Sarah's mom and Sarah's brothers and their families all met us at the airport. There was much rejoicing.
We are now safe at home!
Thank you all for the many prayers!
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Arrived safely in Hong Kong. Fly to U.S. tomorrow morning.
(Tuesday) We got Lydia's U.S. visa from the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou this afternoon. We took a van to Hong Kong. We leave in the morning for OKC via San Francisco.
Can't wait to get home and get back to our new normal.
Sunday, May 17, 2015
Finished with U.S. Consulate Appointment
(Monday) Steve, Sarah, and Lydia went to the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou this morning while Jonathan stayed at the hotel with Rachel and Caleb.
Everything went smoothly at the consulate and back at the hotel. We pick up Lydia's visa tomorrow afternoon then take a van to Hong Kong.
Everything went smoothly at the consulate and back at the hotel. We pick up Lydia's visa tomorrow afternoon then take a van to Hong Kong.
Rest of the crew finally made it to Guangzhou....
(Saturday morning) After a very swift trek through check-in and security at Xi'an airport, Steve, Jonathan, Rachel, and Caleb had their flight to Guangzhou delayed for 7+ hours. They finally arrived at the hotel in Guangzhou at around 6 a.m. Saturday morning.
Caught a couple hours of sleep before heading out Saturday morning to go to the ChimeLong wild animal safari park (tickets and transportation had already been paid for and couldn't be refunded, so we stayed with the original plan).
It downpoured rain most of the day but was an enjoyable excursion nonetheless.
Caught a couple hours of sleep before heading out Saturday morning to go to the ChimeLong wild animal safari park (tickets and transportation had already been paid for and couldn't be refunded, so we stayed with the original plan).
It downpoured rain most of the day but was an enjoyable excursion nonetheless.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Sarah and Lydia arrived safely in Guangzhou! / Xi'an crew visited the Xi'an City Wall
(Wednesday evening) After a delay leaving the gate in Xi'an and excessive times on the taxiways both in Xi'an and Guangzhou, Sarah and Lydia are safe at their hotel in Guangzhou.
Steve, Jonathan, Rachel, and Caleb visited the City Wall in Xi'an (an 8-mile wall around the original city of Xi'an, constructed 600 years ago). The wall is surrounded by a moat and originally had a drawbridge that was closed up every night.
As a fortification, the Xi'an City Wall is much more impressive than the Great Wall. It is 40-feet wide at the top (wide enough for a 3-lane roadway) and 40-feet tall.
Here is Steve, Jonathan, Rachel, and Caleb on the inside of the north gate of the City Wall. The building in the background is the main gate tower, which sits on top of the wall directly above the north gate.
Another view of the main gate tower.
A bride and groom were having professional photographs taken at the inner gate. (Note the groom's posture.)
After the trip to the City Wall, the Xi'an crew had dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. Rachel and Caleb sat in the window sill after dinner waiting for a personal tour of the kitchen.
The hostess offered us a personal tour of the kitchen. We had to wear chef hats while in the kitchen (they let us keep the hats).
Steve, Jonathan, Rachel, and Caleb visited the City Wall in Xi'an (an 8-mile wall around the original city of Xi'an, constructed 600 years ago). The wall is surrounded by a moat and originally had a drawbridge that was closed up every night.
As a fortification, the Xi'an City Wall is much more impressive than the Great Wall. It is 40-feet wide at the top (wide enough for a 3-lane roadway) and 40-feet tall.
Here is Steve, Jonathan, Rachel, and Caleb on the inside of the north gate of the City Wall. The building in the background is the main gate tower, which sits on top of the wall directly above the north gate.
Another view of the main gate tower.
A bride and groom were having professional photographs taken at the inner gate. (Note the groom's posture.)
After the trip to the City Wall, the Xi'an crew had dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. Rachel and Caleb sat in the window sill after dinner waiting for a personal tour of the kitchen.
The hostess offered us a personal tour of the kitchen. We had to wear chef hats while in the kitchen (they let us keep the hats).
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
Sarah and Lydia are on their way to Guangzhou
(Wednesday afternoon) Sarah and Lydia are headed to the Xi'an airport to fly to Guangzhou. We made the decision a couple weeks ago to split up at this juncture of our trip. This way Sarah can take Lydia to her medical appointment tomorrow (Thursday), which has to be done in Guangzhou. By getting that done on Thursday instead of Saturday, Lydia's TB test results will be finished prior to Monday. That way we were able to request a Monday appointment at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou (which we were granted). With a Monday Consulate Appointment, we will get Lydia's U.S. Visa on Tuesday and can take a van Tuesday night to Hong Kong to catch a Wednesday morning flight home.
So, why do Steve, Jonathan, Caleb, and Rachel need to stay in Xi'an? Well, we won't get Lydia's Chinese passport until Friday. So, the Xi'an crew will stay behind to shuttle her passport to Guangzhou on Friday. Sounds a bit complicated, but gets us all home sooner.
So, why do Steve, Jonathan, Caleb, and Rachel need to stay in Xi'an? Well, we won't get Lydia's Chinese passport until Friday. So, the Xi'an crew will stay behind to shuttle her passport to Guangzhou on Friday. Sounds a bit complicated, but gets us all home sooner.
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