We found our way down to the lobby and met the other families who were going to be flying out that morning (two more were coming later in the day). We made it through the baggage weigh-in! What a relief. We had all sorts of carry-on stuff that was above the weight limit I'm sure, but nobody checked. Another prayer answered.

We got to our gate and realized that our flight was delayed. Taiyuan is a coal mining town and also has much smog and pollution. The airport had been closed since the previous night and they were not allowing flights. We were fine, though. The airport was crowded but it was pleasant. Rui (who was accompanying us to Taiyuan as our guide there) had a laptop and entertained Mary with Tom and Jerry cartoons. We could visit shops and such. There were two gate changes in the meantime and apparently some very heated exchanges between irate businessmen who had meetings they were missing.

Mary made friends with a darling girl and they enjoyed sharing their stuffed animals (Mary had kitties, she had bears). Mary just chatted with people and they just laughed as several did not know English but that didn't deter her.

We got our call and the flight was full but the service was supreme. It was just over an hour long and Mary was once again comatose even before takeoff.

I was most wanting to see the landscape upon our arrival and as we descended and the clouds/smog broke I would see plateaus with sparse greenery surrounded by stark dropoffs of ragged earth. I later learned this was the effects of the mining as we would see it many times again on our trip from the airport.

We landed without incident and met our driver, Cui (pronounced Trey), who will also be our driver for our stay here in Taiyuan. We have a van that is air-conditioned (again a pleasure). We saw vast orchards and sunflowers and such on our way into the city.

Now I expected Taiyuan to be a small city (although knowing it was the capital of the Shanxi province) because I guess Rui had referred to it as such. Well, small to her was a population of 4 million!

My impression of Taiyuan? We are in CHINA! Finally it has either registered on this travel-weary brain or the differences between the two cities is enough that it seems to be that we are indeed across the world. We see tall buildings and shacks. We see more rudimentary markets and people galore. The traffic is really undesirable. Cui needs hazard pay. Lane markings are suggestions and it is not unusual to have a driver heading the wrong way at you. Need to turn left from the far right lane?... do it! The pedestrians and bicycles and scooters all compete with the cars and such. Horns honk incessantly yet no one seems to notice or flinch. I am!!

And I am enthralled. I am trying to take it all in and not watch the traffic, yet find myself pulled to watching how close we come to colliding and nobody seems to notice. I listen as Rui and Cui chat and take in how the language takes on its own sense of rhythm and music, sometimes sharp and syncopated and at others rolling and melodic.

The Shanxi Grand is just that. Marble and crystal and a fantastic sculpture out front that has piano music.

Our room is very nice but TINY. We decide we can adjust for when a crib arrives tomorrow. We did have to change once because we were not given the computer promised, but stood our ground and ended up directly across from the Marys' "party room" and often we would leave our doors open and walk across the hall.

We are not used to the smoking everywhere, though. There is no place to eat without the assault on the lungs. We have a bit of communication problem at times but everyone does seem to want to help in any way possible. We're on the countdown and anxious and excited. I continually pray that we can be the family that Julia needs and that God will work through us and form us. Our "gotcha" time has been moved from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as they are taking public transportation and it is a long ride. I try not to worry about her being exhausted for our exchange and just give it to God - yet do keep that in mind so that I can be understanding if I meet a frightened, hungry, cranky Julia tomorrow.

We go to bed excited and I realize it is Sunday. It had crossed my mind in the airport and I have let myself be carried away in the events to really take time to have private worship. With her permission, I would like to share a prayer that Mary's friend, Tish, shared that sums it all:

May the peace of God and the freshness of the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight and conquer all your fears. May God manifest himself today in ways that you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer and your prayers be answered. I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged and I pray that you step into your destiny within the ministry. I pray for peace, health, happiness and true and undying love for God.

Carole