Be Mine by David Gray

Nine Million Bicycles by Katie Melua

Brighter Than The Sun by Colbie Calliat

It's A Beautiful World by Jim Brickman

Baby, Now That I've Found You by Alison Krauss

One by U2

Rural China

I think it would be prudent of me to say this first: I know we have poverty all over the world, even in our own backyards. So, I'll approach this the same way when someone asks me the annoying question why I adopted a Chinese child. "All children deserve to be loved." My sentiment is that ALL poverty needs to paid attention to, in countries all over the globe. That is why God blessed us with Missionaries. These individuals represent Christ and his loving hand. I'm not posting pictures here to garner pity for the Chinese.
I am in quite the predicament. I came to China thinking I "know" what the culture is like when in fact, I know very little. I am forced to unlearn stereotypes others and myself have come to know as truth. If you are a parent of an adopted child then of course you want as much information concerning the beginning of your child's life as you can gather. I truly believe people to often can't see outside the realm of the adoption itself and into the culture outside the orphanage gate. As a representative of my denomination, a woman, a Christian, a sister, mother and friend to China, it's extremely important that I show the east that Christ's love is universal. Its called spreading the truth. Everywhere we travel, people ask us about the election back home and Obama's faith. That means that I, Melissa Hovey, a moderate registered Republican must tell them that our President is a Christian who prays. Why? Because it is the truth. If I come to China and allow people to believe he isn't a Christian, then that is a misrepresentation of America. If you look at Jo and say to yourself that because she was abandoned, then all Chinese people must hate their daughters. That makes Jo a misrepresentation of China. It's my responsibility to bring prayer, song, good energy and love with me to share with others. It's also my responsibility to spread the truth back home. Josie does that naturally by loving others unconditionally the way Christ wants us to. You don't have to be a Missionary to express the love of Christ. It is as simple as showing grace and forgiveness to one another. We are all flawed.

Education Is The Key

Just when you think you know what is going on, you get sucker-punched with the truth. There are many misnomers concerning the culture here. This is me with one of our leaders, Xiaoling. The answers I get to the questions I ask him are valuable tools for me when I come home. Things are changing here in the East. For you fellow adoptive parents, so is the attitude toward our their daughters. Continue to pray this improves.

We Always Want What We Can't Have

We visited the Hunan Province Christian Council this morning. The Seminary School is on the same campus. There are a lot of students here, the ages range from old to young. The women here look very young for their age. It's unbelievable. I was thinking I could be a millionaire if I knew what their secret was. Ah!....to look so much younger than your actual years. I would love that! Looking at the beauty of these women when one of them walked up to me and told me how much she liked my eye makeup and big, round eyes. The sad irony. FYI-the woman with me is 36 years old.

SERIOUSLY....DON'T READ THIS! SCROLL DOWN!!!

CHINA BIG BROTHER HIJACKED MY BLOG ON THE TRAIN STATION......and kept sending my drafts :(

......on the street. Am I in the Chinese barrio? Panic! Wait-those are firecrackers...I'm not bleeding. I'm still here. I laugh. I'm a broken, tired and blessed woman. Back to the sanctuary. A little longer, and we are done. Church is over and we are in the courtyard. People surround us with questions. There are children around us. We are touched and gathered around. We are in fellowship. A young woman approaches me and ask me my name. You should know that many Chinese and I mean MANY speak good English. In school they are given a "Western" name. Many are older names. I have heard Sally, Mary, Ruth and Nancy for instance. I have met countless of young Seminary students this week. When I told her my name, her jaw dropped. "ME TOO!", she exclaimed! OMG, I thought. I was just saying to myself that surely I'd never hear a student tell me we shared the same name. Funny God. Melissa wants a picture with me. I get one, too. What an experience. All in less than two hours. I feel better. Does God want us broken so that we are forced to look at ourselves and our surroundings? OR, does God want us whole so that we are physically and mentally well enough to look at ourselves and our surroundings? I'm not sure. I guess it depends on your definition of "broken" and "whole" is.

Below is a pic of my Chinese Counterpart Children and my friend Melissa. Sorry, no pic of me squatting. LOL!

STOP! SCROLL DOWN! READ THIS SECOND!

qAMAZING DAY......PART TWO...READ THIS ONE SECOND.....

......I was not spiritually ready for jworship even though I knew I needed to be there. The first hymn had me in tears and I was trying not to cough up a lung. My sweet friend Sobhian, who is sitting to my left points out a young man sitting with his little sister in his lap. They could be the Chinese counterparts to my own children as they are about the same ages. They are getting loud, he is bouncing her on his knee. Their mother, who is sitting behind them, thumps the boy on the back of the head as a warning as if to say "This is church, damnit. BEHAVE." Yep, that's us, alright. I smile at them and their faces light up. A bit of info about Religion in China-
although Christianity is the fastest growing religion, the numbers of practicing Christians is relatively small compared to the billions of people here.
There were 600 people in church with me this morning. There were still two more services to go.
I am feeling a bit better after seeing the Chinese counterparts of my own kids. We listen to the Pastor PREACH IT and then sing another hymn. I really have to pee. I excuse myself and go looking for the squatty potty. I find them and discover these are no ordinary squatty potties. There are no stalls, just waist high dividers. This is new to me. I mean it's one thing to have to squat when you pee, but this brings new meaning to the word squat. If you don't want anyone to see you, then your ass best be squatting LOW. There were no doors. I'm thinking to myself, here I am in one of the poorest neighborhoods in this city of 7 million people, red nosed, raccoon eyes, completely broken in the eyes of The Lord, feeling exhausted physically and mentally to the core and I have to squat lower than ever just to take a pee in the stinkiest bathroom I've ever been in my whole life? WTH, Jesus!?!? That is exactly what I did. I said "What the hell....I'm doing this!", undid my pants and took a pee rivaled only by Austin Powers. I just didn't care who saw me, my panties, my ass, my anything. Apparently the others didn't give a crap either. (No pun intended.)
Everyone went about their business. No one was gawking at my fair skin or my big, blonde Texas hair. It was one of the best pees I've ever had. There was more privacy in that open environment than I've seen in days. I felt so much better. I finish my business, pull my pants up and head outside. Just as I walk out the door, I hear a loud BOOM BOOM BOOM repeated about a dozen times. I jump out of my skin. What the hell is that?!?! What is going on?! What do I do?! Do I hit the ground?! I'm the only white person

AMAZING DAY

Today was the most profound day I've had yet. Worship this morning was a moment I'll remember forever. I needed to be in a sacred space badly today. I get a lot of curious stares due to my big, blonde hair. Walking into the Sanctuary, I was greeted with many smiles and warm greetings. We started immediately singing the Doxology. The next hymn took me by surprise. When I left FCC in Abilene to be a part of WCC New Church Start, I knew I would miss singing "Holy, Holy, Holy" as this is my favorite hymn and our church is a contemporary one. When the choir began to sing it this morning, I was reduced to tears. I should have said first that I have not had any health issues until the last few days. Our hotel does not have any non-smoking rooms. The whole city smells of cigarette smoke. It is EVERYWHERE. The environment and smoke combined would be the death of me, I just knew it. So,my day began with a closed throat and many coughing fits from the smoke. I am also emotionally a bit spent from being on the go for eight days straight alongside lack of sleep. Point being, I was not feeling the love for this polluted, smoky city. Back to my story.....feeling bad, thinking about things back home, nose is running, eyes watering, throat closed and generally malaised
Sent from my iPhone

Quick catch-up

I have a lot of catching up to do. This will be a quick Blog but I'm happy to say I have better Wi-Fi here in Xi'an. The irony is that this is that this is the poorest city I have visited and will visit.
I want to share a picture that was taken at the 100 Millionth Bible Printing Ceremony.
Also, we took a visit to the Drum Hospital in Nanjing. I will write more about this later but we were allowed to take pictures of a newborn. My heart melted. To think Jo was ever this tiny!
I will get caught up, I promise! Here is just a taste....
Much love,
Melissa

No Wi-Fi :(

Don't give up on me, people! There is weak wi-fi here in Nanjing. It is SO frustrating! I can't even send an e-mail to my blog to post.  I am using a friend's laptop that is plugged into the wall. There is a lot going on right now that keeps wi-fi down and many things blocked. Jimmy Carter is here in China and there are important meetings going on. China Big Brother is in control!  I have been taking pictures and writing so I promise to post as soon as I can. I might post several entries at once or have to post at a later time.  It is so frustrating to not be able to tell you what is going on here on a daily basis. I am doing well. I am well-feed but a typical day is busy and non-stop. I am tasting EVERYTHING this time around-goose, goat, duck and very different types of veggies. I have been to Shanghai and I'm now in Nanjing and early tomorrow morning, I am off to Xi'an. From there I go to Beijing.  Having no wi-fi means no communication with Josie. I hope to have good signal strength in Beijing but that is several days away. Know I think of my family and friends back home in the USA. Please keep me in your prayers. I think I am finally adjusted to the time. It took several days. I don't get a lot of sleep as my days start very early. Also, traveling a lot is exhausting. There is a lot of time on the bus and traffic moves slow here. It is difficult to sleep on a bus as it is uncomfortable. I am afraid to fall asleep because if I do, someone in the bus next to mine might take a picture of me drooling while we are stopped at a light and then post it online for all of the world to see! No matter what city I am in, the traffic is just unbelievable and there is so much honking! Like it does any good to honk! No one is listening to you honk! They want to get to where they are going along with the other millions.  I can't blog as my drafts haven't been saving on my iPhone so I have a lot of time to think about things and my environment. Must go but I do want to share with you that today I was at Amity Publishing Company in Nanjing where I witnessed the 100 millionth Bible printed for distribution here in China and all over the world. It was a great day. More to come......

Love to you all.

Melissa

Test (Picture Post)

Trying to post a picture-hope this works! This is a buddy I met today at the YMCA Elderly Home here in Shanghai. She is 88 years old but I told her she didn't look a day over 58. You can guess why she was particularly fond of me :)
Sent from my iPhone

BLOCKED

Hi everybody! Looks like there is NO Internet access for me. Election Day and a visit to Beijing by Jimmy Carter complicates things. So, from this point on I am trying another method to post but currently can't get to any draft I have saved. I will blog again but will have to without pictures. I am able to check e-mail for some weird reason. I am not able to send attachments (pictures) from e-mail. I've tried but I can't figure it out. I have an iPhone 4S. If there is a way, please email me.
Much love,
M.

Sent from my iPhone

Underneath It All

I found this quote on Facebook. Absolutely everything about this quote is true about me-except for the makeup and hair bit. Much like my grandmother, I don't leave the house without my lipstick and done hair. I took a look at my travel sisters and noticed something. My suitcase, hair and make-up job was bigger than theirs. These ladies are natural beauties that don't need any or much make-up. I'm a gal that enjoys wearing it and doesn't mind saying I need it. As much as I love wearing it, I also love to wash it off at the end of the day. On the flight here to Shanghai, I watched Men In Black 3. Agent J (Will Smith) travels back in time to 1969 to ward off an assassin alien before the alien attempts to murder Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones). On the way, J "borrows" a car and is stopped by the police who racially profile him. They ask J what kind of work he does as he is an individual of "ethnic persuasion". It is suggested he is a noted athlete. J confirms this by stating he is a starting forward for the Detroit Darkies then proceeds to outsmart and outwit the idiots as he leaves them standing there. This kind of sarcastic retort is right up my ally. When I began taking Josie out in public after we arrived home, occasionally I would get asked if Jo spoke Chinese or if her father was Chinese. My reply was "no" to the first and "I sure as hell hope so." to the second. People's quickness to assume things due to skin color and outward appearance bugs me. When I wash my face down to nothing at the end of the day, I'm still the same woman underneath it all. I bleed red. When Agent J gets punched in the mouth, he bleeds red. When Josie falls down and skins her knee, she bleeds red. When I struggle, I cry. When Agent J finds out the truth about his father, he cries. When Josie feels pain, she cries. You bleed, you cry. We feel the same-underneath it all. We are all human-underneath it all.
Until next time,
Loving the you underneath it all,
M.

An Apple A Day Keeps Sad Thoughts Away

No time to blog today as I was in orientation all day. There was A LOT of information shared and learned. It was good to finally see some of my Facebook friends face to face.
I will make it up to you tomorrow as I write blog drafts on the 13 hour plane trip. I'll post as soon as I can get Wi-Fi.
Last week, Global Missions sent me a fantastic box full of goodies-a lovely binder was included with a wealth of information. I freaked a couple of nights ago when Jo walked into my bathroom carrying the binder in one hand and a pen in the other. I asked her if she drew in my binder. I just knew there was going to be pages marked with chicken-scratch. She informed me she drew an apple. I looked, and sure enough...that doodle DID look like an apple.
How many times have we panicked over nothing? How many times have we let our blood pressure rise in seconds just to realize the situation really wasn't anything worth sweating over? I pray we don't panic while traveling and can JUST BREATHE. I pray your week ahead is a smooth one. Go with the flow, yo.
I'll be back....
XOXOXO
Melissa

"Sounds Like A Bunch Of New-Age Hooey To Me"

I love Contemplative Prayer. It is a discipline and not an easy one, either. The more I got into contemplative prayer, the more I began to study energies and auras. When I mention I meditate, some people think I dot like a Buddha on the floor with my legs crossed, arms up, chanting "Ohmmmmm." I get asked if I'm "New Age" often. I find this funny but tell people I am just sitting in a quiet place working on my listening and communication skills with God. Being discerning from an early age, I've always had the ability to "know" things about others and situations. I knew that the man in the beige suit was a jerk the moment he walked in the room. I knew you were going to call me that night. I oftentimes know when things aren't "right". I believe we are all made of energy and the energy we carry is greeted, read and received by others. My friend Barbara Haire introduced me to the term "Vampire".
A Vampire is someone who can walk into a room and suck all of the good, positive energy out by the power of their own dark energy. I know a few "Vampires" and choose to avoid them. Josie is the opposite of a Vampire. She takes her good energy with her everywhere she goes. I've seen Josie battle a Vampire and win without even being aware. I once saw an episode of Dr. Oz that featured Yoga, auras, centering and balance techniques. The woman was demonstrating a twirling move. She said that people who twirl a lot are are giving out positive energy. It goes right out of the top of their head. I knew immediately what she meant. Jo is a big dancer and twirler. I love to watch her. She's got the moves like Jagger. Remember how your mood affects others in your environment. If you are feeling low or depressed, make an effort to center yourself in a quiet place and just listen. Try to make a connection with God in some form-perhaps a prayer or by taking in the sounds around you. If you hear an audible voice, run like hell. LOL!
I hope and plan to give out positive, loving, maternal, sisterly, compassionate, understanding and approachable energy while in the East.
Until next time,
Melissa

Annie Walker and Fight Attendant Steve

I had to pee badly. Next door to the bathroom I pass the Admirals Club. The doors open as I walk by and I see all of the beautiful peeps inside. (Imagine this happening in slow-motion.) I come out of the bathroom to discover my flight is delayed a bit as they are waiting for the cleaning crew to finish. I'm waiting in a very long line to board. Waiting. Waiting. Get bored and take a picture of myself in a Chicago Bears shirt in front of the Dallas Cowboy Shop. Notice no one is shopping in there as even the Yankees waiting to board this plane know who's pocketbook the money goes into. Decide it's bad business to put a shop of this nature in front of a gate that has direct flights to CHI. Finally get to board and uh-oh...flight is completely full and I'm strongly encouraged (told) to leave and check-in carry-on with them there as is no room in the overhead bins. I decide I will but first the guy in front of me has the line backed because he is unsure if he can check in his bag as it has something fragile inside. "You shouldn't pack fragile things in your suitcase." the lady at the gate says. "That's why I'm carrying it with me!" replies guy. "It's fragile!" Score to guy with fragile content. He is forced to check it in eventually so game, set and match to Airline. I check in my bag and suggest the lady next to me does as well. Step on plane and notice the lady in front of me still has her bag and never checked it in. "You may want to check that bag...." I say. She looks at me like I'm a nut and I know what's coming. It is a long, crowded, populated way down to my aisle way down there-number 31. Luckily I am wearing my Bears shirt and the energy I feel from these people is positive. I am Miss Popularity thanks to the orange and navy. It crosses my mind that if they knew how hot I think Aaron Rodgers is, they'd turn on me in a quick second. I do a mental "Discount Double-Check" anyway and trudge down the aisle. Take a peek at first class and get jealous. Be-bop along nicely until aisle 24 and then I hear it. "You're going to have to check in that bag-there is no room for it. You need to turn around and take it back." And then it began.....lady stops traffic flow and blah, blah, blah. "I can't turn around-there are a lot of people behind me! My pills are in here!" I could use a pill right now, I thought. Nicely suggested to lady that perhaps she go to her seat and then return the bag in a few so everyone behind her can sit down themselves. Another nut job look comes my way and then lady does just that-goes to her seat. On aisle 31.
After that mess is cleaned, the Flight Attendant gets to work. His name is Steve, which I find humorous and am reminded of the movie Bridesmaids. I start to think about Annie and how she gets plastered in coach and has words with "Stove", the male flight attendant. Annie and I are roughly the same age and shared a few similar struggles. We've all felt challenged at some point and time to prove our worth to friends. I am a flawed person and much like Annie I am fortunate to have friends that love me regardless. Annie's story didn't end so badly....she got the hot Irishman AND got to sing with Wilson Phillips ;)
Until next time I post.....
XOXOXO
M.

Packing And The OCD Woman

Remember the Friends episode where Monica has a secret closet that's full of "stuff that doesn't belong in any category." That's her "chaotic space" that all OCD people have. I too, have a couple of chaotic spaces and one of mine belongs in my bedroom closet. The rest of my stuff I like neat and orderly, much like my suitcase. Everything has to fit just right or I start over until it is perfectly uniform. This can take up precious time when preparing for a trip. I know the TSA Agent could care less if my chonies are folded in a perfect square but I always feel good when I open my suitcase and can see order. I know that life can't always be like my suitcase. I've learned over the years to appreciate the chaotic spaces in my life. I wasted a lot of precious time in the past trying to take control and have order over things I couldn't control.
I'm happy to say my big bag only weighs 38lbs. which gives me 12lbs.
of empty weight to fill with souvenirs for the way home :)
XOXOXO
M.

Texas is a "big deal" in China

If you contributed to my trip financially, I want to thank you and show you where your hard-earned money is going. I've assembled gifts for the kids I'll encounter. Pre-pasted toothbrushes, fake mustaches, stickers, glow-bracelets and combs.
Darlene printed the cards that say "With Love, From Texas, USA"
I remember arriving at the Great Wall in 2009 and seeing a group of school children run up to me and ask if I was from the United States. When I replied yes, the first question they asked was "What state?" I told them Texas and they thought that was the coolest thing. The young girls were all well-spoken and I was impressed they knew where Texas was. Their knowledge of the English language amazed me. I am looking forward to sharing these gifts in your name and in His.
Much love,
Melissa

     I want to thank you for encouraging me to blog again. Several of you asked me to do this again as the last blog was well-received. If this is your first time to visit my blog, please know that if you don't have an open mind and open heart, perhaps this is not a blog you should follow. I make no bones about it-my feelings and expressions are mine alone to document so if you are easily offended and can't come down off of your "religious soapbox" then....good-bye! Enough of that-let's get started.

 

     If you were to ask my three-year old daughter Josie what the beginning of her life was like, she will likely tell you she was born in China, lived in a big room with a lot of other babies and moved to Texas where she received a lot of tator tots, scrambled eggs and love. I suspect someday she will want to know more about the first ten months of her life and the culture from which she comes from. I hope to someday be able to provide some answers for her the best way I am able.

 

     Here is the link to Disciples Women of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) website so you may learn more about the mission and vision of my travel and also pray for my friends and I.

 

http://www.discipleshomemissions.org/pages/DW-womantowoman

 

 

I promise to make an effort to blog as often as possible. Facebook is blocked so I will not be able to post. I will be having withdrawls, I am sure of it. Also, I am not typing on a keyboard which may prove challenging to me so please show me grace on grammar and spelling. I have a very rigorous schedule so be patient with me-I'll try to be post so that you can be updated when you start your day. Stay in touch and feel free to comment as often as possible so I know who is out there! Much love,

Melissa