One more day!

Denise was feeling better today, just tired from not getting much sleep and eating less. We had breakfast in our hotel for the last time and hooked up w/our families @0915 to take the bus to church. This was the Beijing International Christian Fellowship, a non-denominational gathering of English only speaking individuals. Due to government restrictions they are only able to gather w/people who are foreigners. It was incredible to be thousands of miles away from home and yet here were this people singing praises and offering prayers to our God! What a mixture of cultures and ethnicities!

After church we went to a jade factory where they gave us a (brief)history of jade and its role in the Chinese culture. We purchased a jade amulet which I am to wear (close to my heart) until we feel Nate is old enough to "carry on". We were looking @pig amulets because that coincided w/the year he was born. But none of the amulets were appealing, many were childlike which would be good for now, but not when he is older.

After the jade factory was a lunch that really wasn't too bad. They serve family style w/the lazy susan in the middle and then a bunch of dishes that they offer for you to try. The plates are quite small, however, about the size of a saucer. This helps to keep you from pigging out. We both gave the chopsticks a dance, pretty tricky, but I could see where, w/practice, you could get the hang of them.

Starting to feel like a cruise now! After this we did that, and then ate, and did some of this, and eat some more. Following lunch was our trek to the Great Wall. Denise decided to pop off a couple of pics along the way. I think she's fascinated by the people on bikes.

I'll keep it short and sweet tonight, we have to be in the lobby @0600 tomorrow to catch our flight to Harbin where we will finally get to meet this charming young man!