Christmas 2011

We've had the girls since Dec. 20th. It is amazing how peaceful and contented they have been. Everyday has been an adventure.

Peeking........can you see me?

At Higgston Park:

At Higgston Park........

Cason Hart

Cason Bradley Hart was born on October 2 arriving at 6 lb. & 4 oz. 19 inches long. He was 2 weeks early. Here he is with his mommy in the church nursery. He came to church for the first time when he was one week old.

Cason Bradley Hart

Cason was born today, Oct. 2, @ 4:00 PM weight in at 6 lb. 4 oz., 19.75 inches. Mother and baby are fine............God is good.

Home safe

We had a wonderful 2 weeks in China. We did some site-seeing in Xi'an, then was involved in a training to Chinese teachers to help them learn conversational English. There were greater goals that I will not list here, but know that we achieved the ones for this trip and look for a great harvest in the future. The pics are not in any certain order. I just randomly selected them. Here's David on the train when we visited a small city of about 80K for the training. John on our team celebrated his 57th birthday. We honored him with a cake and really enjoyed sandwiches from Subway.

Blake and Laura (locals from Xi'an) are the brains behind the work. He is over the Xi'an International School and she teaches English at one of the local universities. A very sweet and patient couple that took excellent care of all of us.

A bon-a-fide STL vehicle. ( We got to ride in it.)

On Wednesday evening we had an English corner at the school. Teachers came with their families and friends and we just hung out and visited for an hour and a half.

The Terracotta soldiers near Xi'an. These were found in the 1970s. A former emperor hundreds of years ago had them cast and buried with him. These are broken from a cave in, but many have been put back together. There are thousands of them. This was a very interesting find.

Between 30 and 40 million Chinese live in cave homes. We visited one on our trip to see the soldiers. It is cool in summer and warm in winter. They've made them rather nice.

Group photo on the Monday of our training. The team is on the front row with the 2 school administrators. The Chinese teachers are in the back.

Going to Jim's apartment on the 18th floor, we came by this tree receiving an I.V. to help it live. Yes, that's a bag and a needle is stuck in the tree..............

On Friday after the training, we visited a junior high school. This is a 9th grade class with 54 students in it. There's room for 60. They sit on little wooden stools that is no more than a board. The students come early around seven. They leave and go home in the middle of the day for a couple of hours to eat lunch and rest. They come back in the afternoon and stay until about 6. They had no concept of school buses. The students take turns keeping the school clean. It is a much different culture. On this day, they were there for some summer session.

A team picture before the folk from Hong Kong leave..........

On the Great Wall with our "Torch" magazine. This is Lee's alumini magazine.

With Jim and the SW team on the wall. It was hot..........
Rita in front of the Forbidden City which is across from Tinamin Square. We were able to find an English speaking Chinese who we paid to guide us through this site. We learned so much more by doing this.

With John, our guide.

David helping some Chinese teachers...............

We were so blessed by going and thankful for everyone and everything involved. Jim was a great host, Jennifer was a wonderful leader, and we met some wonderful people in the "family."

PTL!

China 2011 - Post # 3

Xi'an Great Mosque set up in 742 AD during the Tang Dynasty. The mosque covers a total area of more than 13,000 sq meters with the buildings of over 6,000 sq meters, It is built in the shape of a rectangle from the east to the west and divided into 4 courtyards.

Some men going to prayers. They go by the cleansing area first. We were told if they had a sash down the back of their cap, they had made the pilgrimage to Mecca.

Some just looking at the sites. David is in my still pictures and I'm in the video as he takes those.

Muslim quarters with many shops.

Inside Muslim compound.

Jim and David in compound.

Ladies praying outside the mosque

Street scene

China 2011 - Post # 2

A Speed the Light Vehicle

Our group in a Budda temple in this city of 9 million. They have 20 acres which is significant in this large of city. Had a p----r walk for the people here. Continual building programs on the compound.

The end of a building. In the center was the swastika symbol that Hitler used. Interesting. This would be hundreds of years old. Probably around 500 AD.

One of many Buddhas

Making jiaozi (dumpling) in the Ozais' home They live on 18th floor.

Group helping with jiaozi

Transportation

China 2011 - Post # 1

This is the city wall of Xi'an. This was the first capital city of China. The students pictured are from Southwestern University in Waxahatchie, Texas an AG school.

We also visited the Xi'an International School. This is where Jim and Heidi learned Chinese. Adult students work with a teacher one-on-one. Anyone wanting to learn the language can go here. Their children also go to this school. It is K-12. The class sizes are about 6-12 per grade. I was very impressed. Our job yesterday was to teach them (the adult Chinese teachers) three idioms each such as:

high as a cats back,

a few fries short of a Happy meal

The lights are on but nobodies home,

as the crow flies.......

They was much fun and laughter. Then they taught us some Chinese words.

The larger group below is the Chinese teachers and Americans. Some are in the "family", while others are not. We are having to be careful with our vocabulary. It is much different than recent visits.

Until next time . . .

CUFI Washington Summit 2011

Christians United For Israel (CUFI) had the 6th annual Summit this past week in Washington DC. Our mission: to stand with Israel and honor them. Over 5,000 were there for the summit and over 6,000 on the night to honor Israel. It was a joyous time, yet sobering in what we heard concerning the situation with Iran. Now is the time to not be silent and to stand with Israel as the Word admonishes us to do. We would invite any to plan to go with us again next year. It is worth your time and expense. The dates: July 16-18, 2012 Waiting in line to get into the ballroom for the Night To Honor Israel.

Pastor John Hagee on the screen speaking to the crowd.

Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaking live via satellite during the Mid-East Briefing.

Part of our group.............

Banners like this one were displayed around the convention center.

We flew out of ATL at 7:15 on Monday morning and made it in time for the first session.

St. Augustine Beach June

Last week, we enjoyed the beach and each other for a few days: Garett and family:
Tracy and family:

We celebrated Clara's 3rd birthday. She was 3 on July 1.

Going to the beach:

Granddaddy & Clay: