Sunday, November 7, 2010
PRAISE GOD FROM WHOM ALL BLESSINGS FLOW!

 Today, we got up EARLY this morning to attend what we thought was going to be an 8:30am church service in Mandarin. We arrived at the church across the street and the sign said 9:30am (Cantonese/Mandarin service) and 11:00am (Mandarin/English service). Soooo, we went back to our hotel room until 11:00am. We arrived at the church about 10:40am. We met a really, really nice Chinese lady named Judy. She was very friendly and spoke English fairly well. She escorted us into the church and we sat with her during the service. The church looked like the old churches in America. One aisle with a row of pews on each side. According the sign outside, the church was built in 1865. The locals have really kept it up, because it looked really nice. The weather was perfect today so they had all of the stained-glass windows open. There was a nice breeze blowing through the windows. They started the service with 2 English and 2 Chinese songs all praise and worship type songs. Yes, they had a huge screen at the front with the words on it in this very old, traditional looking Church. Everything was spoken in Mandarin then translated into English except for each prayer. All prayers were in Mandarin, no English. The church was packed for both services. There was also a black family there. It was their first time to visit the church as well. We were not able to speak to them directly as it was so crowded. We also met a young white man that lived in China. He taught English in another town. He said that he had to travel 45 min by subway to get to this church. He said that there were a few that were closer to him, but this one was in English and he liked it better. After the song service, the preacher preached about 30 min, then they had Holy Communion, which they have every Sunday morning with real wine! Needless to say we skipped the wine and just ate the bread. (We figured God knew our hearts anyway, and that's all that really mattered.) Annalyn really surprised us. She sang all of the songs really well, especially the Chinese songs that she could read on the screen. She seemed to really enjoy the song service and then she seemed a little bit bored with the preaching. But I thought she did pretty well, considering it was probably her first Christian service. Gwendolyn seemed to enjoy it and sang all of the songs and listened well to the preaching. I thought it was a very spiritual service. You could feel the spirit in that place. It was really neat! I did video just a little bit of it and took a few pictures. Everyone was really nice. Then, when the service was over, we met a couple from Nashville, TN who was adopting their second girl from China. They have an 8 year old and now a 13 month old. They were really nice. His brother is a professor at Samford and he is a pastor in a small church in TN. Small world!

After church, we went to eat at Subway again. The girls seem to really like it! Then we did a little bit of gift shopping and we bought Annalyn's chinese dress. It is so beautiful on her. After shopping, we picked up our laundry at a local shop and went back to the hotel. I laid down to rest for a little while because I am still battling the ole sinuses. Currently, I am carrying around a roll of really soft toilet paper with me everywhere I go! The tissues here are not cutting it. I really really miss my Puffs Plus with Lotion! What I wouldn't give right now for a fresh box of Puffs Plus with Lotion! Can anyone Fed Ex me a box?! LOL!!

After a woke up from a much needed nap, we went to eat supper at Lucy's! We had a wonderful meal there!! AND they also served hot honey and lemon water!! Oooooh, it never felt so good!!! All the way down!! THE best medicine!! While we were eating supper at Lucy's, Annalyn had to go to the bathroom (as usual when we are eating out, LOL). So I took both girls to a public restroom a few feet from the restaurant. There was only one western potty and Annalyn does better with western potties rather than the squatty potties. It is easier for her. (Although, she does have a professional squat for the squatty potties.) Anyway, it was dirty and I had forgotten my pack of tissues (won't make that mistake again). I have yet to see toilet paper, soap, or paper towels in a squatty potty bathroom. So as I was standing there wondering what to do, all of sudden out of the very back squatty stall, comes our angel, Judy from the church service! She had a full pack of travel size tissues with her!! Oh, the Lord sends angels just when you need them, even in squatty bathrooms in China!! He even takes care of the smallest details! Praise His Name!

After our delicious meal, we walked by the river and it was awesome! I wish the pictures would do it justice, but you really have to see it for yourself! LOL. Sooooo beautiful!

Tomorrow, we are scheduled all day with our adoption group. Not sure exactly what we are doing, but I will give you a full report tomorrow night! We only have 3 days and 3 nights left in Guangzhou! Then, Hong Kong overnight and then the good ole US of A! Woo hoo!!

Oh, I need to mention that China does not change their time. Soooo, we are now 14 hours ahead of Alabama and 13 hours ahead of Georgia. Just make a note.