Yesterday was so exhausting. we went to the forbidden city, the summer palace, tianahamen square, a silk factory, and to an acrobatics show. beijing is very unique but also very polluted. my throat is already sore and now tastes like dirt from all the pollution in the air. there is an actual haze in the air and across the sky because of it. but most importantly, the people live in such a different way. they live in communism and believe it is the best way. they were literally brainwashed as children into believing that they loved all these things. but at the same time, they are restricted from free religion, having as many children as they want, and many other things. they live their lives in an entirely different way. they view the world differently. we even had some people come up to us and take pictures with us, 'foreigners'. they call american teenage girls, "american dolls". please pray for them, that they can find true hope in God, instead of in a false government.
today, we're going to the great wall and to the 'common mans' home for some tea. (another tourist spot)
tomorrow, we leave for guangzhou and we get him in that afternoon, i'm thrilled and can't wait.

love, noel

I'm in Beijing!

hey all, i'm in beijing right now. we have a really nice hotel. it's sunday, o wait, monday here and sunday there. lol. i am quite jetlagged. yesterday, for me sunday, i got really sick when we got to the hotel. i already am sick, but let's just say the toilet became a close friend of mine in just a few minutes. i feel better now, but probably have strep and my throat hurts alot.
today, we go to tianemen square (however you smell that) and to the summer palace and probably and acrobatics show. it's cool over here (in the 60's) yet not as cold as it could be, which i don't mind a bit. i'll update later and hopefully put up some pictures of us.
love you all, noel

I am so excited, I can't explain how excited i am, because we have a date. We are leaving on the 28th of this month and i will be gone for 2 weeks. I can't wait to see Caleb and to have that experience. We will be staying at a Holiday Inn in the city....a really nice holiday inn. So, I am thrilled and can't wait to go and see him.