Right Left Whatever

New Parents!

We've done it (except for coming home - small detail there!)

Rebecca Dong Lan became our daughter on Monday afternoon (about 2 am Monday for those in Eastern Time). While our close friends were in Sunday school and church we were in an airplane flying between Beijing and Nanchang. There was a delay on Monday morning but soon after 12 noon (11pm Sunday night for EST) we saw Rebecca for the first time.

We're in Nanchang until Sunday doing various things until visas are available, then it's down to Guangzhou for visas and immigration stuff, then coming home on the 14th (according to plan so far).

Only complications so far are that our flight from Beijing to Nanchang was delayed two hours, and there were language difficulties in the airport resulting in me paying an unnecessary tax (which I got back so no big deal).

One thing to share: In the Philadelphia airport, the flight was severely overbooked and we were afraid we might not get a seat. I told the ticket agent our predicament, and they said they would do their best. While walking to a bathroom, I prayed that everything would work out. I felt an answer in my head, almost as clear as if it had been said out loud "All prayers for your safety and success on this trip have already been answered - enjoy the trip!" Got back to the gate, the doors were closed, and I was beginning to doubt, already wondering if we were destined for a later flight. All of a sudden they call our name, and we're on the plane, doors opened for us!

More reflections on the trip and pictures will be posted after we return, though here is a picture of our daughter given to us before we traveled. Looks just like her now except her hair is a little bit longer now.

Posted by joelfuhrmann at January 9, 2004 02:14 AM