NEW TEAM - FIRST WONDERFUL DAYS!

Here we are - in Beijing, March 1, 2012!  Our team of Liz Selzer, Harriet Congdon and I arrived at the airport safely and after a few hours Mary's team (her hubby John along with Greg and wife Kathy) from California also arrived (we decided they were worth waiting for!!). At the hotel by 8:30pm we crashed! It's actually a benefit to be so tired that you sleep a full night even though at home it's the middle of the day.  Beijing time is 15 hours ahead of Colorado time.  

At breakfast the next morning, it took only a few minutes to realize that God had put together a cohesive and wonderful team.  It is pure joy to serve with these terrific people!! We were able to take time during the day (Friday the 2nd) to prepare, rest and make our trips to the grocery for water and a field trip to Walmart...uniquely Chinese.

 Here we are at our first day's training - at the Christian Bookstore in the meeting rooms.  The teachers in the photo are Harriet (in the middle wearing teal & black), Liz right behind Harriet, me and Kathy to the far right along with our beautiful Chinese sisters! Wonderful training today by Kathy - "Building Bridges", Harriet- "Psalm 139" and Liz "Having Community" & "Mentoring". More than 50 women were present and loved the teaching so much!
Meanwhile in another room at the bookstore, John & Greg taught 30+ men about healing broken relationships and being a follower of Jesus at work.  Great Day!

Here is Liz!  Hamming it up while modeling the scarves, hat & shawls made by our beloved "KnitWits" (Knitting a witness for Christ).  What fun it is to see their faces when the win the pretty things and how over-joyed they are to know they will be prayed for as well.

Harriet spoke first while the ladies quietly kept filling the room.  Her story of not feeling loved during part of her life brought tears to many eyes, but hope in knowing they were lovingly made by God and are completely adored by Him.

The sisters loved Kathy and her sweet spirit.  Again they were touched by her story and moved to share their own stories while building bridges to share the story of Jesus!

Here is Liz speaking with Rebecca translating.  Rebecca is Australian by birth and fluent in Mandarin.  What a team these two - getting the mentoring idea across while doing their own brand of stand up comedy...might have a knew act here in China!!

Just had to include this lady - she loved her new hat and loved posing for the photos too!

Stay tuned!  Much more to come and we can't wait to share it with you.  Thank you for the part you have played in making this possible!  Much love from the March teams!