First Day in a Foreign Land

It’s Sunday January 9, 3:20 PM here in Beijing. Marcie was feeling tired so I told her she better nap while she can . Funny to think almost every single person we know and love is asleep at this very moment as it’s 1:20 AM Sunday in Paducah. We started the morning after breakfast with the task of exchanging our Traveler’s Cheques to Chinese Yuan (RMB) to cover all of our adoption related expenses in Beijing. We only freaked out a little when the hotel exchange informed us that they were nearly out of money due to it being Sunday and we would have to wait until Monday for the banks to open for the amount we needed. This being a free day (meaning a day without our wonderful Mary), we were tasked with trying to find a bank open on a Sunday. The hotel folks, who speak decent English but not in depth conversation decent English, couldn’t find one…so emergency phone call #1 to Mary (who said “anytime”). Of course, Mary found one…”Bank of China…Dongan Plaza…three minute walk from hotel.” Uh oh….you mean just us, leave the hotel and walk out into downtown Beijing…um, ok. So we got spotty (at best) directions from the hotel staff and off we went. Found it! Closed! Not the one Mary spoke to…bad directions from hotel staff. Back to hotel. Decided to let Mary talk to hotel staff. New directions. Off again in the exact opposite direction as before…found it…OPEN on a Sunday. We understood less than a dozen words…we caught “take ticket, wait”, “number 1024”, “what you want do” and “you welcome”…that was it. An hour later we trudged back to the hotel like the richest little broke couple in China.


Now we rest, but we are anxious for what tomorrow brings. We’re nervous too, somewhat, and a little scared. What will she think of us? How will she respond to our desires for kisses, hugs and snuggles? Will she like the toys we brought? Will she scream until she has sucked all the oxygen out of the room? We don’t know. But we know this…God has fulfilled His promise to us. He planted the seed in our hearts, He nurtured and grew it. He provided the details (zero lost paperwork in 2.5 years, every $ necessary, and even worldwide airline regulation changes) when only He could. And here we are, ready to lay it all at His feet.

People keep saying she has no idea how lucky she is and how much her life is going to change. True…but the real truth is, we are the lucky ones and we have been blessed beyond measure.

That’s all for today. Next time we post, we will be a family of five…anxious to get home with the newest little Peck. Thanks for your continued prayers…what a privilege to walk this earth with each of you.