I wanted to have some input on today’s blog because I didn’t want Detra to have to tell a couple of the stories second hand! Let me start by saying we’re terribly late with this one due to some travel issues. The first “story” starts with our departure from the “Kind Hotel” in Tianjin. The Links (the other family with us) had already checked out, so I was checking out on my own. The young man assisting me wasn’t particularly comfortable with his English, so he asked another staff member for assistance. She looked at me and said, “Escuse me sir, did you have any conception while in your room”. I’m quite sure I had a puzzled look on my face, and she quickly added “It’s alright”. Thank goodness nobody from my party was around, or I would’ve lost it. She then mentioned something about the mini-bar in the room, so I’m guessing she meant “concession” from the mini-bar. We were scheduled to leave Tianjin for Guangzhou on Friday at 7:30PM (6:30AM Rockwall time), and our plane was delayed due to “mechanical difficulties” for about 2 hours. I chose to only tell Detra that there was a small problem (I fessed up the next morning) or I would have never gotten her on the plane. As a result, we didn’t get into our hotel in Guangzhou until about 2AM Saturday morning. After a brief night’s sleep, we had a hearty breakfast at our new hotel, The White Swan. It’s a very nice hotel – and the breakfast is fantastic and full of variety. Fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, fish, baked items and a number of pastries are all available – the best. From there, we had our trip to the clinic (I feel like we’ve had a glimpse of Obamacare :) ) for physical exams and immunizations (from which we are still recovering). The clinic visit and lack of sleep left us exhausted, so we had a quick lunch at the deli nearby, and came back to the room to rest most of the afternoon. Guangzho is a busy international trade center (this week is the “trade fair”), so many people speak English and you see a lot of Western influence – after our nap we headed to Starbuck’s. Zhen Zhen’s first Starbuck’s experience was hysterical – she had us in stitches. We finished ours and left with her hot chocolate in a “to go” cup to do some shopping. We went to “Emma’s Place”, purchased some quick items and asked where we could by some tennis shoes for Zhen Zhen – up to this point we’ve been unable to find any that would fit. She told us of the local shopping area “where all the Asians shop”; by God’s design (we don’t believe in luck, of course), her sister stopped by the shop on her way home and said she would take us there. Little did we know we would be going through the bowels of the Guangzho street markets to get there! It was like a small series of alleyways with street vendors on each side, selling all sorts of items – dog and cat food, dogs and cats (possibly for food), chickens, ducks, striped rodents – it was an eye opener. We finally arrived at the shopping area – it was packed full of people. We quickly found some shoes for Zhen Zhen (40 YUAN – great deal!), and started shopping again. Remember the hot chocolate? Zhen Zhen decided it no longer needed the spill proof lid, and she and I quickly became soaked (yes, EVERY layer of clothing) in genuine Starbuck’s chocolate – and yes, I had on a white shirt. This is a representation of the people here – we had random people stop when they saw what had happened and gave us PACKAGES of Kleenex! After continued stares from people in the shops (at my clothes), we decided it was time to head back to the hotel. We headed back the same way we came (even a little more unsettling than the 1st trip through). We got home, washed hot chocolate out of our clothes in the bathtub, and went to bed. Zhen Zhen didn’t sleep well at all – a very restless night accompanied by fever that continued through this morning. She had a light breakfast, rebounded slightly, so we went ahead and went to a jade store and the pearl market, came home and rested again. She simply has not been herself today and we’re anxious for her to feel better.

We so clearly see God’s in hand in this life changing event. Zhen Zhen matches our family so well from the food she likes to the music she enjoys (along with her beautiful voice!) – He is so worthy of our praise! Today is the Lord’s day, and we are rejoicing and are glad in it! Thank you all for your continued support and prayers – we love you –
Rob (representing all of the Scheeles)