Praisin Him

A quick update...

Yesterday we got Eternity's passport without a problem. PTL. I then went, with a Chinese friend, to the PSB (Pulic Secruity Brureau) to apply for an exit permit for Eternity, which is absolutely essential for her to leave the country. Anyway, they would not let us apply for this exit permit because we did not have a police registration form from the local police. This you are to get when you have a passport for the baby, which I didn't know before. So, I came home. This was about lunch time and all government offices close from 12 -2:30 (nap time- literally). I met Patrick for lunch, I just got some Chinese take-out (eggplant mystery) and we came home to wait for 2 hours to go and get Eternity registered with the police. As annoying as waiting around was, getting registered went smoothly, PTL!!! Now we have to wait to Monday to go back to the PSB and apply for an exit permit. We are trusting the Lord that we will be able to get that within 24 hours because Patrick must leave the country on Tuesday. Please continue to agree with us in prayer that this is already done and that the whole visa process goes smoothly. 

The Passport is Here

Thank-you for your prayers concerning Eternity's Passport. We got a call yesterday afternoon saying that it has arrived. I am actually heading out the door right now to go and pick it up. From there I will head to the PSB to apply for her exit permit. This is a visa that allows her to exit the country. 

Thanks again for agreeing with us in prayer, 

Newspaper vs diapers

 I am in the middle of hanging the laudry to dry. The sky is overcast once again, and I hear thunder in the distance. Are wi in for another Typhoon? It is hard to say. Sometimes we can see the thick black clouds in the distance accompanied by the flashing of lighening and the crashing of thunder, but we the storm never comes near us. The is what happened yesterday and I may be the case again today. 

As I hang the laundry I also find myself filled with thanks as I remember a time, just a few months ago, when the clothes could hang for three days and still not be dry. In this season, however, and the reason for my thankful attitude, the clothes can be dry in matter of hours. I love the sun. As I am typing this I am further reminded of clothes dryers. This may sound funny, but I actually forgot that they existed. The thought of a clothes dryer. I never forgot my knowledge of such a machine when the clothes never dried outside, but know that there is no problem with them drying, I have forgotten that they exisit. Anyway, I could ponder this for while. But....

For another PTL moment. Patrick and I made another, yet divine we believe, connection yesterday.I am eager to jump at opportunities with this connection, especially since our time here is growing shorter by the minute. Of course, if it is truly divine, then HE will make is happen, and we simply are the pawns under complete submission to the master trusting Him to us effective way. please pray that, that if we are to join with this connection for a great purpose that it will be done. 

We were walking home the other day from picking up ingredients for making dinner when we passed a mother holding her small baby, maybe the same age as Eternity. This baby was wearing the traditional, completely common, "peek-a-boo" outfit. I know I have mentioned before that the Chinese babies and toddlers wear outfit/pants with the croch and bum missing/jsut not there. The purpose for this is so they can go to the bathroom and not mess their pants. Yes, they just go wherever, whenever. I will spare the stories of the sitings I have seen- they are rather revolting. Moving on... I have been told that it is not good that I put a diaper on my baby, "It's not healthy," some say,"It's not good." I am sure that their intentions are good in Chinese advice giving to a Canadian foreigner who appears like she has no idea how to raise a baby (they don't stop to think that I am not Chinese, therefore just becasue my ways are different, it doesn't make them wrong or bad). 

Anyway, back to the story, we are walking past this mother holding her baby wearing the peek-a-boo bottoms. The mother is holding the baby in one hand and a piece of newspaper under the baby with the other hand. The baby clearly just released waste and the mother was using the newspaper to clean up. "So, diapers are bad, but used newspapers are ok?" I thought to myself. The mother got up and disposed of the newspaper in a public garbage can. Newspaper? I so DON'T understand this Chinese mentality against diapers. After seeing that, I am definately no more closer to adopting that Chinese methods of baby raising than I was when I got here. Disposable vs cloth- that I understand. Store bought disposables vs used newspaper, I do not. 

Anyway, the skies are now looking rather dark. Maybe we are going to get that Typhoon after all. Maybe I will hold off on hanging the rest of the clothes out to dry. I think that I will go through our stuff again, pack what we are no longer using and add to the give away pile. Fortunately there are a couple of pregnant women at work that I will be able to bless with the baby stuff. 

As for a prayer request, Pray that Eternity's Canadian passport arrives by or before August 2 and that we will be able to get an exiting visa with in 24 hours of that so that we can leave the country by August 4, when our visas run out. We plan on heading to Hong Kong on August 4th to apply for another visa. Agree with us in prayer that all of this goes smoothly. 

I was told that I gave the wrong e-mail addy for us, so here it is again. thejonesadventurers@gmail.com 

A Typhoon Experience

The weather today is a little gray. I think that we may have another storm rolling in. It apparently is Typhoon season. We, to my knowledge, have only experience 2 here this year so far. The lastest one was last week, and here's the story:

Since it was pay day we decided to go out to eat, to this Chinese style "Western" food restaurant. I had spaghetti, which was pretty good, but not like home, and Amariah and Patrick had china's version of pizza, which isn't that great when you know what the real thing tastes like. And we also ordered fries for an appy. After we made our order, Patrick was said, "I bet we get the appy last and all of our meals come at different times." We like to guess when our meals come, becasue here in China it is like they cook one meal at a time and bring them out as they are done. We have learned to set aside our North American restaurant manners and to eat your food when you get it, otherwise if you wait until everyone is served, whoever was served first will be eating a cold meal. So, my speghetti came first. I like to wait a few minutes to see, if by chance, the other meals follow directly after. While waiting my few moments I noticed that another man in the restaurant also just got served his spaghetti. "I bet they had two orders of spaghetti, at the same time and that is why mine is done first," I though to myself. 

During this time we noticed that it was getting really dark outside, really fast. Flashes of lightening and the sounds of thunder soon followed. I had thought that I heard thunder earlier and wondered if a storm was rolling in. My suspicion was proving to be correct. 

I began to eat my meal when Amariah announced that he had to use the toilet. A facility that is not commonly provided in restaurants here. Patrick new of a public toilet that was not that far of a walk away, so out into the stormy weather they went. It hadn't started to rain yet, but the wind was strong, and the thunder loud. The restaurant workers were busy pulling in the tables they had set out side. It always amazes me how fast the storms roll in here. It starts of with seeing some black coulds, hearing a little thunder, seeing the wind pick up and then BAM torrential downpour. I was praying that Patrick and Amariah were back before the downpour started. (Our appetizer of fries arrived). Just when the rain started, that was when Patrick and Amariah entered the restaurant again. Amariah shared that he only got "alittle bit wet." I was glad. Patrick said that Amariah was scared of the thunder while they were outside, but he was a strongman and got through it. 

By this time it was raining so hard we could hardly see out the restaurant window. "Well, I guess we are hanging out in here for awhile."  The boys started chowing down on fries as I finished my spaghetti. The personal pizzas soon followed.  Patrick started to pick all the ham off of his (Chinese processed ham- disgusting) and Amariah dipped his in ketchup. What can I say, it's different here. 

As I looked at the fries sitting there as the boys ate theor meal, I was once again reminded that even after nine month of being here, I can't shake all of my North American habits. What was the point of ordering an appy? It's China, we knew it wasn't going to come before the meal. 

After about 20 minutes the rain let up to a drizzle and we were able to walk home. 

Prayer Requests: We have applied for Eternity's Canadian passport, which we were told to apply for it 2 weeks before exiting the country, which is what we did. Our visas run out August 4th and we are having to go to Hong Kong to Renew them. Please pray that her passort comes in time for us to get an exiting visa for he so that we can all go to HK. I know that our Father will take care of everything, please agreeinig with us in prayer. 

Not everything is as it appears

We just returned from a beautiful time at our local pool and during our time God reminded of an incredible lesson.

Do you ever have moments when you smell, hear, see, taste or experience something that takes you back to a time when you had that similar experience. For example, just recently I have discovered this amzing ice coffee bevereage at 7-11, it has become my favourite drink and a perfect treat on our recently hot hot days. I reaized that everytime I drink it I am taken back to my break times in California during my time with YWAM. Everyday during my training session at YWAM I would look forward to the breaks so that I may enjoy the ice coffees and a banana nut muffin. It was one of my favourite times in my life, being with a group of passionate believers hungry for more of God, and relaxing with these believers with an ice coffee is a sweet memory. The ice coffee that I discovered at 7-11 tastes just like the ice coffee of YWAM chico, and maybe that is why I love it so much. 

Anyway, being at the pool today, I had another sweet memory visit me. I was laying on a lawn chair, in the summer sun, palm trees all around and a clear pool swimming pool in front of me and for a moment I forgot I was in China, but I was in Hawaii, on vaction, soaking up the rays. It was completely relaxing and I didn't have a care in they world. When I came back to the present I felt God whisper to me. He was allowing me to have these sweet memories of past times visit me to remind me that it doesn't matter where I am but I can enjoy life if I choose to. These sweet whispers from God was like water to my soul. The reason for this is because I have been caught in a cycle of, "the grass is greener on the other side" way of thinking. The grass may look different in different places, but I can enjoy it all the same, if I choose it. Another lesson in enjoying everyday, and not to allow my thought life to be consumed with thoughts of the future. By thinking about it, it sure doesnt make it come any faster. 

Another fun story...

I was walking along the side walk, on my way home, enjoying the summer sun. I noticed a grandad walking along the side walk toward me pushing a baby stroller. "That is so sweet," I thought to myself. I love seeing the older generations loving the new generation. As this grandad approached I was getting ready to peer inside the stroller and make a sweet comment, on what I assumed would be his grandchild. Right when he was close enough I leaned over the side of the stroller with a big smile on my face and ready to make googly eyes at whoever was in there, only to find myself grinning at 4 cans, of what looked like beer, and a bag of rice. I quickly stood up straight, with the big grin still on my face and walked right on. The older gentleman pushing the stroller wasn't fazed one bit. He just kept walking like everything was normal. Not everything is as it appears. 

It is worth is all.

Good Morning!!!!

It is another bright, beautiful and hot day here in Guangzhou. So, hot and humid I try not to go outside. 

Hotmail has been blocked here, unfortunately, so any of you that were e-mailing us using out hotmail accounts, we have no access to them.  Please e-mail us at thejonesadventurers@gmail.com

 A B-student of mine is heading back to her home country for a month. She wanted to have have lunch together before she left, so we had made plans for the Monday. Her boyfriend owns a Lebanese restaurant in the city and she wanted to introduce me to it. Because I can not recall having Lebanese before she wnated to treat me to the best, Hummus, babagounush (I don't know the spelling) kabobs, salad, a fruit smoothie, fries, and an ice cream sunday for dessert. I forgot that I was in China. The food was amazingly good. I didn't want to stop eating, but I couldn't pack anymore in to my already stuffed belly and yet my friend showed concern that I wasn't eating enough and wanted to get more food. I told her that if I ate any more she would be rolling me to the subway. It was such a treat, a real blessing, and a completely G- glorifying moment. She shared with genuine gratitude of how life transforming our meetings have been for her and how I had saved her life. Now I really don't know all the meaning that statement could have, and it isn't my place to know the inner parts of her, but I do know the G is good. Someone once told me, even if one person is change your going to China is worth it all. Looking at her across the table of this restaurant, I can say that it was worth it all. And the stories of how she in turn has begun to teach others is inspiring. 

Well, I have a baby crying and should go. 

I feel like jello

So, the other night when bathing Amariah, he asked, "Mommy, are you Lady Gaga?" Of course my first response was, "Where did you hear that?" And his reply was, "Teacher Veny." And so it starts, talking about stuff he hears at school. 

I just returned from being treated like a queen at a local Spa. My boss decided to treat me, and what a treat it was. It was so much more than I had expected. I thought that I was just getting my toes done, but little did I know that I was there to be pampered for four hours straight with the bath, the massages, the oils, and creams, and nail polish art. FOUR HOURS!!! It was amazing. I feel like jello. Thank-you Lord for such an amazing treat. I couldn't help but wonder if this is what Esther did so many years ago. And I must praise my husband for taking care of the kids during this time. He truly is amazing.