We arrived back in Lewisville, TX
on November 12th. We left
May 15th and visited churches in eight states (OK, AR, MO, KY, TN,
AL, GA and FL) over the six-month period of time. We traveled 3,650 miles in the RV and an
additional 7,500 miles in the car. We
park the RV and then take the car to the various congregations in the area to
give reports and two weeks later, we move on to the next central location. Miles and miles of countryside...pecan orchards and cotton crops across the south.
We had a wonderful visit in every
congregation. Loving and friendly people
greeted us in churches of all sizes. It
is a great blessing to meet brothers and sisters across this great land. We are so grateful for tender hearts and
generous givers that help with the work in China.
We spent two weeks in Leigh Ann’s driveway in Woodstock, GA.
We were all
busy the entire time but it was great to be with her and spend one day with
Tatum, our 21-year-old granddaughter. We
see them only once a year unless Leigh Ann comes to some location to visit with
us. We cooked Tatum’s favorite Chinese
food that day. 
While in North Georgia, Ron
interviewed and hired Mike Gifford, who will be Chinese Agape’s CEO. He is featured in our November newsletter if
you want to read more about him. Mike
made a quick trip to Lewisville to meet and get approval of the Lewisville
elders. Then, he began spending time
with Ron to learn all he can about the work the remainder of time we were at
Leigh Ann’s. Mike is presently living in
Cartersville, Georgia. 
We parked two weeks at Raintree Village Children’s Home in Valdosta, GA. It was a delight to be in this beautiful part of our country where large trees are covered with Spanish moss.
Raintree Village Children's Home
Valdosta, GA
We completed the round of visits in South Georgia and Northern Florida and began the trek back toward Texas, spending a couple of days in Baton Rouge, LA. Joan, our Chinese worker, lives there. She coordinates all of the patients having surgeries both in China and the U.S.
It was great to be with our
church family in Lewisville on Sunday.
What a joy it is to be part of a loving family of God. We have had several invitations out and have
been invited to a member’s home for Thanksgiving. It was only one of several invitations we had
for Thanksgiving Day. We are indeed
blessed with people who love us and want to be with us. We enjoyed a cookout at the home of one member on Saturday night and it was good to be with about 20 Lewisville members.
We are busy catching up our work
and figuring out what we need to pack for China. We leave on November 30th and plan
to return on December 14th.
Mike Gifford is going with us and tour all of the orphanages to have a
full understanding of the work. We will
go to Beijing first and meet Julia Ng, who will be working with us from Hong
Kong. I’ll report more about her when
she is officially on-board. A meeting is
scheduled in Beijing with an attorney to get the licensing completed for the
new hospital in Wadian. It cannot open
for medical appointments until this is done.
In the meantime, Mr. Zhu is visiting the homes to make a determination
about poor children that should be included in our data base for future medical
benefits. We will visit the hospital and
then the five orphanages in various locations throughout China.
Travel in China is not easy. We will take some flights because trains are
not available to all areas. We will take
some trains and buses. Even after
arriving at a city by train, our destination may still be several hours’ ride
on a bus. The distance from each
location is a long way, so we will not stay in any place longer than a couple
of days.
I am looking forward to seeing
Ronald and Gigi (he is now at Refuge of Grace care center doing maintenance on
the building). Gigi has just gotten her
VISA to return to China on November 30th so we will get to see her
on this trip. If Ronald has finished his
work at this location, he and Gigi may travel with us to another of the care
centers. We are not sure about his work
and plans yet.
Being with Ronald and Gigi will
be my greatest Christmas gift. Gigi told
me that hugs from us is all she needs.
We think a lot alike so we love each other very much. Both Gigi and I love Ronald so that gives us
a great tie together also.
I spent a couple of days and
nights thinking of her and her family in the Philippines and praying for them. It was such a relief when Ronald told us that
he had heard from her and they were safe.
Her island was not one of the worst hit but I’m sure they got lots of
wind and rain. It swept right across the
Philippines. When you live on an island
and it’s going to hit all of them, there’s nowhere to go. When we are traveling along the coast, we see
signs that say Evacuation Route. There
are no evacuation routes when you live on an island. There are no good shelters. Buildings and houses are not constructed well
to withstand typhoons of this strength. You
can make some preparation for a bad storm but there’s very little you can do
but batten down and ride it out with lots of prayers.
Ronald has submitted a proposal
to build and operate an orphanage in the Philippines. One million children are estimated to be homeless following the disaster of the recent Typhoon. Ron is securing interested investors to fund
the project. We feel that this would be
an ideal situation for several reasons.
Julia Ng will be able to oversee the orphanages in China in 2014. Ronald will be needed on a limited basis,
perhaps doing some maintenance work on the buildings at the care centers in
China. Gigi cannot get a permanent VISA
so it is expensive for her trips in and out of China for them to spend some
time together. They live in hotels out
of suitcases and that can get very old after some time.
Gigi is a retired teacher so she
can oversee the education of the children in the Philippine orphanage. Ronald has five years of experience
overseeing the orphanages in China. No
doubt, he can run it well and have a great home for little children. We have a Bible teacher that can work with
them to teach the children. It’s no
problem to teach the Bible in the Philippines.
With this combination of personnel to begin a care center, we feel that
we are well staffed for it to be a success.
There are many little children in the Philippines, just as in China,
that need a loving home and family. We
pray that this will come together soon after the New Year begins so they can
get started on the construction phase.
I will report again upon our
return from China. Thank you for your
love and friendship. We covet your
prayers for our travels and for the work in China.
How wonderfully we are blessed
even with the many problems our country has at this time. Continue to count your blessings not your
problems.
We wish everyone a HAPPY
THANKSGIVING.
