Beijing to Nanning

Right now Dan and i are sitting in our new hotel room at 'the Majestic' in Nanning - 'the greenest city in China' it boasts, and was gorgeous flying into. We have not had much time-or internet connection- to post the last 2 days. 

So two days ago while we were still in Beijing we left early morning for another busy day of touring. Blessed with a beautiful and crisp day of sunshine, we first followed our guide Emily and three other couples, past the first train station in Beijing, which is no longer in use, then crossed the street underground, to Tien an men Square.  We then followed the crowds of Chinese people waiting in line to go into a mausolem built in honor of Chairman Mao. 

 

We listened to Emily explain the government buildings surrounding, and then crossed the expansive square and another underground 'street' of people, into the forbidden city. Interestingly at every checkpoint or security site thus far, including the airport customs, only the Chinese people were stopped and made to get in a long line to be searched, but not any foreigners or tour groups.  Our tour guide just said 'we were special' because we were in a group..... hmmm.  As you can see, we kind of went crazy taking pictures inside the layers of the palace and forbidden city.  The photo of the relief carving is the largest carving like it from one single rock, in China. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our forbidden city tour we were taken with our group to a smaller authentic Chinese restaurant where we met a HOLT representative who gave us more logistical information about when we were to arrive in our specific provinces for our children.  He was very helpful and even called right then to check up on Glory. He said she was doing well and was released on Friday and had been with her foster mom the whole time in the hospital! What a blessing that was to us, to hear. His mercies are ALL over the place here. 

 

After lunch we drove through more of the sprawling city of outer Beijing (we are continually amazed at how spread out the city is, with miles of 'downtown' highrises and apartments) to a famous silk factory where we were given a tour and shown how the silkworm grows and spins a cocoon and how they extract the silk threads and weave together. The boys would have loved it! It simultaneously impressed and grossed me out!  They also said that once they were finished with the silkworms, they roast and eat them! Finally heading back to the hotel, we found dinner(no silkworms) and walked the streets exploring for a bit and fell into bed early again. This trip the jet lag is really hitting me by surprise now instead of on the return journey. Not so much Dan, but i am SO tired! I think i will just be walking around in a daze once we get her and are up all night, i am assuming. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next morning we were up pretty early to get ready to fly to Nanning that day. That was yesterday. For us. =0) I went downstairs to say goodbye to one of the couples that we had just met, who were adopting the 9 yr old. Even though we had just met, there is something so sweet about being on this lifechanging journey with other couples, at THIS crucial point in the journey, that 'bonds you' together. And from the instant that we met them i guessed that they were believers (only about half of the couples we have met are) and was an unexpected blessing to even just talk about how God had his hand in each of our adoption journeys. So anyway, i went down to give her a hug (it is a weird thing that for this big day there is no one else from your home to hug you!=0) and we ended up sitting down with her husband and son as well and holding hands, praying in the lobby of a hotel in communist China! Now, maybe you are thinking this isn't a big deal and they might be used to Americans and their faith in public, but i still was encouraged greatly we didn't get 'in trouble'! 

Yesterday was long! We flew into Nanning and were briefed by our new HOLT rep. Jane, on the bus ride out to our hotel. She shared with us, so professionally, about everything we would need to know, what was available to us, how to respond to different things, scheduling the next few days, answered so many questions. We were just thoroughly impressed and thankful we went with HOLT as our agency, at that moment! We have already heard several horrid adoption stories from the couples we have met, who stopped their other processes and switched to HOLT and now are here. We are so thankful HOLT seems to run things like a 'well oiled machine'! So anyway, while we were on the bus, we found out that we will probably be able to vist Glory's orphanage and foster mom and ask her all the questions that we want to! This is a huge blessing for us, but for Glory as well. We also found out that her foster mom (per our awesome guide Jane) took very good care of Glory and has had much experience taking other babies and children with cleft lip and palate and knew how to feed her and help her! Apparently she has two other children there now with her husband and mother. So there are 3 adults to 3 children in her home. Jane also said that the foster mom is eager to meet us and is happy to have Glory adopted. We will see... i am anxious to meet her. We don't know yet if i will go or just Dan, but will not bring Glory with whomever goes.

Right now we are really missing the boys and yet hoping they aren't missing us yet.  So many couples here have brought their children, it seems like a great experience for them but we will have to save that for a long day down the road!  It does make us miss them though.  One of the couples we met last night from Virginia, this will be their first child, and they are getting a little boy 2yrs-his birthday this Thursday! Thanksgiving!  And the other family from Oklahoma, will be getting a 3 yr old boy (they have 2 girls here with them that have been adopted from Vietnam and China) that they were told is 'a spitfire'.=0)  We know about spitfire!=0) so we are all about telling them what they need to know of Star Wars and Legos and Hot Wheels and such! 

Right now we will head out on the town to 'the People's Park' and try to relax! Ha! Countdown is 5 hours until we meet her.  I can't tell if i am shivering from excitement or the air conditioning that works better than i was expecting!

So long for now!