Happy Birthday Papa, Grandma Fannin, and America!!!

This past Tuesday we headed to OKC for a surprise party for Papa (T's Dad). He was super surprised, and we all had a GREAT time! It is also his mother's birthday today. Happy Birthday Papa and Grandma Fannin! We love you!

Papa's cake.
Old School Papa. :)
Two Crazy Monkeys waiting for Papa to arrive.
Daddy and Papa laughing at some of the funny things they were saying about Papa.
CT and Grandma. Happy Birthday!

Happy 4th of July!

Heading West....

Hallelujah!!! On our journey back home we stayed in Nanning for a night, and made a stop at Pizza Hut. I do believe that was some of the BEST pizza I have had in my life!! After 8 days of Chinese food, I was ready for something a little different. This is my good friend N. She was also excited about eating there. :) These lovely ladies were standing outside of a hotel/restaurant. O and M thought it would be fun to take a picture with them. :)
Our group the last night in Hong Kong. They do a light show on all of the buildings. It was really cool! It was also remarkably clear that night so you could actually see the buildings. Usually it is so smoggy you can't see it all. Notice the newspaper I am holding has roaches all over it. :) They were doing a story on their roach problem. We encountered a GIANT one at one of the restaurants we ate it. I'll spare you that picture. ha ha! The food was really good though. :) You've just got to eat it and go on, otherwise I'm afraid you would starve! ha! :)

Would you eat a fish head for 20 Kuai?

One night at dinner we ordered fish, and of course it came FULL fish. Head and everything. :) So M was kidding around that he was going to eat it. We then told him we would pay him if he would eat it. (He is trying to save up money to buy a new gameboy. He left his in a hotel Thailand and when he went back to get it, it was already gone.) So he will do just about anything to make money. :) We also bought some "art" from them. :) They were so cute. They set up a store for us to buy their color pages. Of course we bought them out. :)Anyway he was successful in getting the fish head down, and we had to pay up. He earned 20 kuai which came to about $2.56 USD. I was quite impressed that he actually swallowed it. He was proud of himself. :) Way to go M!!



Thinking about it......

In the mouth.....
Swallowing..................QUICK!!!

Massag-EE and "Bathing"

Once we got home from the village we got together with the guys and talked about our experiences. They guys got to meet with an incredible family and help to disciple them. After that we decided it was time to go and get a massage or massag-eee is how they pronounced it. :) N and I opted for just a foot massage and T and Connie wanted a back massage. Let me just tell you that these massages are NOT like what you get in the states. They were PAINFUL!!! T thought he was going to cry several times. My foot massage was not too bad except for that the water they had you place your feet in was boiling hot! (I had to have them add some cold water. I'm sure they thought I was a wuss.) My calves were also very sore from "running" up the pagoda stairs a few days before. It felt good, but it also hurt. The whole experience cost us 38 kuai, which comes to about $5.50 USD. I also developed a HUGE bruise on the side of my knee from the massage. They push really hard on your pressure points. It has finally gone away. :)

After we returned from the massageeee's we were in for a real treat. The son from the family that T had met with that afternoon had brought a friend over to be baptized. :) This young man has led so many to the Lord. He is an encouragement to me, and also some one I look up to. He has only been a believer for about 11 months, and has had the opportunity to lead many to the Lord. What's his secret? He's actually sharing with people how Christ has changed his life!! This was so cool to be able to be apart of. After they were finished we all sang in our own language....I have decided to follow Jesus.


Here is a list of questions that they ask them before they are baptized.
The questions are:
Have you put your trust in Jesus who died on the cross for your sins and on the third day rose again?
Do you know that Jesus has forgiven all of your sins?
Are you telling everyone here that you will follow Jesus and never turn back?
Will you keep following Jesus even when they curse you, hit you, arrest and imprison you and threaten to kill you?



What would you say?











This is a video of us singing. You can't really see anything because the bathroom was so dark, but you can hear us singing. Quite a powerful experience!

Out in the Village.

On Saturday morning all the girls piled in a van and headed out to a village. Luckily we did not have to eat in this village. I'll save that for another post.:) We were able to break into groups and do some prayer walking around the village. It was so neat to be able to pray out loud for people walking right next to you, and they had absolutely no idea what you were saying. :) Very cool experience! On the way home we flagged down a "bus" to ride home in. Those people drive ALL over the road. I just had to not pay attention. ha!


A hospital in the village. You mainly just get IV's here. Most of the patients, about 90% were small children, they had diarreah. They believe that when a child gets diarreah that you stop feeding them. Then they become dehydrated so they need an IV. Most of them also have malnourishment problems.
Inside the hospital.
A primary school.

Everybody needs a waterbuffalo. Mine is fast, but yours is slow. :) This was the "beef" that we ate. It was ok, just a little tough.
People selling fruits and vegetables on the main street of the village. Isn't she precious?
Chickens/Ducks
These women can carry some serious weight in these baskets.
Just on old truck sitting in the road. They thought it would be funny if I got in it. :)

Squat-Tay Pott-Tay VS. The Western Toilet!

Here is one of my most favorite parts about China-The squatty potty! Oh the fun this entails. If you can't squat then you would be in trouble. Luckily I only had to use one of these the whole time I was there. I strategically decided when to drink and when not to drink so I wouldn't have to use one. :) ha! Actually it is not that bad if you can squat and hold your breath at the same time. :) The one at the school was pretty brutal, but when nature calls you can't ignore it. :) Also you have to carry your own toilet paper around, because there isn't any in any of the public restrooms. Thank you Lord for the Western Toilet. Actually, I guess it's all in what you are use to. They have trouble keeping the westen toilet from breaking, because all those use to the squatty try to climb up on it and squat. :)


Squatties in the girls bathroom at the schools we taught in.
Closer look at the squatty. There is no flushing mechanism. :) I do believe it has a slant to it though. ha!
This is a squatty in a restaurant. You all eat in one big room, and this is also in the room. With a door of course. :)

Intentional!

The song I have added really emulates what Christ is doing in my life right now. (You will have to click play on the Music Player to hear it.) It reigns true here in the states and all around the world. I pray that as you listen to it, you will see the faces in this blog and faces around you everyday that are in desperate need of a Savior. Sometimes it seems like a mountain would need to be moved in order for that person to even be able to know about God or acknowledge there is a God, but that's what He is in the business of doing. Let Him use you, and be INTENTIONAL about sharing him and living your life for Him. That's the one word that sticks with me from this whole trip. INTENTIONAL

SHINE YOUR LIGHT!!!! Have faith the He can and will move the mountains!


Matthew 17:20 Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, "Move from here to there," and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.

Implied is that the presence of faith is more important than the amount of faith. If faith is there, however small, it is enough to remove mountains of difficulty.

"Mighty To Save" by Hillsong

When everyone needs compassion,And love that never fails,Let mercy fall on meWhen everyone needs forgiveness,Kindness of the SaviourThe Hope of the nation

(Chorus:)Saviour, He can move the mountains,My God is mighty to save,He is mighty to saveForever author of salvation,He rose and conquered the graveJesus conquered the grave

So take me as you find meAll my fears and failuresFill my life againI give my life to followEverything that i believe inNow i surrender (and i surrender)(Chorusx2)

(Bridge:)Shine a light in and let the whole world seeSinging, for the glory of the risen kingJesus, Shine a light and let the whole world seeSinging for the glory of the risen king