One of the greatest blessing in going on this trip is the opportunity to spend time with our former student friends and there are few better ways to do this than seeing what is special in their home towns. We have had the opportunity to share our life with them, now they can share their lives with us.

Yesterday we went with Lindy and Al to tour the Forbidden City and Tienanmen Square and today we were

able to spend the day with our sister Trae hiking up and down the Great Wall at Badaling. Both of these ancient and definitely incredible sites are very very large and we put a lot of miles (or km here) on our shoes.

The time together with each of these dear friends was priceless. Lindy was a wealth of knowledge as we toured the Ancient castle. Honestly she was better than the recorded interpretive presentation and so by the end our we turned those off. Al was incredibly gracious and gentle as is his personality. He has been “responsible” for the transportation for the Beijing leg of the trip and he has done it with skill and patience.

Trae took care of us too as we walked the many steps of the Great Wall. Honestly, we haven’t walked as much as we have in the last couple of days in years and except for a little stomach discomfort by the littlest one, I have been amazed at how the kids have held out. Every muscle in my body is sore right now and my feet have that good kind of hurt.

Each of these three young people, Al, Lindy & Trae are at crossroads in their lives. Each have met F&ther and big Brother and one already walks with H1m but each is working through what their experience – the MBA, their time in the states, and meeting Brother – means in the context of their lives. One of them made it a goal while in the States to make a picture book of American churches to let their countrymen know what peace looks like because this student felt that churches represent that for some reason. Another is engaged to someone they met in the States and is contemplating living overseas in a land of of third culture with their fiance. All are looking at new starts in their home countries…

We are learning so much about some of the pressures these students face and the desires they have and the difficulties they face as they integrate their times studying in the states and the new skills and perspectives they have into their lives.

Honestly… it has really been a blessing and an honor that they took the time to spend with us and shared their hearts. Our love for them as friends have grown as musch as our understanding of their “real” lives. We are so glad we came!