September 27, 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

We are so grateful to know you are standing with us! The last few months have meant some changes to the workings here at Shepherd’s Field Children’s Village. The difficulties have been resolved with the caregivers and we are dealing with the change that means to everyone here. We anticipate the changes will mean good things for our children. We will continue to be cautious of talking about the Big Guy for awhile to not draw attention to ourselves or this place. We can speak one on one with the children, so please ask that we be wise in our words with them.

Clay had his 55th birthday with our family here in China on his birthday. You really would have to be here to fully understand how precious being wished “Happy Birthday” by 40 children isJ. Especially that primary class! They all wanted to purchase a gift which included a mug, a water bottle, candy, cookies and a bar of soap. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of the soap!

Clay and Joseph

We had a group here from New York the beginning of September who took 22 kids and 10 staff to the Beijing Wildlife Park. What a special time as the kids got to see wild animals closer than they had never seen before. Some of them were a bit concerned when the monkeys could come right up to the glass! The animals cooperated and were very visible and what fun it was to get to watch them find the animals!

The next few weeks hold a few holidays including the Moon Festival. The primary class came over for dinner and a movie on the 22nd. We are proud to report the kid’s did super for dinner, even participating in conversations during dinner. Afterward we watched the movie “Ratatouille.” Fortunately the audio was in Chinese with subtitles for us in English!

Moon Festival Dinner

On the 23rd the kid’s made bracelets and did calligraphy to sell in our store and at bazaars. They like the idea that they are participating in raising funds for their home. The National holiday is the October 1st to the 7th. Most staff will be off but we will be around for part of the time and will have another dinner and movie night for the kids.

Seth working on his calligraphy

We are, finally, seriously and consistently learning Chinese!! Even though we will say the same thing and be corrected many times, the teacher always says “good” and then repeats the word; more correctly! Our teacher is a young Chinese gal who volunteers here. She does not believe in the Father but has said she loves the stories she has heard from His book. When you have a beautiful sun shiney day, remember to ask for Sunny’s eyes to be opened to Him.

Today at the meeting we usually go to on Sunday mornings; we were asked “How are you leveraging your past?” When thinking about the way we leverage our past is remembering that He can use the hardest thing in our lives to influence us to change our lives, even change where we live to make a difference in the lives of these children, to love them like He loves them, to have our hearts break for what makes His heart break, to speak life into even the “least of these”. We also sang a favorite song, “I am not skilled to understand, what HE has willed, what HE has planned. I only know at HIS right hand, stands one who is my”…go here for the rest of the song: http://www.elyrics.net/read/a/aaron-shust-lyrics/my-savior-my-god-lyrics.html . We certainly don’t understand what He has willed or planned but we want to make the most of the future we have left, we want to make a difference for Him. Thank you for standing with us, for lifting us up, for making it possible for us to be His hands and feet here with these special children.

Please lift up these requests:

• Continue to ask for an answer about Grady’s surgery or other options for surgery.
• Words to encourage our kids to know more about the Father.
• Phillip and Joseph, our 11 year olds, to be adopted soon. We’ve had a few people asking specific questions about these boys and are hopeful that one of these families will be perfect for each of these boys!
• Open hearts when talking with Sunny.
• Language learning!
• Our Ayi’s, for an awesome love for our children to overwhelm them every day.

Big thanks for:

• Resolution for the caregiver issues!
• Great teachers in our school who love our children and take good care of their needs.
• A Father who knows the plans He has for us! (and for you)

Blessings, hugs and love being sent to you,

Clay and Jewel

Jewel and Lexi

Super Mom Jewel saving damsel-in-distress Ling Ling from 'Stevie the Dog'!!

Chug-a-chug Jerak the Engineer for a ride with Elizabeth, Philip, and Clay the caboose!