Always in God's thoughts

December 30

Louis Armstrong is singing via the Starbucks Sound system with his trademark gravelly voice. Our last full day in China.

This morning after another delicious buffet breakfast at the Hotel’s Veranda Café we all met for a family picture in the lobby (by the stairs). We have a similar picture of Samuel with our last adoption group. This time I have many more pictures of the children. They are adorable. Later on we spent some time praying for our children. I was reminded of this one spiritual truth: The conception of our children was already in the mind of God. He knew of each child before the creation of the world. Therefore abandonment is not in God’s plans. It was Satan’s idea. Adoption is God’s idea for each of us. These children are known and loved by the Lord. Therefore they do not need to live in the shadow of abandonment, nor do they need to accept that they are abandoned. God had planned for these children to be grafted into loving and caring families. It’s an awesome ministry that God has called each of our families to.
Although we will separately travel different roads we will learn new lessons from God in the process. Some roads will be easy and some will be difficult but God is with us every step of the way. We don’t know what medical intervention Steven will need in the days ahead but we pray that God will already be healing the hurts in his life and accept the unconditional love and grace that our gracious Lord offers freely to him.

Steven loves to sing. He knows dozens of children's songs. One of the first songs we heard him sing to our interpreter in Hangzhou was the story of a little boy all alone who was given a new mama and baba to love him forever. It brought tears to our eyes. We love being called "mama" and "baba" and in Amy's case "gi-gi". Little Samuel is called "di-di". When we dress them up alike people think they are twins. Samuel is a head taller and larger than Steven even though we are told that Steven is over three years older! Sammy is only four. Everyone says he is large for a four year=old. So we have been confusing people with our children. By the way, Steven also knows "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" in Chinese of course. He's actually a very shy boy when in public. But in our room he's quite vocal. I wish I could communicate with him. Right now hugs will have to sufficie.

At 3:00 PM this afternoon we travel to the US Consulate, complete the final paperwork, undergo a swearing in ceremony that states that we have not falsified any of the paperwork that was submitted. Then we receive a special sealed envelope that will be opened by the US Customs and Immigration office (for our case in Minneapolis). When we land on US soil, Steven will be an American citizen and be afforded all the rights and privileges of an American.

I'll try to upload a few photos.

Still thinking of Christmas

December 29
Four days after Christmas, we are still hearing Christmas songs being played at restaurants and in the hotel lobby. Some waitresses are still dressed up in read and white Christmas attire. A recent China Daily article discussed the fascination of the Chinese people with this worldwide holiday. Some will attend midnight mass at a nearby cathedral for the Christmas experience even though they are not Christians. Others will purchase and exchange gifts for friends and family. Still others will enjoy the party life on Christmas Eve. Santa figurines and pictures abound. Christmas trees are decorated and standing in nearly every shop, hotel and business. People wish us a “Merry Christmas” It sounds more like “Mary Kreestmass”. "Santa Claus is coming to town" was played while we were having breakfast. His coming will be in only... 360 days?
Very few if any in our world understand the religious nature Christmas. Catholics in China wish to change this by helping people understand the historical significance of Saint Nicholas. They wish to educate Chinese citizens about the Bishop who lived years ago to help the poor of his community. Unfortunately most Americans cannot explain about the One who came that first Christmas 2000 years ago. But they can name all the reindeer on Santa's sleigh.

Yesterday we saw a bride and groom dressed up in Western wedding attire. They were greeting their guests at a famous Guangzhou Steakhouse. I can imagine what the bridal family spent for this lavish reception. Someone told me, in Chinese culture the groom’s family pays for the wedding ceremony and reception. I find it interesting that it's popular for Americans to adopt Eastern traditions while Asians adopt Western traditions.

Today we are waiting to see if the US Consulate have any questions about our submitted documents. If everything is in order, then we will travel with our group to do some shopping on Shamian Island. We’ll be able to purchase some fairly inexpensive trinkets. Though I don’t have much to spend right now because we sent dirty laundry to be cleaned. Iut cost 270 yuan. Or about $45. It sounds expensive but it’s much cheaper than having it sent out by the hotel.

This afternoon we traveled to Shamian Island the home of many of the world’s embassies. Most have relocated to Beijing though there are some still present on the Island. We spent a few hours with our adoptive friends there shopping Amy found some beautiful handbags and travel bags. Holly found some coloring books and a hand drum toy for the children and I found some playing cards featuring the emperors of China. We spoke with one shopkeeper who is engaged to a young man whose family had adopted three times through America World. (Andrew Reynolds from Riverside, CA)
Back at the hotel we enjoyed some Papa Johns Pizza. It actually resembled US pizza though it took a long time to get to us.

Thank you for your prayers. We are all beginning to feel much better healthwise.

All the tea in China

China is known for producing the best tea in the world. In China when you ask for tea you can specifiy: oolong, jasmine, green, black, rose, white, dragon, and more. They know how to prepare and drink tea. It's considered "manly" to drink tea. We Americans don't even have a clue how to drink tea becuase, well, we're too busy with our fast-paced performance oriented culture to even slow down and savor the moment. We miss so much of life. Drinking tea in China is more about appreciating the friendships in your life. Where do you need to slow down to recapture and even cultivate good friends?

Last night Amy was willing to watch the children while Holly and I dine with our other newly adoptive families at a Japanese restaurant. This is our first time eating at a place where they prepare the food right in front of you. It was fascinating! And no, we didn't get to exotic and crazy in our food choices. (We're not that bold). But we did enjoy a good sirloin steak, miso soup, fresh salad, sauteed vegetables, tempura, fried noodles, and a green tea ice cream. Everything was delicious! What fun talking to our friends about their experiences while seeing our meal prepared in style.

This morning we went to the Chen Family Academy and Temple: a cultural arts center where we saw the best of China's arts. Beautiful silk embroidery, intricate bone and ivory and jade carvings, elaborate porclain artware, sculptures, instruments. It takes a great deal of patience and time to master and perfect each and every skill. God takes his time to sculpt, carve, embroder on our lives so that in the end we become one of his great masterpieces. I am reminded that time is very important in life. That's why we chose to adopt for a second time. We still have love, energy and patience to raise another child. Though we are much poorer financially we are indeed richer because we are investing in the enrichment of human lives that pays eternal dividends.

After our visit to the Chen Academy, we went to an area tea house where we tasted of the many varieties of tea. There are some that I don't like but others I really do enjoy. So try something new today. Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Tomorrow our adoption documents are carried to the US Counselate office. In the afternoon we go shopping on Shamian Island, once known as a British Protectorate area but returned to the Chinese government in recent years. We should find a few inexpensive souveniers there.

The Latest from China

Adoption 2008 LATEST NEWS
December 24 - Today we are in Wenzhou: a five hour ride south through the “countryside”, covered with farm communities working the soil and growing all kinds of fruit and vegetables. Mandarin trees abound as well as tea plantations. Many hillsides are terraced. Rice fields presently lie fallow though some are flooded with water. Water buffalos graze peacefully in the untilled patches of land. Farmers utilize an intensive strategy for cultivating their produce. Most fertile areas are used, even the medians on the highway.
However in Wenzhou there is a contrast of businesses and poverty. People drive their Buicks and Hondas while the elderly and small children panhandle at stoplights. (Not everywhere of course, for the people seem to be very industrious).
God was gracious to us as we made our way from the hotel to the Security bureau of the municipal police station. Here all passports are processed for the city residents. In the past our guide told us how difficult the process is to have passports expedited. Unless you know someone in the bureau it may take days longer to go through the red tape. Thankfully a policewoman heard our story and chose to intervene. So we received our note and can finish the rest of the paperwork in Hangzhou. We are 450 yuan lighter but the process went very smoothly and we will not need to wait for days to have the process completed. Our passports will be competed and expedited back in Hangzhou
This evening we are invited by the orphanage director for dinner. She seems to be a very caring and conscientious woman and we will enjoy the opportunity to know her better. The food is scrumptious: delicious fish, pudding, rice mixes and an assortment of other delicacies that I cannot describe. We conclude with a shaved ice mounded like a volcano and topped with caramel and other toppings. Very good!
Our Wenzhou hotel is definitely not as classy as the ones we have been staying at. This room smells of smoke. The furniture is dated; some fixtures do not work well and other wall fixtures come off at the touch of the finger. The bed is quite firm. But we’ll manage. We’re grateful to have a safe place to sleep.
On Christmas day we return to the Lakeside Hotel in Hangzhou, and on Friday we may do some sightseeing before we take an evening flight to Guangzhou to meet up with the other adoptive families and hear of their stories.
Wendy has been a wonderful guide and host and our driver has been tops.
The countryside between Hangzhou and Wenzhou is diverse with multiple farming communities. Every square hectare is utilized for growing vegetables. We passed by tea plantations, cotton fields, rice patties, and a wide assortment of cabbages and other local vegetables. Mandarin trees abound farther in the south. Mountains and hillsides are meticulously terraced. Shrines and burial places for departed ancestors dot many hillsides.
Christmas Day
Merry Christmas everyone. After a very traditional Chinese breakfast we left for our 5 ½ hour return to Hangzhou where we checked back into the Lakeview Hotel. Holly and I have struggled with sickness though Samuel continues to show improvement since we put him on Amoxicillin. So last night we went to a pharmacy and purchased Tylenol and adult Amoxicillin for us. We’ll lay low today - perhaps visit a local McDonalds or Pizza Hut near the hotel and watch a movie. Tomorrow we may or may not take a boat ride on the lake or so a little shopping before we take an evening flight for Guangzhou
This evening Amy and I went out for a walk to bring home to our room some McDonalds. Cost of a meal for five? 79 yuan (less than 14 dollars). We were in the Hangzhou business district among the most fashionable upscale shops and businesses. Even here (like all of the other world-class cities on our globe, there are the beggars: An old destitute man crumbled in a heap of humanity, a little child practically no more than three years old, a woman asking for a few coins. We walk by, knowing that many of these folks have subsidies from the government. The child does not appear to be hungry. The police arrive. The woman suddenly disappears into the crowd. The child looks a bit more frantic.
Back to our hotel we enjoy the western style meal. Yufei seems to like chicken mcnuggets and fries and doesn’t seem to disagree with his system. Though the trip from Wenzhou to Hangzhou didn’t agree with him. As soon as we entered the hotel lobby, he deposited the contents of his stomach on the floor.
We are most like God when we begin to adopt his characteristics and attributes: compassion, kindness, love, gentleness, mercy, grace, justice, peace.
Friday, December 26
Our sleeping schedule continues to be a bit messed up, partly because we are fighting sickness. Only Amy shows a measure of good health. Steven has a little cold but nothing serious. The rest of us are coughing and blowing our noses and taking medicine. Today will be a light day, with breakfast at the hotel, a stroll around town, and lunch at a nearby pizza hut. Amy likes the breakfast here: rice, dumplings, steamed bread, bacon, watermelon. A chef is on hand to make eggs the way you like it. And the eggs are very fresh, not like store bought eggs at home. The breads and rolls remind me European cuisine. There is always congee available: a steamed rice made into a soupy substance that is very popular all over China.
Jealousy has officially set in. Samuel does not like sharing mom and dad. Feeling sick does not make anything better. He tends to be very clinging when he’s not feeling well.
Pizza Hut for lunch
This afternoon at check-out we traveled with Wendy to pick up Steven’s Chinese passport. Now he is able to fly within the country or overseas. We then went to Hangzhou’s Cultural Center. Wendy says it’s like Hangzhou’s Chinatown. Here we visited a tea store and purchased some gifts. Then we found special tea infusers for ourselves. I learned something about black tea vs. green tea. Since Black tea goes through a fermentation process, the leaves need to first be washed with 100 degree water. That water is thrown away and now the leaves are ready to be used for drinking. Green tea is different. It does not need to be washed first. Simply take two or three pinches and place it in warm water. Let stand for about 15 minutes and it’s ready. Flower tea is different yet. Take about 7 or so pods, place them in hot water and when the leaves open the tea is ready to drink.
We then went to the airport, ate at McD’s and took the plane for Guangzhou where “Amy” met us with another AWAA couple and brought us to the China Hotel. Tomorrow the children get their medical exams and then it’s off for some necessary shopping.

It's Official

It's official! Jiang Yufei is now Steven Yufei Nauss. And we have the photo to prove it. Of course we also have starbucks photos too but that's for another story. We also visited with the official government Notary to authenticate all the documents we need for the rest of our journey. Tomorrow at 8:00 AM we travel by car 5-6 hours south to Wenzhou to begin the application for Steven's passports. We'll stay the night in Wenzhou and then leave in the morning for our return trip to Hangzhou. Our Christmas day will be traveling. Then on Friday we will do a little sightseeing in Hangzhou (Paradise City as known to the people here) before we board an evening flight for Guangzhou, the last leg of the journey. Guangzhou (formerly Canton) is where the US Consulate is located and all adoptions by Americans must be completed. Citizenship papers begin there.

I learned today that Steven Yufei is the 107th child in the Zhejiang province to be adopted internationally this year. I wonder how many are abandoned every year? Are we making progress? At least we are making a difference in one child's life.

Hangzhou and Gotcha Day

December 22, 2008 Adoption Log
SUNDAY - A full day and a prayer request
Our family began the day by giving Samuel some Tylenol for a fever. He has not been himself and has not had a good appetite. We .attended the Beijing International Christian Fellowship, an expatriate ministry that has been in existence for about 25 years. They are renting theatre facilities at a hotel complex. It was an enjoyable experience of worship. Since it was the Sunday before Christmas they had a special program with the church children doing ballet to Christian music. It was beautiful. The pastor gave a three point message: the prophecies of Christ, the facts of Christ, the history of Christ and our experience in Christ.
After the church service we visited a jade factory - enjoyable! We then we had lunch. Afterwards we browsed through the friendship store where they had folks demonstrate cloisonné. We have been purchasing a few small items as gifts to bring back for family.
Then we visited the Great Wall of China at the Badaling Pass, northeast of Beijing. By that time Samuel was becoming feverish again and Holly stayed with him on the bus. It was very cold. We needed every article of warm clothing. Amy and I walked around and I must say that Amy was impressive, traversing those steep steps and inclines with her bad ankle and foot.
After dinner we had to be driven directly to the airport where we boarded China Air for a 2 hour flight to Hangzhou. It was around 10 PM when we arrived in Hangzhou and met up with Wendy our guide,. By that time, we saw Samuel’s condition begin to deteriorate. We needed some more fever reducing medicine. Wendy found us a late night pharmacy and we were able to purchase some Motrin. We’re worried that unless we can keep the fever under control he will slip into a seizure. Not good at all. Doctors have told us that we can control a fever by rotating between Motrin and Tylenol. I am not finding any Tylenol around here we did find some Chinese brand medicine but we don’t know if it is working. We are praying that the medicine will work.

Monday is Gotcha Day. Everyone slept through the night - finally. Though Samuel was burning up with fever this morning. W gave him more medicine and put him in a tepid bath to bring down the temperature. And of course we prayed. And he rallied enough to get the morning. Now he is asleep but is very flush.
Now about Steven Yu Fei. We met him a little after 9:30 at the Hangzhou Civil Affairs Office. The director and the Notary were both present. Picture a very long conference style room with extra chairs lining the perimeter of the room, an office copier in one corner. The room is cold and we are all wearing our coats. And then the orphanage director arrives with the head nanny for the orphanage. They both seem to be caring people and are thankful for the wonderful donations. Yu Fei came with his brand new coat, sweater, shirt, thermals, ultraman sneakers, and a backpack filled with another sweater and some special things, including a milk drink box, cookies, and things. He has an enjoyable disposition and a compliant attitude. He’s also spunky. He is able to keep track on tasks. It’s a shame that his walk is labored and so are his limbs but he has found creative ways to overcome these disabilities.. Steven is actually smaller than Samuel though he is developmentally ahead of him. He has immediately made eye contact with all of us and recognizes us as mama and baba, gi-gi and di di . He likes Samuel and Samuel has accepted him into his family. I think they will become good friends. Amy has enjoyed brushing up on her mandarin and is actually learning. Steven likes the fact that Amy knows some words in his language and they have been bantering phrases back and forth. He’s able to work with braiding yarn in a book puzzle. We’re impressed and I know Wendy likes him too. We took lots of pictures but are not yet able to access the internet. Sorry to all who are wanting to keep track of our progress. Please pray that we can find some Tylenol and that Samuel’s fever will break. We’ll try to get some photos uploaded.

Tuesday, December 23
Another filling buffet breakfast at the hotel and a two hour walk through the park around West Lake. It is warmer here than Beijing though all of China is experiencing a cold front.. I believe there will be no place to use our short sleeve clothes. Half of the time we carried the children and half of the time we let them walk. We even found a Starbucks and had English Breakfast tea, Caramel Macchiato’s and hot chocolates. (Expensive here - about 124 yuan - nearly $20 US) We are gaining a better grasp on Steven’s personality. He is constantly a chatterbox, a bit loud and noisy, and there is a bit of a naughty streak. However, he does desire to please and be helpful. He can put away his shoes. Communication is an issue and there are moments when I ask myself, “Are you crazy or what? Can I really love this child?” I remember asking the same thing when I met little Samuel. Now I can’t think of being without him. There will be some mimicking and also competitiveness with the boys. Steven can become a bit obnoxious but I must realize that he does not know how to really act in public, or in a restaurant. He is creative with his movements and limitations. When he falls, he rolls over and pushes himself up with his arms and splays his legs and then does a jumping motion to get his body on the legs. His knees are indeed stiff and immobile. He can grasp with his fingers though they are turned and fail to give him full movement and strength. I cannot even describe how he eats other than to say that you have to see for yourself, using one arm to prop up and support the other.
Yesterday we went to a Carrafour - like a very big supermarket (similar to Super Walmart). It has everything from clothing to electronics to food. We bought some fruit, cups of Raman noodle soups, bottled water and a Mountain Dew for Amy. Samuel still has a fever and cold symptoms but is not burning up as before. Thank the Lord for His blessings.
Expenses: Yesterday we paid $3,000 US to the orphanage, $400 RMB to the Notory. We will need to spend $4000 RMB for passport application and other needful adoption documents.
Orphanage director comments - We will revisit the orphanage director later on in Wenzhou (a one day trip?) to complete paperwork and to answer other questions we might have. They told us that Steven does not know how to apportion his food. He will continue to eat - perhaps gorge himself. We need to portion his food. We saw this at dinner last night. He had three helpings of Shrimp Wonton Soup, and bread. And then again at breakfast he had eggs, fruit, congee, bread. We were forewarned that we should only gradually move him from a bland diet to a western diet. He will be sensitive toward spicy foods. I think he has a giardia like Samuel did. It comes from the drinking water. The director also told us that she does not know how Steven came upon his head scars, if they were from birth or came from an earlier injury. She gave us his inoculation records - they seem a bit incomplete.
We have a 2:00 PM and a 4;00 P.M. at the Notary and Civil Affairs Office.

* One note: We got on the internet and posted a few days ago but it didn't go through for some reason. This is my first opportunity to bring you the news.

Thursday, Friday, December 18-19
Our local internet service does not appear to be working this morning. We were warned of this, so I am keeping a journal or log on Microsoft Works so that later we can transfer to our blog.
We arose early Thursday to get ready for our long plane ride to China. Dan and Alicia drove us to the airport where we checked in and awaited our flight. Some us woke up at 4 AM while others waited till 5:30 to rise. Nevertheless it makes for a very long and tiring day. We all feel slightly “off” and sleep deprived. However we’re very thankful that we made all of our connections without any problems. In fact, there was a wheelchair awaiting us at each gate connection for Amy since she has a sprained ankle. You should see the colorful bruises.
Our world is so diverse! On the flight to Tokyo from Detroit, I had opportunity to converse with a man from Singapore who attends the University of Michigan. He is a senior, taking both economics and psychology. He hopes to return to school for his graduate degree before settling down in his home country. He took great interest in our adoption story. His words were, “amazing!”
Across the aisle from me was a woman and her four year old son returning home to Tokyo area. Her husband is in finance (domestic banking). She says the economic situation has hit everywhere. In further conversation, she told me both she and her sister were adopted and has adoption applications filed with an orphanage in Japan. She had worked at one time in connection with an orphanage in Hong King. She’s British and her husband is Moroccan, Maldives, and other nationalities all wrapped in one. One reason for her trip was to seek other ways to have children. I didn’t pry.
In answer to prayer, Samuel was a very good traveler. He fussed very little, but also didn’t eat a lot. (The food was pretty good even though the portions were small.) The long flight did not have any good movies to watch but the boy across the aisle and his mother proved to be a good distraction. They shared their sticker book with him. The brief flight to Beijing from Tokyo had in seat screens that allowed Samuel to choose his own movie --- Toy Story.
This morning we plan to do some sightseeing with our adoption group. After a delicious buffet hotel breakfast we plan to visit Tiananman Square, Forbidden City, a fresh water pearl factory, enjoy traditional Chinese lunch [with a floor show?], Summer Palace, silk factory, and a buffet dinner - probably Beijing Duck. Tomorrow we will visit an international church, head to the Great Wall, (which will be very cold and breezy), and do some other things if there is time. We don’t know when we fly out for Hangzhou Sunday evening so we may miss the Chinese acrobat show - drat! Missed it again! I would rather see them than some of the other sites.
We met two of our adoption families last night at the airport. Sherri met us there. She seems to be very nice.
Our hotel room is small. It only has one bed so Holly, Amy and I shared the bed while we made a little place for Samuel on the floor. The room is really set up for a businessman. One whole area is filled with a desk and phone. It’s very nice but not exactly for a family of four. Since it was so late when we pulled in, we weren’t about to complain. The bed was so soft and inviting.
Saturday, December 20
It’s the end of a very long day and we are exhausted. Samuel was the first to meltdown and crash - More on that later. Today we:
1. Enjoyed a wonderful breakfast buffet at the hotel restaurant (included)
2. Traveled with our other adoption families to Tiananman Square. It was quite cold, in
the 20’s with some wind. We were so glad to have worn our lined trousers, heavy
winter coat, hat and gloves.
3. Visited the Forbidden City. Amy and Samuel walked the entire 720,000 square meters
of land though none of us went into all of the 8,700 rooms. It’s an impressive complex.
One does not wonder why UNESCO voted to have the site protected as an
international historic site.
4. We enjoyed some traditional fare at a local restaurant and then went out to see the
Emperor’s Summer Palace. Again, it was pretty cold and the water was frozen to ice
but we managed.
5. We visited a fresh water pearl factory and a silk factory. I missed the latter site because
Samuel fell asleep on the bus and I didn’t have the heart to awaken him. When he did
awaken, it was not a pretty sound as he wailed for about 20 minutes.
6. Our last stop this evening was at a restaurant that served a very eclectic meal,
including a Chinese version of pizza (with no sauce)
We are beginning to hear other family’s adoption stories. What a blessing to see God at work in their lives. The hotel Internet is still not functioning so we are unable to post a report. Please be patient with us.
Tomorrow we attend the International Christian Fellowship Church and then go to the Great Wall. We will have lunch and dinner togethehr before we take off for Hangzhou.

Is this what it's like for a missionary?

Packing! We're already tired of it. In making preparations for two weeks in China, we had to think like a missionary:
1. What kind of climate will we experience there? - In our case we are traveling to four different cities in China. Beijing will be 25-30 degrees and much colder at the Great Wall (20 with a wind chill factor of -4). So we dress for winter and bring heavy clothes right? Not exactly. At the close of the weekend we travel to Hangzhou, near Shanghai. The weather there is clear and in the 50's. That's spring time weather!. Light jacket. Hold on. WE then travel to Wenzhou (six hours south by car). It will be closer to 60 degrees. But we'll only be there for a few days and then we travel to Guangzhou in the south where it will be 75 degrees (summer to us). Light clothing, short sleeve shirts. A challenge for sure.
2. What are the weight restrictions for luggage? - Northwest Airlines and most US carriers allow 70 pounds per suitcase and you can take two suitcases per person. Our first trial packing was great! I had 50 pounds and Holly had about the same. However, since we will be traveling China airlines in country we have a weight restriction of 44 pounds PER PERSON. In addition, we are bringing 40 pounds of donation in a suitcase designated for the orphanage. Add it up. One bag for each traveler and a donation bag? We're not only over the weight restriction but we have too many bags! So we began to elimate all of our snack food and eliminate other non-essential items. Then we squeezed Samuel and Steven's bags together; Roger and Holly's bags went together. Amy has her own bag and some of our stuff. We're ready now, I think.
3. Will we make all of our connections? Just getting to China will be a chore for us and we're concerned that our luggage will follow us there.
4. Will Steven be adequately prepared to receive his new family? Will Samuel accept him as a brother? We have been preparing him for this change but we have little control over how Steven will perceive this new change. We sent him a translated letter and pictures of our family. And we have been praying for his welfare and encouragement. We have also been praying about his disabilities and how we can get him from one place to another since his walking is quite labored. Thankfully we will have a wheelchair accessable at the Northwest Airline terminals. And we tried to secure the most comfortable seating for him on the planes. But there are many things outside of our control that we must trust in the Lord.

The Bible passage that has brought much encouragement to me today comes from Galatians 4:4-5. "But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons (i.e. adoption). This is the first time I really saw the ministry of adoption connected specifically with Christmas! God had been preparing Jesus' arrival into this world for thousands of years. Can you imagine how excited He was on the day he sent Jesus Christ into the world. No wonder a choir of angels greeted the shepherds with such exuberance! Can you imagine how much more excited God became when he adopted you into his forever family on the day you received Him (John 1:12). Jesus Christ made it possible for us to experience adoption and now we are wonderfully privileged to help a little boy experience that same privilege and joy.

Adoption Itinerary

We are posting our adoption itinerary so that you can pray for us each day we are out of the country. We know that prayer will make a big difference in this ministry. We thank you in advance!
Thursday, December 18 - Deaparting for Beijing from Philadelphia (23 hours!)
Friday, December 19 - Arriving in Beijing late at night - exhausted!
Saturday, December 20 - Beijing Sight-seeing: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City,
Summer Palace, perhaps the olympic stadium. Sampling delicious Chinese cuisine
Sunday, December 21 - Church service (last time we saw Max Lucado). Great Wall. In the
evening we fly to Zhejiang Province.
Monday, December 22 - Hangzhou - GOTCHA DAY! We meet Steven Yufei for the first
time. We also speak with the nannies and orphanage director, begin the paperwork
process
Wednesday and Tursday, December 23-24 More adoption paperwork in Wenzhou.
Thursday, December 25 - Merry Christmas! (a quiet day? Not in our home)
Friday, December 26 - With Steven's passport in hand, we travel to Guangzhou
Saturday, December 27 - Sightseeing and shopping on Shamian Island
Sunday, December 28 - Yu Fei's medical eam and Consulate paperwork
Monday, December 29 - Official U.S. Consulate Appointment
Tuesday, December 30 - Pick up Steven's Visa
Wednesday, December 31- Leave for home from Guangzhou (only 22 hours)

As you can see we will be quite busy. Pray for our health, that we'll make all of our connections and that Yu Fei will be receptive to his new family. Pray for others who are adopting their children. God bless you!

Getting to Know You

So far we've learned that there area about twelve families joining us on our adoption travel group. It'll be fun learning about their adoption journeys. You can learn about our first adoption story by going to www.showhope.com or www.achildwaits.org and read our story in the "family feature" section. Amy, our 17 year old will be joining us on this adoption trip and will become our official photo-journalist. there is only nine days remaining before we travel, yet in all of the planning, we still feel unprepared. There have been so many people involved in helping us bring an orphan home to our family, people from all over the country. Thank you! It is truly a journey of faith, trusting in the Lord for every provision. The prayers of God's people mean so much to us right now.

Crazy Flight Plans

Hi Everyone!
Presently we're running high on adrenalin as we prepare for our trip to China. And we'll need that extra cup of coffee to get through our 23 hour travel day. We depart on December 18 from Philadelphia at a reasonable hour to Detroit (2 hours flight time). Then we wait for 2 hours and fly to Tokyo (nearly 14 hours in the air) where we wait another 2 1/2 hours before our 4 1/2 hour flight to Beijing. Please pray that Samuel handles the journey well.

In addition to adopting Stephen Yu Fei, we will also be giving a large suitcase full of hats and scarves to the children of the Wenzhou orphange. Actually we will not be allowed to visit the orphanage in person but will donate the items to the director when we meet him or her with Yu Fei and a nanny in Hangzhou. What a blessing these articles of warm clothing will be to the boys and girls, especially at this time of year as most orphanages do not have adequate heat. Many of the children are bundled up indoors! May God grant a special blessing for all those who donated toward this worthy cause.

about the family

For all who don't know:
Holly and I have two daughters: one age 21 and married who will be presenting us with our first grandchild in April, a 17 year-old with many musical talents, a four year old son adopted from China. And, Lord willing, we will be traveling to China in another 12 days or so to receive our second son, a seven year-old boy with limb issues. Stay tuned!

Greetings family and friends!
We have created this blog to enable you to participate in our journey of adoption. We hope to share our hopes, fears, struggles, victories, prayer requests and progresses made. Welcome to the chiNauss blog page!
Roger and Holly