On the Road Again!

We are packing yet again! After an awesome morning (vague alert!!) where we heard a speaker who found "new life" at one of our camps and now works to spread the word around this region, we left really encouraged! We have been blessed with many similar students from current and past camps. One student took a 24-hour train ride to spend two days with us. Amazing. Such love. Who would you take a train to visit? Today as I mentioned earlier we toured all over the city in the blistering heat. We were caught up in such a mob of people today that it was almost scary. We had Peking Duck for dinner- quite a sight as the chef carves each duck into 131 pieces for the diners. The fact that he was wearing a surgical mask did ruin the moment. Oh, and another hilarious moment was when, right in the middle of dinner, a rat ran across the next room! I could not make this stuff up! Our team is well-we met up with 2 other teams so we have about 60+ americans touring with us. We have seen many old friends. Imagine seeing a friend every 6 years- that is Angie and her friend from camp. Or visiting with Smile- pure joy! So much I can't share but good visits all around. So much good work on every corner! Sometimes we only see the hard things- and right now, many of "our" works have been shut down, people arrested, buildings closed, people in hiding- very scary times for many! But... The Light cannot be hidden. A famous saying is "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." And that is true here- as the persecution continues, the workers just multiply. Many take joy in prison as they have a built in audience for their message! Do WE rejoice in persecution? I can't say that I do.This is my last posting until we reach Home Sweet Home, which should be Monday night. When I get home I will finally add some photos. What to pick? Chicken feet? Pedi-cabs? Sobbing students? Party in the USA? The Hoe-Down? The now-famous HOLE in my classroom? The funny food? The beautiful mountains? Jason at the Forbidden City? Angie bartering with a salesgirl at the market? Jason and Laura playing a very gross game with Smile? Me with yet another yak at the lake? Justin doing the hokey pokey? So many choices!Keep lifting us up- the college kids on our team have to leave for school literally the second our plane lands so we CANNOT afford any delays or storms or weird airline nonsense! Ask for safe travel and a fruitful camp as the seeds we scattered are allowed to grow. Lift up a friend who is carrying the light to a dark and dangerous place. Also lift up a leader from the US - he is legally blind and close to 70 yet he travels to teach the workers here. Who ARE these people? Wow... We have 12 year olds and 70 year olds on our team-anyone can be a servant if they choose to obey! Hugs from the other side of the wold! CJJJLA