Our time in Shanghai

We arrived at 12 am local time in Shanghai on Dec 9. Everyone was a zombie due to the lack of sleep. The 14 hrs plane ride to Hong Kong went amazingly well. The boys watched alot of TV, did some homework, and took two short naps. Hebron and I didn't sleep much, so the 2 hrs connecting flight from HK to Shanghai was really hard because we all should be staying up so we can actually fall asleep after we arrive. So we were all zombies and I can hardly keep my eyes open.

Hanging out with the Kims is alot of fun. Both P Jason and Krista took Friday off to take us around town. We started the day with Krista making us an all American breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and bacon. The boys loved it and it made them feel at home already. Elizabeth is such a big girl now. She talks like Krista but much more dramatic. She actually walks to school by herself. Their gated community is safe with security guards and the school is just right across the street. I am just so at awe that she is so grown up.

We spent the rest of the day touring the Kims' community, visited Carrefour (which is like our super Walmart), went shopping. Pearls are a good deal here. I got my mom a real 8 mm salt water pearl necklace for a little over $100. It's over $1000 at Costco. We also took the subway and tuk tuk (it's an electric rick shaw). On day two, we went to downtown Shanghai and had the best po tat I ever had. It's basically an egg tart but with flaky skin. The egg filling was warm and creamy, the skin was flaky and buttery. Mmmm..... This is coming from someone who does not like egg tart.

On Friday night, the Kims invited a family over for dinner to meet us and that family brought their friends who is also missionaries in China that are visiting Shanghai. The Kims does not know this out-of-town family. During dinner conversation, we learned that this out-of-town family is passing by Shanghai on the way to visit family in the bay area. And get this, they are missionaries in Kunming, the city where Mui mui is. No one knew they live in Kunming before this dinner. They gave us tips, told us where to go, and calmed our fears. Before we started the trip we pray that God would go before us. We claimed the Lord's promises in Isaiah 45: 2-3 which says, "I will go before you and will level the mountains...so that you may know that I am the Lord your God." God answered our prayer and assured us of His guidance by allowing us to meet this family from Kunming. This is not a coincident but a plan within God's will.