we are here!!!

well we got ourselves to the hotel. woohoo! miraculous!

last night i had doubts we would ever get here. 

we waited around in Hong Kong airport from 3 AM until we could get a flight out. there were only two flights available to us without added cost-one in the morning and one at night. they didn't want to give us boarding passes until our luggage was located. it was very frustrating. the flight was scheduled to leave at 8 AM. by 7:30 seven of us, from hellacious United flight 895, were still sitting at the ticket counter. we finally said forget the luggage, just get us out of here.

with boarding passes in hand, we ran through the airport, got on an elevator, took a train, another elevator, and ran some more. we got on the plane with ten minutes left until take-off.

at 9 AM we landed in Guangzhou, went through immigration check points, and down to baggage claim. the seven of us waited until all the bags were claimed. none of ours were anywhere to be found.

a wonderful man named Yuri was part of our group of seven. he knew we didn't know our way around and waited for us to fill out baggage claim forms. we all went to arrivals and guess what? NO guide! our agency left us there without a ride...in a foreign airport, with no instructions, no native language skills, and no idea how to get Chinese money or a way to the hotel.

Yuri, our angel, helped us exchange $100 and offered us a ride in his car. he even told the driver to help us hail a taxi and instruct the taxi driver where to take us.

i am not sure what would have become of us without his generous help. we were dropped off by James, his driver, and got into a cab. after a 25 minute drive, the cab driver dropped us off at the China Marriott. sigh of relief. 

we are currently waiting for our guide who said she would be here by 3 o'clock. it is past three now. we are hungry again, but fear leaving without making contact with her.

we traveled 39 hours to get here, but we made it...with lots of help.

what we don't have:
luggage
help
a cell phone
much Chinese money

what we do have:
perfect strangers helping us at every turn
water and a clean top from cherrie-an adoptive mom who has been here since last week(so cool)
faith
intact senses of humor
Jehovah Jireh-ever faithful

we would like to thank:
Simon
Judy
Yuri
James
Cherrie

your help enabled us to keep it together under intense circumstances. you will forever be in our memories as part of our adoption story.

tomorrow we pick up the children at 2:30(1:30 AM Sunday night EST). we are tired and dirty. hopefully they will see the love we have for them and the promise of a bright future and not notice my lack of styled hair or smelly clothes.

here is a photo of us in Hong Kong airport at about 4 in the morning.

LORD GOD, THANK YOU FOR SENDING HELP TO US WHEN IT WAS NEEDED MOST. PLEASE REMEMBER THE KINDNESS THESE SPECIAL PEOPLE SHOWED US AND MULTIPLY THEIR BLESSINGS ACCORDINGLY. WATCH OVER TIM AND NANCY AS THEY TRAVEL TO MEET US TONIGHT IN CHINA. OPEN OUR CHILDRENS' HEARTS TO JOINING OUR FOREVER FAMILIES. PLEASE HELP OUR TRANSITIONS TO BE SMOOTH ONES. WE EXALT AND GLORIFY YOU FOR YOUR GOOD GIFTS. AMEN.

tomorrow will be pictures of our girls! promise!