Agape Love

Wednesday we stepped away from Shepherd's Field and went to visit Clay and Jewel (who I met last year when they were serving at SFCV) at Agape Family Life.  Agape is a smaller version of SFCV.  They are an orphan foster program which has 12 kids - all but one of whom have OI (brittle bone).   They have several homes which the kids live in with house parents.  They also have teachers for the kids.  The older children live "independently" above the "Bread of Life Bakery".  The bakery is a place where the older kids are able to learn a skill and a trade as well as generate income for themselves and the ministry.

We did some VBS activties with these great kids.

Showing off her "Creation" Banner

Rehab pool that they built in one of the houses

Candy & her cross

Bread of Life Bakery where the older kids work

The older girls work in the Bread of Life Bakery. 
Here they're pitting cherries.

Pizza from the Bakery

Me and My Olivia

VBS Catch UP

It is easy through the course of a day to have the best of intentions when it comes to posting updates, but then a new friend will wave me over and, well, their desire to hang with me trumps my desire to type on the computer.

Late late late Sunday night we were joined by a team from Indianapolis.  Throughout the week we have been collaborating with them on VBS in the morning and then spending our afternoons hanging out in the houses with the kids that don't go to school.

Here are some glimpses into VBS...

Fei & the kids

Lori coloring with Ling Ling & Grayson

Elizabeth singing

Joseph signing to "Jesus Loves Me"

\Because of the VBS outbreak, our numbers for VBS have been lower than planned and some of the faces fluctuate.  It is good to see some of the other kids come as the Aiyi's decide that they're healthy enough to come out of the houses.

In the afternoons we go to visit the kids who are home from school with the "chickie pox".    It is great to see their faces light up when we come in and begin to pull crafts out of our bag.  (Word seems to spread that the bag is kind of like that of Mary Poppins because later in the day other kids come up and start requesting specific activites to do.)

Robert - when he puts his glasses on he turns into Superman and can fly

Josiah

Bill

I'd like to request special prayers for baby Leah.  She is 3 months old and has been at Shepard's Field for 6 weeks and hasn't gained any weight.  They aren't sure what is wrong with her.  This precious little girl isn't doing very well and needs some devine intervention.

Baby Leah

Today on "Only in China"...

I am an inquisitive person.  When I don't understand something, I ask questions.  Usually when that happens, and I ask my friend David (from Beijing), his answer to me is, "it's China, you know", as if it is expected that there are going to be things that happen here that just don't make sense.



What is this you ask?  It is rice that has been spread out on the street so that it can dry.  Yep, the rice that these farmers will eat.  The streets get so hot that they spread the rice out on the street so that it can dry.  They then carry rocks into the street  so that cars driving by would hit the rock before they could drive through the rice.  Sometimes the four lane road becomes only one lane for driving.  At the end of the day, when they rake it back up, they often go ahead and leave the rocks in the street.  I don't know about you, but I'm not sure if would want to eat rice that had been dried on a Chinese road.

Stay tuned for our next edition of "Only in China."

Babies, BBQ, BICF & Baba

Oh how we love these precious kids!

Lori coloring with Maggie

Heidi & Baby Bo

Dinner Saturday was Chinese BBQ on the sidewalk at a small place around the corner from SFCV.  Light rain showers while eating, not a problem.  Just means that we get to enjoy a beautiful rainbow!

Father's Day church service in Beijing at the Beijing International Fellowship.  It was pretty cool.  People from all around the world worshipping together - the only caveat was that you had to show your passport on the way in to prove you weren't Chinese.  To satisfy some of the government regulations and allow this gathering, no Chinese nationals are allowed to be in attendance.

Following worship we went for a VERY warm stroll through the Forbidden City.  We only went to about 8 of the approximately 888 rooms.  Truly amazing when you realize the history that took place within those walls.'

So great to be able to spend the day with my Baba (Chinese for Dad)!

He was able to enjoy a special treat of cards from grandkids at home as well as a brief Skype session between Pop and Benjamin as well as Mom.

The team from Indianapolis arrives at midnight.  We're slated to begin VBS tomorrow at 9a.  Please pray as the final details come together.  Also for the kids with chicken pox.  I'm anticipating that our plans will be a bit flexible as about half of the kids who are supposed to participate have "the pox" and are confined to quarters.

We're Here!

After a "quick" and rather uneventful flight (other than me being stopped by the drug sniffing border patrol dog who sat down in front of me, blocking my way up the jetway when bording the flight to China - he smelled the money I was carrying around my waist), WE'RE HERE!

It was easy to find our friend Fei in the crowd of faces - in honor of Dad who is always telling her to add some more color to her life, here is what we saw:

We were also greeted by my friend, David, who came to the airport just to welcome us.  He and his daughter, Cici (who will be studying next year at DePauw), will be joining us at Shepherd's Field (SFCV) on Monday when we start VBS.



Just before we arrived, Blossom's family pulled through the gates.  What a miracle and a blessing that they have found each other - and just in time as Blossom turns 14 next week, and after that day comes, according to Chinese law, she would no longer have been able to be adopted. We were talking a bit with her Dad and he said it wasn't until this past November that adoption was even put on their heart.  God is good!

Things a quiet at SFCV today, which is a good thing as everyone is dragging a bit.  It is, however, an absolutely spectacular day!  Bright blue skies and the sun is shining.  As I type I'm sitting on the patio between the Inn and Outreach Center listening to the birds chirp (the kids (as well as some of the "big" kids that flew in are sleeping),

We had a quick tour of SFCV to acclimate the team to their new surroundings.  It didn't take Dad long to find his rhythm and glory with the kids.  No surprise that they love him!

Dad, Joy, and Francis

Dad and Francis

We'll have more time with the kids later today.  Several of the houses have been hit by chicken pox.  Please pray for the kids (and the adults who are unsure as to if they have had it or not) that they would heal quickly.

On Our Way!

Our bags our packed & checked...
We've made it through security...
And now all that remains is to board the plane!

Not the greatest picture, but what do you expect when getting ready to start a long travel day?

It is going to be a great adventure!  Please follow and pray for us!  Xie xie!

"These things I plan won't happen right away.  Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled.  If it seems slow, do not despair, for those things will sure come to pass.  Just be patient!  They will not be overdue a single day!"

Habakkuk 2:3

Joy of Anticipation

I. Can't. Wait!

I can now acceptably count in days (9) the number of days until I leave for China.

I know that I should be thinking about the piles of supplies that have taken over my living room floor and their need to be masterfully packed so as best leverage available space and not go over airline mandated weight limits...

I know that I should be working on checking off the things on continually-growing-and-already-too-long list of things that MUST be done before I go...

I know that I should be doing a lot of things...

But I'm not...

WHY?

Because I have incredible amounts of excitement and am overflowing with joy to see these beautiful kids (and many more)!!!

Stay tuned in here for updates from the road!

Grady

JJ, Brent, Jared, Melanie

Noel

Elizabeth

Josiah

Cody