Tomb Sweeping

Up today at 6 am on the Tomb Sweeping holiday to get everyone out the door for a most unique invitation.  We were so honored to be welcomed to attend our Chinese family's annual trip to their ancestral tombs.  About one hour out of town, we came to the first village. The adult children (in their 50's and 60's) were taking us to return to the tombs of their father's family.  Their father, killed 25 years ago, after being hit on his bicycle by a truck, his ashes also there.

Our teammates were also welcomed to come along.  Below is a picture of our crew in the rental vehicle...

Below:  Upon arriving at the first village, in a steady rain, we made our way out through the flowering fields of rapeseeds, to the tombs.

Below:  Another villager, going to tend to his wife's tomb, and the other ancestors buried there.  It is customary to take fake paper money to burn (so that those in the next world can use it to spend there), to place flags and ornaments at the tombs in memorial, and to shoot off lots of fireworks to scare off evil spirits.  This man carries the broom made of twigs that he will use to sweep the tomb's area.

Below:  On to the second village, the adult children's mother's ancestral village.  Daddy and Ezra stroll down the bumpy, wet road, while Bub and Mr. V make haste, too.

Above:  Nai Nai (the oldest woman now left in her ancestral village, and the mother to the adult children with us) walks with a cousin to the tombs.

Below:  Mr. S and The Singer use the "buddy system" to travel down the road.

 Below:  The family bows to honor the ancestors.  I understand that in these series of tombs there are more than 60 some ancestors.  Some notes were written and burned in the fires set at the tomb doors to send the well wishes, along with the paper money, off to the ancestors in the next world.  What an incredible privilege it was for us to be present during this important holiday for our Chinese family.  Magpie and The Bug look on quietly as they experience this centuries old custom, up front.

Below:  A front view of the tombs we visited...the smoke makes it difficult to see clearly.

Below:  Our team, plus the two new guys, on this unique day.

Below:  After the sweeping of the tombs, we were invited to a cousin's house in the village, who is himself a brother (notice the cross painted prominently on the wall in the last photo)  Daddy was the honored guest bringing his entire tribe to this home.  The village family members all wanted their photo taken with this "lucky" father.

Below:  One of our tables inside the house where we enjoyed garlic shoots, fish, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, lotus root soup, chicken feet, and green peppers and liver.  In our fourth year here, I can say finally that it was delicious!  An incredible feast given to us...we were so amazed by the hospitality.

Above:  How sweet it was to sit in this room, well into the countryside, and greet a brother. We marveled at the opportunity that we should be blessed enough to experience it.  How encouraged we were to see that the

 good news is present here in this ancestral village very near Mr. H Taylor's base of operation so many years ago.

Our first day of school tomorrow as a family of 11.  We're praying the Nehemiah can calm down and settle into the routine of the classroom.  We praying that Ezra can enjoy the experience of school and begin a journey of development and healing for his future.

Will try to continue posting!  Thanks for those of you who read!  ;)