Making Progress

Sometimes it seems as if we take 3 steps forward and 2 steps back. We do pretty well when it is just the 4 of us. And then when we get together with our guide(s) Pei Fang pulls away from us and towards them. Of course, this is completely understandable because they speak her language. And each one of them has been so good with her.
This afternoon we felt as if we had a breakthrough of sorts. She got into one of her 2 big suitcases. We sat down on the floor with her and she began showing us everything she had. We let her look through it all and talk to us about it, even though we didn't know what she was saying most of the time. Then after we had finished one suitcase, she went through the other one. From that time on her attitude has been very different towards us. She has even begun to try saying some words in English. I can't tell you the relief it has brought to us. We know that it may not be the same when we wake up in the morning, or especially when Jill comes to take us sightseeing tomorrow. But that is ok. It gives us hope for what is to come.
It seems as if, if we give her the freedom to look through her pictures and keepsakes, it helps her to warm up to us.
She asked Jill today if I would let her come back to Taiwan when she was 18. I told her I certainly would. She held up her pinky finger and we locked pinkies and touchesdthumbs. Apparently that meant we had a deal. She talked to Jill about it a lot after that. And she has asked us several more times this afternoon and evening. At first, we didn't know what she was saying. But then she held up her pinky finger and I knew. It gives her a lot of comfort to know that we have that understanding.
We went to the Taipei Zoo today. It is a beautiful zoo and we had the opportunity to see giant pandas and koalas. It was pretty hot and humid so we only stayed a couple of hours. We met another family who was adopting 2 little boys. It seemed to encourage Pei Fang to know that those boys were going to America, too.
She also said today that she didn't mind if we called her Nikki. I think that will be almost as big of an adjustment for us as it will for her. We have been calling her Pei Fang for a year now!
Overall, it has been a good day. We had our AIT appointment and that went very well and we received her VISA this afternoon. So, we are free to leave anytime! If only we could.
I can't begin to express how grateful we are for all the prayers, comments, e-mails and facebook messages. All of those things, especially your prayers, have made all the difference in the world!
Goodnight from Taiwan.