Ni Hao Chenzhou

Al

On the Bus‏

Its 11:30 am, and we have already had a busy day so far.

We have checked out of our hotel, checked in for a flight at Hong quao airport, gone through security, where they took extra looks through the “weird American peoples’” bags, got on a plane in shanghai, flew to Changsha, gotten on a bus, stopped for lunch, gotten in about 75 different wrecks thanks to our CRAZY driver, and now are back on the bus to Chenzhou.

About that crazy driver…

He seems to use his horn instead of the brake pedal.

Stoplights and lane rules mean nothing.

The poor clutch has probably been worn to death.

And we’re only maybe 1 hour in. out of 5.

Disclaimer, Don't worry they survived!

Love Hard

Love Hard.

That's our motto for the week.

Love the kids and the nannies hard. 

For the children who probably have spent their lives between 2 rooms, its important.

To show them that life is beautiful, fun, and wonderful.

Our prayer for the week is that we will be able to show them what it means to be loved by God.

His heart is for the widow and and orphan.

 and we want to show them that although in their country they may be the lowest of the low, but they matter. 

both to us and to Gad.

I feel like a child on Christmas eve.

We get to see the babies tomorrow!

I've missed them an unbelievable amount.

And we get to see them TOMORROW.

The heart of our mission starts in less than 24 hours.

And I can't wait.

Pray for us as we travel VERY early tomorrow morning. Our flight is at 7:40am so we leave the hotel at 5:15. 

Its about a 1 hour flight and then we ride the bus from Changsha to Chenzhou for almost 5 hours.

But I get to see my babies. So its all 100% worth it.

“Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God.” —Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision

The Bund and the Shopping!‏

We went to the Bund today. What is the significance of it? I have no idea. None. We got to look across the waterway at the Pearl Tower and take a few pictures.

And then we became famous rockstars. Let me explain...White people are rare in China. So rare that they ask to take pictures with you or of you. Like they did for us today. I lost track of how many we took. We attracted a crowd. 

 Then it was time to SHOP.

before you get cranky about us shopping, that is NOT what this day was intended to be. we prayed SO hard over being able to go to Jinhua orphanage but they would not allow us in. So we had a plan b. It was fun to bond with everyone and bargain together though.

-- Shopping is stressful there. You bargain, which is fun, but its also crazy. They start at crazy high prices, but I brought them down. I got told by several that I am a hard bargainer. I love how walking down the aisles they yell "hey lady! you need purses/shoes/watches/etc?!" sometimes if you walk away, they chase you down the aisle to get your price.

My favorite purchase today was towards the end at a booth that they write your name in character on a scroll to hang in your home. So I got that for our house with our last name. I'm excited to hang it, or rather to have Chad hang it.

Sunflowers

Karla and Molly gave an awesome devo this morning. 

Sunflowers now have a new meaning to me.

let me back track.

We started out with the song, One Less by Matthew West.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24GCR_dIZPI

I suggest everyone listens to it. but be prepared to cry.

We all did.

Anyways, Karla read the attributes of a sunflower, and how it relates to us all being Son-flowers.

When you read, replace "sun" with "Son"

Not all sunflowers produce seeds: Matthew 13:23. This is the story of the sower and the seed

Sunflower in flower language=Adultation: Psalm 106:1

Sunflowers were once used as life vests: John 3;16

Sunflowers require full sun exposure: John 8;12

Sunflowers require much water: John 4;13,14

Sunflowers follow the sun, as well as drop seeds as they grow.

Isn't that cool? I love that!

PS listen to the song!

Breakfast in Shanghai‏

Yes, thats sushi. Be jealous, Darren!

July 8, pm blog‏

I am attempting to write although I can barely keep my eyes open.

Between jet lag and a near-constant headache (from smog I think?) I am quite worn out.

Its sensory overload here, almost all the time.

There’s people everywhere, noise everywhere, smells everywhere.

The things that make China, China right?

We are having our first team Devo in the morning before going to the Bund and then shopping.

I’m not even sure what the Bund is yet, but that’s okay.

I'm feeling very laid back this year.

But at the same time VERY anxious to get back to my babies.

I miss them more the closer we get to seeing them!

Apparently I am not a good detail giver, because on skype Chad was telling me things that I didn’t even think to mention, because he read them on other team members’ blogs.

Oops. Sorry. I’ll try harder J

Tomorrow when I go shopping, my goal is to get something jade.

Probably earrings. A few team members got them today, and I think I need some.

After all, I came back last year without anything jade and that’s just wrong!

China loves Angry Birds right now, just like the US.

It reminds me of Landon every time I see anything with them on it.

Which I do a lot. Even in the hotel dining room they have the posters on the wall; we thought that was funny!

I liked dinner tonight, there was a good variety of food.

There was the normal fried rice, chicken, beef, and vegetable.

And then there was also goose meat.

Goose.

No, I couldn’t bring myself to try it.

As much as we bash the geese that plague SIUE I just couldn’t do it!

But I did try most everything else.

Except the steamed cabbage. Tried it last year, not a fan of the texture.

Im finding out that I am a BIG texture eater when it comes to food, by the way.

Yes, that’s random, and no I don’t care.

I need rest.

Which fortunately I am getting, as these beds aren’t the normal Chinese concrete slab beds.

Theyre working us up to those slowly.

I did okay with them last year, except when Id wake in the middle of the night to my arm falling asleep because I laid on it and it got smushed between me and the no give of the bed..

Anyways, I should sleep. Even though its only 8:22pm here.

This lady is tired.

So that’s all for tonight.

Better with the details?

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Goodnight!

PS: yes, mom I am eating plenty. I know you were wondering.

PS again: Lindsay, in China its perfectly normal for a child to have a pet bug that they keep in a cage and carry around with them. You’re lucky I’m way to creeped out by them to bring landon one ;-)