Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Gideon Zhang Lushi Kamberger
First off, Blogger is blocked by the "Great firewall of China", but I have been able to find a proxy server that allows us to post. It will not give me a picture uploader option though, so the pics will need to added later, perhaps by Caitlin.
We awoke from a short sleep in Beijing and headed off to the airport at 5:45am. We needed to be in Taiyuan by 10:00 to meet Lushi at the Shanxi Civil Affairs office. Our flight was delayed just a bit, so we didn't have time to check in at the hotel upon our arrival here, we just went straight to Civil Affairs. Lushi was waiting in the office for us, and seemed a bit shy and nervous upon meeting us. We signed several papers and were off to the hotel. Our guide Angela talked at length with Lushi and translated several questions/answers for us. We enjoyed lunch at a restaurant across the street from the hotel, with Lushi enjoying the local specialty of noodles, and John enjoying a spicy beef hot pot. We also had a bok choy dish and sweet/sour pork. Back at the hotel, we spent time talking with our new son, trying to get to know him. Mary gave him a short math quiz, trying to find out where he is academically. During our talk, we found out the he HAS had surgery on his spinal cord. We're not sure what exactly was done, but there's a good sized scar on his back and he says the surgery allowed him to have bowel control, but not bladder control. We also found out that he had been in foster care for approx. 8 yrs, and is still very close to the large foster family. They gave him a huge going away party last week and it is obvious that Lushi is very attached to them. We have contact info and will stay in touch with them. We may in fact, travel to Linfen later this week and try to meet them. We'll see how our schedule works out.
We had a short Skype video call with Caitlin, Grace and Sarabeth. The other children were already asleep for the night. The kids are experiencing a blizzard in North Iowa, with up to a foot of snow and 40 mph winds tonight. Keep them in your prayers.
The plan for tomorrow (Thursday) is to have our notary work done and all the paperwork completed at the Civil Affairs office, then perhaps do some shopping for clothes for Gideon. He's smaller than most 14 yr olds, and the clothes we brought for him are mostly too large. We'll remain in touch. Thanks for your prayers and words of encouragement.
John and Mary
We awoke from a short sleep in Beijing and headed off to the airport at 5:45am. We needed to be in Taiyuan by 10:00 to meet Lushi at the Shanxi Civil Affairs office. Our flight was delayed just a bit, so we didn't have time to check in at the hotel upon our arrival here, we just went straight to Civil Affairs. Lushi was waiting in the office for us, and seemed a bit shy and nervous upon meeting us. We signed several papers and were off to the hotel. Our guide Angela talked at length with Lushi and translated several questions/answers for us. We enjoyed lunch at a restaurant across the street from the hotel, with Lushi enjoying the local specialty of noodles, and John enjoying a spicy beef hot pot. We also had a bok choy dish and sweet/sour pork. Back at the hotel, we spent time talking with our new son, trying to get to know him. Mary gave him a short math quiz, trying to find out where he is academically. During our talk, we found out the he HAS had surgery on his spinal cord. We're not sure what exactly was done, but there's a good sized scar on his back and he says the surgery allowed him to have bowel control, but not bladder control. We also found out that he had been in foster care for approx. 8 yrs, and is still very close to the large foster family. They gave him a huge going away party last week and it is obvious that Lushi is very attached to them. We have contact info and will stay in touch with them. We may in fact, travel to Linfen later this week and try to meet them. We'll see how our schedule works out.
We had a short Skype video call with Caitlin, Grace and Sarabeth. The other children were already asleep for the night. The kids are experiencing a blizzard in North Iowa, with up to a foot of snow and 40 mph winds tonight. Keep them in your prayers.
The plan for tomorrow (Thursday) is to have our notary work done and all the paperwork completed at the Civil Affairs office, then perhaps do some shopping for clothes for Gideon. He's smaller than most 14 yr olds, and the clothes we brought for him are mostly too large. We'll remain in touch. Thanks for your prayers and words of encouragement.
John and Mary
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
In Tokyo
It was a very long flight from Minneapolis to Tokyo. We chased the sun all the way- leaving MSP at 12:45pm Monday and arriving Tokyo at 3pm Tuesday- and never passing thru the night. That always amazes me. It is now 6pm here (3am in Iowa) and we've been awake for about 21 hrs. We'll board our next flight at 6:35p and arrive in Beijing at 11pm, ready for a good night's sleep. On Wed morning, we'll head off to Taiyuan and meet Gideon! Hope to post again soon. If we have trouble getting on to blogspot in China, we'll e-mail our posts and pics to Caitlin and she'll copy them to the blog. To everyone in Iowa-- enjoy the snow!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Getting ready to fly!
So, so sorry if you only follow us on the blog - no info for 3 days - YIKES! We are all set to fly - well, not packed or ready in that sense but booked to fly at least!! Our itinerary is as follows:
Monday 7th .. John and I fly out of MN
Tuesday 8th... arrive in BJ at 11pm! sleep at Angela's (sweet!)
Wednesday 9th ... fly out early Beijing to Taiyuan, Shanxi and MEET Gideon at 10am!
Thursday 10th ...free
Friday 11th ... get passport and have BIG birthday dinner!!
Saturday 12th ... fly to BJ and onto Langfang and MEET Christina afternoon!
dinner with office staff AND Pam Baker
Sunday 13th .... enjoy day at LF and fly to Nanchang in evening
Monday 14th ... province paperwork for Christina
Tuesday 15th ... free
Wednesday 16th ... free
Thursday 17th ...get passport in morning (hopefully .. please PRAY)
Fly to Guangzhou in afternoon
Friday 18th .... Medicals
Saturday 19th .... free
Sunday 20th .... free
Monday 21st .... check TB sites (PRAY) and CA at 10am
Tuesday 22nd ... oath/swearing in at consulate (tissue time)
Wednesday 23rd .... get visas and take train to HongKong in evening
Thursday 24th ...Fly out of HK towards HOME at 8am
Thursday 24th ... arrive at Minneapolis around 4pm
So there you have it - God's unfolding plan for us to bring these two children into our home, our family, our hearts! Please pray for trust in their hearts to feel safe with us - for bonding - for health along the way - for God to continue to work His will as we continue to walk the path of faith!
Now I just have to pack, get the children's new rooms set, get new mattresses, plan for meals for my eldest to cook, list up Christmas gifts for the olders to help buy while we are away, get the tree up so they can decorate it whenever, go and visit my son, his wife and baby Hannah tomorrow ... all day since our kids are DYING to see her, check the bag weight, repack accordingly, stay calm, have a full day of church on Sunday including fellowship at night ..... oh, my, Lord, give me strength for today and hope for tomorrow!!
In His strength and mercy ALONE!!!
MaryK
Monday 7th .. John and I fly out of MN
Tuesday 8th... arrive in BJ at 11pm! sleep at Angela's (sweet!)
Wednesday 9th ... fly out early Beijing to Taiyuan, Shanxi and MEET Gideon at 10am!
Thursday 10th ...free
Friday 11th ... get passport and have BIG birthday dinner!!
Saturday 12th ... fly to BJ and onto Langfang and MEET Christina afternoon!
dinner with office staff AND Pam Baker
Sunday 13th .... enjoy day at LF and fly to Nanchang in evening
Monday 14th ... province paperwork for Christina
Tuesday 15th ... free
Wednesday 16th ... free
Thursday 17th ...get passport in morning (hopefully .. please PRAY)
Fly to Guangzhou in afternoon
Friday 18th .... Medicals
Saturday 19th .... free
Sunday 20th .... free
Monday 21st .... check TB sites (PRAY) and CA at 10am
Tuesday 22nd ... oath/swearing in at consulate (tissue time)
Wednesday 23rd .... get visas and take train to HongKong in evening
Thursday 24th ...Fly out of HK towards HOME at 8am
Thursday 24th ... arrive at Minneapolis around 4pm
So there you have it - God's unfolding plan for us to bring these two children into our home, our family, our hearts! Please pray for trust in their hearts to feel safe with us - for bonding - for health along the way - for God to continue to work His will as we continue to walk the path of faith!
Now I just have to pack, get the children's new rooms set, get new mattresses, plan for meals for my eldest to cook, list up Christmas gifts for the olders to help buy while we are away, get the tree up so they can decorate it whenever, go and visit my son, his wife and baby Hannah tomorrow ... all day since our kids are DYING to see her, check the bag weight, repack accordingly, stay calm, have a full day of church on Sunday including fellowship at night ..... oh, my, Lord, give me strength for today and hope for tomorrow!!
In His strength and mercy ALONE!!!
MaryK
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
TA times TWO!!
My head is spinning!! I just got an email from our agency director and since it is 12noon in China, she found that CCAA has issued us two TAs!!!! AND she got us a CA ..... but did not tell me when!
Just 32 days ago I found out about Zhang Lushi - now I will fly out on Monday and he will become my son next week!!! Only God .... only God!!
Thank you, thank you for your prayers and fasting and encouragement!!
MaryK
Just 32 days ago I found out about Zhang Lushi - now I will fly out on Monday and he will become my son next week!!! Only God .... only God!!
Thank you, thank you for your prayers and fasting and encouragement!!
MaryK
More miracles!
Hello all my faithful praying friends!!
Two huge things have happened already this week. First of all I would like to announce the birth of my FIRST grandchild, Hannah Lynn, who I thought would be born when I was in China ..... BUT GOD!! decided otherwise - she was born yesterday at 10:45am weighing 8lbs 9 oz, 19inches long with a head full of brown hair!! I was able to visit with her last night and will see her again on Saturday. Praising God for His overwhelming blessing in having her born before I left!!
Secondly, we now have Article 5 for both children!! One day turnaround .... and will be waiting for the issuance of the TAs tomorrow.
I am now preparing to fly out on Monday or Tuesday of next week - still need to wait for the TA to make the CA and set up firm flight plans home. Since we will be in GZ during Christmas week, we will have to stay an extra 3 days on top of the extended stay since they won't issue our visas on Christmas (obviously) and we would have to wait until the next Monday/Tuesday.
This will still work out well and I am very grateful for the Lord's mighty provision through this entire process!!
You are welcome to go to www.kambergerchronicles.blogspot.com to see pix of my beautiful granddaughter, Hannah!!
Mary
Two huge things have happened already this week. First of all I would like to announce the birth of my FIRST grandchild, Hannah Lynn, who I thought would be born when I was in China ..... BUT GOD!! decided otherwise - she was born yesterday at 10:45am weighing 8lbs 9 oz, 19inches long with a head full of brown hair!! I was able to visit with her last night and will see her again on Saturday. Praising God for His overwhelming blessing in having her born before I left!!
Secondly, we now have Article 5 for both children!! One day turnaround .... and will be waiting for the issuance of the TAs tomorrow.
I am now preparing to fly out on Monday or Tuesday of next week - still need to wait for the TA to make the CA and set up firm flight plans home. Since we will be in GZ during Christmas week, we will have to stay an extra 3 days on top of the extended stay since they won't issue our visas on Christmas (obviously) and we would have to wait until the next Monday/Tuesday.
This will still work out well and I am very grateful for the Lord's mighty provision through this entire process!!
You are welcome to go to www.kambergerchronicles.blogspot.com to see pix of my beautiful granddaughter, Hannah!!
Mary
Thursday, November 26, 2009
What FAITH can do!!
I could not find ANY way to bring this song by Kutless into my playlist to play on the blog, so you have to click play to hear it. Oh, my, what a song!! These adoptions are a true manifestation of what faith CAN do. Listen and enjoy!
Mary
Mary
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)