Touring

This place never ceases to amaze us.  Imagine a cultural history captured in timeless stories of emperors and dynasties and engrained in the Chinese mind through the use of architecture, art, color, and engineering.  It’s REMARKABLE. 

And now, a place rapidly globalizing and urbanizing creating a fascinating blend of ancient and modern.  This is a place a person could study for….A LONG TIME. 

Today we visited the Great Wall and spent time near a beautiful lakeside shopping area.  We also were treated to a family cooked meal and even invited to eat in their home.  What a special day.  Lots to say here….but since we’re all so tired, we’ll keep this short (more tomorrow…including pictures). 

Our team did really well today.  Now, there were challenges…i.e. you know you are in youth ministry (or a parent of a teen) when you’re standing on one of the 7 wonders of the world or walking through a museum carrying 5000 years of recorded history and a teen says, “this is boring”!  ahem….biting my tongue...I’ll let that one go…

But these students are WONDERFUL.  You have amazing kids.  All of you.  It is such a privilege to be here with them.  They are serving hard and they are playing hard.  They are SOAKING in this experience…and it shows. 

Tomorrow we are going to a three-self church (government registered Christian church) in Beijing and really looking forward to experiencing that.  Then, in the afternoon we will be taking a rest day and trying to keep some kind of a Sabbath.  We will be having extended time for thought and a long debrief to help us start the week well.  We are looking forward to getting back to serving, and doing the things we came here for.  It’s hard to believe we only have about a week left.  Has it really gone this fast? 

We would like to continue to ask for your thoughts regarding:

-team dynamics. 

-sickness (this seems to be getting better)

-for our leaders (they are working hard…and it shows) 

We really love you guys.  Thanks for following and supporting our journey

Another post coming tomorrow….with pics!

Peace,

CST2011