Slideshow of Beijing

So forgive me for not putting these to music...all the selections were obnoxious after 121 photos! Also, the old film effect was the best one they had! Enjoy some of the photos! For a better look at the pictures, click on "view all images".

On to Guangzhou

Evidently, Western wedding photography is big here. There is a company that the bride and groom can go into their shop, the bride can pick out any dress she likes (and the groom, his tux), get makeup and hair done, and go out for a photoshoot! It doesn't matter if the dress doesn't fit, they just pin it. AND you can do this any day of the week! We saw pictures like this being taken all through the weedkdays as well as the weekend.
We stayed on Shamain Island. It was the only British outpost on mainland China during the 19th century. It was beautiful, but very British colonial. It didn't feel totally like China.

A boat on the Pearl River.

Tai Chi in the morning.

This is a pagoda and waterfall at the White Swan. By the way, if you are ever in Guangzhou, that is the place to stay. It is beautiful!

Bridges link Shamien Island with the city of Guangzhou. Cross the bridge and you feel like you are back in China.

Now we are back in China...

We used a laundry service while we were in Guangzhou. Then, as we walked down the street, we'd see all the clothes drying like this. I half expected to look up and recognize the pants, shirt, or underwear!!

Mao's Little Red Book

We visited the pearl market on one of our last days...



This is ONE store...these bags are FULL of pearls...there are a dozen or so more stores like this!

MMM...octopus on a stick! Can't beat that snack. It's almost as good as chicken feet!

Near the pearl market

Working hard...always!

What Will Become of This Child??

$1, 600, 137.23. This is how much Mikaela helped raise for different causes this weekend.

OK, so the 1.6 million was from an event that she went and served at for Medical Teams International...but she got her first taste of being a champion of causes and she loved it!!

I think we've always know that Mikaela was always good with money in a Kingdom sort-of-way. The minute she would get money, it would be given away to the person, event, cause that God had placed on her heart. Many a homeless person has been the beneficiary of her generosity (in money and food), victims of hurricane Katrina have received from her, the church, African and Chinese children, and even her brother have been gifted with "her" money (which she doesn't really see as hers!).

On Friday at a school carnival, Mikaela almost singlehandedly raised $137.23 in an hour and a half for new trees to be planted at the school. I watched her from a distance as she promoted the cause, talked to people, and persuaded them to give. She wasn't a "salesman" nor a manipulator, but it came out of a genuineness in her heart and people responded! It was really amazing to watch! (And of course, she was excited because none of it was for her...it was all for something else!)

At the Medical Teams International fundraiser, she got to see it on a much grander scale and to only be a small part, but it fed her desire to do good around the world and to keep finding ways to give away money. (Of course, it also confirmed to her that she "really wants to travel around the world now and serve others" in the name of Jesus.)

So, all I can say is a repeat of what Elizabeth said about her son, John..."What will become of this child? Clearly, God has His hand in this." (Luke 1)