Tianjin-Lydia's City

We arrived in Tianjin today. As we entered the city by the train, we saw the many apartments that looked as though they were hundreds of years old. It became real that this is the city where our daughter was abandoned. It is cold and dark, reminding us both of Gotham City! The city is very different from Beijing, and the people look different. I look at the people all around us and I see both very short and very tall. I look into their eyes and wonder where their hope lies.

Tianjin is a city with over 9 million people. Cars, buses, and bikes all fight for the right away. We see no speed limit signs and no stop lights - chaotic to say the least. After we check into our rooms, our guide, Grace, takes us for a walk to the shopping area. We walk amidst all this chaos and get gently scolded for running across the road. Pedestrians are not given the right of way here in China. Her instructions to us are to walk and stop, walk and stop, allowing the cars more accuracy as they attempt to prevent hitting us as we cross.

As we walk in the cold to the hot spot in Tianjin, we stop off at local shops to see the specialties the city people love. Our first stop is a shop sporting a favorite baked good. I’m not sure of the name right now and honestly, it didn’t look like something that I would ever eat. However, Rob’s a little more ambitious. He purchases one piece for all of us to share. It was actually not bad and we bought more to take back to the room, wanting to have some for when we get Lydia. As we make our way down the street, we see many stores, really nice stores - not like the stores that we experienced at the market in Beijing.

Just off the main street is a row of local food vendors, and our first stop is roasted lamb; pieces of lamb on a skewer cooked right there on a grill while we watch. I, of course, am very reluctant to eat; however, once again, Rob jumps right in. The lamb was delicious!! Our next stop was Chinese pizza, then fried squid, fried (“stinky”) tofu and last an ice cream cone (yes and it’s freezing outside). The lamb and squid were our favorites. We, too, took our allotted Pepto Bismol upon returning to our hotel room. As it became dark, the lights lit up the night. It was a beautiful sight!

The family that we are traveling with is just wonderful and we are so thankful to the Lord that He has chosen us to be together as we meet our daughters today. I, again, cannot sleep. Therefore, I’m up trying to get my thoughts straight. Once again, it’s 2:20 in the morning and poor Rob is trying to sleep with the light on over the bed.

I purchased a shirt from Adoptionbug.com that says “Blessed by Adoption” and on the back “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us…with every spiritual blessing in Christ…. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.” Ephesians 1:3-5 I love wearing this shirt for it is a constant reminder of my adoption. As we enter this new phase of our lives, we know that the Lord is with us. Our prayer is that we continue to rest in this assurance and that we follow in His will.

May all the glory be given to Him!

Love to all,

Detra

We are praying for the Swearingens as we are also praying for Lydia's family she has had for 6 yrs.