and the story continues...

Mali was adopted from Thailand to Minnesota when she was 5 years old.  She did not come back for a visit for many years, but in just this past year her parents have made two trips and she is learning more about her life here as a baby and toddler.

This is Mali on her visit last year, when she got to meet for the first time the lady who had cared for her.

Last week we went back with Mali's parents to talk more with the woman who took care of her and learned allot more about her background.  It's pretty neat because Apple's care taker's name is Mala and without even knowing that, Pete and Dianne named her Mali when she got to the USA. This lady rescued her several times from a real bad scenario. 

Here we are sitting in their factory office hearing more stories from her childhood. The factory happened to be just down the road from our home.  Mike translated for both of them.  As they  told us more new details, we were all in tears several times realizing what they had done for Mali.  She was actually an "at risk" child, and they were afraid that she may have been sold.  Pete repeatedly thanked them and told them that they were heroes and so special  to their family.

Mali was basically dropped off at the broom factory where the owners and workers all took care of her.  They told us she was very loved and cared for by  the workers because she was so cute and lovable. 

The broom factory was actually really big but also very primitive..  Most of the workers were from migrant hill tribes, sitting on the floor and living a very simple life.

We walked around to watch them work and met some of the people who still remembered Apple.

I had never been to a broom factory so found the whole process quite fascinating.

Over and over we learned that God had His hand on Mali and protected her and I too feel so thankful for women like Mala who had a heart to protect the innocent.  We look forward to keeping in touch with them, and going even a step further to learn more the next time Mali visits after her high school graduation. Mali is one very  very special lady that God has spared and we realized again that her life could have been so different. I love watching the story unfold and watching her grow into a woman that will have an impact on others.