Beijing, Here We Come!

Got cha! Didn't I? Oh, don't think for a minute that we wouldn't board the plane for the far east again. If that's what God would have us do, I'm all over it. But for now, we celebrate the one year anniversary of the day we left Huntsville for Beijing on a journey that only God could plan. On July 18th, 2006, we left Huntsville with both of Lily's new grandmothers, Memaw and Granny, on what would prove to be the most awesome journey in our lives. Awesome for many reasons, but primarily because God was in it big time. As I think back to those days, the feelings and emotions are still so strong, I can easily close my eyes and find myself instantly in the beautiful land where God created our precious miracle, Lily Grace. We left Huntsville that day with only a few pictures of our little girl and came home with a lifetime of memories and the memory of a lifetime. And the most awesome little girl ever created as icing on the cake!


Just like last year at this time, our church (Isom's Chapel UMC) held revival services this week. "Maybe." That's a word our revival pastor used quite a bit this week. Maybe, if I go out on a "maybe" God will find favor in me and bless me. Let me tell you, we were on the "maybe" of a lifetime last year as we set out for China. Maybe we would get safely to Beijing. Maybe we would be able to collect our luggage. Maybe we would get through customs. Maybe we would be able to barter for transportation to a hotel we had no clue how to find. Maybe a taxi driver would understand English and get us to the Wangfujing Grand Hotel in Beijing. Maybe ... But when you ask something of God in full faithfulness, He doesn't say Maybe, He sends angels. That was His first act of kindness on our behalf during this trip. God sent Yichi, a college student on her way home after 9 months in the states to help us find our way. He even recruited Yichi's parents to get us safely there. What an angel you are Yichi. Wherever you are, know that we are forever thankful for you and your family's acts of kindness. We pray for special blessings for your life and that you also would find favor with God.


Maybe. Maybe, we would be able to get accustomed to China and the time change. Maybe we would be able to find food we could eat and something to drink. Maybe no one will get sick. Maybe the people will be nice to us. Maybe we will be able to hear from our family and friends while we are in China. Maybe ... But when you ask something of God in full faithfulness, He doesn't say Maybe, He answers prayers. He provided for our every need, even when we had no clue (which was often in the first few days). The people He placed in our walk were some of the nicest and most humble people we ever met. Our prayer for them is that someday, they too will find God at work in their lives as He is in ours. By the grace of God, we were able to communicate with our friends and family through this very web log. The strength that we drew from the encouragement from each of you cannot be adequately described by mere words. Your prayers and kind comments were our refuge during the difficult times. God answers prayers.


Maybe. Maybe our little angel will bond with us quickly and know that we are hers and she is ours forver. Maybe she will laugh and not cry. Maybe she'll be happy and eat well. Maybe she'll love her new grandmothers instantly. Maybe ... But when you ask something of God in full faithfulness, He doesn't say Maybe, He creates miracles. Consider the words below which I wrote on a napkin on the way over to China:


"Do you think that she will love us, will she smile a great big smile?
Or will she simply stare and wonder, is this only for a while?
Until the day we met she had no family of her own
Her days were spent in solitude, with so many all alone"

"Do you think that she will love us, will she smile and laugh out loud?
Will she know when she first sees us, she has a family without a doubt?
She's spent her life entirely, in a room they call her own
Waiting for someone to come for her, someone to take her home."

"I hope and pray His love for her, will be the light she needs
His Grace and Mercy abound for her, so in Jesus I believe."


I've kept these words tucked away in my Bible for a year now, reading them occassionally and standing in awe and amazement at how God has answered our "Maybe" with His "Miracle."

Tomorrow, I will try to post some more of our trip last year to China. Maybe.

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, and Lily Grace
Green, Party of Four