Hospitality

These past few days have been crammed with major responsibilities at the school (mid-term exams)...and showing hospitality to some dear friends from the US who traveled to bring home their new son from our city, as well as a fellow we've been waiting to connect with for some time from a group perhaps key to our future Here.

Tuesday we set out at 2:30 (I took the big girls out of school with me) to make the 1 hour 15 minute trip across town to see the family at their hotel.  We enjoyed thoroughly the touch of home culture with the food gifts they brought us (Thanksgiving is now on for sure ;) ), but especially the fellowship with their children for our kids.  We made their acquaintance through our adoption agency for The Singer and The Bruiser.  We have been so blessed by their prayers and support during the press to get the boys home before our visas expired...then later we found out that our boys actually knew each other in their foster homes!  What a tremendous gift this was for both families.

Wednesday we entertained the gentleman from the group I mentioned before.  I was unsure how comfortable he would be around our table with so many eager children to engage him in conversation.  We were thrilled to discover that he himself is one of 12 kids...the youngest of 12...and he felt right at home with our busy household.  He took time to speak with each of the kids individually, showing such loving interest in them...that they all felt so full at the end of the meal. 

Bub had assisted me that night in making the gravy for the potatoes.  I remarked to Bub as we were serving the dinner, "Bub, I really think that this is the best gravy we have ever had!"  "REALLY?"  he said excitedly.  So, as Bub will commonly do, asked numerous times during the dinner, "So guys, how's the gravy?"  The question would be met with a chuckle and every one's hearty agreement that the gravy was great.

Finally the gentleman visiting us said, "Bub, I'm not just saying this, but truly this is the best gravy I think I've ever had."  "REALLY?" again the answer from Bub.  "Oh, yes, and I wonder if you could teach me how to make gravy, too?"

"You DON'T KNOW HOW to make gravy?"  Bub questioned in shocked amazement.

"No, I don't.  I know that is hard to imagine that a grown man like me cannot make gravy yet.  But, really, I wish you would teach me.  Maybe if your family comes to visit my home in Beijing?"

"Yeah, okay." then after a silence... "Have you got a kitchen?"

The man broke out in laughter, "Yes, I do!"

Daddy interjected smoothly in his dry manner..."Well sir, you're half-way there then!"

Thursday brought the opportunity to entertain the adoptive family in our home again.  We had them visit the school where they participated in classes in both the Kindergarten and Elementary.  Their children were such good sports, up for anything, as we moved them from class to class and questioned them about their home.

That evening they came for dinner as did several local friends...we served dinner for 24...and witnessed once again some of the most powerful bonds of adoption.  It is exciting to see how we have been able to connect with and minister is a small way to some families coming to our city (or adopting from our province.) 

Our friendship solidified with the family, they departed, much to our children's unhappiness.  Truly, our kids had one of the best evenings they could remember playing with the visitors...they were spectacular kids.

Today I'm up early as we have the city-wide English competition.  We've been preparing for two weeks for the students participating.  Today is round one.  So at 1 pm on Saturday (today), we will get on the school bus and ride into the city for 4-5 hours of competition.

Sunday will bring fellowship in the morning, but will also bring another trip into the city to admit Qian Qian into the hospital for his lip closure surgery!

His heart test was good and he is cleared for this first surgery.  His mother is straddling the gulf between high hopes and trying not to believe that we come through with helping them as promised.  I think she thinks at this point that it is too good to be true.  Dozens of times she's asked WHY we would do such a thing for a stranger.  Those communications are sharing more deeply our reasoning...but I am reminded that this is how the Grace of Him reaches us...when we were strangers to Him (from our point of view)...he rescues us in our need...love is the only answer we can give. 

I'm feeling the glow of His love in our lives these days as He's sent visitors this week to minister to us in our need...marveling at the vastness of his network...and at the intimate knowledge He maintains of each of us.  Both Qian Qian and I are known, loved, and He desires our return of wrshp in response to His love.

The visitors this week revealed the neediness we are in, but their presence was a gift from Him to encourage us as we move forward seeking His purposes for each day!