Instead of taking the city tour, we decided to attend the local LDS International Ward in Guangzhou. I am so glad we did. We met a couple other families that are LDS at breakfast in the morning (1 family from Houston who has adopted a 13 year old girl and an 8 year old with Cerebral Palsy). Sherry (the mom) is travelling with her 14 year old biological daughter. This is their 2nd & 3rd adoption. We also met someone from SLC, Utah who is here doing some training for a company she works for. She is here for 3 weeks, so she went to church last week and was our guide. We ventured onto the subway, even changed lines, and then onto the Ramada Inn for church. We made it in time for part of Sunday School and all of Sacrament Meeting. It was so great to be a part of it! So many great people, many of them retired and teaching English. All so kind!
There was a member of our church who had brought their girlfriend to church who was a Chinese National. Because of this, they had to ask her to leave but were able to give them the information of one of the Chinese branches that they knew of. China lets the international members meet together, but not a Chinese passport holder. LDS is not an officially recognized religion. We cannot talk about it to Chinese nationals or invite them to church. However, there are members of our church who are Chinese nationals who meet separately. The church even has a website dedicated to the Chinese people. When you ask the church how many branches/wards are in China, they won't tell you. We believe in obeying the laws of the land, so it all has to remain separate.
While at church, we met a former Utah Attorney General, one of my mother-in-laws best friends from high school, and someone who had been in the same ward as Jake's uncle. What a small world! I am glad we ventured out!
Thank you for sharing this! This is something I would have not known about. When you get back. I would love to talk to you via phone and maybe you can help me get ready for our trip. We are still waiting for 1-800 approval. Someone at the agency dropped the ball and forgot to send in our LOA hardcopy. I am a total mess because of our short window of travel when we can travel as a family which is the first week of January. Ellie is so pretty! I see her hair is getting longer. I wish they would stop shaving my babies head-the poor thing has no hair. I am hoping that now that it is getting closer to us picking her up that they will let her hair grow out. We got knew pictures yesterday and boy is the inside pretty run down. I looked at your pictures again and they must have had Ellie pose infront of their one painted wall. I would love to help you raise some money for this place. From our pictures it looks like the walls could use some new paint and they could use some new rubber mats. It look like they dont nearly have the funding that your other daughters orphange has and it surprised me that the inside is so worn out when it is only 4 years old. Hope the rest of the week goes well. YOu are probably close to coming home. Friday or Saturday???? Are you flying out of Guangzhou or Hong Kong?? I bet it will just be a matter of a few more days before baby girl start loving on you. You can see changes in her from the first day you got her! :)
ReplyDeleteYes, we come home on Friday. Can't wait. This is our last day here. I love China, but miss home. I would love to visit via phone any time and visit after we arrive home! Can't wait for you to travel. Sorry about the I800!
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