1st day in China

Well we didn't get to our hotel until around 1:00 am China time!  Two of our bags were lost and Sherri Johnson lost 1 bag!  We think Ivey left her camera with the video diary on the plane :'( I could not make myself understood whenever I asked about the camera.  We learned that when an Asian says YES...it means I heard your voice!  It does not mean they understand, it does not mean they are working on it.  It means...shut up & move on crazy woman!

Our lost bags held our shampoo, all hair care products, gifts for the orphanage director, and gifts for the orphans from Ivey's village!!  I took a shower and got cleaned up the best I could under the circumstances (I used the lotion as conditioner)...there will be NO pictures of me until I am in possession of my luggage!!

We ate breakfast at the hotel.  Weird combinations of food offered for breakfast...corn juice, make your own soup, fried noodles, warm milk for cereal, congee, make your own eggs...yes again poor Ivey was looked upon as the special needs Chinese girl who couldn't understand a word they said!

We went out this morning to try to exchange our money to Chinese currency and to also buy a SIM
card so we could make local calls since we would be leaving our group to head to Longyan & meet Ivey's foster mother.  Can I just say WOW!?  You have no idea, none at all how isolated you are and rely on others.  We finally found a bank to get some money & a nice gentleman walked us blocks & blocks to find a cell phone store!

The people at the cell phone store were wonderful & it took forever but we are now proud owners of a Chinese cell phone that we cannot read to work :) We are relying on everyone for even the most simple of tasks.

We are awaiting our luggage, Peter from the orphanage, and FOOD!  You wouldn't believe how hungry you are...and thirsty.  Missing cold water already :)

January 26, 2014

San Francisco - Beijing China

We got to the airport in San Francisco with less than an hour to get to our next gate.  We were starving.  No food on the plane and we last ate at 6:00 am Virginia time (was then 3:00 pm Virginia time).  We had to take a shuttle, run run run to make it to our gate as they were boarding the plane.  There were so many people I sent the kids to get us some food.

I have fallen in love!  There was the CUTEST baby ever sitting one seat up in the row beside us.  His whole body lights up when he smiles and then he gets shy.  I think Ivey has fallen in love as well! My best friend better beware I have eyes for another ;)

Arrive in Beijing

Ivey & Timothy are a little freaked.  Ivey is NOT the minority...Timothy & I are!  We get stared at & people smile sweetly. Everyone talked to Ivey in Chinese.  Poor thing doesn't understand a word of it.  I bet they are going "retard Chinese Girl don't understand nothing"!  The kids asked if I was "freaked" and I said NO.  I am very much at home.

To get to China from San Francisco the plane heads north up the coast to Alaska then over Russia & down into Beijing!  I am so glad my best friend hooked me up with "Long Way Around" about a motorcycle journey from England east and ending up in New York.  Because now I was seeing the places from the show under our plane.  I looked out the window and saw all white.  I asked is that clouds?  No I was told, that is Siberia, Russia!  Oh if only my best friend could experience this with me :)

January 26, 2014

Charlotte - San Francisco

Looking out the window on the plane heading to San Francisco.  The sky is red with mountains in the distance with patches of snow.  The earth is cut in gorges where a river runs.  It is winter...no sign of green, only red, brown & white.

The mountains are chiseled & cold where our mountains in Virginia seem so soft and gentle. I look for houses along the river bank but see none.  But at this height could I?

I am in awe at Gods creation...the quilt of a landscape.  I want to capture it.  I want to create a real quilt out of what I see, but I know I could never do it justice.

Time is quickly approaching!

It is so hard to believe that in 23 days we will be boarding the airplane for the adventure of our lives!  The kids have their immunizations...health department is scared to give me shots due to my allergies.  So I might have to go on a wing and a prayer for no exposure!

As soon as I get all the suitcases I have been promised I will lay them out and start packing the things that can be packed this early!  I am gathering documents to take, taking care of paperwork, etc... I really hope to send off for our VISA's on Monday!

She was such an "interesting" baby...and has grown up to be even more "interesting"!  I guess God had a plan to make her fit right into our craziness.  And she has a brother that is equally as interesting.  They have always been friends as well as siblings...but they are also BEST FRIENDS!  And together they return to her homeland, and together they will work with others who were not lucky enough to be adopted.  How will we all be changed from this experience?  I can't wait to find out!

Keep us in your prayers and thoughts!

Less than TWO Months to Go!

Wow it is so hard to believe we have less than 2 months before we leave!  I have to stop myself from packing already.  It seems there is hardly a day goes by that this trip is not on my mind.  The big concern is funds!  We have worked so hard, set goals, and they are met by only 1/2 of what we were expecting.  That being said, we are almost $2,000 short of our goal. 

Praying for and expecting a miracle...

BINGO Blessings!

So many people helped make the Bingo fundraiser successful.  I don't know what I would have done without each & everyone of you.  Katie Dinger is the Bingo Queen with Darlene Rouse right behind her.  Rocky & Jennifer Bilbrey, Sallie Bess & Karen Dennis selling raffle tickets and Bingo cards.  The concessions ran smoothly thanks to David Suthers, Denise Cassell, Lynette & Jake Dawson. Thank you Sue Talbott for making my cake for me!  Timothy Burke, Zack Albert, William Cassell made sure we sold food by taking the food to the tables!  Ivey Burke, Pollyann South, Tia Coulson, Alania Cassell worked the front looking gorgeous as ever.  And lastly, but not leastly....JIM WORKMAN our Bingo caller.  Jim you will never know how much I appreciate you being there.

If I missed saying your name I am so sorry, but I am still so sore & weary this am!

Now for what you really want to hear...Our remaining balance is....$2,977.85!

I am out of ideas to raise this much, but if you can think of anything...please leave comments on this post.

Thank you & much love to you all...especially the bingo players!  I heard a lot of laughter & saw alot of people having fun!

Blessings & Update on Monies Raised!

God has blessed us with some wonderful people to lead our family along this path of fund raising!  There are so many to name and I don't want to leave anyone out...but I do need to mention two very special women who have been instrumental in our success so far:  Bonnie Agnew & Katie Dinger!

Bonnie has helped the kids & their father with their dinner fundraiser at Wytheville Baptist Church.  Even with her twin grandsons age 2.5 in tow, she lead the ladies who prepared the food, directed the workers to make sure it was ready for serving!  Bonnie has a true servants heart and does what she does for the Glory of God...for that I am truly appreciative!

Katie Dinger has held my hand and walked me through the BINGO process and has encouraged me all along the way.  Even though she has to give me lists of things to get accomplished and I check them off.  She hasn't overwhelmed me, just gave me bits of information as I was able to handle it!  You also have a Godly Servants Heart and I am blessed to call you friend!

All our friends and family are working so hard to make sure this mission trip happens.  Our prayers is that we will be right where God wants us to be and that we will shine with his love and be a blessing to all that we come in contact with!

So far we only have $3,788.10 to go!  Still looking for donations of craft supplies since we can take with us!

Thank you God for his blessings!