More Adventures...

Here are a very few random pictures of the past several days... life is great, though today I was hit with a massive wave of homesickness... I love and miss you all!!

Holding the line for the bathroom!!

This little guy was in our cafeteria

Training Across China

(this was our trip to Xin Zhou, our new camp location)

The train station in Beijing

A few of our strong fellow who helped haul all our 25 pieces of luggage through the train station, then on and off again!

Jason toting his things to the train

Adam and Sam going down some of the many steps we had to take in the station

Our pile of STUFF

This is how Jason and Sam felt after getting everything loaded on the train

GO TEAM GO!!!

Christy and I trying to get comfy for our 7 hour ride

Biking Adventure

Last night we rented bikes for about 18 cents a piece and went on a biking adventure.  It was quite the path we took... along train tracks, over a bridge, through the city streets, and back home!

Climbing a dirt hill to get along the train track path

A Visit To An Orphange.

On Saturday afternoon, I visited an orphanage not far from where we are staying. It was a beautiful facility run by Chrstns. It was so fun to see the kids and play with them a little bit.

One of the building at the orphanage compound.

A wall in memory of all the orphans that have been adopted

Red and yellow, black and white...


...they are precious in His sight!

On another note, things have not gone as planned for our camp in Beijing. The little city where we were planning to be is shutting down to all non-residents as of Monday. SOOOO.... that has forced us to go in search of another location elsewhere. I feel like we are the children of Israel, always on the move. It is exciting tho to see how G has been working this past week in the whole situation. He has been completely in control and has drawn us closer to Him and each other as a team.

I am looking forward to the opportunity to see another part of China... but there will be a lot of things I will miss... like our little Dairy Queen, the welcoming gate in front of our hotel that is lit up with Christmas lights every night, the yummy chinese hole-in-the-wall restaurant that we always eat at with our little napkins in the cups at the table in the middle of the room, and the mops hanging on the wrought-iron fence outside the hotel. There are some other things I won't miss... like the mofia-type government that runs the city. :)

Please keep us in your prs in the coming weeks as we try to quickly prepare for arrival of volunteers next weekend and the beginning of camp! Thanks again for all your prs and emails... you don't know what an encouragement they are to me!

I love and miss you all!

Nicole

Happenings...

Do you remember Samuel Bower, one of the guys who came to our house last winter from California? I am having a fun summer already with him here in Langfang!

It's been such a blessing reconnecting with old friends... and meeting new ones!

We are trying to get in the preparing mode since camp starts in a week and a half. Sam is in charge of all the music.

Praying together before leaving the other half of our group in Nanchang

Getting our daily fill of ice cream at the Dairy Queen which is ten minutes walk from our hotel.

Is this not suffering for Chrst or what?! We know harder days are ahead!

* * *

Please really pray for us here in Langfang. We are coming up against some really tough struggles and need the guidance and help from our Father. Pr. that his will is accomplish no matter what! I love and miss you all!

Since I'm At A Computer...

...I thought I would let you know these few random things that are happening. (yes, it's been a few really slow days. We feel like we are accomplishing a lot if we get our beds made, rooms cleaned and dairy queen visited!) *smile*

The food at this little hole-in-the-wall restruant we've been eating at is AMAZING!! Here we are at lunch today being crazy.
So you know how I've been prone to bruising easily lately?! Well the other night we were walking back to the hotel after eating at KFC... it was really dark and I didn't see this metal pole that was suspended slightly above the parking lot. I nailed the top of my foot with it... and then you can see the huge bug bite I also have. My feet aren't doing too well so far!
We finally got some laundry done yesterday and hung up in our hang-out room this morning...

The Newest Members of Our Team

Bethany and I decided that we needed to spruce up our keys to our hotel rooms... so we went shopping and came home with the newest members of our team.

I am happy to introduce Anne and Diane, respectively. They are helping us in keeping our rooms safe! I knew you would like to meet them!

Wedding Bells

So... blogger works in China this year! Yay for the government in coming up with the times.

* * *

How do you sum up a traditional chinese wedding? Do I say that I've never been on a such a gueling, boiling, blasting hot 2 hour walk? Do I say that smoke from hundreds of little firecracker bombs really hurts when inhaled? Do I say that it's fun being a spectical walking down the major streets of Nanchang as part of an old traditional style chinese wedding? Do I say that I went light years outside of my comfort zone with food today? Do I say that I've never sweat so much in my life? Do I say how humbling it is for all of us to have friends here in China who would plan their wedding around us and for us? Do I say that it's funny how chinese don't kiss at their weddings? Or do I say that our Sunday ending in devotions and worship was the best part? Well, anyway since I can't narrow it down to a few words on how awesome of a day it was, here's a few pictures of what we experienced!

Here's all of us walking down the streets with the musicians play tradition chinese music on these flute and bongo things.

Harry - the groom - with David and Adam, his best men.

A little ol' granny who wanted her baby's picture taken

Mary and I at the restuarant where we had the reception

Harry and Mary in their traditional wedding clothes

Oh yes, did I mention what I had for lunch? (Don't freak family!)

Duck, turtle, frog legs, pigeon eggs, grass, chicken feet, fish, tofu, some random meat balls...who knows what they were made of, watermelon seeds, rice cake, and corn candy. Yes, it was quite the meal... and yes, my stomach feels fine!

* * *

Thanks everyone for your prayers and emails... you don't know how much it means. Tomorrow we leave for Beijing early in the morning. Pray for safety and getting settled into our home for the next six weeks! Miss and love you all!

Birthday!

Somehow in the hustle and bustle of everything, I missed mentioning my blog birthday! I've been blogging now for a little over a year... I know it's kinda boring, but I wonder who all reads my blog?!?

* * *

So... every reader - silent or vocal - must make themselves known at least this once. Tell me your name and where you're from, please?!

And thanks for reading!!

Nicole's Update #0

"For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me to hast thou subdued under me." 2Sam. 22:40

Hey Everybody!

Just wanted to let you know that I am headed of to China in just a fewhours. There's been so much pryer, preparation, and planning for this summer that I can hardly believe it's here. Thank you all so much for the part that you have played in helping me get to China. Whether it's been financial support or prayers, I appreciate it so much!G. keeps providing over and over, above and beyond what I could have asked or thought of. He has worked so many miracles this year that I am constantly in awe of His faithfulness. I also look forward to what G. is going to do in the future. Like another staff member said, this is going to be a G. summer... I am so honored to be called to serve for Chr.!

Somethings you could be praying for would be for the traveling itself. The entire trip - starting when I leave my house til arrival time inNanchang - is 32 hours. Pray that I will be able to sleep while on the plane and that everything would go smoothly. Pray that I would adjust the the 13 hour time difference quickly. Lastly, pray that G. will fill me with a servant's heart. I don't want to have the menality of what can I get out of this trip, but rather what can I give for G. and to others. I want His love to flow from me.

When I arrive in Nanchang, it will be about 10am Saturday morning. I'll be going to a wedding with the other staff, of a Chinese couple that was at camp last year. Then Monday morning I will be back on a plane headed for Langfang (Beijing) where I'll be for the rest of the summer.I'll planning to try updating you all on a weekly basis... so stayed tuned and thanks again for all your support. I couldn't do this without you!

Love you all!
Nicole
*******

From My Journal

July 16, 2007
...the kids came today around one o'clock. It was kinda emotional seeing these vehicles drive up and kids piling out -- kids who have never had a chance to experience something like this before.
My two girls are Elianna and Hope. They are pretty quiet, but absolutely adorable...

July 17, 2007
So I forgot to mention last night that we found out 9 kids snuck into camp that were not orphans. So about 17 more real orphans came this morning. We had a 5 yr. old boy join our group. He is so cute and so tiny. I named him Mattie, short for Matthew. I fell in love again...
...On the way down [from the Great Wall], Mattie was getting tired so Sam the Australian guy offered to carry him. He let him pick him up, but Mattie wouldn't let go of my pointer finger he was hanging onto. It was so precious.

July 18, 2007

I never thought it would be this hard. I never thought it would hurt like this. I knew i would leave my heart in China when I go home, but I didn't know it would be like this...

July 23, 2007
The day the kids left was the hardest day of my life -- well, in the top several -- I cried a lot. I miss them so bad.

PS.

One more thing I realized today that I will miss...

Donuts from Casey's General Store!!

What I Won't Miss

There are actually somethings that I am not going to miss at all while I'm gone. Such as the massive influx of bugs we have in Iowa this summer because of all the rain and standing water we have. Also i won't miss paying almost $4 a gallon for gas. Ok, ok. I know that this totally trivial... but I thought you all might like to know. *smile*

But you know what I will miss amongst many other things???

• I'll miss eating supper with my family every night
• I'll miss talking to my friend, Alyssa on the phone in that crazy accent we always talk in "Huwo?? How ah yoou? Gooood, gooood."
• I'll miss watching Sophie lunge for me to hold her.
• I'll miss telling my best friend "Thanks for everything" as we're falling asleep at night, just like we have for almost ten years.
• I'll miss listening to my pastor preach the Bible like it is every Sunday.
• I'll miss my little sisters telling me every little detail about their day.
• I'll miss listening to my favorite Christian radio station.
• I'll miss making brownies and licking the bowl.
• I'll miss reading all your blogs and knowing what's going on in your lives.
• I'll miss not being here to celebrate our country's birthday

Even though there are lots of things that I will miss while I am gone... there are so many things I look forward to. Like playing with kids all day, hugging my friend, Kayce, who I've been talking to for a year, but never met in person, eating with chopsticks everyday, talking to the college students about the Lord, seeing all my California friends who I've not seen for a year, going to a chinese wedding, and bartering at markets!

Please continue to keep me in your prayers... only two more days

MY Verse.

I have been studying the life of David for several months and am always amazed at the way that God used him because of his humility and brokeness.  That is how I want to be.  The other night when I was reading the end of 2 Samuel, I found the verse that God would give me as 'MY verse' this summer.  It is through God that I will have the strength for every task ahead and it is only through Him that I am protected from the enemy who wants to steal, kill, and destroy.

Here it is.

"For thou hast girded me with strength for the battle: them that rose up against me thou hast subdued under me."

2 Samuel 22:40

A Launching to China!!

Updates

I wanted to remind you that I won't be doing much blogging at all while in China due to blogs being illegal.  Yes, the government has them all blocked.  So aside from anything Tiff can forward to this page... we'll be stuck with staying in touch via email.  I will be sending out weekly email updates and I would invite any and all of you to join that group.  Please send me a blank email if you want to receive those updates during my seven week absence. 

misschmelar@iowatelecom.net

Also, if you ever have a minute to shoot me an email while I'm gone, please do so.  I won't be able to keep up with your lives through blogs... and I will miss knowing what's happening to you!  Plus, hearing from home will be a great encouragement!

Thanks!

It's Creeping Up.

"Thy God commanded thy strength: strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us."  Psalms 38:28

---------

I can't believe that it's almost time for me to leave for China... two weeks from tomorrow.  I have to pinch myself to believe that after eleven months, I will be walking once again on Chinese soil.  It's been so surreal up to this point, that I've not even started packing or mentally preparing myself for leaving my family.  

It's starting to become more real with each passing day that brings me closer to boarding that plane, that it's almost time to leave.  I'm reminded how soon it is when I get a call from a friend saying they want to have a send off party for me next week.  I'm reminded how long seven weeks is when I hug little Sophie and realize that she'll be all grown up when I get home and probably won't remember me.  I'm reminded how much can happen when I think of everything my family will do without me.  And I'm reminded how much my own siblings will change and grow while I'm gone.  I joke with Tiff that when I went to China last year, she got her first job... and this year, I'll come home and she'll have a boyfriend! *smile*  (She does her monumental things while I'm out of the country.)

Though it is sad to think of breaking my ten day record of being away from home with a seven week stay in China, I am very excited.  I will never forget when I left Beijing that overcast July day... as we taxied down the runway, I could stop the tears from falling.  I just remember knowing that I had to come back.  There are kids waiting to be played with, friends to bond with, translators who need to hear of and see Jesus in action, and new memories to make.  And then I realize how much I need God's strength.  I can't make an impact this summer on my own.  My greatest fear of all in going to China to spend seven weeks, is going without the power and strength of God.  If I do that, I've done nothing more than hang out for the summer having a good time.  And while I realize that it will be a blast, I desire so much more.  Something deeper. 

I was praying this morning as I drove to work that God will use me as a servant.  I have a thing for liking to be recognized and appreciated for what I do... I know, it's a pride problem.  But I was asking God that I could be a servant and that people would not see me working with orphans, but that they could see Jesus Christ oozing out of my very being.  That HE alone would get all the glory and honor.  Anything good or worthwhile that I can do is only because of HIM!

Will you please pray with me along these lines.  Pray that God will break up the fallow ground in my heart and that I can come home a different person who can serve Him even more.

Thanks~

Waiting.

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."

Isaiah 40:31

"This is as true in everyday life as it is in battle: we are given one life and the decision is ours whether to wait for circumstances to make up our mind, or whether to act, and in acting, to live.”

Omar Bradley, 

- US General who commanded US ground forces in Normandy invasion in World War II -

I never knew...

How much makeup could do!

(These pictures were taken within two hours of each other.)

(If you're wondering, it was a dog cage latch that killed my eye the other day... it's really not my family. *smile*)

My (little) Man

This ismy little man that is always willing to give out hugs and kisses. Isn't he just the strongest and bestest?! *smile*

Luv ya Jackson!!!

Potty Training....

Rodney and Jodi are in Mexico all this week shooting a wedding, so I have the kids the entire week.  I decided last night that it's high time Alana is potty trained... I'm tired of changing diapers on a 27 month old... so this morning I stepped out onto unchartered waters and we're not lookin' back!  It should be a good surprise for mom and dad when they get home!  (And a good learning experience for me... it's hard to be a 'mom'!)

Anyway, the day has been going pretty good.  She's only had one accident and almost half a dozen successful trips to the potty chair.  I'm just praying to God that she gets it... 

The potty book that we've read about fifty-zillion times so far today!

We've been eating lots of salty snacks...

... which makes us drink lots of juice and pop!

Alana and Madeline her potty-training partner!

The coveted treats that reward every success!!!

Rain, Rain, Go Away...

We've had enough rain this spring to flood the Sahara Desert... it's insane. We are definately not lacking for percipitation... there's so much puddles are all over, all the time! Here's a few pictures from our area and how all the water has affected things.

This river and camping area are now one!

Closed because of this...

This is a road... not a dock! *smile*

It's almost the the top of the concrete bridge supports!

Sometimes it may feel like singleness is nothing more than a lonely, empty road between playground kisses and wedding bells.  When traveling such a road, it's really easy to become consumed by our circumstances and frustrated by our lack of to make a difference at the roadside.  If only, like Philip we can learn to take our eyes off the next bustling metropolis for a moment, we will find that God has great things to offer us right now.

Although this road seems long, dusty, and very lonely at times, even here it is often the most amazing things that happen on the way.

- Saving My First Kiss, Lisa Velthouse

28 More Days...

Growing in cuterness and cuterness...

There's been lots of really awesome pictures of the people I spend a lot of my time with on this awesome blog...  you should check it out.

Ok, ok, so un-original.  But Jared, Mandi and the kids are over at Rodney and Jodi's blog and since the little ones are growing so much and getting cuter everyday, I knew you want to see it! 

*smile*

(In case you are wondering... I am always at Jared and Mandi's every Monday, with their kids Dawsyn, Grady and Sophie.  The first picture on the post is of Mandi's family... the two babies are her daughter, Sophie - on the right- with her cousin, Aravis... and then the next family is Jared, Mandi and their three way-too-cute-for-words-kids.  Enjoy!

A Graduation

One of our bestest friends, Rachel Short, graduated from highschool this year.  Last night she had an awesome party at her house in Norwalk.  Mom, Tiff and I were so blessed to see her beautiful face and help her celebrate.  Here are a few pictures we took between laughes, hugs, and food.  

We love you Rachel!!!

They served the yummiest mint-chocolate brownies ever!!!

Rae & Tiff

One of Rachel's many adorable cousins who refused to have her picture taken.  

Every detail about the Shorts and their house is most amazingly beautiful!!!

Congrats to all the '08 grads... welcome to the ranks of us old 'gradutated-folks'!