Dinner cont.

Russian Dinner

Here are some photos from a dinner that the DeKalb and Wisconsin teams were able to go to in a nearby town in between weeks at the camp! Thank you Leslie and Ray for the generous gift this was to all of us!

Here is a sample of images from the first week. At the left is a view of the interior main building. This is where most meals were consumed, but campers were not allowed on this floor any other time. Next to it on the right is a camel at the camp and then there is one with Tracie on the camel! These camels were not so happy about giving rides to people. The bottom left photo is the inside of a yurt where we all stayed for two weeks! These are three of my girls from the first week teaching me a new card game! And finally, some of our own laughing and enjoying a rally.
We are sorry that the past two weeks did not go as planned in terms of posting to the site. We did not get access as we thought we would have. We are now in Harbin and heading home in two days. All are excited to be back in the States, but it was incredibily hard to say goodbye to campers and workers at the camp. Especially one in particular...Susie. She is a college student who volunteers there and knows Dad. She is thirsty and what a great time I had to spend two weeks with her giving her His love and words! Many of us became attached and are yarping for her all the time with the hopes of getting her to the States!
Thanks for the yarps and we can't wait to see you soon! Love you all!

The Bus on the WAY

So this is the long lost photo from the ride to the camp of our bus. The countryside was amazing and we were all looking forward to getting to Shamineau!

Photos are having a problem

Hi all! We are experiencing technical difficulties with uploading photos. :( from Morgan... We are working on figuring it out, but we are in China so who knows! But other than photos problems we had a great day today! We woke up to a gray sky that poured rain on us as we were walking to the Pearl Market! I felt like I was 5 again, playing outside my house, splashing in puddles! Fourty-five minutes later we arrived at the market and about 3 hours after that, we all had spent lots of money! What an experience the Market was! "Hey Lady" and "I give you good price, you my friend," was shouted in our direction all day! It was so much fun bartering with everyone: Cindy was the best at this by far! We found a wonderful Chinese restaurant on our way home and even the children liked the food!

Now we are sitting in the rooms, resting and preparing to go to Tiananmen Square and Beihai Park at night! It should be an adventure! Thanks for all the support and prayers! We are all amazed at how God is blessing us and giving us grace with each other's hearts! More to come later!

God Bless and You are loved!

Jacqueline

Vet (soon "not") in Tibet

Have never posted in a blog before, but one learns to change with time.

Since the first of May, the situation for many foreigners here has changed dramatically. Basically, there has been no re-registrations of offices for "NGO's" (non-government organizations). Virtually all community development work has ceased, offices have been closed, bank accounts closed, etc. To remain in China requires a business registration, and even businesses have been restricted in the number of visa's they are allowed. With only two visas issued for the wool product, export company that employed us, we are forced to return to the US.

Good news is that our major goals for the spring work were accomplished on schedule. We did design, configure, and deploy a seed drill to plant some degraded pasture areas. We built a spinning machine (makes yarn) that can be replicated with local talent and recycled washing machine motors. Donations for specific projects (help a destitute family get their crops planted, reroof a widow's home and give her a pig to jump start her economic situation, etc.). Bad news is that we will not get to host the China Team in our beloved section of the country.

Leaving in a couple of days. The saying goodbyes is most painful after 4 years here. It reminds us to work while there is light. Locals, who do not fully understand the Good News, are now faced with the situation that we can no longer be here. Their dependence on us is ending.

Our "thoughts" are with the team. Your trip here can not be taken for granted.

We will be visiting family for a time then taking time to rest in Him. Plan is to return next year. Shifting to a business model will be a new venture, and at 60+ years, new ventures are not easily embraced!! Can at least return on a tourist visa long enough to disperse the accumulated stuff of living. Want to retrieve our 3 cats, too, if He allows it.

Drew will keep us posted as to how the summer unfolds for you all.

May His mercies continue on your travels,

Harry and Mo