China - Day Six - Lucy's Homeland ...... Day of Touring

Xi'an China - Home of the Terra Cotta Warriors!

On Tuesday, September 3, 2013 was our sixth day in China.  Today, we were scheduled (by our adoption agency) to go see the remarkable landmark that Xi'an is known for -- the Terra Cotta Warriors.  I love history and it has even more interest to me because of being my little girl's home for three years.  If you have not heard or read about this incredible part of Chinese history - you really ought to look it up!  

Qu Yan (we have NOT yet started calling her Lucy as I don't want to take everything familiar to her away all at once.  We will "ease into" using her English name) was very content to be in her stroller the entire time except to peer in at some of the exhibits or have a picture taken.  It was another pleasant day to be outdoors and do a lot of walking and seeing the marvelous Chinese incredible art.

The one thing that saddens me about the rich history of China that I'm learning about is how much superstition and pagan rituals/beliefs that everything seems to be immersed in.  Suicide, being buried alive, making sacrifices all because of their belief in the "after life"  were a common practice in Chinese history.  Like Americans, the Chinese need Jesus!  The privilege we have to introduce Qu Yan to our precious Jesus is not lost on us!  It is our prayer that she will grow up to know Him and be a woman in love with and serving the One True Jehovah!

We left around 8:30 a.m. and returned back to the hotel early afternoon.  After resting up a wee bit in our room, we decided that we need to check out "Muslim Street".  This is another well known area here in Xi'an.  This outdoor shopping disrict is within walking distance of our hotel, and the streets are just lined with vendors and incrediblie Chinese foods.  Many, many Chinese Muslims can be seen in their religious(?) attire.  Here, you can find anything from chopsticks, watches, luggage,  knockoff purses, noodles, dried fruit, walnuts galore, scarfs - just about whatever and the prices are incredibly low!  Very cool place with tree lined streets.

Shopping on Muslim Street (Xi'an)

While we could maneuver a stroller on the streets and sidewalks, one must ALWAYS be aware of his/her surroundings using our peripheral vision A LOT.  It's common to be walking down a pedestrian laden street and hear a honk of a horn as an electric scooter (or two, or three) come within inches of your body.  Crossing streets is tricky business here.  While there are some traffic lights, scotters don't need to pay attention to them.

While most shops we all entered and browsed there were some where you just couldn't fit a stroller comfortably - so little lambie and Daddy would wait patiently for Em and I to finish browsing :)

One fun thing to note about this trip was the one purchase I made.  I saw a Bible verse references written in English and then the text written vertically in Chinese.  And on the sign in English it said will print your name in Chinese on any purchase.  The verse was Jeremiah 29:11 -

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Ok - now imagine how perfect of a verse this is to find written in Chinese in my daughter's home district!!!  The Lord has plans to prosper Lucy Kim and not to harm her, plans to give her a hope an a future!"  We had the shop keeper write her Chinese name on the verse and this will be hung in her bedroom as a very special keepsake.

While the woman (who spoke fairly good English) was trying to understand which pinyin characters to use for Qu Yan's name, I explained the meaning that I had gotten from the adoption worker at the orphanage, etc.  I then brought Qu Yan over to her and she fell in love with our girl!  She spoke in Chinese and had Qu Yan repeat back -- fussing and fussing how she was such a smart child (she's a teacher).  I'm assuming Qu Yan was using correct tones, etc. in repeating back.

Here's a sweet picture of the two.....

Shop keeper who sold us the Jeremiah 29:11 scrip. picture written in Chinese
with Qu Yan's name!

I'm pretty sure we walked many, many miles over the course of the day - we were exhausted tonight and all fell asleep by 8:45 p.m.!!

Thanking our Father God for another precious day in China!