For the sake of security for the people we worked with as well as my time (we’re packing up again for a Seattle Thanksgiving in a couple days but I want to share a few more pictures with you!) I’ll limit this Beijing blog post mainly to pictures. We had an amazing time working and touring in Beijing- working with a couple that are living in Beijing and learning the language. We visited three universities, had a Chinese language lesson from their tutor which was brain melting:) but inspiring, met with various people who have different ministries all over Beijing including a Chinese house church pastor who works with beggars. He was a humble, inspiring, and simple man with a huge heart. In America we get so caught up in our comfort- church being no different. We have all the comfortable pews and great sound systems we need- but what does our faith really boil down to? What is the first reason we came to our faith and what does it do to change lives around us- not just emotionally and spiritually but practically as well?

In China the main people group is Han- but there are many minority groups all over China. There is a place in Beijing called Minority Park that is set up with houses and dwellings that represent some of these people groups- showing you what these people still live like today. Here’s a great picture of the contrast in developing nations- a simple, traditional Chinese dwelling with a sky scraper behind it:

Another house that is made of birch and easy to take apart because
this particular people group moves around depending on where their food supply is:

Tiananmen Square with Chairmen Mao’s picture…
behind this is The Forbidden City, dating back to 1406:

Traditional tea serving:

Some of the street food delicacies- squid on a stick!

Andrew tries some starfish on a stick- reporting that it tastes…
well, like a starfish should taste, crunchy, sandy, no need for seconds:)

One of the many signs with hilarious translation…
I think you’re not supposed to go past this sign:)

A grandma and baby we met strolling through
one of the universities- aren’t they beautiful?

China… you captured our hearts.