Jon and Cyndi sent a church van to pick us up and took us to an Italian Restaurant for lunch. Although we were expecting Chinese food, they thought the greasy place they took us last time, brought on Paul's attack that ended him in the hospital. The Italian food was excellent though! Tortellini and spinach ravioli! After a yummy lunch and a good visit with Jon and Cyndi, we went back to Cyndi's office where she showed us around. She took us through their bookstore and I hit a goldmine of a few good books for Levi to read! We got him a Chinese/English Bible, where the translations are written side by side. Also, The Three Trees, One Wintery Night by Ruth Bell Graham, (it covers main stories from creation to the resurrection!), one of the Narnia stories, a book on manners, and a couple other fictional readers. *
After a cooling off period in our hotel (naptime for Paul), we ventured out with David and Mel...to a little place tucked away on a side street. It was called Grandma's Kitchen, and we enjoyed milkshakes with them as we visited. When we left, we wandered through the Hutongs...a particular area of the old city and way of life. Hutongs means narrow alleyways. As you enter the area, you are hit with the smell of raw sewage. Thankfully, you get away from it! We wandered through, visiting with Dave and Mel as we went, enjoying the views of the older people sitting out on little stools fanning themselves, a man on a bike riding through calling out the wine or beer he had for sale, a few children about, an open market with all ingredients piled high....fruits and vegetables...spices and grains...meats of ALL sorts. Through this whole Hutong area, I really wanted to take tons of pictures; it is so simple, real, beautiful! ....but I felt very intrusive! It was quite an experience I will never forget! We parted ways with them, as they took the subway home and we took a taxi back to the hotel. *
For dinner, we walked around the corner from the hotel to a place the Proctors had taken me in 2010 (while Paul was sick). They had a particular dish that I wanted to share with Paul since he missed it the last time. It was a fried shredded potato, with onion, garlic, cilantro. Yummy! We also had a sweet and sour pork and pot stickers. It ended with an entertaining large size cockroach meandering his way closer to our table. Faith and I were a little concerned it was going to FLY in our direction. Paul, more concerned about what the locals were thinking of us, was ready to pay and get out of there before we made a scene!
Some of the other highlights of the day were a coffee at Starbucks across the street, and meeting some of the other adopting families that are trickling in. So many wonderful people across our country, that God has brought us in contact with for this short period of time, sharing in this process of adoption! Most are from the Eastern US, and a few are from Washington State. Several have been in the wait shortly after we got back from China with Sophie….the big wait began! But their testimonies tell how God has used them in the mean time….incredible people, or maybe more correct, INCREDIBLE GOD! Most of the children they are adopting have a special need. They will thrive in a loving home!
Lunch with Jon and Cyndi
Books for Levi in Chinese
Milkshakes with Dave and Mel
Hutongs alley
Pedestrian in Beijing
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