giving a ride to another church

I was driving Kay's truck home from church, alone and passed by a foreign woman with a 4 year old boy in a suit and a baby in her arms.  I turned around and asked if they would like a ride somewhere.  She looked into the truck and said she would.

She climbed in and I found out she was from Napal, going to church.  I drove her to the church about 3 miles away... a long walk in the heat of June 1 with 2 kids in tow.

She asked me where I lived, I told her and said I live with Karen people.  She pointed to my skirt and said "I know"  shd said her son was telling her he was tired and she was praying that someone would help her.  I stopped and she looked into the truck, recognized my skirt (hand woven) from the Karen people and knew it would be safe.  I told her I was a Mormon and if she wanted a ride to my church, 5 would take her.  She thanked me and was off to her church.

Tender Mercy Baptism

As a Primary President I am given the responsibility of planning the program for one monthly baptism of 8 year olds every year.  This year my assignment was 2 months. May 31, and December 6th.  I only have 1 boy getting baptized this year and that is in December.  I was wondering why I would be asked to organize the program on a month I didn't have a child but did it.

The email from the beginning of the month said I only had one child being baptized so I should ask their family to participate in the program.  A week later I received an email saying a Bermese Karen boy may be baptized too but he had just moved into a ward in our Stake from another ward in our stake and they still weren't sure.

I phoned the new primary president and she thought he was getting baptized.  She told me the ward he moved from and I called the Sr. couple missionary I knew that knew most of the Karen Mormons.  Sister Williams was in Utah, released but gave me the information I needed and mentioned Michael Matthews was his former home teacher.  The Karen family is really shy with the language barriers and did not want to participate in the program with prayers or talks.  I wanted them to be represented and having Brother Matthews there was a big bonus.

I called Brother Matthews to see if he would be willing and able to give the one baptism talk and he was delighted.  I asked him to make contact with the family to confirm he would get baptized which he did.

The night before the baptism our missionaries texted me to tell me the Karen investigators in our ward wanted to attend the baptism and could I pick them up.  Sure.  Kay was on call just in case there were too many people (mostly kids) going to the baptism.

I arrived at the apartment complex in our ward and the Karen people in the neighborhood collected everyone, including two moms that have been to our ward and attended primary with their children in our ward.  I had 9 people in my van, there was another Karen family with a van and the baptism family drove themselves.  We had 23 Karen friends at the baptism of 2 children.

The other boy baptized had a large family there and did the rest of the program... prayers, piano, music.

It was a great opportunity for the Karen people to see one of their own baptized! It was the first baptism most of them had ever seen. Brother Matthews's father-in-law was the former bishop and he was able to go to the baptism too. More people that care.

I realized there, that I was the only one that knew all the information about these Karen people to make a successful day for all.  It was a tender mercy for sure.  The Lord cares about this 8 year old Karen boy and all the Karen people here. Yes, I was supposed to organize the baptism.  I was in instrument in the Lord's hand.

Save the Date: Janell & Richard

Janell with Piano Guys Kung Fu Piano: Dance Film Tour of China

Tienanmen square, Forbidden City, Summer Palace and Peking Duck...

Security

We had a big walking day today with Tienanmen Square, across the way to Forbidden City and across the city to the Summer Palace.  the Pollution in Beijing was good at 3 parts per million, yet we could barely see the sun and the sky was grey all day.  Our group wore masks for the pollution.  Tienanmen  square had extra security for an official meeting going on across the street.  Our legs still hurt from our Great Wall climb yesterday.

An important government meeting was happening so we had extra security. 

In the Forbidden city  we could tell how important the building was by the amount of animals on the roof edge.  Nine was the top of the top.  Odd numbers are the lucky ones in China.  We saw a bridge and our guide said "this is the bridge with 18 round arches." I said "very unlucky" he said... "no,9 and 9"  ohhhhhh.

We had quite a few people ask if they could take our picture.  Mostly young adult age.  Some took pictures of themselves and situated themselves so they were just in front of us with our backs turned.  I would turn around and give them a huge smile and usually the photographer would be laughing terribly and show the.

We walked past some girls on a bench and two of them were following me with their phone movie cameras.  I said Hello and Ne-How. They all yelled out hello and giggled.  I asked if I could take their picture.  they were delighted! and all said a very cheery goodbye.

The summer palace was not as busy. We saw the famous Jade boat (Jade dock that looks like a boat)

Our last dinner was Peking duck (Duck taco) They showed us how to fix it.  We liked the chopsticks holders so we bought them from the dining room.

By the way... the food here was terrific, unlike our last trip... Rachael and Frances couldn't eat Chinese food for a whole year!

The Olympics brought in many things, good food, bathrooms in every home, cleaner streets, English signs, English speakers.

We have a better route home so our over the ocean flight will be 11 hours instead of 15. 

The flight that disappeared is pretty freaky, especially since we are flying out of Beijing!  Sounds like a movie to me.... maybe that is they way Enoch's people were lifted up?

 This has been a really nice transition for Janell.  We have not been able to get on Youtube, facebook and blogs.  Censored in China.  So a big Thank you to Frances for posting our emails and pictures to our blogs!

We go backwards so our 15 hours of travel will get us there 2 hours after we leave.  I am hoping for some more good movies.  Some in our group were on China air with the old fashioned one movie on screens that they played twice.  Delta is the way to go and..... I got an email saying I have now earned a free trip.  Where to next?  I will have to look on groupon for some deals. Turkey, India, Thailand?  We traveled again with Gate1 and were very happy with their services and especially the price. we will definitely use them again.

The Great Wall

We did the great wall.  Our guide said we could go the easy side or the harder side so we decided on the harder side... meaning steeper and more uneven steps.  We climbed to the top of where it was restored and went down an alternate way.  Janell did her dance in several places.  the alternate route down put us pretty far from the bus, so a young couple went on a scouting trip, got our guide's attention and the bus picked us up.

The wall is truly amazing.  We have been singing Mulan songs as we have seen the sites.  Definitely a must-see for us upon arrival!   BTW I wouldn't have gone to the top but they just kept encouraging.... "a little further, just till we get to the look- out tower... oh my look at this view up here... this is amazing..."

we were famished!  Our two restaurants didn't have any forks.... very local. One of our ladies gave us a lecture on how they should have forks, they are so much easier.  I asked our guide Tom is he had a fork in his house.  He said no and a big worry of his when he makes his trip to the US in a few years is forks.  I told him to bring his chopsticks.  He said he has no idea how to cut individual pieces of meat at the table.  It is a learning process.  Unfortunately we can't teach him..... there are NO FORKS!  Lauren and Janell donated their hair ties so Lauren could make some training chopsticks for some of our fellow travelers.  they appreciated them.  I will carry my spork today for someone to use.

Beijing Day 1

Drummers after climbing the drum tower

We transferred to Beijing.  Our third domestic flight 1 hour 45 min.  We took a tour to the drum tower and saw the drummers drum.

We took a Hutong (Old city) tour including pedicab.

Pedicabs in a row

We then left the group going to the hotel, and made our own foodie trip.  First we stopped at McDonalds to have the recommended Taro tart (like apple pie).  They loved it.  

Taro pie from McDonalds

We took a cab to the food market to see the street food and saw some amazing stuff.  Notice I did not say "ate". we were spectators for most of the food experience.

Note to cab driver for "Food Street"

Pigeon

Corn on the Cob