A Note from Steve

Hi you all, just want to let you know that great things are happening over here in China. We have just finished up our VBS and had a great chance to teach the God's Word and continue to plant seeds here. We also have been doing some work at another local foster home that is really struggling and helping them in some very tanglible ways. And, we have established some roots at a third place that will have some further implications down the road as we continue to bring groups over to help serve orphans and the missionaries.

Our team has been nothing but AWESOME this year. I have been constantly impressed by the kids and their eagerness to jump in and serve in the fun things, the mundane things, and the dirty things. Our adults were as great as I thought they would be. It is so overwhelming to watch their hearts break daily for what is happening here.

You would be proud to watch all of this take place. As people invest in different things all around the world and in our own neighborhoods, it is rewarding to see a great return. The work here is not returning void as we have seen lives touched in so many tangible ways. Thank you for the ways that you have gotten this team over here from praying to financially supporting to providing words of encouragement. May you be richly blessed through all of this.

Serving Him in China,
Steve

Day 8 - Kids Day

Day 8 - Lessons Learned

Lori with 5 year old Jackie
This trip has definitely been used to show me some direction for my life all in ways that I wasn't even looking for.
I'll share with you a moment though that was both a learning experience and well, let me explain. Yesterday was our kid's day carnival, where we set up carnival games and snacks and water games and face painting and pretties for the girls hair and well you get the idea. Anyway, we were supposed to help them understand the games by leading by example and showing them how the game worked. I had the ring toss which worked great with the kids. We had lined up several bottles with some type of sweet milk drink in them and gave them rings to toss on them and then they would get a prize out of the prize bag. All of the games were setup similarly so I thought that it was pretty self explanatory after all the kids understood it and were going from booth to booth. When the nannies started playing it all changed, after they got the ring on the bottle they smiled and took the bottle. I tried to explain that it was part of the game, oh well, that didn't work out. After the first nanny did that several came over, placed not threw the ring on the bottle, picked it up and left. After less than a minute, I had no game left. Suddenly it was time for me to mingle and play with the kids, which after all, was why we were here so I was perfectly happy with that. Besides, they REALLY enjoyed the milk drinks. Lesson learned- don't use actual drinks for a game if you want the game to continue. Second lesson learned- His plans are always better.

So much more learned and to be learned but I will leave it at this for now! See you all soon!

Lori R

Scrapbooks and Bags Open Doors

We are halfway through our trip, time to take a deep breath. Cindy and I took the remaining nanny scrapbooks and bags - for those who were off on the day we delivered - to the head ayi, as well as a complete set for her. She was so excited - she had been waiting for her gift, saying that hers was the best because she had all the children. She is a believer, and asks God to find a forever family for each child. She told us that the ayis were so excited because the books are so pretty. The ayis are proud to take them home so they can show pictures of the children they care for to all their friends. We will be teaching the ayis in the House of Love how to make pretty scrapbook pages today. We are still figuring out how to get to each house in the time left. Grace will be translating for us, and Melissa S. will help as well.
The ayis were also excited about the bags, wanting to pick out the prettiest ones. Their idea of pretty was not always my idea of pretty - so it was funny to watch the trading back and forth. Sometimes one ayi would choose a bag for a co-worker, clearly telling them it was the one they should choose. We also gave bags with soap and lotion to the cleaning ayis.The ayis have been much more open with us this year, and willing to be available for us to interact with the children. They greet us warmly as we arrive. Just one more way to open the doors for them to want to know Jesus.
Lori B.

Photos of VBS

Erin Crawford got to celebrate her birthday in China.

Day 7 - What We Have Planned

Today is our big Kids Day party. We are setting it up similar to last year's Olympic party but we are having carnival games that the kids and ayis(nannies) will go around to. I think we will have about 15-20 games set up to play with prizes, and then we have snacks set up in the community center. They have a big bouncy castle sort of things that we will set up also that is a total mess right now but we have 8 hours to clean up. Then we will have big catered dinner for all the nannies, workers, staff and team and then fireworks tonight.

Tomorrow we are sending a bunch of people back to New Day to visit again with the Andrews. We are going to send 12 people there and 8 to Harmony House again to help and then the rest to set up VBS so tomorrow should be a big day also.

Over the weekend we are going to the Great Wall on Saturday and Sunday is the Hutong, Drum Tower, Forbidden City, Tian' an Men Square, dropping of the flag, and the night market food court. On Monday they are letting us take 30 kids to Beijing to the Blue Zoo and McDonalds so that should be a full day also. Tuesday we just tie up loose ends and return Weds. so we are finishing full. Please continue to pray. There is still much work to be done.
Steve

The most obvious thing I've noticed here is the modern & ancient together. Along with the beautiful new cars, roads, & buildings, there are donkey drawn carts and venders selling from their bicycle/carts.

It's also interesting to see how curious the people are when they see us, and how many seem pleased when we say, "Hi", after catching their eye.

I was told that the Chinese young people are very respectful of the elderly. I have a funny story to share about that playing out.

Lanaea, 15, and I were in a little stall at the Market place in Beijing. We were in the middle of bartering for various items. I was sitting on this tiny stool that was a criss-cross thing with a metal seat that was not attached. Each time I got up from this stool, my legs would stick to it, and it would fall off and the whole thing would crash to the floor. SO, I started to get up very slowly and carefully in order to let the stool un-stick from my legs before I got too far off of the stool. That way, it stayed put. At one point, we were talking, and showing family pictures, and they asked how old Lanaea was. Lanaea told them, and then offered the information about how old I am.,...much older than most most moms. (Grandma-age older!). When Lanaea said that, both of the girls gauked; eyes widening. The very next time I had to get up from the stool, (slowly..to keep it from falling over), both girls quickly leaned over and held my elbows to help me up. I recognized immediately what was happening, and had to laugh inside because at home, I ride my bike 10 times up a steep hill in Dishman Hills just to be cardio-fit, spending almost 1 and 1/2 hrs. doing it. I probably could have run circles around them, yet they were so precious to "help the elderly woman up out of her chair".

Celeste

From the Teens on the Trip

China is so amazing. Now that I'm back it feels like I never left. Something about the people and the culture is comforting to me. The people are so thankful for everything they have even though it's nothing compared to what the majority of people in the U.S. have. Going to see the Bird's Nest Sunday was so cool, but playing with the kids at Shepherd's Field has definitely been the highlight of my trip so far. One little girl, Elizabeth, has really touched my heart. She always has a smile on her face and wants me to take her out of her wheelchair and carry her around. I really want to take her home with me :D and all the other kids too!
Sarah Baxter

The people of China have captured my heart. My love for China started last year when I came for my family's adoption of my little sister. I was struck with the beautiful hearts of the people. This trip to China has reaffirmed that I have some kind of role to play in China someday. I still don't know specifically but I continue to trust that God is in control. When we were at the Temple of Heaven I stood on a round cement circle that the Chinese call the "center of the universe". When I stood there and looked around I began to think that maybe China is the "center for the change" that needs to happen in the world. As U.S. Christians we can almost become ethnocentric in our approach to where change in our world will come from. What I have seen though is the possibility for China to be that. I hope we all as brothers and sisters of Christ continue to pray for the amazing people of China

In Christ,
Mac Andrews

Today when we were at Walmart we were shopping for supplies and there were these two little kids that were following us everywhere we went. The kids where really cute and they seemed really friendly. They followed Hannah and I all over the store. When we would go down any aisle they would follow us and try to put items in our cart. We met the group in the front of the store and the kids were still following us. They met everyone that was at Walmart with us and they sat down with us. When we were waiting for everyone to check out so we started taking funny pictures with them. Grace asked them where their parents were and they said that their parents dropped them off and left. The kids said that they were at Walmart to play around. Then we had to leave Walmart and we were joking around with the kids and asked them if they wanted to come back with us. Other than that nothing has happened lately besides games with the kids and cleaning the school.
Stephan

This is my first year going to PHF. I wasn't really sure what to expect, but we are all settled in now and we are having so much fun! Besides having fun though, we are already seeing God work through us! God has answered so many prayers about flights and safety and boldness to share. It is so awesome to know that God is always in control. He knows exactly where to put us at exactly the right time. And even when bad things happen we know we can rely on Him to help us out. Already, in the last week, even in small ways, we have seen God reminding us that He is in control. It is so wonderful to remember that and be reminded of that on a daily basis!
~ Rachel Baxter

Day 3 - Sunday--A Day of Rest?

When we woke in the morning, we were thinking it would be a day of rest and praise. The morning started like it would in my house on a Sunday--people racing around trying to get ready, people not able to find a sock, or a shirt, or some other crucial part of the ensemble. That's about where it stopped being normal. As we gathered for some morning prayer and worship in the inn, Grace came bouncing down the steps and grabbed Cindy, our nurse who masquerades as a homeschool mom and China-lover. Finding out that Melissa Seely had an allergic reaction brought us to our knees as she can have acute reactions. Dr. Moody, the Shepherd's Field doc, was immediately on the scene and Melissa went from urgent care to stablized in a few minutes. We still sent her to the Western hospital in Beijing just to be sure that all was well and so Melissa, Grace, Cindy, and Jewel got their indoctrination to western medicine. Pretty amazing that an emergency room visit can still cost less than $200.
For the rest of us, we headed to the Minority Park where the 56 officially recognized minority groups in China each have a home, clothing, and music displayed. We divided up our group into 5 and each took 11 of these people groups and prayed for them. It was a good time to gain a world perspective and to talk about unreached peoples and strategy. Too bad that it was like 239 degrees outside and our day of rest ended with people on their face in McDonalds trying to escape the heat. After that and lunch, we headed to the Bird's Nest (Olympic Stadium) which was incredible. I have been in a lot of stadiums (or is that stadia?) and this was the first time I ever got chills. On the jumbo screens were highlights from the 08 Olympics but with the noise and the crowds and the history, it really was overwhelming. The best part was watching opportunities to share the Gospel manifest themselves everywhere. It was awesome seeing our young people especially go from visitor to visitor telling them of the One who has won the victory.
Alas, another day gone. But the eternal will remain with us. All is good here and we are looking forward to a great day of work, presenting the nannies with scrapbooks, VBS, an opportunity to share with a mission specialist, and evangelizing on the college campus in Beijing.
Love to you all,
Steve

(FYI all blog enteries are first sent to Steve's wife, Carrie, to be "uncensored" before they are posted to the blog, since the internet and phone calls can be screened by the Chinese government)

Day 3 - Updated Prayer List

*Melissa Seely-asthmatic attack, healing for this
*Connection with the nannies
*Andrews: meeting the son they have on "hold" to adopt this Tuesday
*Tolerance with the heat
*Grace's relationship with Wendy--a 17 year girl in a wheel chair that lives at PHF
*For the people that have heard the Gospel and chosen to follow it--that they would grow
*VBS this week at PHF
*Time with Evan and Kristie's team leader in Beijing

Love you--thanks for partnering on this
Steve

(Steve wouldn't share this so I will--please pray for Steve's ribs. He broke them a couple of weeks ago and has had trouble sleeping because of them. Carrie)

Day 3 - Prayer Request

I received a call from Stephanie Seely today with a specific prayer request. Her daughter Melissa had an allergic reaction and had to be given an epi pen after playing outside with the kids this morning. She is doing fine but for precautionary reasons they took her into Beijing to a western hospital to get checked out. The doctor told her if she has another episode she will have to return to the States. Please pray for the remainder of the trip that she will not have any more allergic reactions and that her health will not be compromised. Also please pray for peace for her family at home.
Carrie

Day 2 - Temple of Heaven, Pearl Market, & Acrobat Show Photos

Day 2 - Prepared to Give an Answer

Don and I had the opportunity to speak and share with one girl named Lily who had worked in the Pearl Market for four years, 360 days/year and 10 hours/day. Don's fulfillment of his promise to "wait right here until his wife showed up" so that the she could try to sell Andrea a purse, built some trust and resulted in our ability to share what we are doing in China and about our families. I was moved to go back and give her The Book of John. I then was prompted to go back again and share John 3:16. She read a little further and asked what it meant. Afterward, I told Don about it, and he went and found her and asked, "Have you seen my friend?" She said, "He was just here, and he left me this book." Don told her what I said was TRUE and backed up my encouragement to read the book.
Serving Him in China,
Patrick

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

Colossians 4:5-6

Day 2 - Shopping and Searching

Today at the market, while shopping for her mom back home, Hannah proved to be firm and decisive. She had one price and would not move off of it! She left with a beautiful purse for $15! I had not seen that side of her before. She would not let the Chinese saleswoman push her around. I loved it!

After visiting the Temple of Heaven this morning, we were in a BIG shopping center, the Pearl Market. Don and I got separated from Jill, Stephan and Hannah. Patrick and Don decided to leave (they knew the kids couldn't leave by themselves since they were too young). I had no idea where the kids were and there are 4 floors and many, many, many, many booths. I knew I could search for hours and never find them. We had an arranged meeting area, but we wanted to connect with them quickly. I told Don and Patrick, I was going to PRAY and then look. I said a short arrow of a prayer. My answer came in literally ONE minute when I found them. The kids were not as amazed as I was, but WOW, that could have taken forever for me to find them on my own. I am thankful to Him who is able!!!

*Andrea Jutila*

God is great not just because nothing is too big for Him. God is great becasue nothing is too small for Him either

Mark Batterson

In A Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day

Day 1 Photos

Day 1 - The Noodle Dance

A long forgotten piece of Chinese lore as men who toil in front of a stove for hours grinding grain and mixing carefully from a recipe that was passed by word from one generation to another from the karst hills of Guilin to the yert tents of the nomadic north. But as we sat around the hot pot dinner table that was all thrown out the window as Racheal Shawen and Courtney Nonaka grabbed some dough and imitated a dancer who looked better suited to be a backup for MCHammer as the techno music reverberated through the building and he hiphopped his way to noodles for everyone. Alas, Rachael and Courntey did some semblance of what their grandmothers did at their senior prom and ended up with the same sticky bun they had when they started.
Humorous? Yes. Future career? Probably not.

Love you today!!
Steve

Day 1 - Starts With Deep Fried Bread

Today has been a great day. I woke up at about 4 a.m. Then, I, and the rest of the early risers, went on a walk around the village. It was very fun. Stacey (an 18 year old orphan here) came with us as well. We bought some fresh, deep fried bread. I totally ordered it in Chinese... it was awesome. We also woke to a clear, blue sky today. I think only those who have been to China can appreciate that... seeing a blue sky never happens here. It was very nice.
I went to see a boy named Grady after the walk. When I went to China last year, he was one who touched my heart. We've been trying to communicate through letter for the past year, but it has been very difficult. At first I couldn't find him in his house, but then I saw him and he had the biggest grin on his face I have ever seen. His teacher had heard so much about me that she actually invited me to come to school with him. Grace Allen, Melissa Andrews, and I went for an hour. It was very fun. I showed him and the class pictures of my family with Chinese on it. He saw Laura's (my older sister) picture and were like... BEAUTIFUL! My mom and I also "beautifuls", though not as enthusiasticcally as Laura's "beautiful". I asked if Mark was beautiful and he was like "ewww no. Boys no beautiful. He handsome". So then he said Mark and Dad were handsome. It was very funny. He's a great kid with a great heart. I wish you all could meet him because words and stories just don't do him justice. The pictures of my family were an awesome way to start conversations with the teacher and his nanny. I had some really good conversations with both of them. I also got a Chinese name.... Mei Li. It's not the Mei Li that means beautiful in Chinese, but it actually means beautiful flower. Grady's teacher gave it to me.
Overall today has been great. A lot of new experiences and great times already. Please continue to think of our team and pray for opportunities to share the Father's love. Thanks so much for all the support!

Melissa Seely

Update from Carrie

Just to let you all know, I spoke to Steve and Hannah today and they gave me a brief update of their first day. Most of the team was up by 5am and ready to take a walk around the neighborhood. When they returned, many of the children were out playing. They didn't waste time to love on them. Next they took a tour of Shepherd's Field. Much has changed since last year . There are two new buildings on the campus. They spent most or their morning sorting through supplies that they brought and getting them to the designated people and places. In the afternoon there were some odd jobs to do like cleaning up the playground. Many have already found the icecream bars that are for sale in the inn's gift store. As I post this, the team is headed to have traditional Hot Pot for dinner. I'm sure many will be heading to bed once they return.
Please continue to keep them in your prayers.
Carrie

Day 1 - Just Want To Be Held

God has answered so many prayers already through this trip and we are anticipating many more to come. The children are just wonderful! It's hard to play with them and then say goodbye. When we leave them they cry . They just want to be held.

God has been working in all of our lives already and it's just the first day. We still have many days to come. I can tell there's already been a change in my life, and in my spiritual life as well.

We are all getting along really well and are having servant's hearts. Everyone is always working and you never see a person just go off and do their own thing. Thank you Jesus for such an awesome day!

~Hannah "Banana" Allen~

Walk by faith and not by sight.

They've Arrived!

God works in mysterious and odd ways sometimes. But let me backtrack and tell you the whole story. We all arrived on time at the airport and began a long day of hurry up and wait. The ticket agents at the kiosks told us everything from, "We can't print luggage tags and you'll have to get your bags in Seattle" to "these tickets aren't paid for" to "your bags are too heavy." Anyway, we got through and had a sweet goodbye while family, friends, and supporters. Once on the other side of the wall, Sarah with her eagle eyes and keen fascination with Gonzaga basketball, said that Jeremy Pargo was "over there." We each got a chance to have a picture with him and it ended up that he was on our flight. In the back row were four seats, Jackson got to sit with Pargo and I got to sit with Sister Ursula from Germany--a Dominican nun. They talked about Gonzaga's run and I talked about the transubstantiation of communion.
In Seattle our flight was delayed a couple of hours and we finally got off about 4:15 along with 30 high school kids from Chongqing were in the states on a homestay program. We met a young girl named "Blue" and had a chance to talk with her. After 11 hours of flying we got our temperature taken on the airplane. The highlight for me was when Emma was coming out of the bathroom on the plane and a flight attendant was standing like the Terminator with a thermometer gun pointed at her head. We did find favor and no one was quarantined!!!! After getting bags and exchanging money with no glitches we found Clay and Jewel and Shelby. We finally pulled in 23 hours and 55 minutes after we left for the airport and went to bed. Everyone did well and is feeling fine. Today we are just heading for a walk in the village and then looking at this facility that is very different than last summer. Remember us and PRAY for us as we begin to labor and praise God through our days.

Steve

Team Leaves

Team History

In 36 hours, we will be taking our 4th team to PHF. This means that we have taken 98 people to China from 27 different churches, carrying 4900 pounds of supplies, raising $200,000, and seeing lives changed. Over the four trips it is evident that His hand is at work. I look back at the past highlights and am reminded of LuRae, Holly, James, and Steve walking into an elementary school and watching LuRae get swarmed by kids trying to sneak two packs of Starburst to them; Judy, Kirsten, Damon, Bonnie, Brooke, and Jan sharing at Harmony House; Chris picking up a woman at the Hutong Garden; the man with the wire; racing Bobsleds down Mutianyu; Andrew and Jessica's go-to moves on the wall; Dawn eating a starfish; Danae and Emily eating something that no one knew what it was; the 08 Olympics at PHF; the awesome fireworks show; riding the subway with Evan and Kristie; the poop ladle at the college; packing hundreds of boxes out of the sweaty attic; Gregg's leg falling off while being carrie by Jeff; naming Carly; making fun of Shelby; and the faces of hundreds of kids.

Please remember us and that we would find favor.

Team's Dedication at Sunday's Service

7 Days Away

After planning for 7 months, raising thousands of dollars, hosting a Valentine's Dinner, Auction, Chinese Dinner, Mother/Daughter Tea, and sending out hundreds of letters...it is time to go. 31 of us, representing 7 different churches, 6 parent/child groups, 1 husband/wife, 7 adopted Chinese kids, 8 men, 23 women, 5 college age people, 11 teens, 1 preteen, a nurse, a professor, 2 pastors, 2 homeschool moms, a business owner, a Chinese woman, a Chinese teen, 4 Lori's, 3 Steve's, are about ready to set out on a life changing journey. Please pray for us that we will find favor as we go and lives will be touched. For all of you who supported us--thank you for your partnership. For all of our family members staying behind, thank you for allowing us to go. May He be praised.