TEAM

                                                  *Click on the photo to make it bigger*

Here's our amazing, Father-ordained, Zhong Relations team for this year.  We are 24 adults and 3 kids.  I'll list everyone's names and where they're from.  Starting front row L-R:  Rebecca Carpenter, Erin Korson (MI), Paul Johnson (MI), Jacqueline Johnson (MI), Lesley Bergeron (LA), Camille Morgan (LA), Michelle Eby (MI).  Middle row L-R:  Adam Carpenter, Paul Korson (MI), Mandi Ash (LA), Trevor Kingsley (WA), Sophia Carpenter, Inga Kingsley (WA), Ryan Mathews (MI), Rebecca Kelch (MI), Chelsie Priest (SC), Melodie Chandler(TX), Elise Carpenter.  Back row L-R:  Nathan Thomson (MI), Mark McGuire (MI), Nathan McWherter (CA), Beau Black (MI), Kevin Bruce (BC, CAN), Jay Cockrell (MI), Aaron Noble (MI), Taylor Bartlett (CA), Kirk Ransom (OH).

*On a side note, yes, I am wearing glasses.  However, they're really fake glasses.  It's a fad here in China to wear fake glasses, so the term "flasses" has been coined.  Get it?  Fake glasses = flasses.  Aaron Noble, in the back row, is also wearing flasses.  I bought mine here for $1.

The weekend of September 16-18 our whole team got together.  At our training in August we were missing 3 people, so this was our first time with everyone together.  One of the highlights of our time together was that every person told their story of how Gd had called them and led them to China.  It was incredible to hear these amazing stories of Gd's hand and guidance in each unique story.  I love how creative Gd is!  We also had a Spirit anointed time of worship and pryer together.  It's so encouraging for Adam and me to watch as the Lrd is knitting the hearts of our members together in love for each other and love for China and most importantly in a greater desire and passion for Gd's Kingdom.  We also did some fun activities together like eating Papa John's pizza, DQ, and at the Aloha Diner.  Notice how all the "fun" stuff had to do with eating American food!!

Also, Adam collaborated with Gavin and Kelly McGraw back in Michigan to put together a care package for our team get-together.  Long story short is that the package technically should not have made it in time, but miraculously it arrived at about 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning right in the middle of our meeting time!!!  Here's some of the gang enjoying chips, pretzels, popcorn, sour patch kids, swedish fish, twix, and reeses peanut butter cups!  Thanks Gavin and Kelly!