End of Year Update

December 30, 2009

Dear Friends and Famiy,

What a full month this has been. December 4th we went with 17 children and the teachers to Beijing United Hospital to sing songs for the lighting of their Christmas tree. The singing of Silent Night, We Wish You a Merry Christmas, Jesus Loves Me (in English and Chinese) and a Chinese Christmas song was a great success and our children had a wonderful time. Grady is a natural leader and made us all proud with his introductions of the songs. We’ve sent the video to the US to a couple of people, perhaps they will get it on YouTube for viewing. They have also sung on several other occasions, for the staff Christmas Party and for guests that have come through. Teaching the Christmas songs and their meanings has been a special time to explain more about the Christmas story and where “Christmas” comes from. What a great opportunity to teach English and the most important story at the same time!

The Primary class has been adding art to the Inn Store; paintings by the children are on the walls and soon we hope they will add Chinese calligraphy and some simple bracelets. This allows the older kids to earn a spending money and learn the value of skills that gives them a little independence. We were able to take 4 of the boys, Grady, Joseph, Gregg and Jerak, to a PTA Christmas Fete in SFVC honor where the boys sang, saw Santa and receive a gift and other goodies. With this small of a group it had the feel of a family as we took them to McDonalds (“Mai dan lau”) for lunch before coming home.



We had the special blessing of being a part of seeing little Christina meet her forever family. She is her family’s 6th Chinese adoption! Christina is 10 years old and in mid December she met her mother and father and her new big brother (the family adopted 2 children on the same trip, an unusual occurrence but happening a little more often when at least one of the children is almost 14 years old). They connected easily and we know even though we will miss her at SFCV, she is blessed to be in a family who will love her and continue to teach her about Je&sus. When Christina first heard she had a family, she said “no,” she was going to stay here with this family. Although that is sweet and shows the love and connections these children have with each other and their caregivers, it does not compare to a forever family. She quickly adjusted and we didn’t see any tears (on her part!) the 2 days the family spent here. There were some anxious moments but everything went very smoothly and she was impressing her family with the English she knows and teaching her new brother (who knows only a few words of English) some of the things she knows. They will be of great help to each other while they adjust to a new life in the US. Here is a picture of Christina and Clay.



We spent a nice quieter 3 days in Beijing the 19th to the 21st. Did a lot of shopping at China’s markets! What “fun” that is! This was the 6 month anniversary of our being in China. Especially memorable was having dinner at the café at the Days Inn, then realizing after about 10 minutes we were hearing the beautiful sounds of the first verse of Silent Night, over and over and over again for the whole time we were there! Our friend George treated us to a special day on Sunday by taking us to church, to a German Restaurant, a trip to the Bird’s Nest (Olympic Game Park, which was made into a winter wonderland) and then another special dinner all the while sharing our stories and encouraging each other. You will find a picture of Clay and George attached. George’s daughter was killed when the marble fireplace in their home fell on her last May. She was 5 years old. George and Patricia had been looking for answers to the purpose of life before Emily died, but after her death they became desperate in their search and found their answer in Yesu. He gave them hope for each day and hope for the future. Although living a life for Yesu does not mean everything will be easy it does mean you will not carry your burdens alone and He has promised to never leave us, in good times or in bad. Having faith in Him is now the source of their strength and knowing they will see their baby daughter again one day in eternity is what has brought hope and joy into their lives.



While I was writing this part of our newsletter, we were sitting in the Mandarin service with George. While understanding only a few words, we were blessed by the sincerity of the worship and by joining in with the worship music. That day was the 20th of December. Ryan would have been 29 years old. Of all days to be there and hear “Amazing Grace,” one of the songs sung at the boy’s service. What a “coincidence” that the father put these things together, reminding us of His amazing Grace and that knowing where we spend eternity is the most important question to find the answer too. We can rejoice because our relationship with his son has made us friends of G*d. Romans 5;11

More highlights from Christmas were:

having the Primary class over to the Inn; singing Christmas songs, reading the Christmas story in Luke 2;1 to 18, sharing gifts, making cookies and frosting them (in our 2 toaster ovens! Actually, we have found that the pizza oven in the big kitchen will cook cool enough to cook anything, it just can’t be over 8” tall or it won’t fit).

Spending time in House of Peace, House of Blessing and Zachary House with the children opening their gifts.

Spending time on Christmas Day with Stacey, Wendy, Chris (our intern) Kirsty here for a month from Australia, Shelby, Sara and Christina enjoying a movie, dinner, games and sharing gifts. So far the biggest hit for “American” dinners has been chicken enchiladas (now you know why American is in parenthesis!)

Over and over we were reminded of the ultimate Christmas gift, Jesus. What a sacrifice to have our heavenly Father send his son to earth, like sending royalty into the pig pen; no, much worse than that but what is more descript to our human thinking? What a huge gift was given in a little package!

We were blessed by many contacts from BICF and from the Haidian churches who continue to connect with SFCV and serving our children at this special time of the year. Thank you to those of our friends who continue to encourage, support and lift us up. Without you some days could be very difficult. We will be using some of the extra Christmas gifts to purchase outdoor playground toys geared more to the 2 and 3 year olds.

Right now we don’t feel any closer to knowing what the father wants us to do after this year is up. Please lift us up for a clearness of purpose and direction. That we will ask the right questions and get the right answers to clarify where we should be next year.

If you live in the Spokane are you are aware of an article in the paper after the Memorial Games on December 15th. Here is the link: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/dec/15/floch-memory-lives-on/ At least you will be able to see the picture of our special children Our children acted like they had been in the movies! There was much excitement to see their own smiling faces on the computer screen!

Please be on your knees for:

• Grady’s surgery to make the quality of his life better. Our hopes are for early 2010 in the US.

• 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.

• While most the children are healthy, colds are going around again and more fragile children are getting sicker this time. Please pray there will be no serious illnesses because of this.

• Funds for Lucas’ cochlear implant.

• Adaption for those children who are recently adopted; Christina, Margaret, Adam, Justin, Fred…

• The Study in the book of Esther, growing together and in the Father’s ways. What a joy to share with these young women!

Big thanks for:

• Grady’s joy for life and love for J**sus. His acceptance of not being adopted and his desire to work and earn some $$ so he can get a cell phone!

• Stacey has the apparatus off, and the pins out of her hand. Although there is some healing yet, she is doing very well, is back to knitting and now has a hand that is more useful.

• Because Kyle is walking many other children have been inspired to try harder and are working hard to strengthen their muscles in hopes of walking too!

• Christina’s joy with her new brother and family!

• For faithful supporters and faithful pr**yers!

Because of His power we can do what He asks of us, even if it is on the “far side of the sea!” Not where we would have expected, yet we desire that our roots go down deeper and deeper into His love, that will keep us strong. We want to experience His love even though it is really to great to understand. It is so wide, so long, so high and so deep, all glory to HIM! Ephesians 3;14 to 20. How we pr**y for you, that you will know the strength you can know only through HIM!

With our love and our prayers,

Clay and Jewel

More pictures:

Photo from Newspaper

Clay, Stacey, and Jewel