Hope at the Big House

March 17-21, 2014



When we first arrived from the Luoyang airport to Maria's Big House of Hope, all the Martins, Renichs, Linda and Jona were outside waiting for us! And that is a big welcome - 14 people - at the Big House!

I really like Maria's but it is just a whole different feel than Hope in Beijing. There are a lot more babies and the building has seven floors! We played with the children and had a sweet time.

First night we ate at a Hot Pot restaurant with several of our friends. I loved the experience! Everyone had a little hot pot in front of their place setting. Most tables in Chinese restaurants are round with a lazy Susan. Fresh meats, vegetables and eggs were brought for us to select for our hot pot. It was delicious!

Tuesday night was Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary and we ate at Duck Restaurant. I tried some very interesting food that is popular like fried bull frog and duck brain! I am now part of the "Duck Brain Club" joining a couple of others in the group who have tried it.

~Zara




How cool that we got to celebrate Mom and Dad's 25th Wedding Anniversary in China! We ate at Duck Restaurant and tried a lot of different food. My favorite was fried corn that had a spicy flavor.

We played with babies here. Several were sleeping and many are very sick.

It is fun to play with the children of families that work here. We enjoy our friendship with them.

On Wednesday morning Zara, Zola and I helped with preschool. It was fun to listen to the songs they sing and learn some more Chinese words. The children painted rainbows today in preschool. This year I am going to get much better at speaking Chinese!

~Zena




After spending the day at MBHOH, we went to a park. It was fun to get in a hamster ball. We tried to stand in them but we kept on falling down.

For dinner on Thursday we went to a barbeque place where I had some spicy chicken and some not-so-hot chicken. It was meat cooked on a stick! We sat outside and it was a cool evening! We had a lot of fun playing with our friends and trying new and different food! It is a fun for them to go out and share the local culture when friends visit.

~Zola