Bethel Home

I want to share with you a place that has captured my heart. While in China in October I had the privilege of getting to visit Bethel Home. Bethel is the only home for blind orphans in all of China. They provide for them in amazing ways and truly care for them. Bethel cares for almost 50 children but...there are millions more that need a caring home. I was able to meet the director and see his heart. He and his wife have an amazing story of obedience and hearing God's call for their lives. Russ and I are praying for ways to financially help Bethel...they are in need and I feel like God is calling me to share their story and find others that want to help. Please take 10 minutes to watch this incredible video. I will post more once Russ and I figure out how God wants to use us to help Bethel. If you want more info...please contact us!!! (or go here and see the different ways you can help).

anna

A look at 2008

I cannot believe that it is already 2009! 2008 was a great year. It was a year of traveling and learning more about myself. I LOVE to travel. Seriously, Russ jokes that no matter where someone is going ....even if it is an awful place, I want to go. But, I had never been able to travel outside of the United States. I began to open myself up and trust that God wants to give us the desires of our hearts. So, this year I was able to travel to Africa (Ghana) in April and Asia (China) in October. Russ and I also went to California in September. What a gift to be able to see how God is working in all of these places. Russ and I are praying about going back to one of these places this summer. Seeing the people, the places, really opened my heart and eyes to the people of this world.

I also celebrated the one year anniversary of giving up teaching and working at the girl's home. Switching from teaching into this field was a difficult transition. It was one of the first times that I stepped out in faith, scared as can be, but completely trusting that God had a new job for me and that teaching was not it. He has blessed my life so much by working with the girls.

2008 was a year of many firsts and I look forward to 2009!!!!! Happy New Year! ap

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us." Ephesians 3:20

Great Wall

Footloose

We spent two days reading to children at two different kindergartens. We got to experience "pe" and even participate. During this time all of the kids do organized dance routines. This particular dance was to none other than Footloose. These kids were soooo much better at the routine than we were! America needs to take a hint from China--organized routines for exercise are so great. The kids were well-behaved, had fun, and burned lots of energy!

Hotel California

So we are eating breakfast of noodles, rice, and strange meat when we hear a very familiar song. I listen because I can't quite hear it. Then, yes, it starts: Welcome to the hotel california Such a lovely place Such a lovely face . Plenty of room at the hotel california. Any time of year, you can find it here. Not what I expected to experience my first days in Beijing.

We arrived to the NICE hotel, had a quick shower and then off to tour The Forbidden City and p-walking at Tienanmen Square. We began to realize what a communist country looked like then and now. The people paying respect to Mao seemed very sad.

During the afternoon, we spent our time at my FAVORITE home in China. You will have to read here tomorrow to get information on what it is and how you can help!!

I must sleep now. My ambian is making it to where I cannot see straight. Maybe I should go lay down!

Love love love

anna

Night with the husband

Well, I leave at 6 in the AM for China!! I have had a wonderful day seeing and talking to people that I love. I have the most wonderful friends and family that are so supportive. I love you all!!!

Tonight, Russ and I are in Memphis spending the night so that he can take me to the airport at 4 am. We are at the hotel enjoying the two things below. How great is it that you can lay in the bed and order pizza on the computer!!

Please continue to pray for our team as we meet in Chicago. We leave Chicago around noon tomorrow and should land in Beijing around 2 am (cst).

I appreciate your prayers so much! I must get back to my husband and scrubs now. I am going to miss him sooooo much!!!

Anna

Ni hao

I leave for China in less than two weeks. The time since we decided to go and now has flown by!! I ask that you pray for our team. I am not one to blame everything on the devil but I do think he wants to interfere with the great things God is doing. We have all experienced some sort of back pain, leg pain, head lice, family issues, etc. So please continue to pray for us.

Our flight leaves on Saturday, October 25th at 6:00 in MORNING!! Here are a few prayer requests.

1. The people we will develop relationships with.
2. Safety during our flights and stay in China
3. Our families in the United States
4. That God's power would overcome any evil that wants to interfere.

I will update you more as the time gets closer!

Love, Anna

Headed to China

I have always loved to travel but had never gotten a chance to travel internationally until April. It was during that trip that I got to go to Africa and Europe. Now I get the chance to go to Asia during October. I have never really been interested in going to China but about 2 months ago I began to feel a tugging on my heart. I can't really explain it but I began to read about China and how Christianity is on the rise. And then the opportunity presented itself. So I knew God wanted me to go.

I will be traveling with 7 other women to China October 25- November 3rd. We will be going through an organization called Follow One.

Follow One sees ministry in China strategic for these reasons.

* Most experts fully expect China to lead the world in economic, military and political power in the 21st century.

* This is a kairos moment in history. God has sovereignly decided to pour out His Spirit on China.

* China is uniquely positioned to influence North Korea, one of the darkest places on the planet.

* The Chinese Church sees itself as called and positioned to take the Gospel through the Muslim and Hindu world.

* Making an investment in the Church in China is an investment in the evangelization of the world.

I am so excited about this opportunity. I will update you closer to time about specifics on the trip. Please pray for the relationships that will be formed and the people that we will meet. Pray for the people that risk their lives daily to share Jesus. Also, pray for Russ and I since this will be the longest we have been away from each other since we've been married. The last one seems petty compared to the first two but I want to pray about everything that could keep me from focusing on sharing and learning.

Anna P.

Jesus in Beijing

In light of the Olympics and my upcoming trip to China, I am reading Jesus in Beijing. The product description of the book describes it as "the great unreported story of the Chinese giant and its enormously rapid conversion to Christianity and what this change means to the global balance of power." The author David Aikman is a former Time magazine Beijing bureau chief. So we shall see.


Have any of you ever read this book??

Anna