First Team Meeting

My team is all female. Seven other New Hampshire gals, and two southern ladies. Ages range from late teens to mid seventies. We are all American's with big hearts for kids. On a beautiful December Sunday we had our first team meeting. It was sadly only the New Hampshirites because the other two were not available to Skype in

We talked about everything from food allergies to voltage issues. China has higher electrical voltage than the U.S. 220 versus 210. Electronics like laptops are made to automatically switch....not so much hair assistants. Our leader, Kim, warned us, "if you're thinking of bringing your blowdried, don't bother. If you are thinking of bringing your straightener, don't bother. It will fry and spark and be destroyed. I know this from personal experience." I think I will manage fine since on average I use such devices three times a year. She also mentioned that it can be challenging to find anyone willing to exchange money if it is not perfect, as in never-been-folded brand-spanking-new perfect.

I'll try to get some photos of the team meeting tomorrow!

Also update on our flights! Our agent sent us a tentative itinerary, but we are all required to respond with confirmation that they put us with the right starting airport and spelled our names right and other such minor details. I obsessively checked my email the rest of the night, but sadly no confirmation that we actually flights booked yet. Maybe tomorrow!

I shall bid due adieu with this:

"You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance." 
  — Franklin P. Jones, American humorist

May my team have patience with all the children we meet and advocate for, and even more importantly, may their adoptive families have great patience with them.

Prayer Points:

• That technology will work well for video chat meetings, and that we will use the time well.
• That in the end we will find loving families and nurturing homes for these precious kids.
• That we will be spiritually protected from attacks.
• That I will get in the rest of my necessary funding.

If you want to contribute financially you can do it online here. In the drop-down list select "Storyteller Missions", and under "Participant Name(s)" put Tatiana Martin March'16 Guangdong China Team. Or you can mail a check to America World Adoption, 6723 Whittier Avenue, McLean, VA 22101 made out to AAWA with Tatiana Martin March'16 Guangdong China Team in the memo line.

He Will be With Me

"The Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you or forsake you." (Deut 31:8)

I read that passage and promise the night of January 1st. As I read "He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you" I was confused. How can someone be in front of you and with you at the same time? (Oh yeah, He's God and He's everywhere. Being God lets you do stuff like that!) Then a mental image came to me. Two children walking through a dark passage. A young sister in her flowing nightgown, and her protective and gentlemanly older brother. He is walking in the front with one hand behind his back, she is clutching that hand and hiding in the shadow of his strength and bravery. He is not going to leave her behind! He is also not going to abandon her part way to finish alone while he does something else. The little hero will go before and with his little sister all the way.

God is that and so much more. He is able to protect us and fight off the bad guys better than anyone else. He is there with us. He will never drop our hand and leave us in terror, no matter how many places we go, or how far away they are from home, from our comfort zones. He will lead us and be with us if we will let Him. I am so thankful that God will be leading the way to and through China, and that he will be with me every step of the way.

For those of you who are not going to China, God will be with you too. Remember that every step of your day, at work, at school, with your kids, friends, or parents, in your scary moments and in your happiest too, there is a hand to hold.

Goodnight!

Prayer Points:

• Our agent is actively looking for flights. Please pray that a good set will be found for us. The challenge is compounded because my team is coming from three different states, but are required to arrive in Beijing on the same flight so we need to meet up somewhere mid travel. Also, once the right flights are found we all have to confirm the itinerary by email to make sure our names are spelled right, and we are starting at the right airport and such. Pray that we will all be checking in when we need to and that nothing will be missed!
• We have our second team meeting on Thursday night. Please pray that it goes well (also I haven't forgotten about telling you all about the first one, it's half written and on the schedule for tomorrow!)
• Please pray for smooth visa approval. 
• Continued thanks for the first needed payment and prayers for the rest.

Thank you my prayer worriers! You are invaluable!!

If you want to contribute financially you can do it online here. In the drop-down list select "Storyteller Missions", and under "Participant Name(s)" put Tatiana Martin March'16 Guangdong China Team. Or you can mail a check to America World Adoption, 6723 Whittier Avenue, McLean, VA 22101 made out to AAWA with Tatiana Martin March'16 Guangdong China Team in the memo line

(Photo credit http://www.jkadoptionlove.com/2013_10_01_archive.html)

I Will Be Getting Plane Tickets on Monday!

Hello all.

I am thrilled to announce that I had two surprise donations today and I made it just past the $2,200 needed to secure my continued spot on the team!!! The plan is that we will get all our plane tickets booked on Monday. Talk about a cutting it close!

I am so thankful for this new sign that I am supposed to be going to China. I was starting to feel like maybe I should back out. We have had some people join our team, and I thought maybe I was not needed anymore, and that was why my funding would not come through. I told God last night that if He wanted me to back out, I would. I knew it would be sad and hard, but I want to follow God where He leads and not get so stuck in one direction that I miss a turn I am supposed to make. A few years back God led me to pursue something difficult and competitive. I did and I made it. However, once I got there, circumstances I could not forsee led me to give it up after much prayer. I was confused as to why my all-knowing God had led me to a dead end, but I trusted Him. It was only recently that He showed me that some lessons are learned in the pursuit of something, not in the total completion. He reminded me of Abraham, led to the top of a mountain and brought within seconds of sacrificing his son, but stopped right before. (You can read the story for yourself in Genesis 22) I am thanking God tonight for turning yesterday's tears of sorrow into today's happy tears.

Prayer Points:

• Major thanks that the needed money came in!
• That the remaining needed money will also come in at the needed time.
• That our upcoming weekly team meetings will be well attended, helpful, and bonding.
• That the people in charge of flights will find the best ones for us.
• That we will all be protected from spiritual attacks.

Happy New Year everyone!! 2016 is already wonderful.

A candle my wonderful mom gave me years ago that says "just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." So thankful that just when I thought my trip to China was impossible, the way was made!