last day in guilin...

H!

Yesterday I wrote a long update and then lost it when I tried to send it. So I will try again!!

We have had extremely full days and not much time to get to the internet cafe. I can't believe we have only one day left here in Guilin. There has been much sharing going on with new and old friends on campus. Our team has been very determined, focused and intentional about sharing their lives with Chinese students. It has been exciting and encouraging to be a part of. Another new brother this morning - more rejoicing and singing!!!

Yesterday we took a bus load of Chinese friends with our team to a famous waterfall out in the countryside. Everyone rented strange looking straw sandals and helmets and climbed up the waterfall!! We couldn't help thinking about how much liability insurance would be required to do the same thing in America!! It was so much fun.

The day before, we took a bus load down the Li River in a boat and took hundreds of pictures of the amazing scenery. I've never seen a place like this anywhere!! One morning, we climbed to the top of one of the mountains on the campus. When we got to the top, we sang and pr'ed over the campus and for the students of GUT and Guilin.

Everyone is in pretty good health. Joanne got up this morning with a fever and sore throat, but is feeling better already (it's about 2:00 PM right now). Jack, our Chinese friend, also has a bad sore throat today so we suggested he take an afternoon nap. He has been doing so much for us and will be traveling with us to Beijing tomorrow, so we really want him to get better. Liz has struggled to find food that she likes, and has had headaches, but she seems to be feeling much better now. So all in all, we are healthy and happy.

After many trips to the airport, we finally have recovered the last piece of luggage that was lost. And I haven't been able to get on our blog (the gov. here blocks many of the sites) but I understand that Liz' suitcase was sent to her home in PA! Today Liz and I talked at breakfast about how she has learned so much by not having her suitcase with all her personal belongings all this time. I have been so impressed with how she has handled it and had a great attitude. Funny how when you get right down to it, all you need here is a willing heart to serve - don't need all the stuff we think we need!!! It's been a great lesson for us all to learn. And a great team builder.

Thank-you for remembering us each day. We will fly to Beijing tomorrow AM. We are taking Jack (Chinese friend) and Cherry (wife of university official) with us. Think of us as we say good-bye tonight to friends here. It is always quite emotional. And for safety traveling to Beijing. Also, for continuing conversations with Jack and Cherry.

Love to you all back home,

Linda

a special message from home for liz...

Queen Elisabeth,
We love you! We have heard reports that you have been standing firm in Him even without your luggage. Continue to rest in His strength. We know you are living out what James tells us, "consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds". You are in our pr's continually. We can't wait to hear how Dad provided for your every need according to his riches in J__. Make the most of you last few days in Guilin and have a blast in Bejing.
Love,Mom, Dad, Chris, Lauren, Katherine, Trudy, Sampson and Sophie

just got off the phone...

and the team is doing great!


they had a huge breakthrough with the university today!

GUT (Guilin University of Tech) has decided to create a C.A.R.E scholarship program for outstanding students at the university! The recipients will be handpicked by the university as well as the CARE team and will recieve finanical assistance to help with their schooling. This will be yet another way that all of us back home can help to contribute to the work being done in china.

The scholarship will most likely be given to a student with an excellent GPA, high moral standards, and great financial need. Perhaps we will be able to suggest some of the friends we have made in order to help them finish their schooling.

This is a major step in our relationship with the university as they realize that we truly care about the students and the realtionships we have made.

the home stretch....

it's official!

the team is on the tail end of their time in guilin!

by this time in the trip, the team probably feels like they have been in china an entire year. with the long travel, packed schedule and the stress of sleep deprivation, they will hardly realize their time in guilin is coming to a close. only 2 more days and they will be headed to beijing and then home. it's crunch time! think of them specifically that they can be brave and plant seeds of hope and love in their friends!

surprisingly my dad has been able to send a few text messages to my phone and has been giving me some updates as they travel and spend time with friends.

this past weekend (saturday night our time - sunday morning china time) i got a text as the the team filled a bus to full capacity with friends and headed to the Li River. truly one of the most famously photographed sites in all of china (second to the great wall), it is a beautiful and picturesque trip on a river boat through scaling Guilin mountains.

it is a time when the team can relax with their friends, share what's on their heart and have some time to talk one on one.

it's also a time to kick back and relax...maybe even sample some of the local snake infested drink of choice...if you don't know what it is, don't ask :)

some of my favorite shots of the river boat include our sweet kate. here are a few that i love:

as the team's time in china runs to a close, please keep remembering them and thinking about them. the transition back into our life here is different for everyone, and it's not always an easy, or fast process, but it begins before they even leave china. there is a lot of heart processing and self examination that takes place during such a dramatic and life changing trip. they are faced with the thoughts and ideas that they have learned and will need you to help bring their stories home. telling their stories will help make them into more than a story...it will enable each of these teens, college students, and adults to transition back into their everyday lives in a much more un-ordinary way. because after all, we need a little more of the un-ordinary to help us see more of what Dad is trying to teach us.

keep remembering them.

with love, angie

a message from home for Jeremy...

To Jeremy: Hey bummer about your bag! Hope you find some clothes to fit, especially underwear! Ha! We are praying for your safety. Sounds like you are enjoying it over there. We love you. G-Ma and G-Pa

Lecture Hall

I just got off the phone with my dad and he said that 5 of the 7 lost bags did arrive. I wasn't able to get out of him which bags they were (phone connection isn't always the greatest) but they did arrive.
He said they were walking over to their big lecture. Each year we go over, the school asks us to put on large lecture (300-400 students) and talk about American Culture and things that interest us. This usually covers Amercian music, dancing, family life, dating, careers, part time jobs, beliefs, religion, what we do in our free time, college life, etc... It's usually a great time to share who we are and what we enjoy in a large setting...many students come very eager to see Americans and hear native English spoken. Many lasting relationships are made from these lectures because for some students, they see that we are easy going and fun...not just serious English teachers...they can see all this from afar and then feel comfortable to come and talk to us...when they might've been intimidated to come up to us on the street on campus. Think of the team this morning as they are at the lecture. I'm sure it will be a sweaty and memorable time. Their classrooms don't have air conditioning :)

This is also usually a sad weekend for the team. They begin to realize that they only have a few more days with their precious new friends. Time flies while you're over there and before they know it they'll be on the Great Wall and walking through Tieneman's Square.

keep fighting
steve henricks

morning here - night there

a quick up date - i just talked to my mom and dad this morning...they are still having a great time! Still making new relationships and seeing much fruit blossom from old ones. J_ has joined the family, a long time friend, and the Srks are visiting from another city.

The airline says they should be delivering 5 of the 7 lost bags tomorrow. They didn't want to try and deliver them today because they were afraid they would lose them again. Gotta love their confidence.

My dad said they have decided to fly to Bejing next Wednesday instead of take the overnight train. This will give them an extra day with thier friends in Guilin which i know they are all excited about. They will be taking a few students up to Bejing with them which is always a blessing.


That's all for now
Keep fighting for them
They still have another week
Steve Henricks

from Steve....

Hello from China!

It's Steve, and I am updating you with our experiences so far in China. It is Wednesday afternoon here (1:45). The last few days have been such amazing experiences for the entire team. Tuesday morning we had a meeting with our friends D_, J_, and C_. D_ is a member of our the family and he shared his life as such a member with J_ and C_. Peter Lin helped with translating. J_ and C_ really appeared to understand what Davey was saying and were very open-minded throughout the meeting. By the end of the meeting Dad did some amazing works and fulfilled the plans He had all along. J_ accepted, admitted his wrong doings to Dad, and asked Him for forgiveness. The entire team was thrilled with this news. C_ wanted more time, but we believe Dad has great plans for C_ as well. In addition to C_ and J_, many other frienships are beginning to lead toward talks about our Father. Joanne and Linda talked with Kate's four girl-friends last night and began to talk about Dad and all He has done for us. They seemed open-minded as well, and Joanne and Linda are thrilled to pursue that conversation. Please continue to talk to our Father about our friends.

No members are sick nor injured, so thanks Dad. This morning we had a class with students at GUT. They showed us some art and taught us how to write our names in Chinese symbols. We sang some songs for them, and then we showed them the Cupid Shuffle. Boy did they love that. Around 30 or 40 students all dancing to that was so much fun- an overall wonderful time. It has rained the past three days in Guilin, but we do not mind beacuse it cools us from the intense heat here. The Srks and J_ plan on arriving today and staying at our hotel.

That's about it for now. We all say hello and thank everyone at home for their talks with Dad. It has helped us so far, and will certainly continue to. Dad has some wonderful plans for this trip, and we intend on fulfillinf those plans to the fullest. We are talking to Dad for all you at home as well.

Until next update, CARE Team 2009

A note from home to Elisabeth on the team

Elisabeth,
It is so cool to see you following hard after Dad and walking in obedience. It sounds like the team had a exhausting first 2-3 days. Dad was watching over you all the way. Continue to abide in him. Remember that there is nothing you can do outside of the vine. We have been pr'ing faithfully and know that the team will reflect him to the students there. Be prepared to give the reason for the hope that you have inside. How are you doing without your luggage? I guess you are experiencing first hand that Dad is all you really need. Everything else in this world is much less significant.

We Love You!
Mom and Dad

from joanne...

Hope all is well with you!
We're finally in Guilin! It's a little after 11 am and I am sitting in an internet cafe with Dave, Linda, Liz, and Koons. Seven of our bags are still missing, but other than that all is well...though our journey here brought many trials, Guilin has in turn brought many wonderful things. We arrived around 10:15 at night, and got to talk with some great Chinese students on the bus ride to our hotel. After a delicious first meal in Guilin, we woke up the next day to a class on Chinese knot making and later on an awesome welcome party...there was singing, and even some Chinese B-Boys breakdancing for us! A major highlight has been a visit from D., a friend from nine years ago, who was able to stay with us until this morning. There have been many new faces, meeting with some of the freshmen classes, but also old friends-- SQ, Joy__, R, M, CM, J, and of course Gam and Cherrie! Tomorrow, we'll also be joined by Ja__, and on Friday by Li__, so we're all looking forward to reconnecting with them.
Guilin is bringing back many memories of our dear Katelynn...but we are carrying her in our hearts and her time here has served as an inspiration for us all. For me, it has been awesome to see the first-timers coming to fall in love with China just as I did last year...the breathtaking scenery...the delicious food...but most importantly the amazing, amazing people and relationships we make with them.
Many amazing things happening, DAD told me that though we faced trials, He has big plans for us. I made a couple new friends and have met with old friends, one of mine named Mich____ who told me she has been reading her Butterfly and wants to talk more! :) :) I spoke with a couple of students about Katelynn, sharing how she is Home now and why I know we will see her again...I cried just thinking about how she is still doing work in China even now... Brandon also talked to Z__ briefly, and I am in touch with my girls V__ and A__ :) This morning was filled with so many tears of joy...we watched D. share about DAD and talk to Him in Chinese. I just keep thinking about the amazing HOME reunion we will all have...when there will no longer be a language barrier...where we will be together with D...Vi...Jo...Ja...Joy__...Katelynn. So many emotions going through my heart right now...

It'll be lunchtime soon so I'm off now to meet the team for some Guilin noodles :) Later we will all be going to the university's new campus to meet the students there.
Love you all! Joanne

even more updates...

We are pretty tired from jet lag but powering thru it. The team is great. The younger ones are trying to figure it out.

-Liz and Nathan are very touched with the openess and loving Chinese.
-Cathy is having a blast sharing her life with several girls and it in her element. She love it with all her heart.
-Steve got to have a quiet time to talk with J. and he make a life commitment. Wow it was amazing. C. is thinking about things we are talking about and L. also made a life commitment. Really awesome!!
-As I type, Cathy is going thru stories of the OT and NT with a friend.

We are meeting with all the guys and girls from last several trips. There are ready to start jobs and might never see them again so we are having a lot of great talks.
-Peter has been saving us from problems and translating for all the student wanting to know more in Chinese. We are so thankful for Peter being with us and loving China enough to come back. He has perfect chinese language and has be able to translate all we say.

lots of love!
dave

amazing amazing amazing!!!

It is Tuesday here and we are finally getting to an internet cafe. It's been an incredible morning. Lots of news for the blog. "D" (our brother) has been with us for 24 hours. This morning, some special things/conversations happened. Got some incredible video. It was such a sweet time of sharing and pr'er. Then the guys on our team (Jeremy, Steve, and Tim) were able to have some great conversations and some decisions were make. PTL!!! Angels are rejoicing today. "D" shared so much with us that we didn't know about him and his life and family. It was great because a Peter could translate everything for him. What an amazing guy "D" is. Hard to explain it all in an email but be rejoicing with us even if you don't understand all of the code in this email. After so much hastle to get here, we are seeing his hand at work, we're connecting with lots of old friends and meeting new ones. Cathy is with a friend right now. think about us all the time!

We are still missing 7 suitcases - lost somewhere between Chicago and here?? Both Liz an Joanne are without their personal suitcases and have none of their stuff!! Pr'y the suitcases would be found. Fortunately all the gifts for our friends arrived.

All the team members are doing well. No one is sick. Everyone very focused on the task at hand and very intentional! Great team of students.
Love you all!
Linda

the good fight...

We are all doing well and nobody is sick. Great contact and lots of activity with the good news. We are excited and the team is really into the fight on the second day.
Our father is well and preparing the way for the past 9 year in China in Guilin. We will be at other campus today and Thursday in afternoon. Great schedule and we are encouraged. I have to type fast. No way to send pictures yet. Keep thinking of us. It has rained here the past 2 days and we love it to cool it off. We need rain every day to keep us cool. AC in room can hang beef if we want to and lots of hot water so we are well cared for. We are hoping for luggage maybe tonight for people with no clothes or items.

update from dave...

The team arrived safely in Guilin on sunday (6am usa time - 6pm china time) and we are off and running.

The airline lost Liz, Steve, and Joanne's luggage and 4 team bags. They were lost in the Chicago delay. We are waiting on bags to come to Shanghai and then to Guilin.

The hotel is at least 4 star and nicest we have ever stayed in. Even nicest in USA almost. Even blow dryer and soap on the wall, but the shower still leaks across floor. :) But it is China. We are all getting fat on the best chinese food ever. More to follow soon...

from joanne...

Hello from the Shanghai Airport! It's about 1:30 and we just got done a delicious meal at a little Japanese restaurant in the terminal. Yesterday was...long, to say the least. Chicago had some major storms and tornadoes so we were rerouted to Grand Rapids Michigan, where we were grounded for another 4 hours. Later, after finally arriving in Chicago, we caught our 14 hour flight to Shanghai. After some men in white suits tested the entire plane with lasers for the H1N1 virus, we were all so happy when we stepped off the plane-- in China at last! -- until learning that our luggage didn't come with us. But Peter saved the day and was able to use Chinese to find us a hotel (air conditioning!) and our first authentic Chinese meal of the trip. After a morning of exploring a tiny marketplace on some side streets of Shanghai, we came back here to the airport to wait until our 7pm flight to Guilin. Although all the delays were frustrating at first, we know that everything happens for a reason and decided to look at it as some nice recuperation time from the flights with the team. We're all doing well and really excited to get to the beautiful Guilin!

off line...

sorry gang! i've been offline for a few days! i'm going to catch you all up and post some of the emails that were sent in the past few days!

ni hao shanghi!

it's official!!!
as of 8:36 am (8:36 pm china time) the team touched down in mainland china!
shanghai, to be exact.
the only casualties have been one pillow and one pair of glasses.
when i talked to them, they were at the baggage carousel hoping to spot their luggage, but with all of the delays, they aren't sure where it ended up.
although they missed their original flight to guilin, they are staying positive and will sleep in the airport and hang out all day and leave tomorrow at 4am (4pm china time) for guilin.

as always, flying to china never leaves a dull moment...

when the team boarded the plane from chicago to shanghi, they were met with a swarm of white-suit clad stewardesses, complete with white gloves, hats and face masks! each one was armed with a laser temperature reader and they scanned the entire plane for feverish passengers. they singled 2 passengers out of the entire plane...can you guess which 2?? tim and cathy from our team were pulled aside for a temperature check with a thermometer! thankfully, they did not have a fever and were allowed back to their seats. not sure about you, but i would have been really nervous surrounded by the white-suited fever police!

travel fun...

I've been on and off of the phone/text with my dad and after a day of stop and go travel, the team has found themselves en route to Shanghi!

After nearly missing their flight to Chicago (they literally had to run to make the flight!), they are smiling and encouraged to see how things work out with a little faith!

At this point, it looks as though they will not make their original flight from Shanghi to Guilin. The delays have them set to arrive in Shanghi at 6pm, but 6pm is the time of their hop to Guilin. Most probably they will need to sleep in the airport and hang out until they can catch the next flight to Guilin tomorrow afternoon at 4pm, putting them in Guilin just in time for their welcome party.

Right now they are feeling really upbeat and encouraged! But from past expirience, I know that they exhastion will soon kick in...think about them if you wake up in the middle of the night...odds are, they will be awake too :)

flight update...

i just got a call from dave (my dad)...
and the team just landed in Grand Rapids, MI...not Chicago, IL as scheduled!
aparently there are severe thunderstorms and tornados in Chicago and they were not able to land.
the pilot came over the loudspeaker while we were on the phone and said they were going to take off soon and hopefully they will make their connecting flight to shanghi.
the main concern is that the team must make it to shanghi in time to make their flight to guilin because there are not many flight times each day.
be thinking of them today as you go about your day...
they need your thoughts right now!

and their off!!!

it's official! china team 09 is in flight!

they left on time this morning around 8am from philadelphia to chicago, and chicago to shanghi and shanghi to guilin. it will be a long trip with so many layovers, but hopefully they will all get some rest!

airport breakfast:

nathan's first airplane ride!

the countdown has begun...

Wow, what a great team of 11 mighty men and women. I am totally impressed with this 2009 CARE Team. I cannot believe how they have come together as a team and as friends. Great thing to come in the next two weeks.

2 days to go: Trying to get a little jump on the 12 hour time difference (extreme jet lag) in China, planning early to bed Wednesday (ya right....), and then up early Thursday to work at 5 am, then extra earlier to bed on Thursday night (but I need to pack yet), and then up very early departure day (3 am), last minute check of everything (do you hear the toilet running for the 10th time, did you check the windows and doors for the 5th time) as we walk out the door to leave our house for 15 days.

We are off to CFC at 4 am. Frantically tag, weigh, label, and lock all suitcases. Leave CFC at 4:45 am. Arrive at airport at 5:30 am. Check in and ask agents to give us nice seats and maybe with a prayer we get an exit row for my extra long Henricks legs, and for tall Koons, of course. Flight to leave at 7:55 am. Then it is time to organize my carry-on bag at the airport. I have reduced my stress this year by cramming my usually well organized carry-on bag with items in no rime or reason and will use the time at the airport or on the plane to organize it and also to read all my preparation literature for my encounters with my Chinese friends.

Sometimes I wonder why I put myself thru this. It's a lot of work, time, energy, money, etc. But time after time, Linda and I always go back to, "Here I am send me!" (and there is no real good reason NOT to go besides being selfish).

I love my chinese friends. I have lifelong friendships that will span through generations. My time in China is precious and I keep with my moto that I always say to my best and dear Chinese friends, "I'll be back!".

dedicated to our sweet sister and friend...

This 2009 China Short Term Trip will take along the memory of Katelynn Melissa Hunt since her home going to Heaven on Feb. 7, 2009.




She will be missed dearly by her friends and family and especially by her friends in China. Katelynn made Short Term Trips to China in 2004, 2006, and 2008 and was in love with China and its people.





She was in constant contact with her friends in China thru the internet and they were always on her mind and heart.







With Katelynn missing from future trips, it will give these future teams the urgency to share their life to the fullest extent possible becasue we don't know the time or place of our trip to Heaven.

about us...

C.A.R.E. stands for “Cultural and Relational Exchange” in the country of China. We are comprised of a diverse group of professional business persons, teachers, counselors, college students, and high school students that are interested in exchanging culture and friendships in China. The main goal is to teach English and culture in Chinese university classrooms and to build long term relationships with Chinese students and facility.

Our destination will be the Guilin University of Technology (GUT) in Guilin, China. http://www.gutcie.cn/ . GUT has a student population of over 20,000 students and facility on two campuses. Guilin is in the southern-most part of China and is one of the most photographed and beautiful places in China because of its picturesque landscapes and awe-inspiring mountians surrouding the city. Guilin has a population of around 5 million and is a popular tourist spot and also growing industrial and business area.



Our Team:




Back Row: Steven, Jeremy, Tim, Nathan, Dave
Front Row: Peter, Cathy, Joanne, Linda, Elisabeth, Brandon