It's amazing how God has given me the energy to carry out the tasks the past two days. Being a non-profit organization, the computer facility here is rather basic. My main task is to help them sort and fine tune some of the systems they have recently installed, which were all donated by individuals and corporations. I found myself multi-tasking, configuring a laptop, a Mac iBook and a desktop at the same time. Who says mission trip is all work but no fun. I haven't hard so many "toys" to play with for awhile. Put on my "geek" hat again.

I didn't get much time to play with the kids the past two days. They want to take advantage of my time here, and help draft a funding proposal. The Philip Hayden Foundation is embarking on a new project to build a much needed expansion of facility nearby. The new facility will be called "Grace Children's Village". The existing facility, Langfang Children's Village, can hold at most 40 children. The new facility, in contrast, will allow 100 children to be taken care of at the same time. Miraculously, the local government agreed to sell a 6 acres piece of land to them for less than US$1. An architectural firm in Beijing agreed to help design the new facilities for free, and a French building material firm has agreed to provide most of the materials needed. Their immediate need now is funding for the construction work to begin.

The facilities here, and those in the new Grace Children's Village, provide a very home like environment, with individual bed and playground area. This is done on purpose, so that the children can grow up in a home, rather than just another facility. It will make it much easier for the children, once they are adopted, to adjust to their future home. Compared to the local orphanage, this is heaven.

I'll be finishing my work here tomorrow, and hopefully, find some time to play with the children. I ask for your continuous prayer. I am spiritually strong, but physically tired.

Finally, here's another photo. These charming little girls live in the same house as I am. (Pam, do you recognize those teddy bears and rabbits? I asked them to pose the picture and say 'thank you' for your gifts ...) The lady in the back is one of their "Ayi". The Ayi to children ratio here is 1:2, i.e., for every two children, they hire one ayi to take care of them. Quite amazing.