Greetings from Guangzhou

It's Sunday afternoon, and I'm writing from our corner room at the Victory hotel. Expansive windows reveal green tress swaying in the spring-like breeze. The room is quiet, save for some relaxing and inspiring music. Tom and Grace are traipsing about, re-exploring Shamian Island here in Guangzhou. I have this large hotel room, and the computer, to myself for an hour.

Our travels from Cincinnati, which began at 6:30 Friday morning when we kissed the rest of the family good-bye and left for the airport, were both pleasantly uneventful and excruciatingly long. Around midnight Saturday (!) we and all our luggage arrived safely at our hotel. This morning we met a friend from the Cincinnati area, Mary Alice, and had such a great time catching up and hearing about her work as a teacher close to this area. We also visited, briefly, the small church here on the island, a church packed with Chinese worshippers. The service was in Chinese, of course, but it was great to hear them joyfully singing a familiar hymn and an unfamiliar chorus to Yesu.

Tomorrow (Monday) is the big day! We receive Mayana Lin Meixiang at 2:30; that is, 1:30 am EST. Thank you so much for covering this day in your prayers.

We will send an update shortly after we return from our hotel.

Other prayer requests: Continued health for all! Adjustment & bonding to go well. Smooth, uncomplicated paperwork and proceedings. For the family members at home in Cincinnati - peace, health, and joy.

Thanks!