A Few Hours and Counting

It is now nearly noon in Guangzhou, China (or anywhere else in China).  We expect by mid-afternoon to see our Abby for the first time.  She is either here in Guangzhou or will be arriving shortly.  We are so incredibly excited!

This morning at breakfast, we set outside by a beautiful man-made waterfall in the warm, humid air-joyfully discussing Ephesians 1:3-11.  We may not understand what God is up to, the challenges of living in a fallen world or many questions of why.  However,  we do know that God is in control, predestined us for adoption and is working all things for His glory.  What a beautiful way to start March 1-the day Abby comes home!

Beijing Day 2

On the way to the Great Wall, we had the chance to drive past the "Birds Nest" and the "Bubble" from the Beijing Olympics.  It was unbelievable to see in person some of the buildings that mesmerized us so recently.  All the ladies in the mini-bus recounted, in amazing detail, about Michael Phelps (not once was "gold medal" mentioned or the amount of medals!). 

The section of the Great Wall that was  chosen for us did not have gondola rides, escalators or elevators.  It was conquered by human power.  It was breathtaking and breathtakingly cold!  Jennifer and I made it up to the second tower after many rests.  Even my mother was a trooper-she made it to the first tower.  It is hard to describe how steep the steps are or how mountainous the area is. 

We then headed to an old part of town where we were taken by a rickshaw into old Beijing.  We were not expecting much beyond a pre-packaged "how wonderful everything is" tour.  We were wrong.  We all had a chance to visit with a retired artist who was proud of his work and family.  It was a really nice chance to visit with an older gentleman about Beijing.  It felt odd however sitting in his home without sharing Christ.  Thankfully God gives us prayer so the three of us all prayed silently for the man that he would know The Artist!

We also had a chance to visit a jade factory and visit a "unique" acrobatic show.  We are exhausted but having fun.

Tomorrow we leave for Guangzhou.

Here's a few prayer requests we would appreciate you lifting up...

1) Safe travel to Guangzhou
2) Our hearts and minds would be prepared for meeting Abby on Monday!
3) A lady in our group named Elizabeth is feeling very ill (she ingested some water).  She is not adopting a daughter but is here with her sister who is.

Olympic Venues

The Great Wall

Beijing Day 1

We spent the day touring Beijing with two other Gladney couples.  One couple is from Cincinnati and the other is from far south Louisiana.  Sweet people with similar stories.  We are becoming tight quickly. 

We went to Tian An Men Square , the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven and ended the day with a Kung Fu show.  It was busy but helpful to fight jet lag.  

I think Jennifer and I enjoyed the Forbidden City the most.  It just goes on and on and on.  Each gate crossed seems to open a whole new vista of buildings.  The place is even surrounded by a moat.  The moat was frozen but it is a real moat.  The Temple of Heaven was beautiful.  Sad due to the misdirection but still interesting.  It is round and built without one nail.  Wow.  Tian An Men Square was interesting because of the historical settings.  Who could forget the man stopping the tank?  When there, you have a chance to see the crystal coffin of Chairman Mao.  An elderly lady was openly weeping in line.  

Beijing is an interesting city that is teeming with over 17 million residents and growing all the time.  Not as crowded as I expected, very clean (not the air) and the traffic isn't too bad. 

Today, we go see the Great Wall amongst the snowflakes and rain.  We are all wearing long johns and still expecting to freeze.  My Texan blood just doesn't run that thick.  Plus we get to drive by several of the Olympic venues and see an acrobatic show.  Should be another fun day.  Best of all, it means we are one day closer to Abby!

Hello Beijing!

We and our luggage arrived yesterday afternoon in Beijing!  God was gracious to us.

Our ride to the airport happened after the sun had set but we could easily much neon and a bustling city.  One thing that struck us was the lack of churches.  As you drive anywhere in the US, you see numerous steeples everywhere.  Here-none at all.  We are not in Beijing even 24 hours and this has already begun to burden the three of us.  Yet we know that God is at work here in amazing ways.  We need to continue to pray for China.

Today we visit several of the major cultural sites that Beijing has to offer-including the Temple of Heaven, the Forbidden City, etc.  Tomorrow we go to see the Great Wall and will pass by many of the Olympic venues from 2008.

Jennifer and I discussed several times about how our life is about to be excitingly different.  As we left DFW we commented that we leave as two but will return as three.  As we flew over Gnome, Alaska late yesterday, it was fun to comment that the next time we see the US (even from the plane) our family will be different.

We are excited to see Beijing but ready to get Guangzhou.  

Aaron

The Journey Has Begun!

"Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting!  And let all the people say, 'Amen!'  Praise the Lord!"  Ps 106:48

Abby's Room-ready to go

Psalms 105

One week from today we have Abby!  Jennifer and I stand amazed at what God is doing in our lives.

Thankfully I was raised in a home where the Bible was lived out and taught.  Sometimes though the amazing stories in Genesis become more like fairy tales.  It is wonderful when one of the stories come to life even though I am now 40 and rapidly graying.

Recently I read Psalms 105 in my devotional time.  The Psalmist talks about how even though Joseph was sold into slavery-God had a plan.  Years later, that same Joseph was 2nd in command in Egypt, was given the wisdom to collect grain during the good times, was able to provide food for his family during the promised famine and then provide a place for them to live and flourish.  During all of this God was faithful.  I knew the story but don't don't think I had ever put together the pieces like this.

What I learned is that God was faithful, is faithful and will be faithful!  Joseph may not have seen it while in the bottom of the dry well or sitting in jail after being falsely accused.  Yet God was faithful.

Jennifer and I do not understand what could lead to Abby being placed on the steps of an orphanage or why we were not able to have children.  And yes, we are scared out of our minds and so excited that we are barely sleeping.  Yet we know that God is moving and bringing us together.  We know that God is in control and can't wait for the next few days to go by so we can get our daughter.

Please keep us in your prayers.  Even more important-please pray for Abby.  She is about to go through some crazy transitions.