Travel Approval (Translation: We're going to China)

Last Monday we got our Travel Approval, which is the very last piece of paper in the process. Honestly, it was anti-climatic because, though approved, we still had no idea when we'd actually go. Thursday we got our travel info, and Friday we booked our plan tickets. So we are going to China.

Here is the rough plan:

• Thursday May 26- Fly from Knoxville to Houston to Tokyo to Beijing. That's 16 hours to go from Howdy to Konnichiwa to Ni Hao. Arrive Friday night in China.
• Saturday- See the Great Wall of China. Boo yah.
• Sunday May 29- Gotcha Day. We fly to Hohhot (where Judd lives, it's in north China near Genghis Khan country, on the map left of Beijing) and we'll get Juddster. He will stay with us the rest of our time.
• Monday-Thursday we'll do adoption paperwork appointments in Hohhot, hang with Judd the Stud, see the sights, Chris will eat a Mongolian hot pot, Anne will eat things that look safe.
• Friday-ish we fly to Guangzhou (aka Canton) in south China near Hong Kong. Everyone who adopts from China goes here.
• Saturday-Wednesday- Explore Guangzhou with the Juddinator, celebrate the Chinese Dragon Boat Festival (whatever that is), have visa and consulate appointments in Guangzhou, Chris will eat Cantonese food, Anne is bringing granola bars. At some point we head to Hong Kong to fly back to the US.
• Thursday June 9- arrive back home in Knox-vegas.

This is the rough plan. We'll keep you updated on exact info. And a few people want to come see us at the airport, which is great, provided the roar of the crowd doesn't freak out Judd. We will give you info on that later.

We are very excited. I honestly feel relieved that the months of waiting and total unknown are over. Since Thanksgiving we've just been waiting on Chinese paperwork, and that's over. The paperwork is done. The unknown is over. The waiting is almost over. And we are very, very thankful.

We'll keep you posted as we get closer.

the end is near, figuratively speaking of course

Today we were told that our Article 5 letter was complete. That is the last piece of paper until we get our Travel Approval. So we are literally near the end of this very long road. The next thing we’ll hear is China saying, “Come get him.” Well, they may use different words. Probably Chinese words.

This week we also had a travel conference call with our Gladney rep (named Gongzhan, not to be confused with Guangzhou or Guangdong which are places we’ll go) and 4 other families who will be traveling soon. It was 2.5 hours of telling us to pay in cash, don’t drink the water, bring a gift for the notary (huh?), and you’ll be staying at the swankiest hotels you’ve ever been to. The itinerary is that we’ll fly into Beijing (we think), go to Judd’s hometown to do 3 appointments over 4-5 days, then fly south to Guangzhou for 2 more appointments over 4-5 days, then fly home. In our spare time we’ll hang with Judd the stud, sightsee, and eat Chinese food. I hear they have authentic Chinese food there.

It’s weird at this point. I’m sitting squarely on the fence between being humbled and overwhelmed with the whole process. We’ve raised a ton of money. We’ve seen God work. We’ve been blown away by the generosity and support of our church family. And yet I still so easily can be overwhelmed and anxious. I think that much of it is that I’m staring down something much bigger than me. All we can do is to trust God. There is really no other option.

Good thing God isn’t phased by world travel, thousands of dollars and communist countries. Good thing God already has answers for our list of unknowns a mile long. Good thing God is works all things for our good. Good thing God is God in Hohhot, in Knoxville, and all points in between. Those are very good things.

We’ll keep you posted on what else is happening. We hope to get our TA in a few weeks and head to China in May. Next month. Did I just say that? Crazy to think the end of this long process is very near.