Savannah Christian Missions: China

Fri June 16
Arrived dog tired but safely with no delays. Everyone has had supper and heading to bed :) More to come.
Kelli

Sun June 18
This one is from Kelli but from now on, the team will take turns sending updates.
We are wilting in body with the oppressive heat but soaring in spirit. God has a sense of humor. He sent me off with an entire team of introverts (excluding Mike). With that though comes such a giving, serving spirit among our team. 6 of them of them are experiencing another culture for the very first time and it is a joy to witness their excitement.
Our official service schedule begins in the morning with jet lag hopefully behind us. We boarded a bus yesterday with 40 plus students from the English school to go the Forbidden City where our group was divided up among groups of students to interact and encourage them. I am not sure who blessed who. Don't you know they loved our southern accents? A great time was had by all :).
We are all excited about the week's activities planned with these students :)

Tue June 20
Hi! This is Laney, I'm 17 and this is my first international trip, and so far it has been wonderful!
When we first got here we had the weekend to visit Beijing, but by Sunday night we were all ready to serve, and for the past two days that's exactly what we've done! I've been working with the babies who either need surgery or have just had surgery and are not well enough to be with the other children, and in just two days I've already fallen in love with all of them!
There are three babies in particular who are a lot younger than the others who can pretty much lay on the floor and aren't quite as high maintenance as the older babies so they don't get as much attention as the others do so being able to bond with them when the nannies can't has been amazing. Especially because they really seem to change when they have one on one time with someone who is with them for 7 hours a day.
I wish everyone could experience what I've experienced just in the past two days. I know it's only working day two, but I can't wait to see what else our Dad has in store for myself and these babies while we're here.

Wed June 21
Hey guys! My name is Lauren and I'm responsible for the update email for today. So let me just preface my story by saying that each of these days I have been here have been amazing, but this is the one I get to write about.
Yesterday, I fell in love with several children at once, and I went through stages. First, wanting to adopt all of the ones I had been placed to play with (about 9) then second, realizing that would be extreme and deciding I'd be perfectly happy with just 1 or 2, and then finally realizing I couldn't take any home in my suitcase this trip, I don't think the government here would look upon that too highly.
However, I anxiously await the day when I can legally adopt from China.
After playing with the kids and taking a long lunch break in which we all breathed a sigh of exhaustion, we sat in the living room and listened to Amy and Sarah, two Chinese women who work with the children in the foster home, as they shared their stories. I felt captivated by their openness, by their grace and by their willingness to follow the calling in their life, a calling that lead them to children, 24/7. I was also greatly challenged by their patience and diligence, as Amy shared that her husband does not believe as she does, but she continues to wait. Amy and Sarah were simply yet another example of the wonderful people I've met while serving here. They are a reason it is a wonderful, encouraging place to be.
In the afternoon, i hang out with the English students, anywhere from 13 to 25 years of age. They are awesome! Rarely in America have i met such kind, gracious, loving, and completely accepting and welcoming people.
On Monday i was invited to be in a Chinese show, for an "Oscar night" the English school was having Wednesday. Iris, an English student here, had invited me, and i like to act so i said yes. You cannot imagine how excited and happy Iris and her friends were to have me join their group, when really, I was the one who felt incredibly blessed and welcomed by them.So last night was Oscar night! And it was probably the most fun thing I’ve done since we've been here. All the students dressed up and put on hilarious shows, we never stopped laughing. I think i will remember last night as the best thing i did with the students, and I am so thankful I’ve gotten to know so many of them.
When Iris won "an award" and she went on stage to accept it, she first thanked her team, and then said "And i want to thank Laurie, for being part of our team." That simple gratitude spoke to my heart, and told me I’m right where i need to be, building relationships with these kids.
It’s awesome here!
Sincerely, Lauren