Thursday in China

Today was a good day.  We are getting comfortable in this city and compared to yesterday it was a dream. We walked this morning, went to the park and then went swimming this afternoon. 

Yesterday we went to visit Henry’s founding place and to apply for his passport.  The city was an hour and 40 minute drive, we left a little late, got completely lost trying to find the passport office...Henry was very squirrly in the car, so by we were done with that and with the Public Notary, we decided not to visit the orphanage.  We were all exhausted and Henry was done.  The orphanage that he was originally at closed and turned into a children’s hospital, so we were going to visit a different one in the area anyway but I was still a little disappointed.  Anyway, we got home, ate dinner and went to bed. 

I did realize that Henry must be a little confused with the language difference because he talks to the guide a lot and often asks her what we are saying.  

We seem to be doing fine though, as long as we understand, “hungry” and “swinning” we make it though the day, but he does say much more than that and seems to understand almost everything.

I can’t believe what a trooper he is.  We have been walking a lot, and he doesn’t complain at all.  His biggest flaw is that he gets so excited sometimes and talks incessantly to everyone around him or simply to himself...but he is ALWAYS happy.  Today while we were walking he was singing, “Crazy the Lord, Hallelujah! Crazy, the Lord, Hallelujah!  Crazy the Lord, Hallelujah, Crazy the Lord”.  You might recognize the song as saying “Praise ye the Lord”, and we are gonna have to tell him eventually but it was really cute.  Tonight Charles and I walked to Pizza Hut to get pizza, it was really good...after we started eating Henry said, “STOP!  We forgot to pray!  Thank you Jesus for the pizza, and for my family, and for swinning.  Amen!”  I’m pretty sure this kid is practically perfect in every way:)

So we are taking turns, trading off as each wears out.  I know that once we get home the energy will subside some, he is so overstimulated and I’m sure a little unsure still, but we are laughing constantly and really thrilled to be here.

Please pray for us that we don’t get sick, we have all been doing really great..but Viv’s joints started hurting today.  She is going to start swimming in the afternoons, hopefully that will help but please pray for her.  Also that when we return to Shepherd’s Field on Saturday that Henry does ok.  He is really looking forward to seeing his friends again and we are excited to see Jamie.  Three weeks is a long time to stay anywhere though so please pray that we are patient and that we see opportunities that we might be used for the Lord.

This is the wonderful park next to our hotel where we spend a lot of time:)

Tai Chi

Henry's founding place

Henry getting his passport photo taken

More Park Photos

We are so excited to come home and introduce this guy to all of you.  We are very blessed.   Will update more soon.

Love love,

the hills:)

Tuesday in China

We have been in China for 5 days and today was the first day I didn't feel like I would fall asleep in my noodles.  Vivienne and I got here on Friday morning and Charles arrived Sunday morning, then we met Henry around 1:00 pm on Sunday.  He is a complete joy...he seemed comfortable from the first moment and hasn't stopped talking since.  We have to stay on our toes because he has so much energy but we are all so happy that he does.  There is a beautiful park next door to the hotel where we can go walk and play soccer and a huge pool where he loves to go in the afternoons after his nap.
He is very good natured and when he gets too hyper or does something he shouldn't he responds quickly with redirection or a stern word.  We are hoping this lasts:)

We all LOVE the city where we are staying...Zheng Zhou.  Like I said there is a beautiful park just next to the hotel where the older people go to "play" Tai Chi and dance.  The men play cards and smoke and there are a ton of people with kids walking around.  Vivienne and I had a young boy follow us for a long time and after getting his courage up he ran up to us and said "So happy to meet you" and then "What nationality are you?"  So cute.

The food is really good too.  The hotel has a free buffet for breakfast.  There is everything from waffles to chow mein....omelets and fruit to pastries and toast.  Next door is a restaurant where we have figured out how to order our favorites...green beans, eggplant, beef and rice...and of course noodles.  Henry LOVES noodles.  Tonight Vivienne and I walked about 15 minutes in the rain to get McDonalds which was an experience.  The cars have the right of way, then the scooters which ride on the sidewalk then the pedestrians.  So you have to pay attention...we very nearly got hit by a bus on the way.  McDonalds taste the same in China as it does in US, not very good, but Henry thought he was in heaven.

I am pretty sure that Henry loves being with us but I am also sure that he already misses his friends at Shepherd's Field.  We are going back there for a week on Saturday and I can see why the Lord worked it out that way.  He talks a lot about his friend Joseph and Bei Bei.  I am really glad that he will get to see them one more time.

Ok so thats all I have for now.  I will try to be more creative tomorrow...we are having a blast!  We skyped with Ben today and can't wait to get home so he can meet his brother in person.

This is the photo that was taken at the Civil Affairs office where we got our official guardianship certificate.

The Night Before China

Its the night before we leave.  I have everything I can think of packed, and every piece of paper I think I might need printed.  I can't believe it is happening....FINALLY!  It seems like a lifetime, but I can see now why the Lord had us wait.  We are ready.  Mentally, spiritually, physically ready.  It makes me think about my very first post....the well watered garden...in Isaiah 58

 

"Is this not the fast which I choose, To loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke?

"Is it not to divide your bread with the hungry And bring the homeless poor into the house; When you see the naked, to cover him; And not to hide yourself from your own flesh?  

"Then your light will break out like the dawn, And your recovery will speedily spring forth; And your righteousness will go before you; The glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am.' If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, 

And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday.

"And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.

He has gone before us...He has been in every detail.  There is no way I can look back at this past year and doubt His plan.  He has worked in our lives, tearing down walls and building us up.  So all we can do is look forward, with such crazy excitement, knowing that He has been there.  That He has prepared a path that we could only walk down if we were following Him.  

And then, as if that wasn't enough, His glory will be our rear guard!  In the months and years to come, as that little guy grows, God will be glorified...and us?  Charles and I?  We get to be like a well watered garden and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail:)  What more could a girl ask for?

We covet your prayers, they have made a world of difference already....Tonight there is no stress, no nerves...just complete excitement and a feeling of being blessed beyond belief.  So thank you...

We will never be the same.

We are going to China!!

We got our Travel Approval on Friday!  What a relief to finally have that piece of paper.  So that meant that Sara and Jamie could tell Henry he had a family, and then we got to Skype with him...I'll let the photos tell the story...

Henry's Buddies at House of Love

 

This is from our side of the screen...Notice us in the corner:)

What a wonderful experience...We can not wait to get that boy home!

And the WINNER is....

OK, so before I announce the winner, I want to say thank you to all of you who donated/entered...I know that winning an iPad for $10 is a good deal but I also know that most of you wanted to bless us by helping and that so many of you have been praying which is so important!  We appreciate you so much...and if I could buy 52 prizes so everyone could win, I totally would.  Charles won't let me:/  We prayed for each of you as we got ready to choose a winner this morning....

Thank you Thank you Thank You Thank You

So Here is the part you have been waiting for........

iPad Winner:               Brian and Lupe Lee

2nd Prize:                              James and Rebecca Caggegi
3rd Prize:                               Dani Bacon
4th Prize:                               Nancy Tumbas
5th Prize:                               Lori Sterling
6th Prize:                               Miray Jaska
7th Prize:                               Meg Schneider 

Congratulations to all of you....I will be contacting you in order, so that you can choose from the available prizes.

Here are the stats for those of you who are stat nerds...like me.

51           People Played

300         Total Votes (including shares)

$2,420    Total Raised 

44 people donated $50 or less
7 people donated over $50

5 of our 7 winners donated $100 or more

Again..Thank you...This has been really SO fun and has helped us get ever so close to our goal....China...here we come!

We are set to leave on September 13th and covet your prayers that our Travel Approval will come this week so that can work out for us....But we know that if it doesn't that ALL things work together for good for those that love the Lord and are called according to His purposes....and we will leave the first part of October.  Either way, God is Good, All the Time.

Blessings!!