Beijing, 9/10/06
Another day, another exhausting, exciting experience here in China. We went to church this morning, and it was amazing. Around 2,500 people -- 1,000 in the main sanctuary, another 1,000 in the basement watching on screens, and then another 500 in the courtyard, listening throught he open windows.
But here's the really amazing thing. As soon as the service was over, the doors on one side of the church opened, and as people were leaving through those doors, more people were coming in through the other side for the next service. People actually show up early just to make sure they get seats!
After church, we changed clothes, had lunch, did some shopping, and then went to the Great Wall. It is the most amazing thing I've ever seen. It goes on for 6,000 kilometers and it runs straight up and down mountains. I climbed to the first watch tower -- straight up the mountain. The steps are very uneven and a lot of the "steps" are more than a foot and a half high.
One member of our group, David Shirey, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall with very long legs, climbed to the ninth tower. But it took him almost two hours. I couldn't have done it if I'd had a week! I was just happy to get to the first tower. In fact, I was ecstatic just to be standing on the Great Wall of China!
Tomorrow we meet with government officials in the morning, then go to the Forbidden City in the afternoon. Then an early evening because we have to check out of the hotel at 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning to head for the airport and another LONG flight.
I have learned so much on this trip, and am sorry to be leaving China so soon. But I'm sure I will be back!
But here's the really amazing thing. As soon as the service was over, the doors on one side of the church opened, and as people were leaving through those doors, more people were coming in through the other side for the next service. People actually show up early just to make sure they get seats!
After church, we changed clothes, had lunch, did some shopping, and then went to the Great Wall. It is the most amazing thing I've ever seen. It goes on for 6,000 kilometers and it runs straight up and down mountains. I climbed to the first watch tower -- straight up the mountain. The steps are very uneven and a lot of the "steps" are more than a foot and a half high.
One member of our group, David Shirey, who is 6 feet 4 inches tall with very long legs, climbed to the ninth tower. But it took him almost two hours. I couldn't have done it if I'd had a week! I was just happy to get to the first tower. In fact, I was ecstatic just to be standing on the Great Wall of China!
Tomorrow we meet with government officials in the morning, then go to the Forbidden City in the afternoon. Then an early evening because we have to check out of the hotel at 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning to head for the airport and another LONG flight.
I have learned so much on this trip, and am sorry to be leaving China so soon. But I'm sure I will be back!
posted by Anonymous @ 9:58 AM
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