News from China

We are in our hotel. So much for Miami weather. Everyone is running around here in winter coats and there is a very cold rain. Oh yes, and predicted to be here for a week. Oh well, I guess we shop for warmer clothes.

We made all of our connections just fine. The flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo was L O N G. I didn't sleep hardly at all on that leg. So to say I was just a bit grumpy... well, I told Lynn this was going to be a very long trip if he didn't stop asking me if we are there yet. I also suggested he not tell me how many hours down and how many to go. This leg was 12 hours. We got off the plan in Tokyo and walked right on the next. By then I was tired. I slept most of the five hours to Guangzhou. Overall, 24 hours in travel.

Remember I said I liked Chinese food. The airline food was ok most of the way but the meal I got on this last flight was chicken with something and sticky rice. I thought the something might have been tofu or some chicken part I don't normally eat. But, I am going to chalk it up to jet lag.

The nice thing about arriving late is there are not as many people around. We found our guide, David, right off and he got us to the van and the hotel. We are staying at the Victory (Annex) Hotel. OH MY GOSH. This is great. The bathroom is a little small but we have a king size bed and room for a roll away in our room right by our bed. I have a hotel computer, nice TV, refrigerator and safe. Then we have a separate small sitting room with a couch, chair, table and room on the floor for the luggage. I think I can live here for two weeks.

Sunday is a free day. We will explore (and shop). On Monday at 10:30, we go with David to meet Alison and then back to the hotel for whatever. I am nervous. This is a dream. Am I really doing this? As we flew into Guangzhou, I saw all the lights for all of the apartments. This is a city of 12 million people. All I could think was that I was coming to take home one of your children. One of your unwanted is being taken away to be nurtured and treasured as the gift that God gives. How sad that I (and others) have come to take your children to our homes so they can be loved and cared for as God prescribes.

We told David that we have a suitcase of gifts for the orphans. Yes, it ended up being a whole suitcase on its own. What can I say? I bought bibs, onesies, socks of all sizes, booties, hair things, tooth brushes and tooth paste, crayons, toys, small stuffed animals and books. Then we have 7 Colts T-Shirts, lip gloss, hand lotion, Hersey's bite size candies, and one Colts fleece blanket. David wasn't even phased by our 3 suitcases and two carry-ons and my purse. He just said we could have brought one more bag.

Oh, David said he would try to get permission for us to visit the orphanage. Because we have been to other orphanages and we brought gifts, he thought it might happen. We need to know by Monday because if not, we need to give the suitcase to whoever brings Alison.

Well, long and wordy. We survived. Long trip. Need to sleep. I have come to the realization that airports/airplanes are very noisy places. My IPod volume is locked at a highest volume and it is still too low so I can't hear it during travel. I will have to do some Internet searches to figure out how to unlock my volume because I don't know the password to unlock it.

On this computer, I can see our ZhuHai Yahoo group and can add to our blog but like others I am not able to view the actual blog. I will put my computer genius husband to work on that tomorrow or we will try it from our laptop and see if we get the same results.

I can't believe we are here. I can't believe we are doing this. I am so excited for what lies ahead. How often do we get a chance in life to make such a huge difference in someones life and how awesome that we can love and share in her life all along the way? God gave us a new course of action. It makes no sense but following God is a faith path and not a "by the book" venture. To God be the glory, great things He hath done (and will do with willing servants). Thanks God for choosing us and for choosing Alison to be part of our lives. To my children and grandchildren, thanks for understanding that God has a plan and that our love is big enough for you all.

Goodnight from Guangzhou.
Brenda