History Tour – Beijing

Home » Uncategorized February 15, 2007 No Comment
Sometimes I feel that certain trips take on a sort of theme, a theme that He orchestrates to let us know that He continues to work in our lives. And as Josh hinted before, we were able to see Him work with such precision in our trip that I would like to name our theme, “For G so loved”. We have been in Karamay for almost six months with only one other English speaking couple to hang out with. We planned this “History Tour” in order to get away as well as hit the more famous spots of China. Little did we realize that He had a bonus plan for our trip that will remain in our hearts and minds far longer than the numerous sites of deceased emperors.

When you stay at a hostel verses a hotel, usually you get cheaper rooms, a semi-English speaking staff and all kinds of stuff (like tours) that they will help arrange for you. While we were in Xian, after our failed attempt at buying train tickets, we happened across a travel center in another hostel (one we weren’t staying at) that would buy train tickets for us. Since we ended up just buying bus tickets, our little stop at this information desk proved only to be the beginning of what He planned for us. We noticed that this hostel had the same tour of the Terracotta Warriors as own hostel except for a cheaper price. Since we are always ready to save a little money, He had no problem getting us on that tour. There were about 14 other people who went on the tour and we all had a wonderful time chatting and hearing others’ experiences here in China. Many were just vacationing while some were also teachers in other provinces. There was one group of six from Australia who had just finished their short two-months teaching and were spending their last two weeks in China traveling. We had a great time and since we’ve already told you about the warriors, I’ll move on. 
Two or three days later, (we had already been to Pingyao and traveled to Datong) we signed up for a tour in Datong of the Caves and Monastery. The next morning we were waiting for a few more people who were going to be on the tour as well, when low and behold the six Australians we had seen on our last tour in Xian come sauntering in! We could not believe we were seeing familiar faces. Of course, all of us were so shocked that we could actually run into each other again in such a big country, days later without even knowing the others’ plans. Coincidence? I think not. And I haven’t even arrived to the best part…they are all believers! Not only did they speak English but they were also Cs, which before the trip we did not realize how much we needed. During the tour we got to talk about all kinds of stuff and we then realized that we were both heading to Beijing next (they were leaving that night, we were leaving the next morning). They told us the hostel they were staying at so when we arrived in Beijing we went to the hostel and asked if they were staying there. Then we ordered a room, low and behold (again) we were two doors down from their room.  How crazy is that!? 
We were all excited about how He orchestrated everything just perfect. Josh and I had no idea how much we needed that kind of fellowship; which brings me to why I have named our theme “For G so loved”. Sometimes I think that we focus so much on the cross that we forget about how He loves us daily. In sharing the good news, we talk about His love and how it is shown through the cross, and as important as that is sometimes I feel that it is just the beginning. One thing we have noticed in trying to share His story with the people here is that they are used to hearing so many different “miraculous” stories that His story gets put with the rest of them and they don’t see the truth. But seeing how the Creator of the entire world noticed our need to be with a group of believers not just to encourage us spiritually but to sit down and have girl-talk or for Josh to be able to go with a guy to watch the Superbowl. To be able to hang out with a group of people that see the world as you do and notices His acts in each one of our lives. It was so refreshing.
Thankfully, they weren’t freaked out that we may be stalking them, but we ended up spending almost all of our time in Beijing together, visiting most sights together and eating out often.
Some points of interest were the Summer Palace (although the lake was drained so it didn’t look as beautiful as it would in the summer), the Underground City (Mao Zedong spent ten years building tunnels in case there was ever a need to evacuate the city) and TGI Friday’s. That’s right, we got ourselves some good ol’ American food…twice. Mmmmm, it was delicious! And of course, we did our share of shopping. Oh and I almost forgot…the Great Wall! We took a tour to a portion of the wall about two hours outside of Beijing and it was spectacular. We took a chair lift up to the wall and spent five hours strolling along the renovated section of this famous masterpiece. After we had walked all that we could, we rode toboggans down to the parking lot. Don’t worry, you read me right. They set up a metal slide with toboggans that you could actually ride down the Great Wall. It was tons of fun (as strange as it may sound)!
With all the sights we saw, there is one thing that we will cherish the most. Being able to see Him step into our lives and provide us with something that we didn’t realize we needed. He continues to show us His love in giving us even the smallest needs (that take seemingly extraordinary means) just to show us more of His love for us. John (17:3) says that eternal life is knowing Him, and I think that in knowing Him we find a love that is more giving than we will ever realize. Therefore, while the stories we tell of Him to our Chinese friends seem ordinary to them, our hope is that they are able to see the daily love that He gives. For it is His love that differs from all the other stories, for there is no greater love… And with that we want to thank each of you that have shown His love to us while we have been here. Through letters and e-mails we have found such encouragement. And for those who have sent us packages and gifts we want to say a special thanks. Whenever we use what you have sent to us we think of you and are so grateful that you would think of us. Praise Him for His love and Praise Him for His people who show others His love as well.

(L-R: Josh, Tiff, Phil, Kate, Dan, Mel, and Brice)

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