{Summer in Winter}

I'm Here!!!

2009-06-05T21:10:00.000-07:00

Hello, everyone. Finally, finally I am writing! Sorry it has been so long. Since I got back from China, life has been so busy getting ready to leave for Colorado that I haven't had time to write.

Alright. So I'm here. In Winter Park, Colorado. At Snow Mountain Ranch. At the Summer Training Program. And I am so glad I'm here!

Let's see, this update will probably be more like a list because I don't have much time. I have very limited internet access. I only have it in the Commons (cafeteria) and in the Admin Building (which I just am not at very often). Problem is the Commons is closed a lot so I must make my Admin trips more frequent.

Weather: Freezing! I was very unprepared. All we have on our beds is a sheet and thin blanket. The first night we left our window open! Oh my, was it cold! Since then, we have kept the window closed and Mom is in the process of sending me a comforter. I was trying to be better at packing this year...hmmm....last time I try that one. Over-packed and over-prepared is always better no matter the teasing I get for it!

Work: First day of work today. This is my first real employed job. Totally weird. I had no idea what conference services actually entailed! Lots of moving lots of things. Lots of physical work. Basically I get a six hour work out in my eight our work day (subtract two hours for lots of driving a very old van around)! Today we worked nine and a half hours! What a first day of work for my first day of work ever! I think I like having a job though, well at least for the mean time.

Team: Ok, my team leader is fantastic. She loves the Lord so much and it is so evident. She has struggled with many of the same things that I have/am struggling with now. I didn't like her at first and that was because of PRIDE. After God took a chip out of that, I actually would talk to her and it amazes me how good God is. He is sovereign over which team we each were placed into and there is no doubt about that when it comes to my team. My team members are great!Kelly is bubbly and fun. She talks a lot and is super hilarious. Tanya is a bit quieter but as the night carries on, she begins to break out of that. :) We have had so many good laughs already--if we don't have abs of steel by the end of the summer something is simply wrong with our bodies. ;)

Me: Ok, so I'm adjusting just fine now. I was really really having a hard time the first few days--still am because of my PRIDE!! I always knew I was prideful but God really convicted me of it about second day here. I hadn't even been here twenty four hours! My prayer this summer is that He shatters it! I want it to be gone! My desire at the end of the summer is that my focus is completely and solely on Him. I want to be magnificently obsessed with my Savior and my God. That is my prayer.

I'm memorizing at least four verses a week. My desire is that I am able to memorize three in addition to that so that I'm essentially memorizing one a day. I want to know His Word. I don't want to have a vague idea of what this passage in Matthew says anymore. That doesn't cut it. I desire to truly know it so that I might pray it and that I can bring it up in times of struggle. Ah, combatting sin with Scripture. It is called the sword of the Spirit for a reason. I also want to read through the entire Bible this summer. I was considering it before I left and dismissed it because it was simply impossible. Right? Wrong! It is completely possible. It was one of the things that Drew challenged us with the second day we arrived. Every week, I spend a half day with God alone. It's called our HDAWG. I did mine on Thursday which wasn't as satisfying as I had desired because I allowed the things around me to distract me. I was first outside, then moved to my car, then drove somewhere in my car, then went back to my dorm. Distracting! I need to pick a place next time and not move! I moved because of the weather so maybe inside would be a better choice next time. Alright I gotta go. I will hopefully update more often. God is breaking me. I am so glad I am here.

The Garden at the Garden Hotel

2009-05-11T05:51:00.000-07:00

Gracie watching the fish by the tea house.

One of two large waterfalls in the Garden.

The tea house

Grace and Sarah enjoy feeding the fish.

Sarah also enjoys feeding herself.

Going Out in Guangzho

2009-05-11T05:44:00.000-07:00

Guangzhou is even hotter than Nanchang. I didn't think any place was hotter than Nanchang -- I was wrong.

Haagen Das -- more ice cream to cool down while we are out and about.

Trying tea at a tea house.

Hope the mail carrier is current with his tetanus shots.

---Baba Van Gilst

Airplane to Guangzho

2009-05-11T05:43:00.000-07:00

Sarah's first plane ride -- one hour. Training wheels for transpacific flight -- 9 hrs from Tokyo to San Francisco.

Yes I do Love My Baba

2009-05-11T05:40:00.000-07:00

As if I wasn't already wet enough from all the sweating -- now I have baby drool in my hair.

Two of Dad's Favorite Things

2009-05-11T05:35:00.000-07:00

I like Sarah better than Coca-Cola!

Ice Cream

2009-05-11T05:29:00.000-07:00

Sarah enjoys a Mc Donalds ice cream cone in Nanchang.

Even ice cream doesn't cool you off here. It is so hot and humid that you are drenched the whole time you are outside. I can't wait to get home to the desert. ---Baba Van Gilst

Sorry it's taken so long for new pictures to be put up. I know, Em, you've been checking back every ten minutes to no avail. Sorry everyone else---didn't know the blog would be such a hit. ---Lauren

Cutie and Carrots

2009-05-07T06:56:00.001-07:00

Fengcheng

2009-05-07T05:54:00.001-07:00

Views of Fengcheng, Sarah's home city. It is a small city according to our guide. 1,300,000 people call it home. He says that is small for China.

Who knows what this building is -- it's all Greek to me! (or Chinese)

Provincial government building

Fengcheng orphanage. Sarah only spent one day here. All healthy children are placed with foster families. The only children in the orphanage are special needs.

Everyone lives in apartment buildings like this in the cities.

The country side between Fengcheng and Nanchang

--Baba Van Gilst

Finding Sarah

2009-05-07T05:49:00.000-07:00

This is Sarah's "finding place." She was placed beside this lion statue. These stone statues are everywhere.

Car Ride to Fengcheng

2009-05-07T05:28:00.000-07:00

Rice paddies. We saw water buffaloes eating the grass at the edges.

Driving in China is CRAZY!!! It is a combination of bumper cars, Russian roulette, and chicken between automobiles, motorcyclists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. We have never experienced anything like it. The largest vehicle ultimately has the right of way. Four cars driving side by side fighting over two lanes and the shoulder is the norm. Everyone is about 6 inches away from each other,and we have not seen one accident. Literally, people drive any direction in any lane or on the shoulder (motorcyclists on the sidewalks). And nobody gets upset about it. They don't wear seat belts or have car seats. Today we drove between two semis coming straight at us -- one in the opposite lane and one on the shoulder of our lane. Want to change lanes? Don't bother with an over the shoulder head check -- just honk and yank the steering wheel in the direction you want to go -- even if it's a u-turn! Everyone will get out of your way and honk back. Want to cross a busy street? Just step out in front of the traffic and listen to them honk while they pass within 6 inches of you; Life must be cheap in China. We would never think of taking the risks they do here.

More rice paddies. There are also a few single family homes in the country rather than apartment buildings.

A duck farm! How cool is that?

It was long, dusty, and bumpy....REALLY bumpy! Bounce off the seat and hit your head on the roof bumpy!

--Baba Van Gilst

Dragon Fruit

2009-05-07T02:06:00.000-07:00

Finding new fruits is one of my favorite parts of going to other countries. America just doesn't have a whole lot of variety sometimes. Last year in Ecuador, I discovered the granadija (spelling is very wrong). This was an orange circle shaped fruit with slimy fish egg looking pods inside. It tasted great! While in China, the first day at the hotel, we had this dragon fruit for breakfast. It was peeled so I did not discover the fabulous pink skin until later. Its consistency is somewhere between a cantaloupe and a watermelon with a lot of little seeds mingled inside. It's great!

Updates from a 5-year-old

2009-05-07T00:25:00.000-07:00

Grace's "random" update:

I like to say that, "Sarah is not cute, she is adorable." I'm having a good time in China. I wish that I was in the orphanage, I have this weird book that's called The World's Weirdest Creatures.
I think it looks pretty in Nanchang. It was a long ride from the hotel to Feng Cheng. Yesterday when we were having a tour I got to buy this box of teapots. They were little teapots. Last night I had a weird dream. Sometimes when we were in the hotel, we heard fire crackers going on. We could not find out what they were. Today when I was done with my lunch and Lauren and Mom were eating I asked when are we going to go and Momma told me in just a few minutes. Then I asked again; I asked when are we going to leave. Momma said to play I Spy. Do you know what the funniest book is? Teacher Amelia Bedilia. It was a long plane flight to Beijing but while we were on the plane, me and Lauren read the Funny Man and it was pretty funny. I wish we were already home.

That's all I want. [Meaning she's done with blogging]

Recorded as accurately as possible by Lauren. Sorry for any misspellings.

Porcelain Shopping

2009-05-06T16:04:00.001-07:00

The Nanchang area is famous for it's porcelain.

BaBa entertaining Sarah or is she entertaining BaBa?

Grace is very patient while we shop. One of the pieces we bought is entitled "one hundred girls." Very appropriate for our family.

Grace may have a future career selling fine Chinese porcelain.

RT Mart

2009-05-06T06:26:00.000-07:00

These are from our experiences at the RT Mart. I would best explain RT Mart as the Chinese Target. RT Mart is to Chinese Wal-Mart as Super Target is to American Wal-Mart.

Outings in China

2009-05-05T22:22:00.000-07:00

Meet Baby Sarah (officially)!

2009-05-05T02:23:00.003-07:00

These are a bit unorganized--I apologize. Enjoy the viewing of Miss Sarah. We are loving getting to know Miss Sarah. She is a very content and quiet baby. She is ALWAYS happy to be in her Baba's arms. Right now, Dad and she are sitting in the chair looking out the window. She simply sits there in her Baba's arms playing with her hair quiet and content.

Grace playing peek-a-boo with Sarah after Sarah's bath.

Miss Sarah playing on the floor.

Sarah in her Baba's arms.

ICE CREAM!!!

This is Dad, Sarah and Grace in Tiffanie's today. On our way back from Wal-Mart we found this little store that custom made Chinese dresses. So we ordered matching dresses for Sarah and Grace. We nicknamed the woman holding Sarah her "Chinese grandmother" because Sarah was happy in her arms. In this picture, they are trying jade baby bracelets on Sarah.

Hello. I'm Sarah and I'm pretty much the cutest baby in the world.

China Day 2

2009-05-05T01:32:00.000-07:00

Both of the above pictures are from yesterday (May 4), our first day with Sarah.

Computer problems have been stabilized! On Mom's and my adventure today to find RT Mart, we found a rather large computer shop. We went in and asked someone who spoke English and he told us to return with the charger. So we went back to the hotel. Then Dad and I went out. We returned to the shop with the charger and for 165 RMB we were able to get a charger that works with the computer and the Chinese outlets! Praise God! Our communication with those back home shall continue.

We went to Wal-Mart today. That was an experience. It was four stories tall and had a movie theater on the fourth floor! The third floor had clothing and home furnishings. Then you take a cart down on a "ramped" escalator of sorts. They have designed this "ramped" escalator so that the cart locks into place as soon as it hits the track. It was an experience. The second floor contained all the groceries. We bought some suckers, coins, and water bottles along with our bathing suits from the third floor. One more thing about our Wal-Mart experience: I was amazed by how modest the swimsuits were for women. What a relief! All of them have either a skirt or shorts and most of them are one-piece. If one does desire a two-piece, they're available but they're still rather modest. They have the shorts or skirt again. For the top, I did not see any string bikinis. This made shopping and choosing a bathing suit much easier! The first floor was simply random shops unrelated to Wal-Mart.

Also, one more thing. The people here are so nice! Everyone tries to help. Everyone whether they know English or not. There was a point where Mom and I were trying to find the RT Mart and we looked a little bit lost. We had four maybe five people come up and ask what we needed. When buying some ice cream, one lady, Holly, walked up to us and asked us if she could help. We needed to find some groceries. She took us to the exact store we had wanted to go to and stayed with us to translate so that the clerk could get us everything as we wanted. I think each of us are amazed by the propensity with which these people serve us.

Technical Issues

2009-05-04T19:04:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody....technical issues continue to plague us. So blog updates are not promised. We'll be on as soon as possible but for right now the computer is not charging.

Thanks,
Lauren

BaBa

2009-05-04T04:52:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am BaBa. That is Chinese for Daddy. I finally get to know what it is like to be the favorite parent. Sarah cries whenever her BaBa is out of sight. Grace is doing much better tonight, but keep her in your prayers. The trip was very hard on her. After being up for 28 hours, she slept for about the same amount of time -- maybe more.

Sarah was delivered to us this morning from her foster mother in Fengcheng (pronounced "FungChung") to the hotel lobby. (I will let Cheryl tell you about our day later -- so stay tuned.) She is soooo cute. She took to us right away. She has been crying some, but overall she is very happy and curious. After we got acquainted with our new daughter, we spent the afternoon running around to government offices to finalize the adoption. I have to go now because Sarah wants her BaBa to bounce her--I'll write more later.

----Baba Van Gilst

Pictures of the Journey

2009-05-03T23:46:00.000-07:00

4:30 am Albuquerque Airport

These are from the very beginning of our journey and that's how it shall be documented. As most of you know, I tend to overdocument my travels and this trip has not been an exception. So, bear with me as I do my best to choose pictures to share despite my being indecisive. Enjoy :)

Our plane in San Francisco that would take us to China. We flew out of gate 100 on a Boeing 777.

Grace watching some Little Hous on the Prairie to pass the time during the layover.

I sleep to pass the time.

Each seat had a TV screen which would track where we were and how far we had travelled. I was surprised we flew so far north. This as you can see is about halfway through. While we were over the Bering Sea, we looked out the window and were able to see the ocean frozen over. It was beautiful. The sun glinting off of it was so bright.

Mom, Dad, Grace. Grace was so mesmerized by the Disney Channel shows that were on her TV that I couldn't get a picture of her looking at me.

A little taste of China before we arrived. They even gave us chopsticks!

The following pictures provide you, the viewer, a guide of what to do on an eleven hour plane trip:

Watch shows on your little TV. Find humor in them so that you can maintain your sanity.

After laughing, watch Seven Pounds so that you can experience the full spectrum of emotions. Crying after laughing continues to maintain your sanity.

Read a book. I would suggest it have words--Mom's book did it just is washed out because I had to use some funny camera settings so that the pictures would actually show what was going on.

This is in customs waiting for our bags. We have arrived in BEIJING!!!

This is Grace's and my room at the Galactic Peace International Hotel in Nanchang, China. After about twenty two hours of travelling that bed was screaming my name. I slept hard!

And this is the picture you've all been waiting for. This is Baby Sarah! She is so precious. There will be more soon.

Sweet Niblets!

2009-05-03T17:33:00.001-07:00

Sweet niblets, we're here! We are in Nanchang, China! I have to make this quick because my laptop battery is going to die and we're not sure about plugging it in to charge.

It is about 8:30 am here making it about 6:30 pm in the States. Fun stuff! The eleven hour flight didn't kill me like I thought it might. I was fine. I get really antsy on the five hour Ecuador flight so I was expecting awful-ness for this flight but I was fine. I think it also helped that we were chasing the sun all night/day/morning that we were on the flight so it never seemed like we were flying at night.

I will have pictures up later this afternoon--for ya'll back home that'd be closer to midnight. We get Baby Sarah today at eleven. Grace isn't feeling so great--probably a lack of familiar environment and a lack of sleep. I'll hang out with her in the room while Mom and Dad get presents together, get ready and go get Sarah!!!!

Please pray that Grace feels better so that she can fully enjoy being here. Please pray that Sarah transitions well. Check back for pictures later.

Gettin' Ready

2009-04-30T16:11:00.001-07:00

We're getting ready to go. We are leaving for China in approximately 37 hours and counting. My visa is in which is probably a good thing. :) My aunt and uncle are in town tonight. Has it really hit us that we're headed to CHINA in less than 37 hours? NOPE! I have to take my stats final really soon and am I ready? No. I have mastered procrastination this week. I finished my paper due for honors about fifteen minutes before class started. Responsibility is definitely lacking as is motivation. I love the learning aspect of school. LOVE IT! But when I'm done with class I would prefer to spend my time socializing rather than cooped up inside doing homework. That's simply not an option though. Anyway this was just for the purpose of updating everyone on where we are with travels. The time is coming. Pray for Dad--He's not super excited about leaving. He's more of a home body than I am. Also, pray for Grace. She has a fear of getting lost.

Four Days in the States

2009-04-28T11:22:00.000-07:00

My time in the States is winding down....I leave at 4 am on Saturday morning. Lord-willing, I'll be returning at 4 pm on Wednesday, May 13th with my little sister. As I have said time and again, this is one of the most fore-thought children in this world. We have been praying for her and loving her for five years now. I am looking forward to China but I am positive it hasn't hit me yet that I'm going overseas in four days.

Today To-Do List:

Write, outline, memorize speech for tomorrow
Read stats
Go running

Wednesday To-Do List:

Read stats
Write poetry response for honors
Write yoga final
Go running

Thursday To-Do List:

Visit Aunt Pat and Uncle Rob in Los Lunas
Go to Doctor in Belen
Do laundry in Los Lunas/Pick up suitcase
Study for stats final
Thursday night Bible study?
Go running?

Friday To-Do List:

Take Calc quiz
Take stats final
PACK! PACK! PACK! PACK!
MOVE OUT! MOVE OUT! MOVE OUT! MOVE OUT!
Spend night at parents' house.

Saturday To-Do List:

Wake up really really early!
Go to air port!
Get on plane!
GO TO CHINA! :)

Its so soon. In the Lord's strength, I will get everything done. I need to be faithful in being a good steward of my time. And at that, I'm going to take a break, and go running so that I can hit the books for the afternoon.

PS: WOMEN: Check out Let Me Be a Woman by Elisabeth Elliot. Really good book. Has many encouraging and convicting points on a woman's role in marriage, single life or whatever your current situation might be.

To-Do List

2009-04-23T11:40:00.001-07:00

Getting ready for China...hmm....

To-Do List

Stats homework (finish reading the six chapters, take notes on each chapter, do problems for each chapter)
Take calculus test and quiz
Write and practice persuasive speech
Write journal for honors
Write poetry response for honors
Read book for honors
Pack up dorm room
Move everything from dorm room
PACK SUITCASE!
Call car place to order part
Finish nutrition extra credit
Trust in the Lord and His grace to get all of these things done...

I'm not stressed. The Lord is good.

Amidst Boxes and White Walls

2009-04-18T11:29:00.000-07:00

I am sitting amidst a torn-apart room. All the nails have been pulled out of the walls. All pictures have been taken down. The one thing that remains to adorn these institution-like white walls is my calendar. Why you might ask? Well, I'm going to CHINA! Mom and Dad are taking me along with them to help with Grace, my five-year old sister. They will be dealing with a lot of paperwork not to mention our Baby Sarah so I am tagging along to help out and of course be their photographer. Am I worried or scared? This question did not even run across my mind until I was asked such things yesterday. To answer it honestly, no, I'm not scared. The Lord is our Protector. His will be done. As far as I have been informed, I will be spending most of the time we're there in my hotel room with Grace. Please lift up this trip in your prayers. Mostly, pray that Sarah adjusts well to Mom and Dad. She is simply given to them one of our first days there without an adjustment period or any such thing. Simply handed to my parents.

Before I leave for China, I have much to do. I must move out of my dorm room. I must pack. I must study the rest of the material for this semester and take all of my finals. I have two speeches to give. I have two papers to write. I am honestly overwhelmed looking at how much I have to do in so little time. My Father is continually teaching and He is causing me to cling to Him and Him alone. If I cling to myself or even those around me to get everything done, there is no way, no how it will all be completed. My Father is my sustenance and He will carry me through the next two weeks.

We leave May 2nd and Lord-willing, will return May 13th. This blog will temporarily become a blog for the China trip. Check back frequently for updates, pictures and to meet Sarah!

China

2009-04-06T19:20:00.001-07:00

I can barely hold in my excitement! My parents are headed to China soon to pick up my baby sister. She turned eleven months old yesterday and we are so looking forward to having her here with us. This process has been one of endurance, trust, faith and perseverance. My parents began the adoption process because they felt that the Lord was leading them to adopt a little girl from China after being approached with a verse from another couple they know really well. So, they jumped into the paper work. Originally, we were told this process would take a total of six months. Six months passed about eight times before we got a referral. That four years was really difficult for us as our heart as a family grew attached to our little "China-Baby." My sophomore and senior English classes prayed for the situation daily. We waited. I lost heart. My parents lost heart but again the Lord is perfect in His timing. It was actually just last week that I think Dad (it could have been Mom) was saying that this was more about the process than the actually getting a baby. Yes, they thought the Lord had that in the end but things aren't always as they seem. Lord-willing, we will have a baby in our arms soon. I look forward to holding our little "princess to remember." Her name will be Sarah Nian which means "princess to remember." Ah, the Lord is so good as His timing. Why would we ever doubt?

More on the SMR note, I have finished my support letters today. Now it is just the process of printing, folding, postage-ing, and such. May the Lord move on the hearts of those He wills that they give.

I also am preparing to lead Bible study tomorrow for Allison. She will be gone at her monthly staff dinner and thus has passed on duties to me. I am looking forward to this but am also very nervous. I make so many mistakes; I am surprised the Lord ever chose me that He might use me. We are going through James 3:13-18. We have been studying James the entire semester. Out of all the studies thus far, I must say this one was the most convicting and the most applicable especially with my preparation to be teaching and leading. It speaks of earthly wisdom versus heavenly wisdom. James 3:14 says, "But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to truth." This verse convicted me because the Lord has been making me more and more aware of when I am being in selfish in what I say or do versus seeking His glory and preaching Him and Him alone in what I say and do. This is so very difficult for me (not that sin is easy to deal with) because to be honest, I like to look good to those around me. So often what the "good conduct" referred to in verse 13 of the same chapter is done in selfish ambition and thus is completely pointless. Lord, humble me that I might realize how truly low I am before You and Your holiness. Humble me that I might realize there is nothing within me worth exalting. It is only You. It is You alone.

The Beginning of a Journey

2009-04-04T22:10:00.001-07:00

Hello! This is my first post if that was not obvious. I probably will not post very regularly until about mid-May when school ends and I begin to really prepare for this summer. My hope for the summer is that I can post every other day. I will try to remain faithful in this but no promises for I don't know how much time I will have on my hands. Up until mid-May, you can check back weekly. I will update on my growing excitement for this experience, financial goals, and what the Lord is teaching me as I spiritually prepare. I finished my support letter today and hope to have them sent by Wednesday morningish; Thursday might be more realistic though. For now, I shall give you the logistics that I have figured out thus far:

I will be driving to Snow Mountain Ranch. Aaron, the other SMR student from UNM, will be driving with me. Following SMR, I will make a trek to Iowa, Minnesota and Chicago to visit family. If I'm already 8 hours out I might as well finish the other 12 hours, right?
I am working as Conferences Personnel. I will be working with business groups and family reunions to make sure they have everything that they need and that their conference rooms are set up properly. If you want to schedule your family reunion at SMR this summer, I'll help you out... (I was not told by SMR to make sales pitches, sorry for that one)
I am a team member. There are two different positions within the "study" aspect of this experience: team member and team leader. I will most likely be in a group with two other team members and then a team leader who will be older than the team members. We will also be sharing a room.
It is guaranteed that I will be stretched in ways unimaginable this summer and because of that, I know I will grow. Because of the growth it will cause, the uncomfortable "stretching" will be well worth it.
I am so EXCITED!

Thanks for stopping by ya'll. I hope you stop by often to check up on prayer requests, updates and pictures. I will not have pictures up until I arrive on May 31st because I don't know about you but I wouldn't really care about pictures of suitcases and such.

Prayer Requests: 1) that the Lord continues to grow the Navigator group on campus and that those who aren't going to SMR would grow in their relationship with Christ exponentially this summer, 2) financial provisions are made by none but the Lord, 3) that the Lord would prepare my heart to be away from my family and church this summer for I will miss them terribly.

Thanks for caring ya'll. If you have any prayer requests or encouragement, feel free to leave such in the comments.