Day three

We started our third day in China in a way we never expected – by going to a very American church.
We went to a Christian church for English-speaking visitors. It was for foreigners only, and we even had to show our passport to get in.
But, surprisingly, it was very much like worship services we are used to. There was a youth praise band that reminded us a lot of our band at Sandy Plains, with many of the same songs. We kept thinking about Justin, our youth minister, up there singing and Jackson and the boys playing behind him.
The lead singer is from Colorado and the pastor is from Missouri and had pastured a church in Minnesota.
It was a very inspiring and uplifting service, with people from all over the world all worshiping together. There were many Chinese-Americans, but also English-speaking people from all over the world.
The sermon was entitled: “Love Matters.” We all know that there is no love greater than the love of God, but the sermon made us all think about the love being shared by our group of 13 families that are all here for one main purpose – to adopt and love children that currently have no home.
Though the pastor had no idea we were coming or who we were, it was almost as if the sermon was planned just for us.
After church, we went to a pearl factory and then to Tiennamen Square and The Forbidden City, where we walked for miles and miles. I’m not sure how big the square and the city are, but I believe Cramerton and McAdenville would both fit inside.
The Forbidden City is the palaces where the Chinese Emperors lived from the 1400s until the revolution in 1911. It is filled with numerous palaces surrounded by beautiful, ancient statues, sculptures and artwork.
There are 9,999 rooms in the palaces, which means the emperor either had a lot of servants or a lot of wives, probably both.
I would tell you more about it but it’s forbidden.
We ate some duck and some other things that we’re still not sure what it was. The food has been OK, but not great. Some is a bit exotic and quite different from American Chinese food. After three days of it, we’re pretty sure that Emma’s first meal is going to be at McDonald’s.
The toughest part of the day was not knowing. Wondering every hour, all day, but just not knowing.
I just kept wondering and wondering … did the Gamecocks beat Georgia?
They were up 17-14 when I left the hotel room, and then I heard nothing else all day.
Finally, we got back to the hotel, went online and got the news of another heartbreaking loss. Oh well, it’s not like I’m not used to.
And now I have to get through tomorrow not knowing who won the NFL games. Life overseas is indeed hard.
Enough for now. We’re up at 4 a.m. tomorrow to fly to Anhui province to finally meet Emma Lee. We can’t wait, but also can’t quite fathom what it’s going to be like. It will be a very joyful and emotional day.
I can’t wait to watch her bite into her first chicken nugget.