The Vineyards: 2013

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Home

We have been amazed this week when evening comes and we see our children rounded up on our bed for book and prayer time. We have been given so much in these precious little ones! We pray everyday for the wisdom, endurance, and strength to be faithful with them. This adoption has taught our little team so very much: to trust God at an even deeper level in our finances; in our control of people, paperwork, and time; in the outcome of adding someone we did not know to our family; in our willingness to obey in this thing some call "crazy love"(following Jesus no matter what the cost). What's next Jesus? "love me. seek me. obey me. you will see" Yes Lord!

Kate digging her souvenirs. Will not digging the grass-we're guessing he has never been on it!

ok so we know they are too big for this, but just one more time:)

a "Will is overwhelmed" moment= time for bed!

It's Sunday and Will's first time in Church, the first of many together!

Welcome Home Will

After 29 hours of traveling, the moment Will set his feet on the ground he became an American citizen! He traveled well considering! All I could do was say "thank you Jesus" the moment I saw Kate and Sam. August 23rd was a day I had prayed for during the whole trip-that we would be reunited as Team Vineyard! As it says in Isaiah 63:
7 I will recount the gracious deeds of the Lord, the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, because of all that the Lord has done for us, and the great favor to the house of Israel that he has shown them according to his mercy, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 8 For he said, "Surely they are my people, children who will not deal falsely"; and he became their savior 9 in all their distress. It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.

The Pearl River Dinner Cruise and The Guangzhou Zoo

by this time we are sick of Chinese food. At this buffet we finally saw the infamous chicken feet, yes they do eat them! (well chew on them!)

If you think of everything this little guy has gone through, from one room to seeing all of this!

One of the world's largest TV towers

taking a break at the Zoo

We got to feed the giraffes, pretty neat!

Had to get him on his Zodiak- year of the Dragon!

Having fun in Guangzhou

Jacob set this up. which do you think was his favorite souvenir?

Will didn't like the bath until Jacob entered!

Such a Doll!

The Chen House. A pic of the amazing families that were in our travel group!

Jacob was continually asked to have his picture taken! They would call him "beautiful boy," and rub his cheeks. He really enjoyed the attention!

The Yellow River and Shaolin Temple

We couldn't stand to sit in the hotel so out in the heat we went! We were only a couple hours from each of these so we had to see them. Seeing a Kung Fu show where Kung Fu first began was pretty cool!

A place where ancestor worship takes place. These two men were Ancient Kings that began the Chinese civilization (supposedly).

Yes that's a Hover Craft we took down the Yellow River, cool but strange.

Not sure if he likes Kung Fu:)

The Pagoda Forest

A Visit to the Kaifeng Social Welfare Institute Orphanage

A brand new facility the kids had been in for 2 months. Our wonderful agency CCAI began what they call Lily Orphan Care Centers or LOCC in many of the orphanges. In these rooms there is a better nanny-to-child ratio, nanny training, and more available resources. This is made possible by people back here who sponsor each of these children! So thankful for the family who sponsored Will for his first year! May those who give with a cheerful heart be blessed!

Will's Crib. I guess they would let him play with a real watermelon?

Will's favorite Nanny!

Every child you see in a Nannies arms is waiting for their forever family! Maybe you are the one!

Such a nice building away from the hustle of the busy city! So thankful money is being put where it matters!

Getting to know Will: have snacks will travel

A famous China History Museum= bronze pottery from every dynasty, seen one you've seen them all:)

Gotcha Day

I was hoping to feel for Will what I did the moment I first held Jacob, Kate, and Sam. I prayed for deep love, a connection between a Momma and her child...and God did not disappoint. There he was being carried in towards me and I gushed. Though I couldn't look into his face and see resemblance to us, I saw the precious helplessness of a baby who needed a Momma. Just as the other 3 were completely helpless and needed a Momma to love them, so here we were in a room full of strangers, my heart attaching to Will
- praise the Lord!!

Monday, August 26, 2013

Beijing

The Old City: A Visit to Mrs. Wu's house for tea and culture lesson
The Forbidden City: would have been really cool if wasn't so hot
"I Climbed The Great Wall" and got a T-Shirt to prove it

Monday, August 5, 2013

1 Less = 1 More

Today Guo Jin Yu is an orphan. In 7 days William Isaac will be a son. He has hope and a future and doesn't even know it yet. These thoughts overwhelm me as I consider what adoption is for him and what it is for us. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been adopted. We were hopeless, dead in our sins and living messes. Then God enabled us through the power of the Holy Spirit to believe in the One He sent and to trust Him as Savior. At that moment, we were adopted. We are now children of God. Not step-children, but we have full access to the God of the Universe who is our loving, sustaining, and gracious Father. That is what we will show our Will. He is given Jared's great-great-grandfather's name for a reason. A family name, to reinforce that he was planed, that he was chosen, that he was grafted into Team Vineyard once and for all. This is God's heart for us!! Wow, this is all so much bigger than us, it is Christ in us- the Hope of Glory! And that's our prayer that He always receives the glory for what we are doing, truly apart from Him we can do nothing!!