Beijing Day Two: Church & that Wall you may have heard about

Let me first say this:  Beijing is one really beautiful city.  Generally all big cities look the same, sure, but this city is so warm and inviting, and just aesthetically pleasing even on the highways-- a unique office complex... then tiny village and farms... then historical buildings... then more tiny (I mean TINY) villages... then the Olympic Park and monuments...then more office buildings, etc.  But Lauren's favorite thing is the bright flowers/landscaping lining all the major roads.. it just really adds something that makes you smile.

We started the day at the Beijing Christian Church service, and were reminded that the best place to "be the church" is not necessarily IN Sunday church but rather, in the marketplace, just as Jesus related in the parable of the talents.  He delineated "the business-world" as the place to lead by Godly example.  We should attend to whatever place/employer/school/situation in which HE has placed us and invest in that place, and minister in that place, and be like Christ in that place wherever He has put us... Of course, here in Beijing, in a Christian church, just 30 hours before meeting our daughter, it definitely felt like we are in the right place at the right time, and that His will was being fulfilled in our lives.

After church we toured the famous jade factory, learned about the ancient traditions and jade types, and of course picked up some souvenirs.   And yes, all the girls working at the shop paid mucho attention to the boys, especially Adam and that bright blonde hair.. they even gave him a new "Chinese hairstyle."

Then, we had lunch at a traditional Chinese buffet.. which I only mention to show off this family picture I really like.

Then it was on to that great big Wall you may have heard about.

It is the rainy season in this part of China, and as we drove up to the entrance, the thunderclouds and lightning flashes were ominously trying to intimidate... but we did not fly some 9000km around the world to look at a wall from inside the bus!  We determined we were going up -- all the way to the top! We had 90 minutes.  OK, sounds reasonable.  So I thought.

Group photo, then family photo at the start, and off we went, up as far and as high as one can go at this part of the wall.   Adam and AJ actually made it about 5 minutes and they were done.  They were the wise ones.  Lauren, Greg and Daniel (and several others in our group) continued on, up, up, STRAIGHT up what felt at times like 90 degrees up.  Lauren and Daniel had no problem with any of this.  I, however, was feeling the effects of a big lunch, and a big body, and gravity too.  The steps are fantastically uneven, some low, some high, some wide, some narrow... made for quite the challenge. The rain threatened, attacked, then retreated to leave us in sunshine, and encouraged us to continue up.  I pressed on... slowly, painfully... toward the top, while Lauren and Daniel somehow ran the Ironman competition up the stairs.  All the while, as I watched the rest of our group grow smaller, higher, and farther from me, I am passing signs with Mao ZeDong proclaiming me a girly-man if I don't make it to the top.  Or, at least, that's how I read it.

Finally, amidst much huffing, puffing, and gnashing of teeth, made it to the top, and then basically sprinted down the stairs-- which may have been even harder-- knowing full well that most everyone else in our tour group is now waiting for the chubby guy to make it back down.   Another family picture (notice one large family member looks considerably more worn out than the rest?)

Yes.  We made it to the top (much higher than what you see in these pictures) and the view was exhilarating.  Such beautiful country, and a great experience.

Tomorrow morning (EARLY!) we fly to our province and finally meet Betty.  We are bursting with emotion, and I wonder what she is thinking about, and what she will think of her new family.

Continue to keep us, especially Betty, in your prayers.  Tomorrow's the BIG DAY.

 "In God whose word I praise, in God I trust, I will not be afraid.  What can mortal man do to me?" Psalm 56:4