BEIJING DECEMBER 3&4

Flora Qian, Mels Carbonell, Peggy & Fangfang - our team lunch on the first day!  Yum - love the food here and so grateful to have arrived safely last night.  I arrived at about 9pm and Mels at nearly midnight.  Flora was already in south China and came to meet us in Beijing.  Fangfang was waiting for us and has planned a wonderful and very full schedule for us! Ah yes - bright eyed (sort of) and bushy tailed :) ready to roll!

Dr. Mels trained in the afternoon of our first day on DISC as a helpful tool in raising and teaching children!  So many great comments from the attendees:  "This training has changed my life and I feel liberated to be all God created me to be!" & "I have had training like this before but this has made the biggest difference for me!"  50 attended when only 32 confirmed - typical among these people hungry for God's Word!

Here is Mels teaching away on just a few hours sleep - imagine how great he'll be when he really gets rest!  Flora did a wonderful job translating for Mels!  Fangfang also translated whilie taking care of latecomers and so many details.

Our first winner of a prayer shawl!  She was so very excited!!

     "Three Musketeers"? Well, not exactly :)  it's Dr. Mels, Don Young and Jerry Wunder!  It's a privilege to serve with these godly men and a privilege to be in China and to be part of what God is doing here!!
Jerry & Don had just held the first graduation for the Crown leadership program - the very first to complete all 4    courses!  They were amazed at the "electrifying" results!

At Josh and Sabina's church (Dec. 4) - Jasmine is translating for Dr. Mels as he shares his testimony.  He'll be preaching on "What to do when life stinks" (John 11 - story of Lazarus) and then an afternoon session on DISC & spiritual gifts.

Don preached an absolutely wonderful sermon on Colossians. So many parallels with the Chinese church today and Paul's teaching so relevant!  Home Run, Don!

Dinner with Don, Marlen, Matt, Amy (from Don's church), Mels, Sabina, Promise, Josh & (off to left) Leo & Vivian.  What a great time we had, sharing testimonies of God's grace!

Leo & Vivian - such a dear couple and although they've had personal trials are serving well in Josh and Sabina's church.

Dr. Mels won over little Promise!  Grandpa Mels is wonderful with people and Promise thought so too!

Sabina, Promise and Josh!  Sabina helped us begin Women's Connections in China and started our first women's group there at their church!  Now, she is mom and is leading women in training their children in their apartment complex - yet another way God is using this dynamic woman!  We are thankful for you, Sabina!