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