It's the whole 5th floor of a high rise building. It's pretty cool to walk up and see on the building directory a United States flag. Once we arrived on the floor we passed through security. We didn't take any cell phones or cameras but we did have Lexi's play phone and they held on to it until we were done. Our appointment was with two other families and we all took the family oath together. It's not an oath of citizenship but still very cool and both Jodi and I got a little "teary." We were then called to a window to walk through our paperwork with the rep and it was fairly simple. Tomorrow we will have Lexi's visa and a sealed packet which can't be opened except by US Customs in Atlanta. So, once we have those docs tomorrow we are free to leave China - woohoo!
For the afternoon we took a cab and went to a place called Shamian Island. It is in the city but is surrounded by water. At one time it was a British Colony and so it has really neat architecture and is a pretty place. Six years ago we stayed at a hotel on Shamian. Our favorite souvenir store is there and we went back today and bought some great things. It's called "A Gift From China" and many of it's profits go to help orphans. We also went to another store called "Michael's Place" cause the owner was Michael. He and his wife and child were so sweet and he made some name pictures for the kids. It was a fun day as a fam and a little bit of an adventure. We finished by eating at a restaurant called Lucy's that we also ate at 6 yrs ago. Great memories!!
It's been a really great week in Guangzhou, but I think we are all ready for home now. I'm not sure we'll have an update tomorrow night. Here's our schedule to finish out. Tomorrow we wait for the visa paperwork. It should arrive around 4:15 PM. We will check out at 4, our guide, Grace, will hand us our documents, and then we will jump in a van bound for Hong Kong. It's about a 2 1/2 hour drive. He'll take us right to our hotel - the Marriott Sky City Hotel - right next to the airport. We'll need to get to sleep because we fly out early Friday morning.
From Hong Kong we have a 4 hr flight to Tokyo and then it's straight to the ATL!! So, I may get a quick update in tomorrow night but don't fret if we don't! This has truly been another amazing journey for our family! Keaton and I were sitting outside Starbucks tonight, finishing our Ice cream sundaes before we bought Jodi a coffee and I said to him, "It's pretty cool that you've been to China two times in your life and you're only 12!" We are so grateful for the ways God continues to challenge and grow us as a family. It sure makes life a whole lot more fun living on faith and partnering with God!
Thank you all for the amazing support, love, and encouragement. We have felt the prayers! Love you all!
Bart
Just wanted to say thanks for updating your blog so frequently!! It has made such a difference for us to SEE your faces and HEAR your voices!!!! The joy God has given each of you is so apparent... especially sweet Lexi. See you SOON!! Xoxo - JAB
ReplyDelete"It sure makes life a whole lot more fun living on faith and partnering with God!"
ReplyDeleteAMEN to that!
And I love that in the 7th or so picture down, of Lexi sleeping in the stroller, it says "hope" on the stroller behind her head. That just made me grin (probably because it's sort of a word God's continued to have as a theme in my life - and then just kicked my behind with in a passage I was reading the other day and then blogged about! Ha!)
Praying for you guys as you finish up your final hours in China and then Hong Kong and as you prepare to travel back to the States! May God give you grace and strength for each step of this final part of your journey there and as you transition home.