to! It should be FAIR for each person NOT whether the personal from United is in the mood to accommodate you but NOT another! Every one should be treated EQUALLY & that is all we have asked for from United Airlines. They changed other tickets in our party for NO CHARGE for a family of 4, reduced for $300 total for another family of 4, $500 for a family of 3, & $4000+ for our family! The family that paid $500 & our family are the only ones from Mississippi! Hummm.......see any differences here?? We all booked within 24hours of each other & were delayed due to the visas on Friday. I will be glad to speak out until we are heard & everyone is treated equally! We've had over 8,000 hits to our blogspot so I know people are reading & this does not include the ones that are reading us from Facebook! We are not the type to cause a problem, but believe in equality! This is not only a problem for us but many others have reached out to us & shared very similar problems. Also, it should not take days of calls/headaches & getting Washington involved to get consistent treatment for all! We want others protected from this happening in the future so it's not just about us!
A special thank you to EACH one of you!!! Thank you for every lead/email/name/call to try & fix this problem, words of encouragement, help financially, & every prayer! We have not personally responded to each one of you because we have been trying to follow leads, make contacts, & making arrangements to stay longer. Our problem is not over nor solved with United Airlines so we may still be following leads & making contacts. Please know how grateful we are for everything you have done for us! We are so humbled!
Also a special thank you to our Senator Wicker, Senator Wicker's staff, & Rita Parks from the Mississippi State Senate! Phil's mom has spoken with MS Senator Rita & she is also working to correct any issues we are having over the last few days. I know there are people that are probably left out but these are the names in Governmental Office that I know is trying to assist us at this time. I thought you should be aware of the ones working to help us as you are following our story! I will keep you updated on the what they are able to get done for our families!
I've had some people ask how they can financially help us with all the added costs we've incurred (even if the flights get changed, we are still in China extra time=more $). At the top of the blog, you can find this information:
To the right side of our blogspot, you can find the paypal link that looks like this:
If you feel lead to
donate to GiGi's
adoption fund, you can
donate through PayPal
by clicking the donate
button. You do NOT
need a PayPal account
to donate. No amount
is too small! Thank you
for helping bring our
Daughter home!
You have all done so much already & we thank you!
God Bless each of you!
Niki
This is the church we visited yesterday. This was after services, but it was full during the regular Mandarin/English service. We had to sit in a separate room because there were so many in attendance! We really needed to be with other Christians yesterday & will post more details later.
As far as flights, nothing has changed YET. However, I received a personal call this morning from Kim Chamberlin (she is from the office of junior US Senator Roger Wicker) -- first person I've spoken to from the United States since we left for China. She was so kind & said that the problem Friday was Not with the printers but a malfunction in the computer system linking back to Washington & it has affected approximately 2,000 visas. She has told us that Senator Wicker & his wife are both concerned and that she is personally updating them.
Kim is calling United Airlines to see what she can do for our families. She was hopeful but could not promise anything. Kim will let me know as soon as she hears something.
This price inconsistency & gouging should NOT happen to ANYONE! We paid $10,000 for our tickets at the first of July & now we have paid over $4000 more just to have the return date changed to a different date (NOT a date we picked, but a date that worked for United Airlines). If you know how we can work to prevent this in the future, PLEASE let me know! I've heard from others that it's at the discretion of the personal you speak to! It should be FAIR for each person NOT whether the personal from United is in the mood to accommodate you but NOT another! Every one should be treated EQUALLY & that is all we have asked for from United Airlines. They changed other tickets in our party for NO CHARGE for a family of 4, reduced for $300 total for another family of 4, $500 for a family of 3, & $4000+ for our family! The family that paid $500 & our family are the only ones from Mississippi! Hummm.......see any differences here?? We all booked within 24hours of each other & were delayed due to the visas on Friday. I will be glad to speak out until we are heard & everyone is treated equally! We've had over 8,000 hits to our blogspot so I know people are reading & this does not include the ones that are reading us from Facebook! We are not the type to cause a problem, but believe in equality! This is not only a problem for us but many others have reached out to us & shared very similar problems. Also, it should not take days of calls/headaches & getting Washington involved to get consistent treatment for all! We want others protected from this happening in the future so it's not just about us!
A special thank you to EACH one of you!!! Thank you for every lead/email/name/call to try & fix this problem, words of encouragement, help financially, & every prayer! We have not personally responded to each one of you because we have been trying to follow leads, make contacts, & making arrangements to stay longer. Our problem is not over nor solved with United Airlines so we may still be following leads & making contacts. Please know how grateful we are for everything you have done for us! We are so humbled!
Also a special thank you to our Senator Wicker, Senator Wicker's staff, & Rita Parks from the Mississippi State Senate! Phil's mom has spoken with MS Senator Rita & she is also working to correct any issues we are having over the last few days. I know there are people that are probably left out but these are the names in Governmental Office that I know is trying to assist us at this time. I thought you should be aware of the ones working to help us as you are following our story! I will keep you updated on the what they are able to get done for our families!
I've had some people ask how they can financially help us with all the added costs we've incurred (even if the flights get changed, we are still in China extra time=more $). At the top of the blog, you can find this information:
Trustmark National Bank account set up:
If you would like to mail a donation, please mail it to
Donations can be made nation wide at any Trustmark National Bank through the account:
Phillip Smith or Niki J. Smith's Adoption Account
Phil or Niki Smith
P.O. Box 332
Rienzi, MS 38865
Rienzi, MS 38865
To the right side of our blogspot, you can find the paypal link that looks like this:
If you feel lead to
donate to GiGi's
adoption fund, you can
donate through PayPal
by clicking the donate
button. You do NOT
need a PayPal account
to donate. No amount
is too small! Thank you
for helping bring our
Daughter home!
You have all done so much already & we thank you!
God Bless each of you!
Niki
This is the church we visited yesterday. This was after services, but it was full during the regular Mandarin/English service. We had to sit in a separate room because there were so many in attendance! We really needed to be with other Christians yesterday & will post more details later.
Colt doesn't like his pic taken, but Phil was able to snap this shot of him.
When we adopted GiGi, we had taken her a doll from the US to give to her. We had given it to her several times, but she never acted as if she knew how to play with it.?? Yesterday, Macy Jade was playing with the dolls & she showed GiGi how she was caring for them. GiGi begin feeding (first pic below) the dolls & nurturing them! It was a moment I will never forget!
GiGi says YOU are the reason she will be going HOME soon! :0)
When looking at this sweet face, I'm reminded how she is worth every effort we've made over the year+ to bring her home! We'd do it a million times over for this angel! We cannot imagine our family without her! She has changed our lives in the last 2 weeks! Thank you for helping us give her a FOREVER home!!!! She is SO happy!!!!
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