Ni Hao . . . from China!!

 

 

Do any of you remember the T.V. Show, “Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?”  Well . . . Tanner and I are beginning to relate with Miss Carmen herself as we jump from place to place around the globe!  But I don’t think we mind at all . . . actually we love it!  As of right now . . . Tanner and I are sitting in Beijing, CHINA!  We arrived here on Monday, May 3^rd and we will be here until June 10^th.  We feel privileged to be in this place to spend the next few weeks together loving on the precious children at Maria’s Big House of Hope.  We are currently in Beijing, teaching pre-school to a handful of the kids here at Hope Home.  In addition to Maria’s Big House of Hope, our friends and Show Hope partners, Rob and Joyce, also oversee Hope Home.  They have about 70 children who live here at Hope Home, most of whom have surgically correctable special needs, such as cleft lip and cleft palate, clubbed feet, congenital heart disease, etc.  We will be here, in Beijing, until the weekend and then we will travel down to Maria’s Big House of Hope to spend the rest of our time teaching the pre-schoolers there.

It feels so great to be back in China . . . I consider it my second home . . . or perhaps it should be my third home now that we have spent a significant amount of time in N. Ireland.  Oh . . . I don’t know . . .  I guess since I haven’t been back to my “home” in Nashville for about 8 months now, China feels even more inviting and home-like because it is familiar and holds a lot of precious memories.  I can so easily remember my first time visiting Robin and Joyce Hill in the summer of 2006.  Our entire family travelled here for about three weeks as a sort of vacation together.  It was so nice to be here . . . loving on others together as a family.  And, of course our precious Maria Sue was with us that summer.  My family returned to China the following summer; however, I was unable to come because I was working.  So, I hold many precious memories of my sweet little sister, who would have been turning seven in only one weeks time, here at this building of hope.  And all these wonderful memories only encourage me to make more fun memories while Tanner and I are here.  We have been given a treasure in these 6 weeks here in China.  I truly feel as if we have been invited into something very special . . . a time to know and understand our Father on a level different than we did before we came.  I hope I don’t miss it!  I hope I can keep my eyes open and take in every memory, every laugh, every giggle, every hug and even every tear.

Just this morning, we had the wonderful opportunity of teaching pre-school to the older kids here at Hope Home.  We had three kids, ages 3-5 and we learned about colors.  It was so fun to just hang out with these very special kiddos.  I know our Father has a very unique purpose and plan for EACH one of their lives.  I am always overcome by the true joy each one of these kids has . . . it just oozes out from their smiles!  I want to have that kind of joy . . . contagious joy J

I will try my hardest to stay up-to-date on my blog while we are here in China!  Please me gracious with me when there are no blogs . . . sometimes words are not enough . . . especially for the month of May.  Thank you for your continued support and prayers. 

Comments

[Rebecca Jo]

YIPEE for an update! So exciting to see you & tanner doing important work of teaching & LOVIN' on those babies! Enjoy your new "home" Miss Carmen San Diego! :)

[NiHaoMa - Da'Shotaz]

Prayers for you and Tanner as you share HIS Love and get blessed from above! :oD

[Jessica]

Hi Emily! I enjoy reading about your world adventures!
I'm having some adventures of my own right now--I live in Kiev Ukraine, teaching at a small international Christian school.
How long will you be living in N. Ireland?

[Susan]

I would love to be doing what you all are doing.
I'm curious though how do you afford it?

[Jody]

I completely understand. Our hard month is December. But eventually that pain does ease. Hold onto hope.

[Sonya]

Glad you updated! I enjoy reading about your adventures!

[chinamom]

Finally an update!:) Please do let us know what is happening in China! So glad you all are able to be there!
Chinamom

[Stephanie Hamptonh]

In a few months time, my husband and I too will be in CHINA...to pick up our new daughter! We can't wait...just maybe we can visit MBHOH while we are there!!
You can see our adoption story at: www.sweetkamdynn.blogspot.com
Enjoy your precious time with your husband and those sweet little ones!
Blessings,
Stephanie

[kathy naylor]

.....and your wedding anniversary comes in May or shortly thereafter, correct? May your expressed and unexpressed desires for this trip and your every day resonate with God's own heart.

[Vanessa (from Nebraska)]

So GREAT to hear from you, Emily. I keep you in prayer daily. What a God thing that you get to spend this difficult time in a place that holds so many dear memories for you! And now you can make new dear memories while you teach & LOVE these children! I look forward to reading your updates when you can. You are loved and appreciated! Praying for you & Tanner and your whole family.

[sunshine]

Hey Kathy-
Emily and Tanner's anniversary is October 4th. Caleb and Julia's anniversary is May 10th. I hope that helps.

[Mary Beth Chapman]

I'm so proud of you both. I know you've worked so hard to be where you are. It hasn't been easy, and at times I know you are weary. To any of you who know me, I can be fiercely protective of my kids. I am so grateful to have children who have worked so hard and sacrificed much to be where they are. They count it joy to be able to be in China. But it has come at a price to them. That's really all I need to say. But trust me when I say.... They are wise stewards with everything, and they hold on loosely to the things they do not need. I love you and am so grateful to be your MOM and MOM N LAW!

[June Vendetti]

God bless you and Tanner as you work to make the lives of these children better and brighter. These children need people like you and Tanner to help them make it through another day. God does have a special plan for the both of you, and I know you will answer His call. Enjoy your time in China. Right now, I'm listening to "Beauty Will Rise," the title cut. Great song, which has so much meaning for all of us who have known suffering and pain, or uncertainty, which is where I'm at presently. But I know God will show me the way-even now. Take Care.

[Chelsea]

Emily, you are so sweet hearted. Dont worry about not posting. When you are silent we pray all the harder. <3

[sandy barnard]

What a surprise you have had.
You look right at home with a baby in your arms. Enjoy your time in China. Praying for you both Emily.

[Rebecca]

Emily we love you both and treasure the God-loving and honoring hearts you have!!!

[Patty]

SO excited to see you are in China! Give Mikey a big hug for us!! Praying your time will be filled with blessings and joy, hope and healing!

[Don Johnson]

Hi Emily, thanks for the update. We pray that you are safe in His arms wherever you go, and that He fills your hearts and hands with His love!

If you have a moment, please PM me at my FB - donjohnson1 - I have a private question for you and the family.

Thanks!
Don

[Nancy from California]

Emily, Thank you for posting. I am so happy for you that you were able to SEE your momma. What an awesome surprise that must have been. I've been thinking of you and what I know of your family's story. It seems to me that you should write a book, yes I know your mom just finished one, but it seems to me that your should be directed at the young--maybe 8-15 years old. As I recall you began praying for adoption for your family around 12. You were persisent and God honored those prayers beyond anything anyone could have imagined. For His glory those prayer pebbles have rippled into huge waves that have touched and changed hundreds if not thousands of lives. I SEE the comments here and on your mom's blog of so many who have adopted with the help of Show Hope. None of this would have happened, at least in this way, without the fervent prayers of a CHILD. Now you are an amazing young women who is continuing to change and bless so many lives. Thank you for your faith and boldness. And thank you for taking the time to listen to and pray for a crying stranger who called and talked to you at Show Hope. I made the pink and brown scrapbook for your family and you talked about all of us being broken. Thank God we have Him the Great Healer. Praying for your time at MBHOH! God bless all of you!
Nancy (thankfulndw)

[Christine Gordon]

prayers continue....especially in this month of MAY. how precious to hear that you had your MOM there with you.......and yet another opportunity to SEE how LOVE TAKES YOU IN......thank you for "SHOWING HOPE" to the world. so blessed everytime I read your blog.
hug those little ones for us....and know that we pray for the means to take some precious children into our home. thanks for sharing!

[Araba Yarışı Oyunları]

Prayers for you and Tanner as you share HIS Love and get blessed from above!
http://www.bentenoyunlari.org http://www.komikoyunlar.net http://arabayarisioyunlari.com http://www.zekaoyunlarim.com http://www.oyunzamani.com