Blog by Rich

Blast off!

Stephen Curtis Chapman performed at this arts center last May. He talked about the three girls he's adopted from China, and he had a number of Chinese orphans backing him up on one song. The people gave him a standing ovation.

This is the first church built in China by Chinese. It was constructed in 1934 in Tianjin, where Eric Liddell taught and coached track, so there's a very good chance he preached here. Though we didn't meet any, we understand some of his former students still attend here.

This is the New Union Church in Tianjin. The Union Church where Eric Liddell met his future wife, Flo, was destroyed in an earthquake. We took a moment there on the street Hoping for many to find Love there.

The factories are going to close down two weeks before the Olympics to clear the air for the athletes.

We're in Tianjin, where Eric Liddell taught and coached. He designed and helped build this track. I didn't bother timing my 400 since there was snow and cars on sections of the track.

This was the first church built by Chinese in China. It's still in operation.

Your tour of the Forbidden City (Old Palace) and Old Beijing (Hutong) was wonderful!

All the best with your graduate studies!
Rich and Joyce

They're marching from Tianamin Square to the Forbidden City, singing as they go.

Many of the buildings are being renovated for the Olympics. It is, obviously, no longer forbidden. It's now known as Old Palace. It was opened in 1925, so there's a good chance Eric Liddell was able to visit.

This message was sent from a T-Mobile wireless phone.

It was great to spend the day with the four of you: Climbing the Great Wall and seeing all those factories.

All the best as you return to Seattle and Tokyo.

Rich and Joyce

When the emperors of the Ming Dynasty were buried there were 10 to 40 human sacrifices. They would commit suicide by hanging so that they could be buried with their emperor.

One of the speakers in Colorado Springs last week talked about being living sacrifices. I'm grateful to be more alive through ...

They say you can't be a hero until you've climbed the Great Wall. There's a very good reason: It's quite steep.

This was the emperor responsible for moving the capital to Beijing and starting the Ming Tombs (where we are right now) and the Great Wall.

The money is thrown at his feet for good luck: A practice undoubtedly rooted in ancestor worship.