The Shenyang Stop

Next stop in our 3 week journey was the city of Shenyang. We took the plane and one thing I have learned on this trip is to try not to get too early of a flight. Our flight was for 7:45am and being responsible we were going to get to the airport 2 hours early. BUT the cab drivers would not take us or pick us up! We were outside our Beijing hotel at 4:30am trying to get a taxi. The busses don't run that early and the subway was closed. We found ourselves in a pickle. My thought as we had 3 or 4 taxi drivers stop and the same amount with empty cars whiz by..."And they want to host the Olympics again? These taxi's ARE horrible!" Well, we finally had to catch the subway and that had several line transfers to get to the airport line. We made the plane, they closed the cabin door behind us and before we were fully seated we where taxiing. Talk about a close call!

When we got to Shenyang we were met by our new friends in our Church Branch, Angela Frazier and her family. Her and her family were kind enough to open their house to us for the days we where there and showed us around. She ran Jami a bath and had prepared fresh Cinnamon rolls that rivaled Cinnabon! It was FANTASTIC! And anyone that knows Jami....baths are her retreat. There are no baths where we are and in most of China. It's "bad for your health"...especially for the women....LIES!!!

OH I CAN'T WAIT!!

OH YEAH!

We met up with another family from our church branch, the Blattmans and some singles and enjoyed Church service with others. The face to face contact for church was welcoming. We haven't had that since we arrived in August. We were able to go with the Fraziers and Blattmans to a history museum and out to Mexican food...yep Mexican food. I had a Chimichnaga! It was delicious (even though it did take about an hour to get our authentic Mexican food).

Alfred (from Ghana), Ev, Jami, Synnova (in back), Ethan, Henry (in front), Elijah, Malia, Ally, Patience (hiding also from Ghana)

Ev and Henry playing in the snow

Old antique Chinese guns, the boys loved it!

Other old Chinese weapons of war

We enjoyed the night lights of the city and some of the cool buildings. It was a pretty cool town.

Some of the view walking the street at night in town

Cool buildings lit up at night

New Years lights still up in the neighborhood

Cool all glass building

The boys especially enjoyed playing with and making new friends. The Fraizers have 4 kids, and the Blattmans 2. All of them close or around the age. This stop of the journey was a welcome respite from the traditional Chinese ways. We were in China but we weren't in China.

Playing in the snow with the Fraizer kids...a great time!

Digging, digging, digging

A little bit of the view of the neighborhood

The house we stayed in....yes, this is in China!

Another interesting thing happened....we possibly ran into more distant family! By coincidence we found that one of Jami's ancestors from New Mexico is one of Brother Blattman's ancestors as well! It dates back to the 1700's....but hey it's still cool!

Thanks Fraizers for hosting us and both the Fraizers and Blattmans for entertaining us and for your hospitality!

Next stop.....HARBIN!

Our Bullet train to Harbin arriving!