WKJ's Space

Here's a photo essay of our first 24 hours at the ranch:

• 4:30 PM -- Sunday -- Arrive at the ranch and move into our dorm
• 5:30 PM -- Dinner -- Pollo Frijo, squash & zuccinni, rice & beans, & Orange Fresca: very nice after a 5 hour bumpy car ride
• 7:00 PM -- Call home through the miracle of the Internet and some slick Microsoft technology (can your Mac do that? I'm a PC!)
• 8:30 PM -- Early to bed
• 6:30 AM -- Breakfast: fresh avocado, pineapple & watermelon, huevos frijo, and refried beans.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• 7:30 Load up in the Land Cruiser for the trip to the village
• 8:00 AM -- Arrive in the village and unload for work. We are mixing & pouring concrete floors
  
  
   
• 8:30 - 12:00 -- 80 shovels of sand, 1 bag of cemento; move the pile three times to mix dry ingredients; make a "volcano" and fill with water; mix well; repeat until the floor is done.

• 12:00 PM -- Yummy lunch at the village school delivered by Honduras Outreach staff
• 12:30 - 1 -- Siesta

• 1:00 - 3:00 -- More concrete. As others finish their project, the last house becomes a big party for lots of villagers. Show photos of "mi familia" during breaks. Mom entertained the children with some bubbles.

• 3:00 -- Load up and head back to the ranch for a hot shower, a nap, a yummy dinner, and a devotion.
• 7:00 -- Watch a little of the Monday Night Football game via Slingbox back to my TV in Charlotte. (Okay, I know it's a shameless plug, but I really like the technology.)
• 9:00 -- To bed.

Yes, I know I haven't posted since we returned from China. I never meant for this to be a travel blog, but that's what it is for now. I do endeavor to post more photos and details on "ordinary" life for the Jacksons of Charlotte, but for now I'll post a few highlights from my trip to Honduras.

My mom (see earlier post about Tessa's namesake) is making her sixth trip to Ocote, Honduras with Honduras Outreach International (cf. http://www.hoi.org). They are an incredibly well run organization ministering to one of the poorest areas in one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere. In addition to the basic infrastructure (latrines, floors, roofs) work that we will be helping with, they also offer medical & dental clinics, agricultural development, schools, and a seminary to train local pastors.

I'll try to post more details on our day-to-day, but here are a few photos to start with.

[WARNING: Sentimental & theological posting ahead.]

Naming or changing the name of someone is a very important theme in the bible, both Old & New Testament: Adam names all of the animals and then even names Eve. God changes Abram's name and instructs him what to name his son (Isaac). Jacob is named Israel. John the Baptist is named not after his father but according to God's revealed purpose for his life. Jesus renames Simon to Peter. Saul of Tarsus the persecuting Pharisee becomes Paul the Apostle and writes half of the New Testament. And one of the great promises of eternity is that God will write his name on all citizens of the "new Jerusalem" who have been adopted into his family:

[Jesus speaking to the Church in Philadelphia] The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God ... and my own new name. (Rev. 3:12 - ESV)

Suffice it to say, we take naming our children pretty seriously.

Like I mentioned a few posts back, Tessa (Teresa Caplan) is named for my mother and grandmother. My mom, also Teresa (Terri) Jackson, has a real servant's heart. She is always willing to spend her time and many talents -- she's like Martha Stewart with a southern twist and no pretense -- to help other people. She has spent her entire career working with pregnant women (no offense ladies, but this requires a special person) and I've witnessed many, many women move from patients to friends over the years because she always goes the extra mile. Mom, who went straight to work out of high school, also worked a second job to help put me through Duke.

Our hope and prayer for little Tessa is that she'll inherit some of that sacrificial spirit, just like we pray for the great influences to pass down from our other children's namesakes: Papi & Mum McClure, Mino, Grandpa Bill, Grandmartha & Grandpop, Martha Sue, and Aunt Liz. Catie and I have been incredibly blessed by the character forming influence of our parents & grandparents, including George Mehr (PopPop) and Lloyd Jackson whose names we haven't used (yet). and pray that we will continue that heritage as we raise our four children. We covet your prayers for that journey.

Finally, what can I say about my grandma Jones (Dorothea Caplan)? There's not enough space here to list all of the things she has taught me or the various ways she has loved me and my family over the years. The two characteristics that come to mind are unconditional love and forgiveness. Grandma may have a little of what she calls the "Russian temper" (from the Caplan side of the family), but is quick to forgive and always loves you. I pray that Tessa (and Cass, M-G & Liam) will inherit that deep love of family and one day their homes will be full of "nine grands and fifteen great-grands" on Christmas day. It is rare and I admit I take it for granted sometimes, but it is one of the great blessings in my life.

So, little Teresa Caplan (who lies snoring next to me as I write this) you have a big name to live up to, but you have been brought into a great family on both sides who will always love you very much.

At long last, we are back in Charlotte. I am writing this from my own sofa and we are all together again as a family. Tessa can now get used to life outside of a hotel! The wonder of it all is still sinking in, but suffice it to say that we were blown away by the outpouring of love and support we received at the airport last night. I'll try to write more later, but for now I'm thankful that Meg took a few pictures to capture the event.

December 20th, 2007 was quite a day for Catie, Tessa and me. Here's how the day went:

• 6:00 AM - Eat breakfast at the White Swan Hotel, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
• 9:00 AM - Fly from Guangzhou to Hong Kong
• 12:00 PM - Eat lunch at the Regal Airport Hotel, Hong Kong (Chinese food, of course)
• 1:30 PM - Go to DisneyLand Hong Kong
• 7:00 PM - Watch laser light show over Cinderella's Castle
• 10:30 PM - Fly from Hong Kong to San Francisco
• 6:30 PM - Arrive in San Francisco (yes, technically before we left)
• 7:30 PM - Check into the Westin St. Francis Hotel at Union Square
• 9:00 PM - Dinner at the Cheesecake Factory (we shared a Boston Salad and Chicken & Biscuits)
• 11:30 PM - To bed

Tomorrow, we'll fly back to Charlotte and be reunited as a family. Merry Christmas all.

We're going to DisneyLand! At the risk of ridicule from our friends and family, I'm willing to admit that we spent our 10 hour layover in Hong Kong at DisneyLand. And, I loved it! I'll write more later, but here are a few pictures.

Kenneth and I had a wonderful last day here in Guangzhou, and I think we were able to make the most of our last day!  We had a relaxed breakfast here in the hotel and then took once again to the subways.  This morning we visited the Chen House and gardens and then we traveled to the Sun Yat-Sen Memorial.

(Kenneth here) Later this afternoon, we completed our final procedural step at the US Consulate in Guangzhou: an oath ceremony. Basically, we waited in the lobby of the hotel from 2:45 - 3PM while the group assembled and the buses arrived. We took a 45 minute bus ride across town then spent 15 minutes clearing security at the Consulate. We sat in a waiting room for 30 minutes with 59 other American families and their new sons and daughters. An Adoption Officer from the Department of Homeland Security came out (he was actually a delightfully kind and funny ambassador for our country) and had us raise our right hand and repeat a one sentence oath. This took about 60 seconds. We then all piled back on the bus (15 minutes) and drove back to the hotel (45 more minutes). In summary, it took two and a half hours to complete the 1 minute oath!

But, we are thankful that Tessa is 100% legally able to return to the United States. She is officially traveling on a Chinese Passport with a fancy US Visa on one of the pages. However, when we go to the "Non-US Passport Holder" line at San Francisco International Airport Thursday, the CIS Officer will open her paperwork (the mysterious "brown envelope" that we were strictly warned not to open) and she will immediately become a citizen of the United States of America. The thought was enough to make both Catie and me cry a little.

Last night we had a delightful time with our new friend, Rachel.  Melissa Chen, my sister's mother-in-law and our dear friend, sent us to China with names of her friends and family members that we could contact while we were here.  It was a wonderful treat to meet her friend Annie in Hong Kong and her great-niece Rachel here in Guangzhou.  Rachel met us here at the hotel and then took us via subway to a restaurant called Macao Street.  We had a very nice time with Rachel, and our meal was delicious.  Our menu included sliced pork, baked pumpkin with cheese, cucumbers with chili paste, fruit, and prawns (large shrimp on skewers that everyone here eats with the shells.  We ate the prawns but not the shells, which I am sure seemed quite odd to those dining around us).

Catie and I are extremely thankful for our family and friends who have cared for our children (and our house, dogs, cats and Christmas tree) while we have been in China. We are heartsick to see Cass, Martha-Grace and Liam, but we sleep well at night knowing that they are being well cared for by people who love them very much.

Catie tried to keep them on schedule as much as possible. They were able to stay in Charlotte for the entire time and still attend piano lessons with Mrs. Lynch, Gymboree, church, delivering meals on wheels and even keep up their violin practice (thanks Liz!)

They have also been able to do several out-of-the-ordinary things while we've been gone: Christmas caroling, sewing & cooking with Mum, crafts with Polly and Amanda, and bowling and cookie baking with Aunt Liz. She sent us a few photos today which showed us how blessed we are to have such a wonderful family but made us really ready to be home.

Grammy (my dear mom) arrives today and I'm sure a new round of fun will ensue. We can't wait to see you all again.

We're getting a little stir crazy here. This morning after breakfast we had to stay in our hotel room from 9:30 to 11:30. Our CCAI representatives were at the US Consulate with our paperwork and they would call if there were any problems or questions. Tessa slept, Catie read more in her book and I got to watch the Blue Devils have their way with poor Albany and then caught some of the Monday Night Football game. (More free advertising for Slingbox!)

We eventually did get the word that everything is okay. Hooray! We will go there at 4PM tomorrow (while most of you are sleeping) and take an oath. Then we will receive a visa for Tessa to return to the United States. When we clear immigration in San Francisco she will officially be a US Citizen. This is the end of a very, very long journey and the start of something wonderful for our family. Catie and I can't wait for all of you to meet her.

Instead of hanging around the hotel, we ventured out this afternoon for a little shopping trip to the "pearl market." Instead of the quaint, local market I was expecting we instead were taken to a six story mall with nothing but jewelry stores! (I am not exaggerating). It was next to another six-story mall with only clothing stores. Outside of these malls in every direction were pedestrian shopping areas lined with thousands of stores. It helps you understand how there are 1.2 billion people in China. Guangzhou is a large city, but there are ten more like it in China. All are growing incredibly fast and bursting at the seams with young people with disposable income.

I tried to take a few pictures to capture the scene, but I don't think they do it justice.