Six Banyan Tree Temple and Friends

Hi Everyone
Today was a great day!!! We were all up early, had a quick breakfast at our Hotel ( again,) and then headed out to visit the Six Banyan Tree Temple:) Mark and I had been there before, but wanted to take Abigail so that she could experience and observe the Chinese culture first hand! Some of you will have to ask her about that experience in light of some verses that I had her read in Isaiah on the plane over to China:) We took a picture in the exact spot that we had taken a picture with Becca when we adopted her :) That was fun :)
After the Temple, we shopped a little as a group and then headed back to the Hotel:) Mark had to attend a paperwork meeting, and Abbie, Samuel and I went to the front desk to see if our friends Patrick and Hetty had arrived yet:) Patrick and Hetty Cillen are Naomi's foster parents who live in Guiyang, China. They Moved to China from Belgium 11 years ago, with their three young sons, to foster and care for special needs children. They currently are fostering 14 special needs children, which is fantastic because it means that there are 14 children who are not in the orphanage!!! Patrick and Hetty and their boys work hard to love and care for all of the children:) All of the children and babies are Special Needs children, but of course many of them still get adopted... like our Naomi Hope :):):). Mark and I are so grateful for this family, they are the ones who initially taught Naomi about Her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!!! They love Jesus with all their hearts and their love is passed on to each child that they care for and foster:) You will not believe this, but a few months ago, when I talked to Hetty, she told me that she had to travel to Guangzhou to renew her passport... We both prayed about it and Lo and behold... God allowed them to come at the same time as us:):):):) They very seldom get to leave Guiyang, so we are excited that it worked out that we could stay in the same Hotel and actually see each other :)
Now, for those of you who know and Love our sweet Naomi....Please say a prayer for this faith filled family as they continue loving on and caring for orphans in China :) I will share more about Patrick and Hetty and their work in China in another post,but for now it is really nice to see them and be visiting a little with them :)
Another amazing thing is that we also were able to visit with our Good Friend Bill here in Guangzhou:) Bill was our guide with Abbie and Becca's adoptions and actually lives in Guiyang.... so we were able to see him when we adopted Omi as well:):):) Today after greeting Patrick and Hetty... We went up to our room and tucked Samuel in for a nap... We soon received a call from Bill that he had just arrived in Guangzhou with a family from Sunny Ridge ( our agency that we used with Abbie and Becca ) and he was on his way over to our hotel to see us:):):) It was so Great seeing Bill and so great that Abbie was able to meet him :):):) We love him so much for all that he did to help bring our baby girls into our family:):):) Thank you Lord for letting us see and visit with our China friends while we are here.... Only YOU could have arranged it all so perfectly!!!
Just in case some of you are wondering, Samuel is doing really well:):):) He is really a Cutie-pie!!!!He has been a great sleeper and a great eater!!! He is very spunky and fun, and likes to be in charge!!! He is sometimes very loud and sometimes very quiet ( depending on where we are and who we are with) The more at ease that he is with you, the more you will see his smile:) He has some behaviors that we are sure that he needed in the orphanage to survive.... that we will have to work on once we get home!!!!!  One of them is hitting, the other is yelling...and getting angry when things don't go his way!!!! We are already trying to teach him Be Gentle, and he can even say it.... However, he is not getting the concept yet!!!! He likes to push the limits... And then smiles as he is being naughty!!! ( And then, if he is in trouble, he runs to Mama because she is totally the softie!!! ) All in all, though, he is doing very well and we will continue to pray for him daily and ask God to draw his little heart to Himself:) We are confident that he will come to know Jesus and every part of him will change from the inside out!!! Please keep praying for him though,he is totally giving us a run for our money!!!! :):):) Can't wait for all of you to meet him:):):) Hope you enjoy all the pictures:):):)
Love you all!!!! Thanks for praying:):):)
Leaning on Jesus all the way!!!
Patti

Visiting the Six Banyan Tree Temple :)

Six Banyan Tree Temple in Guangzhou:)

Our guide Elvin is so nice:)

Samuel has been very sweet and patient today!!!

We took a picture with Becca in this exact spot 7 yrs. ago :):):)

Here at the Temple for Abbie to see and understand!!!

Chinese Buddha!!! Wood and Gold!!!!

These Buddha's are HUGE!!!

Open the eyes of their hearts Lord... Open the eyes of their hearts!!!!

I can do this myself!!!

Samuel has figured out his own way to carry his water bottle :) What a Cutie-Pie!!!

We have company in China:) Our friend Bill:):):) So great that he could come to see us:):):) We love you Mr. Bill :)

Looks good, not sure about the ingredients!!! :)

Samuel is a good eater:):):)
Fried Rice at Pizza Hut!!!

Samuel and Daddy snuggling after dinner:) Happy Smile!!!

Mommy and her sweet Abigail :) We sure do love this sweet girl:) Can't believe that it's been almost 10 yrs. since adopting her:):):) Our source of JOY:)

Sweet moment Big sister and Little brother!!! Love it!

Sweet Samuel looking at his picture book :)

Loving this smile :)