Crossover on CCTV-9 (my 15 seconds of fame)

Last year Tim Baker did an interview on CCTV-9's English show called Crossover. The producers felt there was more to be said and when Tim is talking there is always more to be said. After visiting us at Shepherd's Field, they decided to film two more segments.

In January they returned. The day began with a tour of Shepherd's Field. The cameras followed Tim from house to school to clinic to therapy. After that, we all gathered in our makeshift studio to finish the show. It was wonderful. Tim and the host sat in front of the cameras while the rest of us served as the audience. We all had our chance to say a few words and we were even able to FaceTime Pam Baker and a couple of the adoptive families. The whole experience was great. It was definitely something that doesn't happen everyday, but something extremely special.
Here are the links to the two new segments:

Crossover - Shepherd's Field part 1
Crossover - Shepherd's Field part 2

As well as a few photos from the day of filming:

Eating the Winter Away

Back in December some of us started running together. It seemed to be going pretty well until the snow came. It isn't normal for this area to see as much snow as it has, but this year we have had plenty of white days. In a location frequented by snow, the roads are taken care of with plows, salt, etc. But here, in our little neck of the woods, the middle of nowhere, the roads are impossible after snow. They don't get plowed or salted. They get icy. You can't run on ice. You can fall on ice (I have pictures of the bruises to prove it), but you can not run on ice. But the lack of running is not the full reason I can't drop any excess pounds. This is the reason:

 

Posting all those photos made me hungry! This country really knows how to make great food! However, as soon as the weather improves just a bit more, I want to get back out there. Who wants to join?

Power of Prayer

This week is a holiday week. Not just any holiday, it is Spring Festival...Chinese New Year. This is bigger than Christmas around here. Most shops and restaurants are closed for the entire week. All of our Chinese staff (other than the nannies) are off for the week as well. That hasn't left much work for us to do either, but today we had a guest, a friend from a year ago who came back to visit. We enjoyed a great lunch at the only restaurant still open this week. After that, we came back to Shepherd's Field to spend time with the kids. At the end, we went to the Vocational Center to show our friend the progress. He was here just over a year ago. At that time, we went back and prayed over the building which wasn't much more than a single story. Today it stands four stories tall with hopes of being completed and open before the end of the year. It was special to stand on the roof with him once again and pray over the building. We thanked God for all that He has provided and prayed for His continued provision.

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things."   Matthew 6:31-32

View from the top of the fourth floor of the Vocational Center

Sisters are the best friends

When I was home in November, my sister got engaged to her long time boyfriend. I am over the moon excited for these two. In my life, I've never known another person like my sister. For all the years of fighting and wanting to kill each other, we are now blessed with a friendship that I could not replace. She is beautiful, funny, sincere, honest, the list goes on... She has the incredible gift of caring for others above herself. I have seen her selflessly give her time and energy to help our family time after time. What sticks in my mind most is the way she has cared for my grandparents. First she was always there to help out with our grandpa before he passed. Now, even in her insanely busy life, she is always willing to help with our grandma. I know what that means to my aunts who care for her full time at home. My sister is not one to waste her gifts. She knows Who they come from and she is not one to waste His blessings either. She seeks the Lord each day and encourages those around her, not only with word, but with action.

David Lim is probably the luckiest man in the world to be marrying such woman as Danielle. He is something special, too. I am so excited to welcome him to the family as my brother. I look forward to many years of happiness for these two who will begin their new life together on June 2, 2013. I know it is a love built around God which is the most beautiful love there is.

Before I returned to China, my sister had asked me to be in her wedding, but yesterday morning I woke up to the "official" invitation:

"And when the roosters are crowing and the cows are doing circles in the pasture!... DUCKS FLY TOGETHER!" Be one of my Ducks?