July 11, 2013

Knowing we are traveling to China with the whole family feels rather surreal.  I’ve been having moments of panic and wondering if I will be able to lead everyone where they need to go.  More importantly, I wonder if everyone will enjoy the trip.  I have to keep on reminding myself that this is an adventure and a learning time for all of us.  I need to be willing to learn too.  The lesson on Joseph from Sunday has been a good one.  Joseph had to endure waiting and trials and temptations and, most of all, the temptation to disbelieve in God and to despair.  Please God, take me on a journey of learning more to trust you and believe in what you have for me and the family.  Take our family on a journey of getting closer to you individually and corporately.

Incredibly, we actually get ready early and loaded and off to the airport on time.  We don’t lose our way, have time to get gas and make it to the rental car place in plenty of time.  There are no lines at the airport.  We have a bit of confusion as one airline official tells me to check in at the kiosks by scanning the passports, and while I am doing that and inputting the information, another airline clerk waves all the family to the counter and then wants me to come over.  Mollie panics a bit.  However, it is all smoothed over and we get our tickets and get to tell the clerks that this is our trip 12 years in the planning.  They seem pleased at our story and wish us well.

On the plane, I sit next to a woman and begin talking with her.  From the things she tells me and the  Bible I see with her friend, I realize that she is on a mission trip.  Another group of people on the plane seem to be taking a youth mission trip to teach English.  So we end up traveling across the ocean to China with a group of other Christians who all are hoping to show love to the Chinese people.

We get through customs without a hitch, although the two officials attempt to speak to Steffi and Mollie in Chinese.  Our ride is waiting for us as promised at the exit with a sign “Virginia Kearney.”  Along the way to the hotel, Christopher and I manage to hold some conversation with him in Chinese, although we also have plenty of times when we have no idea what exactly we are talking about.

We arrive at the hostel and have a first culture shock as we walk down the alley to the hotel.  There are smells and trash in some places.  It is dark and the rooms at the hotel are small.  I wonder if I’ve made a really terrible mistake.  Everyone is exhausted and grumpy.  We fall into bed to sleep.