The Door is Open Wide and We Are Going Through!

Last night was a great time just hanging out and sharing with everyone about why we are going to China. It was cool to listen to each one share how God has lead them to serve this summer in China. With that in mind we all agreed to commit to going an extra week so we can accept the offer to teach in a second city this summer. The school will pick up the cost of hotels and meals so it won't add to our overall costs for the trip. That is so God!

The way this has unfolded right in front of us has been incredible to watch. I never would have dreamed we would one day have two cities open to us coming to teach and share with them the things we hold closest to us. Jesus rocks!

As it stands right now we will leave June 28th and return July 18. Today I confirmed with a travel agent our plans and we have tickets for our group. The cost will be $1023 per ticket which is only $63 more than last year. The agent said we will not have to pay for these tickets until May 28 and she will continue to look for cheaper tickets. That is so cool because most tickets for other trips have been running several hundred dollars more than last year this time.

We talked last night about packing for the trip. Each of us will be allowed one suitcase (up to 44 lbs) and one carry on. You will want to find light weight clothing (no cottons) because it will be 95 - 100 degrees with no A/C in the classrooms.

We also talked about lesson plans. Everyone is to spend 1 hour on the internet searching sites for ESL lessons we could use and send me the info by next Tuesday. I will be compiling a list and giving out some lesson resources late next week. Then we will begin at our next meeting Tuesday March 7 to discuss ways to teach one or more lesson. We will be in the classroom 5 hours a day so it will take a number of lessons for us to do week long camps.

Please pray for this new opportunity and give thanks for the open doors God is placing in front of us. He is answering prayers Colossians 4:2-6.
Also pray for finances and the return of passports. Philippians 4:19 is so true. Let's hold it up before God and ask him to meet the needs we have as a team.

Can't wait to see what God will do next!

Prayers and Wisdom Needed

This week I received a call from Doris and she gave me more info on the opportunity to do a second camp this summer.
For those who were not at our meeting last week we have been asked to consider doing a second week of camp in another city. This is a totally God thing since we were not even expecting this door to open to us.
The school wants us to come for 10 days (impossible this year). They know via Doris that we are Christians and are open to us coming and even sharing with students. (Is that not amazing?) They are willing to cover our expenses if we can come for at least 5 days to do the camp.

So here is the deal
1. We are praying for wisdom about what to do
a. Rearrange our travel and time in China so we can give them 5 days for a camp (they wanted 10)
b. decline but make contacts for the possibility of next year
c. Do a short camp (3 days) Doris is asking them about this.
d. Extend our time in China by a few days either on the front end or the back so we can do a 5 day camp.
Next week we will be meeting to discuss this so please be in prayer over this.
We will also be discussing ideas for lessons you want to teach next summer. So bring your ideas for that conversation. If you did not get hte handout of last years lessons I have them at my office.
Money is starting to come in for many in the group. That is cool to see.
Pray for passports ot come back to those who have ordered them as fast as possible. We can not order tickets until everyone has a passport number.

It is way cool to watch God work out the details and open doors for us. Please hold up Colossians 4:2-6 for our trip.

A New Door is Opening

Hey, just wanted to let everyone know that God is opening some new doors for us in China this summer. We have an opportunity to go to another city to teach. Please pray for wisdom about what we should do in response ot this invitation. This could be an opportunity to expand our influence for the next few years and send a second team beginning next year.

We are begining to see money come in for team members. Please pray for God to continue to allow us to find favor and funding for the trip.

Prayers are needed for those who have applied for passports. Until the passports come back we can not order our tickets. The longer this takes the higher the cost of the tickets.

Check out the blog. We have many links for useful info about China and Christianity in that country.

I am always amazed at God's graciousness. To think He would allow us to be part of what He is doing both here and in China. Wow!