The Great Wall of China and other feats of humanity...

Let me tell you about our private tour guide here. His name is Eric Kim. He is Chinese minority from the Manchurian line. He is educated and has worked for a long time as an accountant here in Beijing. However his passion is to learn to speak english. He is completely self taught and has the best accent by far of all the english speakers we have met here. He started working as a tour guide to get more practice speaking english. Now after three years of doing it part time, he makes enough money to quit being an accountant! He loves to ask questions about the meanings of words and english slang. He is great with the children on the trip; very attentive and enthusiastic about everything we do. This morning's ice-breaker on the bus was a full explanation of the Chinese Zodiac and then he went through everyone's birthdays and told us what kind of animal we are. Yes, we are just a bunch of animals on this trip. He has a great sense of humour, we are blessed to have him.

This morning brought with it a small surprise. Eric picked up on how much we all loved the pearl market yesterday, and arranged a private class in a jade factory today before heading off to the great wall. Eric told us, "The Chinese are good at making fake stuff. I take you to learn about good jade before we go to the markets in a couple days. You do not want to buy plastic that look like jade." He is a gem!

Jade carvings were a common thing to find in Chinese homes as decoration for the last 3000 years. There is a belief that this precious stone is good for the health and keeps away bad spirits. It was not until the trade routes really opened up that jade become used in jewelry, furniture and other art work as we see it today. Yet as early as 3000 B.C. jade was known in China as 'yu', the 'royal gem'. In the long history of the art and culture of the enormous Chinese empire, jade has always had a very special significance, roughly comparable with that of gold and diamonds in the West. Jade was used not only for the finest objects and cult figures, but also in grave furnishings for high-ranking members of the imperial family. Today, too, this gem is regarded as a symbol of the good, the beautiful and the precious. It embodies the virtues of wisdom, justice, compassion, modesty and courage, yet it also symbolises the female-erotic. This is one versatile stone!

The factory presentation was wonderful. The workrooms had glass walls so that visitors could watch the craftsmen work. The guide took us through all the stages of design carving and polishing, described the many different kinds of jade and the ways these varieties are used and prepared. Then we were brought into a hall that made me feel like I was in a Lara Croft movie, and had just hit the jackpot. I have never seen so many riches in one place. From oversized life-like statues of warriors to the smallest and most intricate of tea pots, necklace and animal miniatures. Everyone of them carved from a single piece of Jade! A rainbow of colours, sorted by quality. Breathe taking craftsmenship. We walked around for over an hour in awe. I found something beautiful for a turtle-loving friend and a little something for my family. Mason bought a small dragon carving and each of the other boys now wear a simple but stunning piece of jade around their necks.

Next stop, The Great Wall of China!

There are 4 sections of the wall open to the public in Beijing. We went to the Badaling section of the wall, with a summit of 888 metres. Back packs loaded with snacks and lots of water we started out in hopes of making it to the top. This was definitley the cardio section of the trip!!

Climbing 888 metres in 32 degree weather, on a 60-75 degree incline of ramps and stairs of varing sizes the whole way. Can you feel the burn yet? Most of us made it to the top! The Chinese say if you do then you are a super-hero! Eric the guide says Mason broke a new record; sprinting to the top and back down again in just 1 hour and 35 minutes! Mason filmed most of his journey on the wall, we will post a snippet when we get access here. The rest of us took 2.5 + hours to make the journey. It was a more leisurley pace for sure, why rush the wall?

For me, the climb could be compared to weaving a tapestry. Our group spead out and established our preferred speeds of ascent, but our paths crossed over and over again as some stopped for a break, to tell a joke, to take in the view, to catch their breathe, to take a photo, or be in one with the onslaught of Chinese who begged us to pose with our children and theirs. At times we would walk a ways together, sharing as new friends do. These were special times, feeling a sense of awe together as we took this historical walk, and at the same time learning about each other's hearts. At other times I would find myself alone and the heat would begin to press down on me, it was then that every step became a kind of prayer and meditation. As I prayed I felt lighter, my breath slowed and I could go further than I thought I would. As I approached the top I felt myself becoming weepy - no surprise to those who know me! You see just as I was about to get all vain and proud about my accomplishment, a man with fused hips using crutches reached the summit behind us. Now there was more dertermination then I had needed to reach for; I had not accomplished anything to be called a feat, but he had!

As I looked about I was struck both by awe at the sheer willpower of humanity. WOW - we are a tenacious bunch. That wall is an amazing thing - standing there was not like what you see in the photos - it was so much more. Yet I also felt despair at the thought of how any lives we are willing to sacrifice in the pursuit of gain. (more tears)

At the top small groups were bursting into what sounded like very patriotic songs - they were joyous! Gwen and I were inspired by the view and starting singing our own version of a 'Sound of Music' Medly. The hills were alive! We even sang Doe-a-Deer while hopping down the stairs like little Van-Trappe Singers! LOL! It was good to laugh out loud. The trip down was almost as demanding as the trip up, but we all made it without sickness or injury.

Our day ended with another great meal, a much needed rain shower, and a trip to the food market to buy fruit and water for the Sabbath. The boys and I then shared some prayer time at sunset before getting ready for bed.

I am feeling so grateful for all of this. My spirit has been stirred.

Lisa