The final adventure

Hello friends I am home safe and sound, surrounded by my loving family. The trip home was uneventful (which is a good thing) except for the delayed suitcases which showed up on Thursday intact (also a good thing).

Before I tell you about our final sightseeing adventure, I want to tell you a little bit about the work we did in China. Due to confidentiality issues, I can only tell general things. The main purpose of our trip was to work in special education schools that are affiliated with Government run orphanages. We were there to teach the teachers how to use music and play as therapy. The teachers are amazing! They have very little education and yet they have huge amounts of love for these beautiful children! And they are truly willing to learn new things. Teaching them and working with the children were the biggest blessing of this trip. Any other details can only be shared in person so let's get together soon and I can tell stories and show you pictures!

Now for the final sightseeing adventure...On Monday morning we left Xiamen and took a bus back to Longyan. Our friend Peter, and tour guide for the day met us at the bus station with his 13 y.o. son and son's friend for the 1.5 hr. drive into the gorgeous countryside to see the ancient round houses.

We enjoyed breathtaking mountains, farmland and villages along the way! The weather was perfect too, not too hot, overcast and cloudy with sprinkles.

about halfway into our road trip the van started sputtering, backfiring and slowing. Luckily Peter found a mechanic in this small village (across from the farm) that replaced the fuel filter and cleaned the carb so after only an hour and a half delay we were back on the road again...

The round house that we visited is the newest one in the area...only about 100 years old. These houses were built by the Han dynasty and each one is a self sustaining village. The circle design is for protection from invading armies.

This one had an outer circle and an inner one (although some have many more concentric circles buildings)with common rooms on the ground floor including kitchens with chicken coops and well water in the courtyards. Dining areas, a small stage for worship or performances and retail markets for the tourists. The second floor is for visitors and guest quarters and the top 2 floors are for residents. There is a wing on either side - one for schooling and the other for business.

the water wheels for irrigationThis shows the outer circle and inner circle looking down on the stage area.

After an excellent sightseeing adventure we headed back for dinner in Longyan and drive back to Xiamen...at least that was the plan...until the van started sputtering and coughing and then died. After several attempts to get it started (including the valient push start attempt) Peter made a couple of phone calls...unfortunately, there aren't the tow truck services that we have in the states...and we found out later that if we abandoned the vehicle for any length of time, it would have been stolen...so we prayed together and then at last it started! We kept praying for about 4 hours as we limped down the path toward Longyan and it finally died just outside of town where we could get a taxi. Peter was then able to send us to the office to sleep while his friend got the van running enough to get it to a shop. Needless to say, we took the bus back to Xiamen the next day and arrived just in time to finish packing for our trip home on Wed...

Throughout our journey, God was present each and every time we called on Him and even when we didn't He made his presence known to us.

I am so thankful for good health, great times, great friends, great work and a great family to come home to!

Thanks to all of you that shared in my adventures with me. I hope you get to have such amazing opportunities in your lives too!

Until the next adventure! Love, Debi

Singin' in the sunshine!

Well here it is, my last night here in China. I am so excited to go home(but dreading the actual 30 hr. journey) as I miss my family. But this has been such an amazing experience that I am sad to leave as well. I am starting to understand some of the language and learning a few words and there is still so much to see and do. I am sure that if God wants me to come here again it will happen as he has shown me time and again that we are in this together!

This was my last week of working with teachers and so Maria and I had some time off for sightseeing and relaxing before we leave. So Saturday we decided to go back to Gulangyu to see the rest of the island as we only saw about half the first time we were there. The first adventure was the Rolex girl who followed me from the drop off point to halfway across the road...her price started at 200 RMB (about $30) and got down to 20 RMB (less than $3) and I couldn't get her to leave me alone! NO I DIDN'T BUY ONE! Then it was time to get on the ferry. The first time we went we didn't buy tickets as you pay on the return trip. This time, however, we were told to go get our tickets before boarding. We thought that was odd but we don't speak the language so we went ahead and bought them (15 RMB is about $2). We were on board the boat and the captain was making announcements (In Chinese of course) and people started renting binoculars. Definitely not like the first trip...Maria and I had to laugh - we had asked if this was the ferry to Gulangyu and were told yes...but this hadn't happened last time...what was going on? As it turned out it was a 40 min trip around the island...but luckily some of the narration was in English and we got some good pictures and then dropped off on the island anyway! Whew!
The National Hero(can't pronounce his name) that fought many battles for the country.View from the ferry.

We did some shopping and had a leisurely lunch. Then went to the aquarium. There were some things we hadn't seen before and we really enjoyed it.
Isn't this guy from "Finding Nemo"?

Sea Dragons

The highlight of the day came after the aquarium when we were sitting in the park and resting. An elderly woman came over and sat on the bench next to Maria and started fanning her. She then offerred Maria some peanuts. All we knew how to say to her in Chinese was thanks. Next the woman started singing "Jesus Loves Me" in Chinese so being the good music therapists that we are we joined in and sang in English. She then sang "Silent Night" and "Amazing Grace" We were pretty amazed as well! The next thing we knew there were 2 more elderly women in wheelchairs placed in front of the bench and another woman came and sat by me. They got out Chinese hymn books and started singing together. If we didn't know the tune, we listened but if we did than we sang in English or hummed along if we didn't know the words. It was an awesome experience to be sharing God's love with complete strangers in a country that we thought it was forbidden! After about an hour the daughter of one of the women showed up and told us that the 4 women that we were singing with were all in the nursing home on the island and had been friends for many years. They had sung in the church choir together!!! Two of the women had been school teachers, one a nurse and the first one that started it all was a singer! The nurses came over and were saying something to the mother and her daughter told me that they wanted her to practice walking but she didn't like to walk since her stroke. So I started singing with her and she walked the whole distance that they asked of her! Then I had to explain the healing powers of music and why it is so important for stroke survivors. Words cannot describe the feeling of that day. Another sign from God that I am right where HE wants me to be. And another blessing to carry heart. So amazing GOD!

Sharing peanuts!

Singin in the Sunshine!

Sunday was a very quiet and relaxed day hanging out by the university. And resting from the long day on Sat.

Monday's adventure will take an entire blog and I need to pack as we depart tomorrow (wed) for the journey home. Please pray for traveling mercies and good weather as we are experiencing the remnants of a typhoon.

It's a small world after all!

I have now been in China for 20 days - almost 3 full weeks. I am learning so much about myself...I like air conditioning and ice water and soft beds...I miss my family like crazy...but I love Chinese food...I love the work that I am doing here...and I love the feeling that I am in the right place at the right time!

God has shown me that time and again on this trip. There are other teachers coming in to this program to share ideas and learn from each other. This week I had the pleasure of meeting a friend of a friend. It seems that we were both mentored by our dear friend Steve Smyth. It was pure joy to talk to each other and share memories of Steve and the profound impact he had on each of our lives. And to think that we met each other half way around the world!!! It truly felt like the angels were at work here in Xiamen. This is me with my new friend Steve Hufford.

Friday night the city was hit by the remnants of a typhoon from Taiwan and it was fascinating to see the sheets of rain pouring down. Similar to a severe monsoon in the desert.

On Sat. Maria and I hung out in the main shopping district called Jongshanlu (I probably spelled that wrong) We shopped until we dropped, ate great food and even ran into some of our new friends. And of course, posed for pictures with the statues!

Sunday we visited the Nanpuoto Temple and were amazed by the intricacy of the buildings, the statues and artwork as well as the dedication of the people to leave their offerings of incense, money, fruit, flowers and candles.

I was a rude American and snapped one of the best pictures of the day of the inside of one of the Temples!

We enjoyed getting rained on as we walked around the Xiamen University campus and planned for our final week of working and then the sight seeing we will do next weekend!

Stay tuned for more pictures!

A week in Longyan

It was a very busy week in beautiful Longyan. It is on mainland China about 2 hours away from Xiamen in a valley surrounded by beautiful green mountains. I had the privalege to meet wonderful teachers that truly love the children that they work with and truly wanted to learn from me. They were inspiring for me and I learned a lot from them. It was very hot, humid and rainy so I got a bad cold. That made it very hard for me to think on my feet and I don't feel like I accomplished as much as I wanted. We did some sightseeing and ate excellent food. One of the teachers invited us to her home (in a village where her family has lived for about 200 years!) to make Jiaou Zu (JOW tzi) otherwise known as potstickers or dumplings. YUM!!! I am in Xiamen this week working with another group of teachers and Maria just left for Longyan for the week. I am missing my wonderful family and home (tho not the heat) and praying for good health this week!

1.The mountain top in Longyan - the locals loved looking at the foreigners!

2. Looking out over Longyan -- gorgeous!

3. Making Jiaou Zu

Back in Xiamen, Saturday, Maria and I had an adventure starting at the gorgeous 2000 stone park and botanical gardens and then shopping - fun attempting to bargain in a foreign language!

This is me "playing" an 18th century traditional instrument!

Good Morning from China,

It is 5am on Sunday (7/6/08), and I am wide awake - the traffic on the info superhighway is low at this hour so I wanted to tell you about my sightseeing adventures.

Maria and I braved the language barrier (Chinese is sooo hard to learn) and traveled to Gulangyu (goo-long-you) island yesterday - it is also called piano island. There are two piano museums filled with pianos from the 18th - 20th century --- unfortunately we couldn't take photos of them but it was hard to see so many beautiful instruments and not be able to play them!

We found an English speaking tour guide and saw most of the island until we were completely worn out! Here are a few of the pictures.

The Water Gardens here are amazingly beautiful - the pictures don't do justice to them but rest assured that every detail has been lovingly added! During High tide the water covers much of the garden.. thus the name.

There are many western style buildings on this island as well - it was home to many foreign consulates for many years and there is evidence of any different cultures existing together.This is a beautiful church built by the Spanish in the late 1800's

This is a view of Gulangyu from the bay toward sunlight rock (it was too hot to hike up there but we will try to get there again before we leave).

Maria and I treated ourselves to an amazing (and expensive )lunch. Fresh crab that melted in our mouths and the best jumbo tiger shrimp that I have ever had. We felt like we had died and gone to heaven!!!

All the food here has been absolutely delicious - so far no snakes or snails...LOL

We have a busy day today - we are meeting some other tourists that will be returning to the states and spend some time hearing about their adventures. Then this week I will travel with my friend's daughter (reminds me so much of my own girls - what a treat!) to another part of the province where I will get to meet some teachers and learn about their classes. Then I will see some mountain areas. Maria will be staying here with our friends.

There was a 4.0 earthquake here but Maria and I didn't feel it as we were on the ferry to the island. I did feel an aftershock last night - but all is well!

My Father has blessed me with an extended family that is taking excellent care of me during my adventure. And an extended family at home to remember to pray for safety and welcome me with open arms upon my return.

Time to go back to sleep! Thanks for visiting my site!

China Girl

Hello From China,

Just a quick note to let you all know that Maria and I arrived, safe and sound. So did our luggage.

It is very hot and humid here but very green and beautiful. Haven't had any time to sight see as we are going through orientation and trying to get over jet lag.

I can receive e-mail but for some reason cannot reply. I will try to figure it out and respond when I can.

Thanks to all of you for your interest and support for this adventure. I will write more as soon as I have time...

Happy 4th - enjoy the fireworks!

China Here I come -- How this happened...

Ever since I was young, I have wanted to travel the world. I would look at Ntl Geo. magazines and imagine myself in far away places. I think my "rock star ideation" was born from that wanderlust. That and the fact that I never felt "at home" in my first family or even in AZ (even tho I am still here)

After marrying and having kids and starting a career and then maintaining it through lean times, I still wanted to travel. Tim and I would go on road trips with me but it is expensive for a family of four and he just isn't an adventurer. He doesn't like most ethnic food (except mexican) and only likes to go where he wants when he wants. Even when we do go somewhere, as soon as we get checked into our room he wants to nap as he doesn't sleep well the night before. Meanwhile, I am ready to goooooo. Needless to say, even in the few times that money hasn't been a problem, we still haven't traveled much and I found my resentment for him building although he is my soul mate.

I was beginning to think that I would never see the world. A couple of years ago, one of our pastors made a trip to Kenya and showed the videos in church. That awakened my desires again. In the meantime, our church partnered with Food for the Hungry and adopted a community in Kenya. We now sponsor 95% of the children (more families keep moving to our community) and we have built 2 wells for fresh drinking water. We send teams 3 times per year and we support a FH worker that lives in the village. Last year I volunteered to go with the summer team to dig the wells. Unfortunately, a bunch of people also volunteered so I was not one of the "chosen few" - or so I thought.

God had other plans for me. The missions director from the church called me and asked if I would be willing to go anywhere else. I said yes and she told me that my skills as a music therapist with special needs kids were desperately needed throughout the world. I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Manila, Philippines to train a missionary family. Their permanent home is Manila but their field work is in war-torn Afghanistan. When they are in the field, their son who has special needs, gets no services. So I trained the family in some basic techniques and then presented on music therapy for the autism society.

My Filipino Family ------------------------- Me overlooking the rice terraces

This year, in Feb. I was preparing to send an e-mail to our missions director telling her I was ready to go to Africa, the e-mail was written when I deleted everything and started again. One sentence..."Where is God sending me this summer?" The answer came from Food for the Hungry. They have 2 special education schools in China and want me to work with the children and train the staff for the month of July...

So as I embark on this trip to China, I am amazed at His goodness, I am feeling clothed in His protection and I am feeling Richly rewarded for spreading His love to the "least of these" - young abandoned children in China. FH has paid for most of my expenses and I am part of a ground breaking program that as part of the FH vision will eventually be worldwide. And I know God will take me wherever HE wants me to be...

I can maintain my independent spirit while still relying on Jesus' love and protection and using my God given talents for His glory.

Meanwhile, My dear husband, Tim, is staying home, working and faithfully caring for Mallory (she's 16) our four cats, dog and houseplants while still praying for my safety and supporting my endeavors...

Our almost 20y.o. Daley, is embarking on a trip with her youth group to teach an English camp for teenagers in Czeck Republic...

God has indeed blessed me RICHLY! AND He will bless you if you open your heart to His love.