we're on a God-sized, crazy adventure...come join us!
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
The one with "we're here!" (Originally written 3/13/2015)
Originally written 3/13/2015**
So we're here! We made it safely & the flights were pretty uneventful over all!
Our hotel is super-swanky & there are 7 other families here with our agency for adoption purposes. We are touring Beijing together today & will leave to head to Zhengzhou early morning.
Our CCAI rep, Laura, met us at the airport. Likewise, a representative from New Hope (where Ray Ray lived for several years) met us to pick up the supply suitcases that we brought with us for them. New Hope is a medical foster home much like the Howell Center where Jayson grew up & they need supplies to care for the children that they cannot get in China. So, families & travelers headed to China have the option of checking extra luggage & bringing the supplies to them--this is cheaper & much more secure than attempting to FedEx them here. It was such a blessing to our hearts to be able to help in some capacity! Last Sunday, when JP & I opened the suitcases for the first time, we noticed that every item in the bags were things that we had used with Jayson when he came home--trach care kits, g tube kits, etc. Gets me all teary-eyed again just thinking about it! We were able to donate several leftover items of similar materials that we hadn't been able to get rid of in the States. I couldn't bring myself to throw them away, & now we get to see why. What a great little God-nod in the midst of the preparation chaos. We arrived at our hotel last night & got settled in before heading out for dinner. We ate beef & fungus, dumplings, & lo mein noodles for dinner at an authentic noodle shop right by our hotel...super-yummy! Last night's sleep was ok, although we were all pretty much awake & ready to go quite early :/ We managed to off/on sleep until 6ish :) We got up & ate breakfast at the hotel restaurant--it was awesome! We ate Dragon Fruit & cognee & several amazing other treats like rice cakes & steamed buns. So good. Today we toured urban Beijing: we saw Tian'anmen Square & the Forbidden City, then we rode Rakestraws through a traditional urban Beijing neighborhood to a local family's house. They fed us the most amazing, authentic spread of Chinese food & it was SO YUMMY!! Good stuff. The dichotomy of Chinese culture is quite evident: areas of town like the Forbidden City are created with such opulence, while the neighborhoods just blocks away are most definitely what we would consider 'poverty-stricken' in America. The family's house we at lunch at had a Christian calendar hanging on the wall; the scriptures were written in Chinese & English & that warmed my heart immensely! I asked where we could buy one & the response is that 'you can't.' The government doesn't allow Christian goods to be sold, so someone must have given it to them. It is not illegal for people to possess Christian items (Bibles, paintings, etc), but it is illegal to buy/sell them. JP & I have been praying that we can find a Chinese Bible somewhere for each of our boys, so we shall see... The weather has been beautiful & the pollution is not too bad! Everyone here smokes--which is a drawback, so my nose has been pretty irritated. Other than that, we're doing great & hoping to be on a better sleep/day schedule. We are on a 12 hour difference, so when you wake up, we're going to bed & vice versa. Jayson is doing absolutely amazing! Jet lag is a booger, so he has had a few cranky moments today, but overall, he's really doing well. There's a sweet family from Pinehurst here to adopt a 3yo boy, & they brought their (almost) 4yo bio son with them. He & Jayson toured the town from the comfort of the double stroller & have become fast friends! Jayson is practicing his big brother skills on Rand & keeps saying "when I'm a big brother on Monday..." which is very sweet to this mama's heart :) I'm a little speechless to describe how it feels to be so close to our boys, learning about their heritage, & yet not have them in our arms. It was difficult to see the precious children toddling around all bundled up (it's in the 50s) & know that we are so close to our boys. At the same time, it's such a cool thing for the 3 of us to get to do together! It has been so special to my heart already to watch Jayson develop first-hand experience of exploring another culture. We are incredibly grateful for each of you & how you are covering our family in prayer, keep 'em coming! We're off to dinner & will update again tomorrow Wo ai ni (I love you)~ Jonathan, DeAnna, & our boys! PS~ for those of you that know I'm notorious for forgetting my bra on trips, you'll be glad to know I remembered it this time! Mama's got it together...ha!
Thank you for bringing a suitcase of supplies over for New Hope. It means so much to them as the supplies are needed and it is the only way to get them there. :)
Thank you for bringing a suitcase of supplies over for New Hope. It means so much to them as the supplies are needed and it is the only way to get them there. :)
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