Time with Kristen & Brent during their Spring Break

When all else fails, use your fingers.

 Two peas in a pod.

Time with Kristen & Brent - Sun, Apr. 13

Gifts from home - coffee anyone?
Oh, and the bell and string was for a strung-up security system to make sure they behave themselves. :)

Their first evening - in Olympic Forest Park

People Stories - Random Strangers

We met a lot of people when Ellen & Victor were here. The Hatfields have never been known to pass up a good, random conversation.

One of their first days here we were walking past the bakery where Mark buys his favorite buttery cookies. Mark & Victor had walked ahead of Ellen & me when Ellen & I heard “English…English…Do I hear English?” from a man riding a bike behind us. Ellen asked him what accent he would like to hear. He said “South Carolina.” “No way” she responded. So we stopped to chat with him. We learned that he had come to Beijing two months before to teach English to young children, like so many others. It turns out he is from Greer, SC and graduated from Riverside High School in 1998. We all were amazed how God put us together on that street in Beijing just across from NorthStar. He was flabbergasted. He said that his first month was very difficult getting adjusted and living here. We gave him one of our cards and invited him to BBC. We will see if he comes; he said he would like to.

Another night on the way home from visiting the Olympic venues, we noticed a young lady on the subway reading her Bible. Naturally Mark talked with her. In the conversation, Mark tried to ask what book of the Bible she was reading. She said a book written by Paul. It was either Galatians or Ephesians. When Mark told her what he does, she was very pleased. She said “Thank you for coming to China.” We tried to explain Mark leads an international body. She brightened as she told us that she is a Chr..... as are her husband and her parents.  As we parted ways, Ellen gave her a hug and we said we would remember her and her people. I encouraged her to persevere in the L. What a sweet meeting.

People Stories - Fangshan

Saturday, March 29

Mark & I have now visited Fangshan twice. What wonderful place. Fangshan is sponsored by Living Hope International (www.livinghopeintl.org).

Fangshan is not an orphanage but a training center. Children who live here come from some of the poorest villages and provinces. They have no parents but they do have elderly grandparents or other relatives.  The relatives do not have the means or health to raise these children but, naturally, they love them and want to be with them. The training center provides housing, education, life skills, and Truth teaching to all the children for the school year. During Spring Festival (January & February) and summer (July & August) the children return to their villages to be with their extended family. By doing so, the children receive the training they need to become productive members of society and the center has earned the trust of the families. The children range in age from 5 to about 17.

As we walked about, I asked Rachel, one of the administrators, what their biggest need was and, knowing G can meet their biggest need, how can we pr-- for them? She said the biggest need is heart transformation.  After that is financial support. Please remember these children that G will transform their hearts. It is not enough to train and teach children to behave and follow rules. Real change in behavior comes from a changed heart. Only G can change hearts to obey Him and His word. Then real life change takes place.

We have visited on Saturdays when the children are available. Usually they spend part of the day on normal household chores like cleaning their rooms, washing the laundry, and then homework.  But of course, when the work is done, there is time to play. The kids enjoy games, basketball, and just plain being loved on. This day they had a program prepared for us. However, I think we were unprepared for the tear-jerker of their program. The children danced to a song by Avalon about orphans. Unfortunately, I didn't take a video of the dance that would have included the music.

Some of the Fangshan children

Many of these children are available for sponsorship through the Living Hope International website mentioned above

Beth had only been here about 1.5 weeks and was still adjusting to her new life.

Some of the girls doing their homework.

Putting up a new net

Olive (Nate & Julia's Chinese tutor & friend), Julia, Amber

Fangshan kids and their visitors