Saturday, December 2, 2006

Hey! No jumping ahead!! If you have not read the 12-1 update, go back and do so before proceeding to this one!!

So glad to be in Guangzhou! It is sunny and warm – maybe 65 degrees. Like Nanjing and unlike Beijing, there are many trees and grassy areas. Quite a nice area – you can tell we are in the south. We had the children’s visa photos taken this morning and then went just up the street to have their medical exams to show that they are healthy enough to enter the US. We Passed! It wasn’t until 30 minutes later that she developed a small rash on her face & belly. No big deal. We spent much of the rest of the day, other than nap time, walking around this part of town. The people are so friendly, and of course each shop has folks to beckon you to come and see their “special” items or prices. We feel very comfortable walking about and shopping freely. Of course Kristen catches may smiles and comments of her inherent beauty.

Check out the photo of this “made in China” vehicle… GOOD NEWS ANDREW; WE FOUND YOUR FIRST CAR! If you thought dodge made a “mini-van”, you were sadly mistaken. Since Andrew has been VERY concerned for some time about what car he would be driving when he turns sixteen (in four years and eight months – shouldn’t we all plan so far ahead) we thought that this would be perfect. We are going to put it in a box and send it on the proverbial “slow boat from China” and it should be in Crawfordsville sometime during the summer after his sophomore year.

We have found many shops that were recommended to us: Jennifer’s, Jordon’s, A Gift from China and of course Danny’s Bagels. We have “borrowed” a stroller from Jennifer’s and just finished our pizza and sandwich from Danny’s. Life is Good! It has been fun to be back with all 10 families and most of us are rooming on the same floor.

If you wonder about all the kids in the next to last picture (locate it now)…

This experience has been so positive that we decide to just go ahead and bring some more kids home with us.
Just kidding…We were approached by some of these “English students” from Hong Kong and were just here for the day and were promoting the “A Gift from China” store where all of the proceeds go towards area orphanages. When we went to the store later, the all wanted to take a picture with us and so they took one with our camera too.

It has been really good to talk to home every day and to know that so many are watching after Andrew and Davis while we are gone. The pictures from our Church family were also great! It will be so good to have our family on one continent again. They have a city tour planned for us tomorrow (Sunday morning) in included going to a Buddhist temple and receiving a “blessing of the children”. We are passing on the Buddhist blessing and all of it so we can go down the street to the Christian church. We met a Christian woman today who told us about it. We had planned on finding a service to attend, but God brought this woman to tell us. Funny how that worked out….hmmm.

Have a great weekend and we hope to be on schedule with our updates in the future.

Blessings to all!

Knowing how prayer works,

Monte, Suzanne & Kristen