China Mission 2008

Sunday, August 3

2008-08-03T23:19:00.003-05:00

We left for the airport and some last minute sight seeing of Shanghei at 10:15am.

On our last day in Shanghei we saw lots of fog from the tallest buidling in the city. It was still a good experience.

We then headed to the airport, got all checked in through security and boarded our plane 25minutes late. After we boarded we where informed that we would have a delay due to the weather. We sat on the plane from 3:30 until 6:30 pm when we finally took off for our 14 hour flight to Chicago. All I know is that the Father answers prayer for safe travel. He kept us safe and on the ground until the time was right.

We landed in Chicago and instead of having a 4hr layover we had 1.5 hours to make it through US customs, getting lugage, security, checking lugage for Houston and then to the final destination.

Thank you for all of the prayers that have been lifted up on our behalf over the last 12 days. We could feel the presence of the Father each and everyday. Many times we needed to feel that presence in a dark land.

Blessing!
Jimmie

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/ChinaDays1011

Saturday, August 2

2008-08-02T09:52:00.002-05:00

Today was a day of sight seeing and touring Shanghei. It was an eye opening experience to see all of the people who worship false gods.

Tomorrow is our last night in China. We leave for the airport at 10:15am.

Request for safe travel. Everyone is feeling much better.

Thank you Father for healing.

See everyone on Sunday.

Jimmie

Friday, August 1

2008-08-01T07:21:00.004-05:00

Today started out very early with us having to be at the airport in Urumqi at 6:30am for an 8:30am flight. UGH! This was very difficult since many of our team was under the weather yesterday.

Our Father being the provider of everything gave everyone strength enough to wake up early and get to the airport on time.

Our flight was 4hrs. 30 min. to Shanghai and was uneventful. Once on board those that felt under the weather had time to rest and relax.

In Shanghai we took a 45 minute bus ride from the airport to the hotel where we decided to allow everyone to have a leisurly afternoon of resting, some shopped and others slept.

We had an absolutely wonderful meal this afternoon-PIZZA!! OH My! We also have starbucks across from the hotel. Yippee!!

It is 8:25pm right now and the sky is dark, we are under a partial eclipse of the sun. I will last about 45 minutes. The sun normally doesn't set here in China until about 9:30pm.

As you can tell today was a wonderful day to rest and attempt to recover.

pictures tomorrow, I'm going to bed.

Blessing!
Jimmie

Request: those still sick Jan & David, but they are on the mend. Keep lifting them up!

Thursday, July 31

2008-07-31T09:25:00.002-05:00

Today we traveled by bus, foot, gondola and boat to view one of the most beautiful spots. We went to Heavenly Lake, and even though it seemed like it took a while to get there the trip was worth the effort. It was another example of our Father showing off when he formed the dry ground, moutains and everything else he has done.

Please lift us up to the Father! We are growing weary and some are getting sick.

Request for those that are ill: Roy, Hack, David, Jan, Heather, Mike, Jimmie, Diane
Request: Tomorrow we travel from Urumqi to Shanghi (at airport by 6:40am)

Sorry it is so short.

Jimmie

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/China2008Day8

Wednesday, July 30

2008-07-30T11:03:00.003-05:00

Today we spent a lot of time in the bus getting the chance to see more of China. We traveled from Urumqi City to the city of Tarpan which is 600 ft. below sea level, Urumqi is at 1500 ft. above sea level. It was a slow steady descent and a very bumpy ride.

When we arrived in Turpan we visited the ancient ruins of "Gaochang", which dates back to the Tang Dynasty. Jiaohe is over 2000 years old. It was amazing to see the remaining structures and the bricks that had been made by hand.

Then we traveled to the mosque of Emin Minaret, great architecture.
The last place to visit was the underground irrigation system that was hand dug with hundreds of wells, tunnels and resevoirs that lead snowmelt into the orchards to help supply the water for the city of Turpan.

We also had the opportunity to shop in the local market, which is an eye opening experience. The open market has everything you could need with what seems some of the very poorest people providing wares. The average income of a person in Beijing is $300 a month with a college degree. The average in the area of Tarpan is less that $150 a month. It makes us so thankful for what we have.

We (I) didn't know why the Father had the plans for Wednesday/Thursday not work out, but now I think it is because he wanted us to see other needs in the portion of the world. I saw children, adults-young & old, who had a lost look in their eyes. A look that shows a void, a void that can only be filled by our Father.

Jimmie

Request:
That the Father would open doors to ministry in the region of China.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/China2008Day7

Tuesday, July 29

2008-07-29T10:23:00.003-05:00

Today was a day for us to Labor in the garden along side the children and orphanage staff. We spent time picking cucumber, bell pepper, tomato and egg plant. It was a fun time! This gave us the opportunity to show the children and the staff that we where willing to do anything for them with a joyful heart.

The next part was spent for some of us in taking a tour of the new building that will be completed in September. After this we spent time with the children. We made balloon animals, painted finger nails, made bandana bracelets and did some face painting. Both the children and the team had lots of fun. We also played with the remote control cars we had brought for the children and large playground balls.

Then it was time for our rest and lunch time.

We then loaded the bus with some of the children and went to a second facility in the city that we are all very impressed by because of the best equipment and facilities that money can buy. After touring this facility and getting to see the therapy areas, library, computer lab and foster care apartments we waitied. Some of the members who have been to this region before w here able to connect with directors, doctors and caregivers they had developed relationships with on previous trips.

One of the children who we all connected with is "KR" as we worked today we went from member to member of team asking which of his new friends would be taking him back to America. He was a joy who touched all of our lives and it was difficult to leave today. As we boarded the bus we discovered that we would not be permitted to return to the orphange again this week. So what little we did, what connections we made, what lives we touched will have to be nourished by the Father until the next trip.

Due to some closed doors by government officials we will be going to a differnt hotel than is on our itinerary.

Blessings,

Jimmie

Request:
Health (some members are under the weather), unity, safety

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/China2008Day6

Monday, July 28

2008-07-28T08:37:00.004-05:00

Today we started our day by taking the bus ride out to Urumqi City orphanage/foster care center.

We met with the director and her assitant and they explained the work that is being done and the she told us about the new buidling that will be completed in September.

The new building will be a three story structure that will have two floors for transitional living for those children who are too old to stay in the orphanage but have special needs and they will be taught skills to add to the work force. The third floor will have new equipment that will serve as the place for therapy that is needed for the children.

After the meeting it was time to do our favorite thing- Love on children!

Our first room was older special needs children who are being taught a skill/craft that they can sell. Being the good shoppers we are we bought some beautiful pieces made by the children. It was so good to see, that They are all Precious in his sight!

We then spent time on the playground fishing from a plastic pool- Go Doug and Claire! Some also played games with children. Ashley had the chance to reconnect with one of the girls she had met on an earlier trip. You could see the joy in both of them.

The highlight was the children dancing for us and playing games at a little performance. As is the custom in China, we then had to perform for them. Sarah designed an interp to Steven Curtis Chapmans new song "The Circle Game" that is partially sung in Chinese (you can only find it in China).

After all of this we played, laughed and loved on children. It has been a GREAT day of service.

Jimmie

Request:
Unity,
health,
stamina,
openness to appointments to share the Word.

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/China2008Day502

Sunday, July 27

2008-07-27T09:56:00.004-05:00

What a day of worship! We attended a local Christian church that will have close to 5,000 brothers and sisters in attendance today.

We sang (we all learned a little Chinese today), talked to the Father and heard a glorious message that we could not understand, but we could tell that The Book was being taught. The choir sang beautifully and led wonderfully.

After the service we had the chance to meet with the Senior Pastor who has been at this church for "60" years. He said when he came here the city had 100 brothers and sisters, now about 20,ooo. The Father is at work!

Towards the end of the service we sang "The Doxology" with all voices lifted in praise, the language didn't matter.

The rest of the day involved eating and becoming very proficient at using chopsticks. Then we had the opportunity to going to a local market where they sell everything except the kitchen sink and had a time fun time shopping.

Request:
continued unity and growth as a team,
stamina for the work at the Urumqi City orphanage tomorrow and Tuesday,
patience as wait on the Father to reveal his plans for Wednesday and Thursday

Blessing!
Jimmie

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/China2008Day4

Saturday, July 26

2008-07-26T11:40:00.005-05:00

Today we checked out of our hotel in Beijing and started our day by having a time of going before the Father and bringing our request to him. We found out that some doors have been closed and we don't know what the plan is to replace them but the Father does, so we left it in his hands and went out doing his work today.

It was an AMAZING day as we went to Hope Foster Home and got to "Love" the little children. Hope Foster home is a home where orphanges send babies who they do not think have long to live. Some babies come with clef palates, severe diarrehea, heart defects, and many other problems. Some time the larger orphanges don't know how to handle the problems so they send them to "Hope" Foster Home. The babies are loved and cared for and more than 90% of them do survive with medical treatment and nutrition as opposed to the 50% survival rate for these children if they remain in the large orphanages.

Hope Foster home is the one that Stephen Curtis Chapman partners with and is helping to build a larger building. In the new facility they will be able to bring in doctors on medical mission to do the surgeries on site and not go through all the red tape to send them to the surgeons around the world.

You will see from the pictures that we LOVED the children. Many of us had a hard time pulling away when it was time to leave.

After we spent time with the babies we went to the airport for our trip to Urumqi where we will spend the next 5 days doing whatever the Father has planned for us. We don't know what yet, but he does.

You can see from the pictures that our Father was showing his wonder and might when he created the mountains, desert, clouds and the expanse of the sky. What a Glorious sight to see from 30,000 feet.

Request: health for the team (NO one is sick), restfl and flexibility as we meet needs.

Jimmie

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/China2008Day3

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/ChinaMission2008?authkey=7O0xeUgkIq8

Friday, July 25, 2998

2008-07-25T10:29:00.003-05:00

Today was sightseeing day. Most of us work up early (between 4-5am) because we haven't adjusted to the time change. We spent a lot of time with our tour guide, Kevin explaining the history of Beijing, the old and the new parts as we rode.

We walked on the Great Wall of China. That was an amazing experience! Then we rode to one of the oldest part of the city and took Hutong Paticab tour through one of the oldest parts of town. We did some shopping and saw an acrobatic show at a theater. It was an amazing day of getting to build unity and relationships with our team and having fun at the same time.

For those of us that have never been to China we are enjoying the food. It is quiet an experience trying to eat with chopsticks, but we have managed not to starve.

The Father has build friendships and unity. Tomorrow we go to a local place called Hope Healing Home to see the work they do and spend time with the babies.

In the afternoon we will fly to Urumqi!

Requests: safe travel, unity, Father's appointments

Jimmie

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/China2008Day2

Thursday, July 24, 2008 8:30 pm

2008-07-24T07:32:00.004-05:00

Today has been a wonderful day of travel. We left Houston Intercontinental at 6:30 am and flew to Chicago. When we arrived in Chicago we had a 3 hours layover that turned into 6 hours. We boarded at 2:45 for our 14 hour flight to Bejing, China.

We spent lots of time getting to know one another, and being excited at what would happen over the next 12 days.

We have arrived and are all checked into the hotel. I will post pictures tomorrow, as we are going to dinner right now.

Thank you for the request brought before the Father for safe travel. They have been answered.

Blessings!
Jimmie

http://picasaweb.google.com/jimmieo3/China2008

Preparations

2008-07-17T16:32:00.003-05:00

It is nearing the time we leave for China. We are making final preparations, gathering materials, and SPEAKING to Father daily and waiting to see what appointments our Father has for each member of the team.

What an exciting time as we go and are the hands and feet of Jesus.

Join us and have daily conversations with our Father for each member of the team so that we will keep our eyes open, heart tuned to our Father, ears listening to OUR Fathers' voice and our feet moving wherever our Helper and Guide leads us.