November
2009
    November 22
     Zoe, Beth and Shari go back to Beijing via
    train.
Nov 23 10:00pm  (China time)

Zoe had a rough time last night.  She wimpered and outright cried a lot of the night.  She
was never quite awake, I think it was just nightmares.  So heartbreaking.  You wonder if
you've done the right things in moments like these.  But this morning she woke up and
said she slept fine, had no memories of dreams.  All day she was a bit "off" though.  Part
of it could be all the water in her head from swimming.  Part of it could be we went to bed
late and got up early.  Part of it could be this is a very long trip and we're ready to go
home!  Part of it could be that she is having emotions and feelings she doesn't know how
to verbalize.  Whatever it is ... I hope it ends soon.  We have a LOOOOONG flight home!

Today we got up at 5:30 am, got dressed, breakfast and out to the bus to the Civil Affairs
office.  There was a ceremony for the 37 (38 if you count me) families.  I can't even begin
to tell you the muckity mucks were in the room but I'll get the titles for you eventually.  They
were the bosses' boss of the director we've been dealing with.  By the end of the
ceremony, Zoe had been given (along with the rest of the kids) a panda, a letter and I
received a crystal great wall sketching.  

Then the group photo of the whole group.  Zoe is the youngest of the group so they said
to put the youngest in the front row on the floor.  So I did.  People kept scootching her
further and further to the middle.  Eventually she was right beneath the 2 highest officials.  
Eventually, they noticed they didn't have kids on their laps and everyone else did so I saw
one reach down and got .... drum roll please ... you got it! Zoe.  Nuts.  She was literally
sitting between the 2 highest government officials in the whole place.  I cannot wait to
send this photo to the Director.  He's going to wonder how we pulled this off I think.  
Beth will also be
blogging at
destinyshousechurch
.blogspot.com


    Thanks for joining us on this
    journey!  Should prove to be
    an interesting one.  
To go back to
the itinerary
page,
click HERE