Divine Appointments

It is Wednesday, back in The States. We are settling into US time and our routine. The kids did magnificent and have accustom to us being home, quite easily. From one of our adoption forums, I got the idea to say a statement repeatedly with Grace, and it is, "Mommy always comes back." We say this quite often and she repeats it with certainty. We returned home on Saturday and went to church on Sunday. Unsure if she would be willing to part with me, I asked her if she wanted to go to class. She turned back to me and said, "Mommy always comes back!" And off she went to her class! I knew that God would not send us back to China, provide for all our provisions and then allow bonding to fall apart, but it is sure great to see it for myself when all is said and done!
Our last day in China, Friday, was filled with family portraits for the Bakers and the Moody's. Although we did not think that the weather could have gotten any more unbearable, IT DID! Although the sun did not show itself, the wetness surrounded us. It was incredibly muggy. We did family photos, which really felt like giving a gift. It was neat to be able to do something that would bless these families. After our shoots, Brian and I wanted one last attempt in Langfang. We went to the mall that attached to Wal-mart and Brian was able to pick up a few XL, or "chao da" shirts. We also had the two Bibles that we had brought with us, intended to leave, that we needed to give away, or leave. After trying to eat Chinese pot stickers in the "food court" to no avail (we were entirely confused on the procedure) we went to KFC and made sure that the item that I ordered was not the kids meal this time! We plotted and planned on leaving one of the Bibles under our tray. We quickly left, scurried down the isle, careful not to sprint, but in a zigzagging pattern, so as not to be associated (for security purposes) with the Bible. We made it to the nearest escalator, feeling successful in our mission...until...a young woman ran up to us telling us we forgotten our book! I responded to Brian, "How did they find us?" He looked at me with genuine suspect, "Gee, I wonder!" Oh yeah, I guess we are the only 6'0 Westerners in the entire mall!
Back from our outing, we cleaned up for dinner with a few of the interns who were excitedly planning a fine dining experience at a Brazilian restaurant in an International region in Beijing. We said our final goodbyes to the kids, I mostly avoided them, as I'm not good with goodbyes! We made great time into Beijing, found the restaurant very Western looking and a fine dinning experience. There was bread and butter on the tables...something I had longed for! Water with lemon, knives on the table, it was breathtaking! We were giddy with excitement for non-Chinese food. When dinner came to an end, heavy rains hit and after a long waiting-it-out period, we knew we must move-out. Running for our car and driver, we laughed hysterically as we lumbered across streets filled with water and filed into our van. We head to our Hotel, that had been booked for us, nearby to the airport. Upon arriving at the hotel, at around 11:30 p.m.,waiting behind pushy, loud and aggressive Chinese business men, for our chance to check-in, we were beyond tired and a bit agitated. Rule 1 in China: If you do not take for yourself, you will go hungry, never make it to the head of the line, miss the buss, never be noticed....etc....Coming from The States & a culture that it is common for doors to be held, lines give a fairness to whose turn it is next, and kindness is something to be desired, it was a shock to our sensibilities. We got a room, not the room we had reserved, because there were none available, so we must pay more to get any room. (How convenient for them) Brian opted for sleeping in the airport, I told him, he'd never live long enough to know how wrong that decision would have been, so we agreed, the overpriced hotel it was! The room was the size of a cruise ship room, it has two single beds a shower that overflowed into the bathroom floor, a small flood was moving into the drain as another was taking care of more private business. We woke at 5:00 to catch the shuttle into the airport. Because we had so much luggage, did not speak the language, and did not plan ahead by asking where we needed to get off, we were at the plight of a very impatient and pretty-much uncaring driver. The first stop, most riders got off, and just as our driver began to get back on board, we worried that this was our stop to disembark and asked if we should get off. Most Chinese grabbed on our sleeves, told us No, but as the driver was already agitated with our uncertainty and "stupidity" he yells to everyone, that this is indeed the place where we MUST get off and starts ripping our luggage off the bus. OK, fairly certain this was just to ditch us and our apparent annoyance to this driver, we reluctantly disembarked! We have no idea where we need to go now and not even sure where to find out where to find out? After a buss ride to the proper terminal, 2 terminals away, we were headed in a positive direction. Our flight, from Beijing to Tokyo, Tokyo to Seattle and Seattle to Spokane, were smooth sailing, and uneventful! We believe that we had a devine appointment with a man and woman, who were born in South Africa, but currently residing in Australia, however travelling to the States for a holiday. A few introductions, conversation quickly led to where we were coming from and why we were in China. We shared our heart for China Orphans and a smile cracked between the four of us, leaving it obvious to all of us that we has a bond. We were all believers, as we next discussed and they shared that they have all they need with one pair of shoes and humble living. (I am assuming they are well off, financially) Bill works as a commercial developer who has donated land and means, specifically for the need and use of orphans! We spoke for a short time, they hurried off to make a flight, but he gave us a card. Everything inside my being believes that we were meant to meet this couple, share this burden of orphans with them, and that there will be a future relationship or meeting!
From the beginning of this mission, Steve, our leader, kept saying, do not overlook any opportunity for a devine appointment. It was not accident that that meeting happened and as our eyes met and we said goodbyes, a connection and understanding was felt. That moment was a significant moment in time, to which we will know why at a later date, I am certain!
Coming down the escalator into the Spokane airport, we see our excited kids standing down below and embraces happen and the time apart seemed minimal as we headed back into our lives! So many people sacrificed for this project to make it happen, My Mom who took two weeks off of her full-time job to parent our kids, our kids who gave up 9 days with their Mom and Dad. Dominic, who covered for Brian at Golf Savings, A.C. who drove us to the airport, and the many who have supported us financially and prayerfully. This project is little pieces of so many lovers of The Lord.