“Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with the Father's people and members of the Father's household.”

“We are therefore the Son's ambassadors, as though the Father were making his appeal through us. We implore you on the Son's behalf: Be reconciled to the Father.”

We have spent the past two years constantly being reminded that we are foreigners, and we have enjoyed our job as ambassadors of True Love. But as we prepare to return to the United States we are keenly aware that our job is far from finished. One of the biggest lessons we have learned in the past two years is that we are “foreigners and aliens” in the world because we are “fellow citizens” with the Father's people. We are ambassadors to all creation wherever we may happen to live.

Please think about us:

1. Last Thursday the students invited us to visit their English Association meeting. Jessie shared a sideshow and described her pregnancy during the past 8 months. Peter organized a game, Jess Shamblee led a song as part of her “Shamblee Moment,” and Shannon and I sang a few songs for the students. It was a fun evening as we celebrated the end of another semester with the students.

2. The packing process continues! I cannot believe how much stuff we have accumulated in the past two years. It's hard to believe that we will be limited to 100 pounds of checked luggage and two carry-ons each, but we will have to make it fit.

3. Jessie has been doing great for being five weeks away from her due date! Our last baby appointment in China is this Tuesday, two days before we return. We will leave around 10am for Beijing. The appointment should be quick & routine, and then we will probably spend the afternoon enjoying the city one last time. You can be thinking of us as the doctor will hopefully write Jessie a clean bill of health and gives her permission to fly on Thursday.

4. We fly home this Thursday. We will be flying out of Beijing at 6pm on Thursday, and landing Dulles International airport about 7pm on the same day. I know it sounds strange, but a 13 hour flight will only take 1 hour; that is what happens when you fly eastbound across the International Date line.

Living outside the boat,
Brad