December Update

Dear Friends and Family,

Would you ever think a person would spend $45 on a 16# Norbest turkey!?!? They must not grow them around here as ours was from Iowa!! Lot’s of chickens but no turkeys. Most people wouldn’t have anywhere to refrigerate or freeze something that big. On your ThanksGiving day, our Friday, we had dinner with the Moody’s and their 2 boys, Chris, our intern and the 3 single women staff from the office, Sara, Shelby and Christina. What a blessing to share a meal with these special people. We had most everything you would have for a ThanksGiving meal. Just had to cook the pies in a toaster oven and take the turkey to the Moody’s to cook all day as there are no working ovens except for the pizza oven at Shepherd’s Field. We’re planning to make Pfefferneuse around Christmas, can you imagine making that in a toaster oven measuring about 12” by 10”? Well, it’s not quite that bad…..we do have 2 toaster ovens!!



The staff at SFCV also celebrated together the week before with a Chinese dinner and shared things they were thankful for. Tim, SFCV founder, was here and he remarked afterward what a blessing it is to realize the way the Father is working in the lives of the staff. Mr. Yu, who Clay works with in Facilities Management, said he was thankful for the way G*d is working to build the vocational/therapy center. Mr. Yu has been here for many years but has never trusted the Father in his heart and yet he is “thankful for G*d’s work”. Each of our office staff shared that they are thankful for the things they are a part of here and how their lives are changed because of being part of this work. Are you getting a piece of what we have to be thankful for?! We are thankful for 31 years of marriage and seeing the Father work in our lives to make all things good, for his leading us here to be able to be a part of the work here, with the staff and with the special children he has brought here.

Several weeks ago the primary class was learning the names for winter clothes. We thought you would like to see a picture of Clay all dressed in his winter clothes by the kids so that picture is included here! They are such a joy to be around, they have large chunks of our hearts in their hands!







Our last update was so long we didn’t get to (or forgot) to tell you about the changes going on with Wendy and Stacey. After meeting with their teacher, the head nanny, our director and the head teacher we all decided some changes were long overdue in their care. These young ladies are now 18 and 19 years old but their responsibilities are few. Directing them to a new level of independence and responsibility is a part of the reason we are here. Previously they were being tutored all day in math and science. Their grade level is at about a 5th grade level, which enables them to work at a job where reading and simple math skills are needed. The middle of October the girls began working. They continue being tutored in the morning but in the afternoon Wendy joins the 4 women in the banner factory and Stacey joins Teacher Wang as a teaching assistant in the Primary class. This is a good fit for both the girls and they get to earn some income! Their bank account is with us and we have a budget for them. 2 types of savings accounts and a spending allowance. They are also joining the adults for lunch instead of eating with the children in their home. A very exciting step for them.

We are teaching Christmas songs; Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Jingle Bells and Away in a Manger to the Primary class which they have been invited to perform December 4th at Beijing United Hospital. This hospital is one we use often for surgeries for our children. Recently they have shown a greater interest in helping by wanting to perform some upcoming surgeries at reduced or no cost! What a blessing! We have been on the receiving end of seeing so many blessings since we have come here! With 100 children there are many costs involved and surgeries are a big part of the cost to give these children life changing and sometimes life saving surgeries. It is also exciting to see China reaching out to their own children a little more all the time.

One of the other blessings SFCV received was from a new friend who visited. His company made a large donation that paid the remainder of our heating bill with some left over to help with surgeries. Heating in China has to be paid in advance, the whole season in advance. We don’t control turning it off or on (or how hot or cold it is) and it stays on from approximately November 15 to March 15. Our bill was around $24,000usd. The heat got turned on and the Father provided for all our needs, just as He promises! In fact, after much concern about how cold it would be here and making certain we brought enough layers to ensure we would be warm enough, we now have to open the windows because it would be well over 70 degrees in our rooms! And after all that “concern”, so far, the winter here is much like home with the leaves changing colors, the wind occasionally blowing wildly, cold nights and overcast days with some sunny days thrown in.



The Haidian Ch**ch is a government approved ch*ch we are trying to attend with Sara, Christina and Shelby once a month. We enjoy the western ch**ch but since you must have a foreign passport to get in, the girls can’t go with us. We have been surprised and blessed by the worship and messages. This is another blessing as the ch**ch leadership desires for their members to have a vision for serving in their local area. Since we met the pastor through a contact in the states, some of their leadership has visited here 2 times. The last time bringing 5 boxes of fruit for our children! They are also including our children’s needs on their tree of sharing and the pastor of this huge ch**ch plans to come to visit when they bring the gifts. Another interesting note, the pastor’s daughter, through a student exchange, is going to Jewel’s high school alma mater in Washington! What a “Godcidence”!

A few weeks ago at BICF, the western fellowship, there was an emphasis on SFCV. Through that we got to meet many who think like we do and Clay was able to share tears and life experiences with another man who had lost his son in the last year. The Father continues to amaze us with the people he brings across our path, some to share a prayer, hug or even words of encouragement. And then he uses the contacts to get others hearts connected to the children here. We love showing off our children and knowing the guests who come in will never be the same when they leave. Last weekend a team of 12 came in and because of traffic on the freeway only got to stop for a tour and lunch. They didn’t get to see our children and spend time in the houses but they left changed and looking forward to the possibility of coming back and staying overnight the next time. They were just part of the 20 to 50 people who are stopping for a day visit on Saturday’s. This last Saturday we had a group of 6 who are part of the Great Wall Cruisers, a Motorcycle club! They didn’t come on their Harley’s this time, maybe next time, but they blessed us with food and toys.

We have Chinese names! Clay’s is Gao Xi, which sounds like “Gow gee” and means tall tree. Jewel’s is Zhu Fen, which sounds like “Jew fan” and means red flower. Isn’t that fun! The kids had so much fun figuring out what to name us, and then more fun teaching us to say it right!

These last 2 weekends we have also been involved in 2 bazaars. This has been a blessing for the connections we make with others who want to visit and spend time with our children. Seems just like home and having a craft table at Odessa’s Christmas Fest!

Last Monday Jewel and “the girls,” Chris, Sara, Shelby and Christina along with Ana Moody have started a study on the woman Esther. These young Chinese ladies are so hungry to learn. Jewel looks forward to seeing things through their eyes and hearing their questions and hopes living and trying to understand a different culture will help to understand the ways of this book written so long ago.

For those of you who are wondering if there is a Memorial Game this year, yes there is. It is December 12th at Big Bend Community College. We will be sending a greeting for the game and there will be 2 basketball players playing who have scholarships in Ryan’s name. This last year no one applied for Drew’s scholarship so the fund is growing this year.

Please be on your knees for:

• Grady’s surgery to make the quality of his life better. Our hopes are for January 2010 in the US. The adoption will not happen, pray for his heart and that he will trust the Father even in this.

• Flexibility in our job and wisdom to know where the Father wants us in the future.

• That we will have an impact on the lives of those around us.

• Funds for Lucas’ cochlear implant.

• Stacey had the apparatus taken off her hand the 24th. She had some grafting to make fingers at the same time and came home the 30th. Please pray for easing of the pain and quick healing.

• The Study in the book of Esther, growing together and in the Father’s ways.

Big thanks for:

• Weiwei will be coming back to work fulltime December 1st!

• Kyle is walking! His progress has inspired several other children also. AND he will be adopted in January!

• The Primary class having so much fun learning English!

• Christina’s is matched and will be going to her forever home the middle of December

• For faithful supporters and faithful pr**yers!

As we work with these great kids, we are reminded of Psalm 139.7-16. Many might think these kids were mistakes, oops by the Father when He was distracted and looking elsewhere. We are not a mistake, He doesn’t make mistakes. None of these children were mistakes, not one; they were each one “fearfully and wonderfully” made and we should praise Him!! That He though about us before we were even formed and knitted us together in the womb, amazing. If Timothy from our last update had “only” had heart problems and not an ear deformity, his parents may have never found him, so that ear was a part of the Father’s plan. Our bumps and issues are a part of his plan, our “job” is to trust Him while we are living His plan. We don’t always get to see how He is going to use our bumps, we just get to trust Him. Are you trusting Him with what He is doing in your life? Does it seem like there isn’t anything good going on in your life, trust Him, He will “work all things for good.” Romans8.28

With our love and our prayers,

Clay and Jewel