SCC in China 2008

I find myself hesitant to believe most 'famous' people when they share with the world the things they believe in.  So many people out there will say anything ... anything for money.. for a fan club.. for fame..  And we become numb to allowing ourselves to think there might be depth in words from anyone, much less a famous individual that we don't even know!  OK OK.. where am I going with this?!  I had the opportunity last week to spend three days with SCC (can't share details via blog), his wife, and the team that travelled with them to China.  He came to share his heart through music - he visited three small cities around Shanghai where students and local people flocked through the doors eager to hear his message (and for free!)  He has a passion for helping orphans and has founded an organization that aides people in the adoption process.  Not only that, he has three adopted little girls of his own.

SCC has a personal friendship with a lady here in Shanghai that Heidi has become friends with.  She asked if we could help hand out information and sell t-shirts at the concerts in Hangzhou and Nanjing on Thursday and Friday!  What a fabulous time!  We met some amazing people.   The people are thirsty for hope and truth to believe in.  Amazing to speak to them... half in Chinese and half in English (I'm learning .. slowly).  These events were truly touching people's hearts... many of them haven't EVER heard this message... as the concert ended they raced to our little table to grab the information packets.  (We struggled to avoid being smashed unintentionally into the wall behind the table as 300 people shoved toward us!!)

On Friday, we all rode a bus for five hours to Nanjing.  When we FINALLY reached the destination for lunch, Heidi and I were the second and third people off the bus.  Tons of people greeted us with cameras, video cameras, banners, signs, hugs.. Oh yeah, we are with a famous person!?  By this point, we had forgotten he was famous!  That morning he came over and personally thanked us for volunteering our time and then sat around and chatted with us for a half hour.  This really all was no big deal, but it made my heart happy to know that there are people out there who really are who they say they are... with real, genuine hearts to serve and help and be a light in the darkness to people in need.  So many hurting people..  It inspired me to use my hands, my time, and my heart to help precious little orphan babies.. I can't think of anything more important.  More to come..

IKEA and May Holiday

On May 1st, the Chinese celebrate the May Holiday.  As with all proper holidays, this is a country-wide day off of work!  Justin wanted to take part in some shopping so we decided to spend the morning at the local Shanghai IKEA.  Our driver, JJ, picked us up at 9am to take us 45 minutes across the city.  Good plan - we would get there before the 10am opening.  With little traffic, we arrived at 9:45 and concluded that IKEA must have opened early.  There were no less than a hundred people just inside the front doors!  Oh - IKEA has a cafe - the cafe opens early (great...let's feed the mob and give them more energy and stamina to swarm through the store).  ALL the people ALL over is something I'm trying to get used to!  I've decided that when I'm back in Tulsa, I'll be one of those 'rude' people who shoves my way through crowds and fights to get as far to the front of lines as humanly possible no matter how many innocent bystanders I knock over!!  In China, this skill is necessary for survival!!  I will admit, I have already come to the point where saying "sorry" when I bump into someone is no longer my subconscious reaction.  Saying "sorry" get's you weird looks and marks you as an obvious foreigner!

OK OK back to IKEA....We went inside, and up the escalator where we joined about 50 more eager shoppers.  I took pictures of everyone as they (we!) waited behind barriers guarded by four employees until the clock struck 10am!!!  At 9:58am the room was so full I realized that everyone in Shanghai had the same great idea - to visit IKEA on vacation day.   

'The Running of the Bulls is a practice that involves running in front of bulls that have been let loose on a course of a sectioned-off subset of a town's streets.  Unlike bull fights, which are performed by professionals, anyone may participate.  Injuries are common, both to the participants who may be gored or trampled, and to the bulls, whose hooves grip poorly on the paved or cobbled street surfaces.'

Pamplona??  Shanghai??  Where are we??!

Ready, set, GO!!  Hurry... run for your life... there are only 4 more pairs of slippers in all of Shanghai!! j/k (Here, the custom is to remove your shoes when you enter a home and put on slippers.)  I climbed up onto a display table to avoid being trampled by the bulls..  ha ha..  

All in all, it was a good day.  We purchased two lamps for the living room, a set of five pictures for the guest room, a flower vase, and a few other random things..  The crowds make shopping a true athletic event, but my heart has a special place for the people here...  Seeing one smiling Chinese baby makes the frustration all worth while!