How time flies…it feels like I was beginning this adventure only a few weeks ago but I find myself on month 9 with only 3 months to go. WOW!!
So let’s talk China. What did I do? How was it? Was it what I thought it would be? Those are the questions I feel most everyone out there wants to know so let’s get straight to it.
1st: What did I do? We were located at an orphanage for special needs children called Eagles Wings in Northern China. Children in China can be rejected for even the smallest special need. Many of special needs can be easily corrected with a simple surgery or, in some cases their special need may just be a misunderstood condition, whatever the case their need leads to them being ostracized in the society. .jpg)
These children do not receive the education or care that other children might receive. This is the reason Eagles Wings exists. To serve and care for the rejected and fatherless…..this is, as the Apostle James said “pure and undefiled religion.” We came to serve Eagles Wings in whatever need they had but…..framing…. ??? Drywall?? …uhhhh….Let us just say my experience is quite limited, but this was our task. The babies in their orphanage are in need of a place to stay that is free of mold, lead paint, cold weather and it was our job to help meet this need by finishing the interior of a new condo. I must say our team embraced the task with .jpg)
enthusiasm, and although we were un-experienced and slow we put our hearts into it. Oh….I can’t forget to mention….building something in China is NOTHING like doing it in the good old U.S of A. Home Depot?? I don’t think so!! Getting supplies can be quite tricky and you just have to laugh at how different things are done here but we had an AMAZING 
person helping us with whatever we needed. Well, God worked miracles, literally, and we achieved the goal we set out to meet by the last day. While we did not finish everything (I REALLY wanted to!!!) I know they are much closer to having a new home for the babies.
Our other task was to love the crap out of these orphans. Taking them out on outings was something we tried to do for all the kids. I had a special outing with two sweet boys and Rebecca. We got to drive a tric to the market and buy some cookies and toys. Funny story….ok let just say the tric I drove basically had no brakes and I ended up hitting someone on a bicycle. We were only going about 5mph so they were fine but it was still hilarious.
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2nd: How was it? That always a difficult question to answer but I will do my best. As I look back over China it was amazing. I honestly never thought I would be in China so every experience was exciting. China is one of the countries you are going to have one heck of a time getting around without a local person, you can image as you can read anything or talk to anyone. It definitely makes me want to be much more helpful to travelers to America. Yet, trying to get around using your skill from years of playing charades as a child is always humorous, not always affective, but nevertheless humorous. We had some great times.
3rd: Was it what I thought it would be? Is it ever??? Coming into a new country we always seem to carry weird thoughts of what we think it’s going to be like. Coming on The World Race I expected to be sleeping in mud huts and eating monkey brains for meals but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. China was not much different. Expecting police to be on every corner waiting for anyone who even looks like a Christian and expecting them to interrogate me. While I am not ignorant of the very real security issues for Christian in China my experience was surprisingly good. Walking the streets of Beijing, climbing the Great Wall, standing in Tiananmen Square, serving orphans….what could be better??
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China was a great time!! I am attaching some video blogs my teammates did so you can see a little more clearly what we did exactly during our time here…I hope you enjoy…I know I did.
