Lessons in Faith

Tuesday, August 11th-10:00 P.M.

Sorry I haven't written in a few days.

Saturday night we went to visit and have dinner with the Crews family. It was great to see them, talk, and share pictures. John and Kara were so sweet to entertain Isabel with Nintendo games. Isabel had a blast with them and is getting quite good at the video games. Kara gave Isabel a small Hello Kitty house. It is so cute. At one point Kara and John were playing with Isabel in the floor with it. They were so sweet to do that. Two young people taking their time to show Isabel that it is okay to play. That is really something she has a hard time with. Play should come so easily to children, but to her it doesn't.

Since we received the news about our adoption of Isabel in May I have always wondered and worried how will we teach this eleven year old child about Christ. How in the world can I do this when we have a hard enough time communicating. This was really weighing on my mind this weekend. Saturday afternoon I received a call from my dear friend Beth Smith and she said..."I know you and this has probably been worrying you, so I ordered you Bible stories in Chinese." Of course, I started to cry. An answer to a prayer. I really don't know why I worry so much. It is just a waist of my time.

Sunday morning we headed to the early service at church. Yes, I did finally get the child in a dress which was no easy task. She did, however, wear her black Mickey Mouse tennis shoes with the dress. You have to pick your battles, and the shoes I wasn't ready to tackle. Isabel did fine in church. However it was an emotional service for both Will and me. The youth led the service which was centered around there recent mission trip. One of the first young people to speak talked about their trip to an orphanage. This of course took me immediately to Isabel's life before us and the difficulties she must have experienced. Next, we stood to sing a song. Two Sundays ago when we went to church in Guangzhou we sang a song that I had never heard before. I remember the song well because it was very moving to see so many sing this song in English. Well...we sang that very same song Sunday morning! Talk about a wake up call! Well it gets better. Just about the time I'm thinking this service was tailor made for me, the music director sang a solo entitled, "Orphans of God."

Orphans Of God
Who here among us has not been broken
Who here among us is without guilt or pain
So oft’ abandoned by our transgressions
If such a thing as grace exists
Then grace was made for lives like this

There are no strangers
There are no outcasts
There are no orphans of God
So many fallen, but hallelujah
There are no orphans of God

Come ye unwanted and find affection
Come all ye weary, come and lay down your head
Come ye unworthy, you are my brother
If such a thing as grace exists
Then grace was made for lives like this

O blessed Father, look down upon us
We are Your children, we need Your love
We run before Your throne of mercy
And seek Your face to rise above

Last night Isabel went to her first Chattanooga Lookouts game. Bank of America sponsored the evening complete with hamburgers and hot dogs. No rice or chopsticks for Isabel. We asked what she would like and she quickly replied, hamburger. Well we've found something she doesn't care for, hamburgers. She took off the meat patty and ate bun. She also does not care for baked beans or slaw. It was moving to watch her take it all in especially the "Star Spangled Banner."

This morning Isabel read to me "The Cat in the Hat." She can read the words, but of course, the comprehension isn't there yet. Still very quiet and shy but seems to be relaxing a little more each day.

Thanks so much for all your love and support through our journey thus far. We know we have a long road ahead of us, but together we'll take it one day at a time.

She was worth the wait.

Hugs and kisses.

Will, Marla, and Isabel