winding down

it seems almost too impossible that we are about to spend our last full day in china.
while it seems like forever since we got our first soaking outside of the airport on our way to our apartment almost three weeks ago, it also feels like just yesterday.
it's been interesting to see how being in china is becoming almost "normal" to us in that as we walk along, we no longer notice old men in traditional rice hats sitting in the doorways of their shops, or the typical chinese fashions that intrigued us two weeks ago, or the homeless people asleep on their baskets on the stairs leading up to a building. . . all of this is second hat to our team now. as this is also true for me, i've made a special effort to continue to notice the people around me. . .and even though it was one of the first activities we did upon our arrival, i've said p*rayers for the people as i've passed them by.
yesterday we had a sweet time of fellowship at a friend's apartment and enjoyed singing and a good message about calling on our daddy when we are attacked by the evil one, and how those attacks are more vicious when we are not close to our daddy. i don't know about the rest of our team, but it was a message that resonated in my heart, and i was very thankful for the reminder of his faithfulness.
after enjoying lunch with our meeting hosts, we left to visit a seminary about an hour outside of guiyang. technically it's a suburb of guiyang, and we passed by a new modern development, sort of a planned city, consisting of mostly governement buildings and associated housing developments for those workers. it was beautiful, and perhaps a vision of future development in china. . . who knows.
the seminary is beautiful, apparently built by some folks from the UK. . .i'm not sure about all of the details. . .many of them came through an interpreter, and sometimes it's hard to follow what is said. . . but the students come primarily from the minority areas and study for three or four years, and then return to their villages. they have to pass an entrance exam to get in, but the tuition is completely paid for, and all the student is responsible for is living expenses. this seminary is government approved, but not regulated, so the truth is being taught, and it's a very exciting place to have seen. we have contact information, so it will be possible to learn more about what is going on there. the facilities are modern and clean, and it looks like great things are being accomplished and taught there!

today, we visited a rehab center for foster parents of children awaiting adoption or those that have physical or developmental issues. three out of five days the center services the less developmentally disabled or "normal" kids, and the other two focus on down's syndrome kids. the primary focus of the center is to provide a place where these kids can come and learn through play, music/movement, art, and group activities, to teach chinese foster parents how to interact with their children, and to provide a fellowship and support network for the foster moms. our team jumped right into action and spread out and loved the children right where they were. from tiny babies to kids who were 11 years old (delayed), we sang songs with movement, we danced/exercised to some praise music (fun!), pretended and played house, peek a boo, or just held the babies while engaging them with smiles and funny noises. then it was back to group time where we all played dress up and sang more songs and had group time. before we knew it, it was time to go home, and after just two and a half hours, their hearts were forever imprinted on ours, and we all came away with bits and pieces of their heartbreaking stories of abandonment, health issues, and how much they are being loved since coming out of the orphanage. it was a place of great hope and wonderful love, and we all wanted to take them home with us. every last one of them. . . and we will, in our hearts.
what a sweet place of unconditional love, of valuing every single on of our daddy's creations, of making each one feel like they are the most important person in the world. extravagant love. our daddy loves each and every one of us just like that. . . may we remember that in our daily lives as we strive to show that kind of extravagant love to others in his name.