Sunday Thoughts: December 28th, 2008

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

I love music, but I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the old hymns. There are times when I can learn more about our Father from the lyrics of one song than I can learn from hours of reading. This week I was blessed to find a hymn that I had forgotten, "Hiding Place."

Hiding Place

Amidst the sorrows of the way
…, teach my soul to pray
Let me taste Thy special grace
And run to …, my hiding place

You know the vileness of my heart
So prone to act the rebel's part
And when you veil your lovely face
How can I find a hiding place?

…, guide my wandering feet
Draw me to Thy mercy seat
I've nought to trust but sovereign grace
Thou only art my hiding place

How unstable is my heart
Sometimes I take the tempter's part
And slight the tokens of Thy grace
And seem to want no hiding place

But when Thy spirit shines within
Makes me feel the plague of sin
And how I long to see Thy face
'Tis then I want a hiding place

…, shine and then I can
Feel sweetness in salvation's plan
And as a sinner plead for grace
…, the sinner's hiding place

Our hiding place is His sovereign grace!


Why we are grateful this week:

1) Jessie and I spent the first days of this past week in Beijing celebrating our 3rd Anniversary. We had a good time visiting the Forbidden City for the first time and eating dinner at TGI Fridays afterwards.

2) We spoke with the administration about our pregnancy this week and everything went well. Jessie and I should both be able to leave by May 30, and we'll only need to make up one week of classes. They were also receptive to the idea of us returning next year with our child.

3) Our college hosted a Christmas Eve celebration on Wednesday night. All five American teachers sang "Joy To the World," followed by the girls singing "Silent Night" and Peter singing a Chinese rap song. We also announced to the students that we are expecting a child, and they were very excited.

4) We had a great time in Baoding celebrating Christmas with the IECS team! We met Wil and Courtney on the train and arrived in Baoding on Christmas night, ate Christmas dinner, and exchanged gifts. The next morning we had a "candlelight" service, which was organized by Peter, Shannon, and Jon. We spent the rest of our time playing games, going to KTV, and eating plenty of leftovers.

Please continue to "think" about us:

1) Please continue to keep our future plans in your thoughts. We are still trying to sort out where the Father is leading us for the upcoming year. There are some opportunities in the States that we are investigating, and we have not ruled out returning to China for a third year. Most of all, we want to follow the Father's blessing.

2) We will met again with the College's administration this Wednesday to decide on the details of next semesters schedule. We are hoping that they will allow Shannon to teach the Bible class that they offered last Spring.

3) We don't really have any big plans for New Year's Eve, but since our classes are finished, this week should provide plenty of opportunities to spend time with our students. Some of the activities we are hoping to do include baking with students, guitar lessons, basketball, watching movies, and maybe hosting a small concert. We are excited to have three weeks to spend with students, free of teaching obligations, before we leave for our IECS Conference.

4) Also please continue to think about the Philip Hayden Foundation. You can look at the pictures from our most recent trip at: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=66486&l=1e0c6&id=674697810

Following His Blessing,
Brad

Sunday Thoughts: December 28th, 2008

"Religion that...our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in there distress..."

Every time we visit the Philip Hayden Foundation orphanage, I leave feeling like I have been given a gift far greater than anything I could have given to the children who live there. Before we go I feel like I will be a tremendous blessing to the children, but I walk away feeling like they have blessed me far more than I could ever bless them. I start by thinking "they need me," and I leave knowing I needed them! My only wish is that I could realize this need from the beginning.

I have often wondered if I approach the Father in the same way? Do I approach him thinking "He needs me" only to realize my need for Him? Wouldn't it be better if I was humble from the beginning so that I could enjoy the blessings throughout the entire process?

"Humble yourselves before Him, and he will lift you up"

Why we are grateful this week:

1)Jessie and I finished our classes this week. Jessie had a full week that ended up being 26 credit hours so that she could finish, but now all we have to do is turn in our grades by mid-January. We are excited about the final week of December and the first weeks of January because we will have plenty of time to spend with students.

2)We visited the Philip Hayden Foundation yesterday and as always it was a great experience. Peter, Jessie, and I took three students: Cassie, Felicia, and Pan. We stayed for about two hours, and my favorite part was listening to Pan sing Christmas songs to the children.

3)Jessie and I will be celebrating our third wedding anniversary on Tuesday. We will once again spend our anniversary in Beijing.

4)It snowed last night and left about a inch. Around 9pm we went out and played in the snow with many of the students. It was great engaging in various random snowball battles!

5)Jessie's appetite has returned and she has dealt with very little nausea this week!

Please continue to "think" about us:

1)On Wednesday night we will be participating in the college's Christmas Eve celebration. Peter will be singing a Chinese rap song with another student, the three girls will sing "Silent Night" acapella, and all five of us will sing "Joy to the World." We are excited and a little nervous about this evening; last year there were over a thousand students and faculty at this celebration.

2)At the end of the week, we will be traveling to Baoding to celebrate Christmas with the IECS team. We will leave Langfang on Thursday, and return on by the end of the weekend. Please keep our travel in your thoughts.

3)Please continue to keep our future plans in your thoughts. We are still trying to sort out where the Father is leading us for the upcoming year. There are some opportunities in the States that we are investigating, and we have not ruled out returning to China for a third year. Most of all, we want to follow the Father's blessing.

4)We are planing to tell the administration about our pregnancy this week. We are not entirely sure what to expect for the upcoming semester, and their reaction will also help us make an informed decision about where we might be next year.

Following His Blessing,
Brad

December 21, 2008: Look at the Stars

“Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all people on earth will be blessed through you.” -Gen. 12:1-3

Dear Friends and Family,

It is amazing to study the Word and see how the lives of the patriarchs instruct us how to live our lives today. Abram was asked to “Leave…and Go,” even though he did not know where he was going. All he knew was that he had great reward waiting for him…a nation, a name, a blessing for him and for all people. When Brad and I decided during the fall of 2006 that we would leave our jobs as teachers in obedience to the call the Father placed on Brad’s heart, we did not know where He was taking us. We only knew that great blessings come to those who obey when they are led.

Four months later we agreed to come to China, to the land He showed us. Maybe our name isn’t great, but to 500 or so Chinese college students, we are pretty great teachers and to a few we are great friends. In the last 16 months we have done our best to bless our students and friends. Maybe ALL people haven’t been blessed through us, but we do know that our time in China has broadened our circle of influence to include this nation (and specifically this college) we once knew so little about. We have been blessed beyond measure, and we hope that in every way possible, we have been a blessing to those around us in China and at home. “Leave…and Go”--a simple command and a simple promise. It’s so rewarding to live in the will of the Father!

What follows is a weekly summary of our past month. Thank you for your part in supporting our work and life here in China!

November 29-December 6

On Saturday we celebrated Thanksgiving with Team IECS here in Langfang! After an afternoon of flag football, we had a huge Thanksgiving dinner! 15 people ate as much as they could of their favorite American dishes, followed by discussing the things we are thankful for. On Sunday we had a morning service together (rarely this large!) and after lunch together we wished our friends goodbye. In the afternoon we watched ELF together. During the week we put on the finale of “Bubble Boy” at English Club and I gave a speech on the topic of “Love” based on the Four Loves by C. S. Lewis. Much of the week was filled with planning for exams as we neared the semester’s end. Shannon, Shamblee, and I began a new Beth Moore Book Study and we’ve been enjoying that together. On Thursday Danielle and I had lunch together, and on Saturday, Cassie and I watched “Runaway Bride” together. Danielle surprised me by telling me, “I know you have a secret, and I want you to know that I haven’t told anyone. I know that you are going to be a mother.” I laughed and asked how she found out, and she said that she’d found our blog from an e-mail. Suffice to say we swore her to secrecy, but she loves being in on our little secret.

December 7-14

On Monday the girls met with Carol and Sunshine for our weekly Book review, and had a great time working our way through the TMS and learning about our friend John. Tuesday was the English Association Talent Show, for which Shamblee was a judge (a.k.a. Simon Cowell). The 10 finalists were fantastic, performing American songs, dances, plays, and political debates. I kept busy this week grading 100 undergraduate resumes for my Business English students. We also spent the week decorating for Christmas, Christmas shopping, baking Christmas cookies, and of course Brad and I went into Beijing to get a glimpse of our 2 ½ inch bundle of joy. Friday was the second season finale of “Bubble Boy,” and I gave my “Love” speech again. Danielle and Pan came along for the ride to the western campus and had a great time with us. I also had 7 articles of my clothing mended by local seamstress for a whopping 18 yuan (about $2.50). I was delighted when Brad decided to rearrange our living room, and I got an “art desk” out of the move. It’s made it a lot easier to find my supplies to create notes, cards, Christmas countdowns, and drawings. He also surprised me by mopping the bathroom ceiling…in the ongoing battle against the mildew in our bathroom.

December 14-20

As I entered Week 12 of pregnancy, I was delighted to see my energy and appetite return in spades. I went from feeling nauseous at the thought or scent of food, to eating twice as much as I usually eat. My energy returned just in time, as I taught 22 hours of class/finals last week and 26 hours of class/finals this week in order to have the week of Christmas free from obligations. With the additional energy I also swept and mopped for the first time in a month (gross, I know) and cleaned everything that needed cleaning. I was able to cook again, wash dishes more often, and get through classes without excessive nausea. What a blessing and a relief! Thank heaven for the second trimester! Danielle and Cassie took the CET-4 (standardized test) this week, but Cassie was able to get away long enough to bring her friend Felicia with us to visit the Philip Hayden Foundation orphanage together. On Saturday night Brad hurried us all outside to a wonderful surprise—SNOW! We ran, slid, danced, wrote, and threw snowballs at one another and then joined the kids for fun in our winter wonderland. In the morning we awoke to about and inch of accumulation, a perfect Christmas gift from our Father.

December 21-27

This upcoming week promises to be a good one! Tonight we will dine with the faculty at 6pm to celebrate Christmas, and tomorrow Brad and I will go to Beijing for two days to celebrate our third wedding anniversary. It’s hard to believe we’ve been married three years already! Brad hopes to take in the Forbidden City, Houhai district, and the Laoshi Tea House among other things. On Wednesday we’ll be back in time for some last minute Christmas shopping and then we’ll head to the students’ Christmas Eve Party where we will be singing some songs for the kids. On Thursday we’ll head to Baoding for Christmas dinner, and then on Friday morning we’ll have Christmas breakfast and exchange our Secret Santa gifts. On Saturday night we’ll return home to Langfang again.

“He took him outside and said, “Look at the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed Him, and He credited it to him as righteousness.”

Father, wherever you lead us, whatever we leave behind, wherever we go…may we follow you obediently, believing that you will do what you have promised to do. Thank you for blessing us so that we can bless others. Thank you for daily calling us to follow you.

Always,
Jessie

December 14, 2008: Sing in Exultation

“Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon you; from my mother's womb you have been my Father.” Ps. 22: 9-10

Dear family and friends,

Yesterday was a memorable day for the Distad family! Brad and I went to Beijing with Jess Shamblee, for our monthly appointment at the Beijing United Family Hospital. From 11:45 to 1:30 we had a great time learning about our firstborn child.

When we arrived at the hospital, we were immediately ushered into the ultrasound suite where we waited next to a pretty young blonde girl for our turn. As we began to talk to her, we found out that her name is Kristin, she is from Ontario and that this is her second year in China. She told us how she had flown in from Wuhan, in central China. As we exchanged information, we were surprised to find out that she is a graduate of Calvin College! She and her husband studied there (Elementary Education and Physical Education) and graduated in 2007. They now teach at the International school in Wuhan, and she is 7 weeks pregnant with their first. What a small world! We had a fun (though brief) time talking about being pregnant in China before she was called for her ultrasound.

After Kristin's ultrasound, we parted ways, and then it was our turn. It was immediately obvious that the baby grew quite a bit in 5 weeks! Last month we could barely see our little progeny, and the technician judged that it was about 2 days behind its due date. This time the hungry little leach had more than devoured its share of my body's resources, and measured in at 3 days ahead of its due date. So it made up 5 days of growth in the last 5 weeks. This is great news of course...a big baby is a healthy baby! On the monitor we could see the over-sized head, small body, tiny arms and legs, and a twisted umbilical cord. We could see its little nose, lips, chin, and ears. We could also see the little heart beating a fuzzy blur in the abdomen. It was so exciting! Brad snapped lots of photos of our 2 ½ inch miracle.

After the ultrasound, we went upstairs for our appointment, only to find out that Doctor Bian had to leave for the airport. So we were assigned to Doctor Chang, whom I immediately liked better. She has kind eyes and a warm manner, and spoke comfortably and fluently in English. She recorded my medical history and then explained to us what would happen in this and upcoming appointments. Brad was particularly eager to know the sex of the child, but she assured us that will have to wait until a sonogram at 15-20 weeks reveals this information. Brad and I laughed though when she explained that some people believe that if the mother becomes more beautiful, then the baby will be a girl, and if the mother becomes more ugly (acne and a wider nose and lips), then the baby will be a boy. She also said that some believe a big appetite or an appetite for foods with vinegar means a boy, and a smaller appetite for more papery foods means a girl. Oh China!

After our little conference, she invited me to lay on the exam table so that we could listen to the baby's heartbeat. She took out a special stethoscope with a speaker on it. Brad videotaped these first sounds for posterity. There was a lot of static at first, and then the rapid but steady sound of a heartbeat. I gasped when I heard the sound, and then got quiet so that I could hear every beat. To me it sounded like a sucking sound, and it sounded like it was underwater, but there it was. Doctor Chang said that it sounded like a train, and reminded me that our baby's heart beats much faster than ours.

After the heartbeat, I was subjected to the typical OB exam including a culture, urinalysis, and blood tests. Even having blood drawn from both arms (I have tricky veins) didn't dampen my spirits. We saw our baby and heard its heartbeat! It was incredible! What a relief to know that despite 5 weeks of food-aversions, nausea, and vomiting, we still have a healthy and strong child who is growing ahead of schedule. What a beautiful and awe-inspiring experience it is to bear witness to new life!

Thank you Father for watching over our baby, even when it is hidden from our sight. Thank you for being its Father even before it knows the voices of its own father and mother. Thank you for using my body in amazing ways to create an hospitable environment to nurture new life. It amazes me that you could use my womb to comfortably cradle our child in perfect warmth with a steady supply of nutrients and the necessities for growth. How could I even fathom the details of your most intricate creation? Thank you for doing what I could never do, even I knew how. You are the Giver of Life, the Creator of All Things, the Great Artist. Thank you for painting your most complex masterpiece on this canvas, beneath my ever-expanding waistline. You are AWESOME. Thank you for allowing us to witness this miracle.

Love,
Jessie

Sunday Thoughts: December 14th, 2008

“All our righteous acts are like filthy rags”

Apart from the Love of the Father we are nothing. Our burnt offerings and deeds are nothing but “filthy rags,” and only by his grace are our rags made holy.

“To love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

We were made to love and be loved, so we share our knowledge of the Father by loving Him first and others second. It’s not about what we do, but about who we love; the greatest evangelist is Love!

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

Why we are grateful this week:

1) Last Tuesday night the students invited us to their talent show. It was hosted by the English Association. We didn’t realize how big this event was going to be! About 500-600 students attended, and Jess Shamblee was asked to be a judge. It was run a little like the final round of an American Idol contest, and we were exited that we knew about half of the final contestants. It was a great evening.

2) Our final English Club of the Fall semester was on Friday night at the Western Campus. Again it was exciting to see the energy that they bring every time we hold an English Club for them. Jess spoke again about the “Four Loves,” and this time she did not have to fight though nausea during her talk; it was only before and after Club.

3) Saturday we visited the hospital for another baby appointment. They said that even though Jessie has been feeling awful lately, the baby is completely healthy at this point. In fact, they said the baby was about three days ahead of schedule. It’s amazing to me that they can be that specific!

4) We also did some Christmas shopping on Saturday and then visited Texas Pete’s for the best Burger and Milkshake in Beijing.

Please continue to “think” about us:

1) Please keep our future plans in your thoughts. We are still trying to sort out where the Father is leading us for the upcoming year. There are some opportunities in the States that we are investigating, and we have not ruled out returning to China for a third year. Most of all, we want to follow the Father’s blessing.

2) The upcoming week will bring the end of classes for the fall semester for Jessie and me. While my week looks relaxed, Jessie week is packed with about 24 credit hours.

3) We are still concerned about next semester’s schedule. We will be telling the College about our pregnancy by the end of December so that we can start to organize our spring schedules. The biggest problem will be that Jessie will need to return to the United States at the end of May, and our classes will continue for about another two weeks.

Following His Blessing,
Brad

Sunday Thoughts: December 7th, 2008

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”

A lamp for my feet? Is that enough?

Just a lamp for our feet, that is the promise, and we can step forward in faith & courage because the light is trustworthy. The light illuminates more of our path with every step until we have reached our destination.

I stumble most when I am focusing too far along the path, when I look beyond what the lamp has revealed. Sometimes all we are shown is the next step and all we need is the courage to move forward.

Why we are grateful this week:

1) We had a great English Club on Monday! Jessie spoke on the “Four Loves” by C.S. Lewis, and Bubble Boy came to a conclusion.

2) Our jet-lag has finally subsided, and we are happy that we are spending the weekend in one place.

3) Jessie’s nausea has been better this week. She is finding foods that she can eat and her flu-like symptoms seem to be disappearing.

4) Jess Shamblee had a great weekend. She visited a student’s family and hometown, and I’m sure she will blog about it. We highly recommend you check out her blog at: http://shambleegoestochina.blogspot.com/

Please continue to “think” about us:

1) Finals start next week for our Oral English classes. After that we will have some free time to spend with students until they leave for the winter break around mid-January. We want to finish the semester strong!

2) For Christmas, we will be traveling to Boading to celebrate with the rest of the IECS team. Please keep our travel plans in your thoughts.

3) Last Sunday, while traveling back to Tianjin, Will Corder lost his passport on the train. Please remember Wil and Courtney, as they go though the process of applying for a new passport.

4) Newt and Claire will return to the United States tomorrow. Their visit was a tremendous blessing for all of us! Please keep their travels and recovery from jet-lag in your thoughts.

5) We will go to the Western Campus on Friday for their final English Club of the semester on that campus. It will be the same as last Monday; if all goes well we will have a video ready to post a couple days later.

6) My parents are hoping to visit us at the beginning of January, but that is dependent on my mom’s recent bouts with vertigo. She is seeing the doctor again this week, and hopefully they will tell her it is okay to fly. You can be thinking of her healing as the vertigo prevents her from going about her daily activities easily, especially driving.

7) We are a little concerned about next semester’s schedule. We have not told the College that Jessie is pregnant, and we are not sure how that will affect her schedule. The biggest problem will be that she will need to return to the United States at the end of May, and our classes will continue for about another two weeks.

All in His name,
Brad

December 7, 2008: Sing for Joy

“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.” Ps. 5:11

Dear Family & Friends,

The last three weeks have been a blur of fun and excitement and a pleasant distraction from the ills of first trimester pregnancy. Life got very interesting for Brad (and others) when almost three weeks ago I returned from class and informed him that I really wanted to go home with him to the United States for the week. I was nauseous 24/7, homesick, and dying to share the joys of my pregnancy with family and friends at home. Although I had felt this way for some time, and been dropping subtle hints for awhile, this was my first (albeit last-minute) direct attack. Thankfully for me and for Brad, he is a pretty mellow and flexible guy. After talking to our travel agent, our deans, our foreign affairs department, our parents, and my siblings, I joined Brad for the international flight from Beijing to Washington 48 hours later.

Our arrival in America was not without incident. We arrived in the U.S.A. on Wednesday 11/19 where Bonnie and Ed (Brad’s parents) picked us up from the airport. Getting through customs was an adventure, as I discovered “citrus” (a.k.a. oranges) in my bag, and was ratted out by a customs official and a K-9 cop. We were informed that my citrus would have to be incinerated, lest I had carried toxic fruit juices from China into America. We were directed to the “Agriculture” desk, where a bored and unhurried clerk eyed our fruit and promptly dropped it in the very average-looking trashcan behind him. Not exactly the fires of Hades I had been expecting. I have to admit, I was a little disappointed.

The time at home was so refreshing. I spent all day Thursday talking to my Mom, digging up her old pregnancy books, asking pregnancy questions, trying on maternity clothes she’d bought for me, and eating Josh’s homemade chocolate chip cookies. For dinner, Mom, Dad, Josh, and I had spaghetti (my favorite) together, before I headed back to Hagerstown for the night. (Bonnie generously gave me the keys to her mini-van while we were at home, and thanks to low gas prices, I could conveniently enjoy my visiting.) On Friday Brad spent the day with Mr. Bair and Brian Montgomery, two of his best friends, who took the day off just to be with him. Brad hung out with the guys all day while I went maternity shopping with Ed and Bonnie. It was funny trying on the clothing in “Motherhood” where they give you a stuffed pillow on a belt to imitate your big belly for maternity clothes. On Friday night the guys returned from their adventures, and the four of us played a new version of “Settlers” (Brad’s favorite game), which was a Christmas gift from Brian.

Saturday was spent following Brad through the JFK. For those of you who aren’t from Washington County, Maryland, the JFK is a 50-mile ultra-marathon beginning at Boonsboro High School (where Brad attended), then following the Appalachian Trail, Potomac River/C&O Canal, and ending at Springfield Middle School. This year Brad ran his 10th JFK, and joined the esteemed “500 Club.” After a year of using a Hal Higdon advanced training schedule for ultra-marathons, and having lost 35 pounds in the last year and a half, Brad took more than an hour off of his personal best time. Despite the freezing 19 degree starting temperature, Brad finished in 9 hours, 40 minutes, and 43 seconds. His achievement buoyed his spirits even in his fatigue during recovery. In addition, the Hagerstown Herald Mail reported on his story, and acknowledged that he was one of the few to be so successful despite the terrible cold. For Bonnie, Ed, and I, the day was simply spent meeting Brad at various points along the trail, supplying changes of clothes, reading books while we waited, and most importantly—keeping warm inside the van. Toward the end of our trip we picked up a girl named Abby who was hypothermic and in tears, and unable to convince her to finish the last two miles after she’d warmed up, we drove her to the finish and handed her over to the capable EMT staff.

On Sunday, Brad and I visited Tristate in Hagerstown, and caught up with our friends there. We laughed when we walked in, only to hear Randy talking about Brad and I in front of everyone. We joined him at the front, where again he talked to everyone about us and about China. Afterwards, Brad and I went upstairs to hang out with our “Young Marrieds” class, which has spent the last few years morphing into the “Young Families” class. It was great to talk about pregnancy with the girls who have been there so recently, and to see the adorable children that resulted from the whole thing. It’s great to know there’s an end in sight! Brad and I had to leave early to help with dinner, which was a good thing. Bonnie had a Thanksgiving feast planned at home, and it was a great day, full of warm memories, and the exchanging of Christmas gifts. My parents and Josh joined us (fresh from 2 days in Ocean City!), as well as Brad’s sister Nancy, her boyfriend Brian, her daughter Becca, and Brian Montgomery. I enjoyed hearing about pregnancy from Nancy, and swapping stories.

Monday and Tuesday were quieter days than those that went before. On Monday Brad printed letters, stuffed envelopes, and mailed letters at the post office. He topped the day off with Monday night football, and yet another soak in the hot tub. I spent the day downloading photos off our old camera, organizing our belongings and mail, and preparing a speech for English club. On Monday afternoon we stopped by Boonsboro High School and caught up with Mr. Bair and our former Club kids who were at play practice. Afterwards, Mr. Bair had us over to dinner with him and his three young sons, and then Brad played “Settlers” with the guys until the wee hours of the night. Tuesday was much the same for Brad, and I went into Frederick for a doctor’s appointment to investigate the cause of my six weeks of coughing. One of the joys of pregnancy is the inability to take any common medication because it might hurt the baby. So she prescribed a baby-friendly allergy-type pill, and my coughing has pretty much ceased. I spent Tuesday afternoon doing last minute shopping and then Brad and I drove down to Bethesda to meet his cousin Joanna and her fiancé Joe for dinner. We had a great time catching up and solving the world’s problems before heading back home for the night.

Wednesday, for me, was Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled into one. I was up early packing for our trip back to China, and running into Hagerstown for a few last purchases. My mom picked me up around noon, and I got to spend the afternoon listening to Christmas music and hanging out with my sisters, Kerri, Kristy, and Karilyn. Thanksgiving dinner was served at 5pm, and Brad, Bonnie, and Ed joined us for the occasion. The food was fabulous, and we all ate until we were stuffed. We talked until late, and then exchanged Christmas gifts with my family, before packing up for our early morning flight. After 2-3 hours of sleep, our alarm clock rang at 3am. My parents drove us to the airport, and we made it in plenty of time for our 7am flight to San Francisco and then Beijing. Saying goodbye was really difficult, especially after such a brief taste of home, but it was also great knowing that it will only be 6 months until we see each other again.

So, thank you to all of you who made our visit home such a delightful time! It was great to see so many familiar faces and to be greeted with so much love and understanding. Thank you Mom and Dad and Bonnie and Ed most of all, for opening your homes, cars, refrigerators, and schedules to a couple of vagabonds whirling in from China. You guys are awesome! Thank you to Mr. Bair, Brian Montgomery, Joanna Charron, Joe Portnoy, Kristy Head, Kerri and James Frederick, and all others who changed your schedules in order to make time to be with us. We feel so blessed to be surrounded by such wonderful family and so many great friends. You fill us with joy and gladness and rejoicing. Your thoughts and love that goes the “distance” to China encourages us, and makes our time away from home so much more bearable. Thank you for encouraging us to follow our dreams to China, and for always greeting us with open arms when we return home. You all amaze us. We love you.

Always,
Jessie and Brad

“I am thankful every time I remember you. In all my thoughts of all of you, I am always full of joy because of your partnership in this from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until that Day.” Ph. 1:3-6