Monday -

Today we slept in to almost 7:00! We ate, worshiped together and then we had our meeting with Tim Baker. We now have a plan, a place to set up our equipment and an idea of the schedule of the kids and permission to have free reign for going into the "houses" to take pictures of the kids. Tim's idea was to have this book be a day in the life of the children. We toured the many different buildings, housing for the kids and nannies, the kitchen, maintenance building and office. We also got to spend some time with the babies and toddlers, taking pictures and playing and holding them. They are precious! We are trying to learn their names, but it is overwhelming with so many kiddos.

Our group put on the Olympics for the staff and nannies and kids and it was a tremendous success. The kids had a ball and even the usually stoic nannies enjoyed throwing water balloons, racing and getting dressed up with tin foil and toilet paper. We got an enormous cake and prepared American style horsdouvers, then had a Chinese dinner catered. It was great to be a part of something to bless these women who care for these children who don't have a family.
After the festivities, they shot off A LOT of huge fireworks, gave out glow sticks and enjoyed blowing things up, in general. It began to rain, and the moskitos came out with a vengence, so some of us, headed back for cover. We pretty much went to bed after that, it was a full day and left us exhausted. The jet lag and exhaustion showed up today so we are dragging a bit. Tomorrow photography will be our purpose. Sorrry this is late getting posted, we were just too tired to finish.

Stuck

Sunday 7:30 – 11:42 We woke at 4:30 a.m. this morning, part of the initiation to China. One of our group members heard last night that her adoption consulate appointment had been confirmed and that instead of the anticipated two weeks away, had now been moved up and she would be flying out today to meet her daughter in two days. What a sweet moment to be able to witness, the joy of a mother hearing the day that she will meet her new daughter.
After showering and preparing for our day, we loaded onto our bus to head for BICF (Beijing International Christian Fellowship) for church. We soon found that due to preparation for the Olympics trumped any other purpose for using the roads. The main highway used to travel from Langfang to Beijing was basically closed down, leaving us stuck in gridlock, stopped (parked) traffic for an unknown amount of time. We have missed church by hours, have limited snacks and drinks, no access to a restroom, and are on a bus that when stopped and turned off, fills with the hot and humid air that surrounds us. In remaining optimistic, we looked for opportunities to see what God may have planned, in spite of our goals today. We are traveling with a Chinese woman, who now lives in Seattle, who has the gift of evangelism. She has known the Lord for about 9 years and literally shares with every person she comes into contact with. We have had the same driver the past two days and she was led by the Holy Spirit to share her testimony and invite him to be saved. She prayed with him and he accepted Jesus as his personal savior. Judy has left a trail of believers behind her, every step of this trip, including a woman who works for PHF who was not a believer. What a small sacrifice, in the grand scheme of life, for another soul in heaven.
As for BICF, I did not understand, how a church preaching to gospel could be in China, so as I asked our leader, Steve and a local missionary, they explained that China is all about “freedom.” The government does not want to appear oppressive, so due to the large amount of international students and business related visitors, they allow this church, available ONLY for foreigners. You must show a passport to gain entry.
Before leaving this morning, we were introduced to a few of the orphans who are currently living in the Inn at PHF. A new “House” where they will reside and be cared for is being built, so their temporary housing is where visitors to PHF stay. They ranged in age from 2 – 12. The older boys were extremely excited to meet us and be touched and loved on by us. One boy, Joseph, leaped into Brian’s arms and there remained for quite some time, with his arms and legs, tightly wrapped around his body. They were intrigued with my hat and enjoyed stealing it and trying it on. We wished we spoke the language as communication was not easy and left so many things we would have spoken, left unsaid. The boys had some type of disabilities, with their legs, one was blind in one eye, and a girl had repaired cleft lip/palate, but as beautifully put by Harry Amend, each child has their disabilities, some on the outside and some on the inside. They are all unique and have a need all their own. I have noticed that since they are not in a family, they have definite boundary issues. Our experience with orphanage children has been that, although their basic needs, may or may not have been met, there has been no teaching of right from wrong, not having to comply in a world that has rules and social boundaries.
We arrived in Beijing, around 1:00, with a lesson in patience, which we apparently needed. We were dropped off at The Temple of Heaven, an enormous park and buildings built by Emperors to pray and make offerings to god, for the harvest. It reminded us of The Forbidden City that we had visited 2 years previously. Everything has significance, the colors, the numbers of items, down to the last detail. We then headed to a market where we were able to do our shopping, bartering and being okay with walking away from something we wanted if the price was not right. Being the second time we have experienced China, we did not waste time looking at items, but got right to work naming our price and making our purchase. We then headed to an Acrobatic Show, which was an amazing show of strength, dedication and practice. We are now on our way back to PHF where we can recuperate and prepare for our first “Real” day of work. Tomorrow we will be at PHF all day and hopefully get some direction and specifics nailed down with our mission.
To the boys: The kids seem to get our attention because we miss you guys so much! Today we had fun buying some gifts to bring home to your and Grace. You will be happy with our finds, but we don’t want to ruin the surprise.
To Grace: Every Chinese girl I see reminds me of you and how I miss you. We also found some cute girlie things for our princess that we will bring home!
Love you all, and please be nice to my mommy!

We made it!

Date: Unknown

We are here, safe and exhausted! After a full 24 hour day of flying, we jogged into Beijing around 10:30 p.m. (China time). We arrived with all of our luggage, exchanged our money and were greeting by a driver for PHF, who drove us to our long awaited bed! We finally got to bed around 1:00 a.m., awoke at 5:45, showered, ate, and climbed onto the bus to head for The Great Wall. It was a 3 hour drive, to and fro, so much of our time was spent en route, yet again today. We had work to do, 2 Senior portraits on The Wall, then a short time to get a few shots for our book. We were accosted by vendors before heading out to Beijing for some walking the streets and a Szechuan Dinner. Sorry for the lack of details, but we are going to bed, to keep our bodies strong, although, we have boisterous thunder and hail sounding rain, pounding on the rooftop.
We have a busy day planned for tomorrow, we will be with the group to attend church, which will be awesome. I believe I have heard rumblings about it being a church for foreigners. It seems that it may have more liberties than the government regulated churches for the Chinese people? Doesn’t make much sense, but I’ll tell you what we find out. China is just as beautiful as it was two years ago and it feels good to be back!
For our kids: We miss you tremendously, we ate dinner with a family who has lived here for two years and have 2 boys. They brought their Nintendo to the table and reminded me of you! There are so many things we would love for you to see with us, but you’ll appreciate it when you’re a little older. Even mommy is getting crabby from lack of sleep! Love you, talk later, goodnight from China!

Leaving the kids behind

Good Morning, on the last time from The Red, White & Blue. Our flight leaves at 11:20 a.m., so we're up, but just relaxing before our short jaunt across the world. Yesterday proved to be extremely stressful. Fear became overwhelming. Things that have taken me nine years to perfect, having to be transfered to Gran in moments, just aren't done justice. Leaving the kids, specifically Grace who is with me constantly, is a weighing heavy on me. Regardless, China is our mission and we are on our way! Pray for peace and safety for us and the kids and "Gran" left at home!
We visited a friend, yesterday, in the hospital, who Brian met when he first got into the Mortgage business. He worked for years with Patrick, and then when Patrick opened his own company, Brian worked there for a time. He was diagnosed with strep that became septic and infected his chest, including his lungs. One lung fully collapsed and filled with liquid, the other partially collapsed. His prognosis was uncertain, but headed for surgery last night to help stablize his lungs. We have not heard anything yet, but please also keep Patrick and his family (2 sons in high school & a daughter in 2nd grade -wife, parents, siblings) in your prayers.

China Team Prayer List

Here is the list of names of each person on our team, to be lifting up in prayer. I will only put first names, to protect their identity: Ethan, Mel, Ashley, Rhiannon, Judy, Lori, Sarah, Sam, Melissa, Steve, Carrie, Grace, Scott, Cindy, Cory, Erin, David, Leona, Evan, Clay, Jewel, Emily, Charlene, Lori Anne, Steve, Kristie and Brian & I.

"So much to say...so little time!"

First, here is the blog where the group that we are traveling with are posting about their experience. http://phf-2008.blogspot.com/ They are currently over in China, we will be joining them in 4 DAYS!

These past weeks are a blur...the last weeks of school, field trips, school BBQ, gifts for teachers, baseball....planning for our trip, church, home, kids, life. The kids are now out of school for the summer and so begins a new season. Grace is not thrilled to have to share me with the boys, she is used to our quiet days. It will take some time for us all to accustom to being together 24/7. As to the details, well, I can't really remember. There's too much to share, So much to say, so little time! We'll post regularly while in China!

"Sadness with hope."

"Sadness with hope." That is how a close friend of The Chapman Family expressed how the family is doing. Isn't that a perfect description of how this world is? So many tragic things happen and only in Heaven will the sadness be removed!
Last night was our final meeting with our China Missions Team, until we meet in China. It is very encouraging to be together with people who have the same desire, to serve in China, despite our probable differences, but we all come together and are united by a passion that the Lord has placed in us. We will be leaving in 24 days! Please be praying with us that God will guide our time, pictures, hearts, minds, conversations, health and use us completely for what His will is for us. We have a lot of "work" to do for the photo book that we have roughly sketched out in our minds, but we want to be flexible to serve relationally as well as with our gifts and abilities. Pray that everything with packing and preparing my Mom and the kids for staying behind, will come together smoothly.