All our bags are packed...

Well, we can't believe it, but we leave for Beijing tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. CST! Time has really flown by since we made the decision to return to China. Sunday, August 9th was our last Sunday at Garden Ridge and they threw us an amazing celebration.. quite the display of love and appreciation for our time serving in the youth ministry. Susan's last day at her job at Agrolabs was Friday the 14th. After that we traveled to Amarillo and Lubbock for some rest and quality time with family before heading out of the country. We were blessed with a great trip aside from Nash getting sick, vomiting the whole way home and scaring us newbie parents. He seems to be doing much better this morning after getting a good night's sleep and some of the miracle elixir, Pedialite in his system.

We will depart tomorrow from DFW Airport on Air Canada flight 1044 and will swap planes in Toronto for flight 31 to Beijing. It has been rumored that we may have to go through Canadian security and get a stamp in our passports. How exciting... Ha! The first flight is scheduled to take just over 3 hrs and the second just over 13 hrs. Yipee! We are a bit anxious to see how Nash does on the long flight considering how mobile he is compared to our March trip. We should arrive in Beijing at PEK airport at about 4:05 p.m. Saturday, August 22nd.

Today, we are busy with last minute preparations and packing. Deeann Jarvis surprised us by offering to watch Nash today so we could be more efficient. Thank so much Deeann! It is really a strange feeling to be preparing to leave the country for at least a year. There are so many things to be done and Susan and I keep writing down items on our list and cross them off just as we remember one more thing!

On another note, we received an email message late last week that we have met our goal regarding the amount of financial support we anticipate needing for the year! Thanks so much, all of you who have given and pledged to give over the coming months. We are thankful for the way that God has worked in your lives to bless us in this way!

There is probably much more to tell, but I will stop here for now. I know there will be much more to write about in the coming days, weeks, and months.

Thanks for all your love and prayers!

Love,
John