Friends and Family,

We are two days into our second week here at Kunming. It is Tuesday morning around 11 am as I write this. If I am writing you must know that things in Kunming are going well.

I did not have time to blog yesterday as we had a very full day. We lost about one half of our students on Friday. So on Monday we were not sure how many students we would have. But he provided another 35 students to replace those who left. We do not know why the change occurred but we are trusting that those in our camp this week are the ones he wants there. It took all morning to get the students into the right classes and to get ourselves settled. Afternoon activities changed and for the second week and with new activities come new challenges which have to be worked out. Space continues to be problematic but we get very creative. Two of our activities this week are planned for outdoors. Well as you might guess it rained all day yesterday. We scrambled for space and our outdoor games found shelter on a covered patio where we eat lunch and the outdoor investigation crew found shelter from the rain under a large Diadora Cedar pine tree. It ended up that no one was worse for the wear after an afternoon in the outdoors. Praise Him.

Last night we ate dinner on the fly and left campus at 530 for the whole team to go to the orphanage to take a carnival to the chilren there. Yes it was rush hour and we power walked the 15 minutes or so the bus stop (in the rain of course) and at 600 we somehow got 32 people and a large suitcase which contained all our carnival games on an already crowded rush hour bus. Yes it tested our 24 hour deoderant brands and we determined not one of them was really strong enough to hold up the demand of our day.

When we arrived about 630 pm in the rain, the children at the orphanage were awaiting us. They were soooo excited. They were happy to see the familiar faces of those who had worked at the orphanage and eager to meet the rest of us. We played the carnival games for about 1 hour and then had a time of songs and bubble gum blowing contest. They were so excited—they kept asking when we were all coming back. We left there around 830 and got back to the hotel around 9:30 pm. So worth the effort and time. Keep that part of our project in mind. Especially the separation that has to occur on Thursday around noon.

We treasure your remembering us. You cannot believe all the challenges we have—big and small. It is you on your knees that provides us encouragement and preseverance. Thanks.

Here are some messages from the team:

Rode an elephant, zipped across a lake. Ate mystery meat. Meeting new friends and bought y’all some cute things. Miss everone and Lou-Boo, but most importantly when you think ofme, lift up the orphans here—in a warrior type of way. Lindsay

Dear Caroline and Minnesotal family/friends. Went to meeting on Sunday on city bus with 100 other sardines—another “crowded” experience. Hotter here than expected. Power turned off last night for six hours—no problem just slept. No AC anyway. Team weary but grateful. Keep remembering . Love Jack

Hi from Connie. Experience of a lifetime but lookning forward to home. His help with new students today, safety on the streets.

Hey guys. Kunming is going well—we went to a semi-Miao village over the weekend and SHOPPING!! We found Chinese burgers but haven’t had the chance to try them yet. So yeah :) Love y’all. Maryanne

Hi. Love and miss all of you. See you soon. Tamika

Hey. Love you guys. See you soon. Sal

Hey my wonderful family and friends. I miss you guys soo much. I hope everone is having a wonderful summer. I sure am having a wonderful time in Kunming! Love you. Jessica

Hello from the Sandretzky’s!!! We are all still healthy and having fun. Miss you all and see you soon!! Love you all. TPLK

Hello from Joanna! Still doing well with the food! Can’t wait to see you all to tell you. Mom can you maybe negotiate my way back to full-time work? Love you all. Joanna

All is real good! Went to an orphanage last night for a cazrnival and will return Wednesday for an egg hunt. Not sure will be able to convey the needs but for many reasons please remember them in your morning thoughts.
Rusty and Logan

Joel, Happy Birthday if we don’t get back on this computer before the 24th. We love you and think of you often. Give Susan, Sam, Lucie a hug for us. Kathryn, wish you were here, think about it for a year. Gramps, there is some good pastry here—yum yum. Those at home meeting place—thanks for remembering us. We could not do this without you. Mollie and Doug

As you can see we are having quite an experience. Unfortunately we cannot express the deepest aspects of our experience and the growth that occurs in the most important aspect of the trip. We are focused on what it means to be a servant and the relationship of servanthood to HIS faithfulness. We are being transformed. Thanks to all of your for this opportunity. Your remembering us and your gifts make you a partner in this endeavor. Count it JOY and give praise and thanks to the Boss.

Hopefully I will get on this blog a couple more times before we leave. Our time in Kunming is really growing short, sadly.

Pardon all the typos. Just no time to proof.

Doug for the Kunming Team