Guangzhou Day #3

I had to get a picture of the portion sizes here.   No wonder everyone is tiny!  These are the waffles and pancakes
in a 4oz tea cup at our last hotel.

This, however, is the breakfast buffet at our current, more "Western" hotel.  This is one of two rooms at our breakfast buffet - there is a second adjoining 

room filled with more food!  

This morning, Ron and Celese (the American doctors living in Shanghai) rejoined our group for the next steps of paperwork and appointments.  As we were talking with them, they shared about their best friends in Shanghai.  Apparently, Celease had told their friends about our large family and how she'd love for us to meet.  She told the friend our last name was Polk.  The gal said, is it Travis Polk?!?  Turns out the "friends" are Uriah and Marissa Mundell - a couple who were in our church and student group about 15 years ago, and are now living in Shanghai working for Campus Crusade!!!  Talk about a small world!

Everywhere we go people want to take pictures of the Americans.  Travis says teenager girls are the same all around the world.  The boys are a little embaressed by it.  Don't mind Danny in the background.  :-)

Today was a day off, so we did a little shopping.  I am not a big shopper, and especially not with crying babies in 100 degree weather. Travis, even less so.  ;-)  However, I was able to replace my lost watch for about $6 and it took all of 2 minutes with the help of our guide.  I'm not entirely crazy about it, but it tells time and was the first one I grabbed.  We also picked up just a few little things for the kids - a Christmas ornament for each, play bracelets for the girls, and watches for the boys.  

Pearls at the pearl market.

In the evening we went out for a group dinner, family style.  After a lunch of water and a Moon Pie (Really. The children ate better.) it was a welcomed meal!  These people have all been such a special gift to us during this trip.  Almost all of them are believers and were able to pray for us and encourage us when things were challenging.  If one of our children had a meltdown, they got it.  Chances are their child was biting at the same time.  ;-)  It's also been a joy to be a part of their story, and hear how God brought them together with each of their little ones.  There is nothing more encouraging than to hear how God is working in other's lives!  

Reed in his element.  Using a spoon for the first time.

Tonight was a bit more challenging.  Both babies were crying and only wanting Mommy.  As I laid down with them God was faithful to meet me right there on the floor.  As I thought "this is hard", the Lord reminded me that this is NOT hard.  Hard is my friend who lost a baby.  Hard is another friend who lost a husband.  Hard is the single mother, struggling to support her children. Hard is the children left behind in the orphanage.  Laying on the floor of a 5 star hotel with two crying babies (MY 2 babies) is not hard.  Stretching?  Maybe.  Sanctifying?  Absolutely.  Crying babies has always been challenging for me, and the more that are crying, the greater the stretch.  The verse that came to mind was "The Lord is compassionate and gracious.  Slow to anger and abounding in love."  Lord, help me continue to grow in abounding love.

In closing, I thought I'd share just a few fun pictures of life in China.  ;-)

We love the remodeling technique!  This was our hotel in Zhengzhou, which they were updating.  They would break out the windows and then push the old out the windows to the pile below.

This was the sidewalk scene in Zhengzhou as well.  No right of way for pedestrians!  One time there was even a car on the "sidewalk". My favorite combo were the Grandmas on the scooters with face masks, but I was never able to capture one on my camera.

And lastly, the Starbucks frappiccino flavors.  Strawberry Cheesecake Cream, Tiramisu, 

and the newest addition - Earl Gray Jelly!  Yum?