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1 - china is in real need…i think for some reason the world has been trying to act like china is doing great on social, economic, political and spiritual levels, when in reality china is, in many ways, a terribly desperate place.

2 - i think everyone is going to regret having the olympics there REAL soon.

China, not unlike the rest of the world, needs the Lord.

Beth

re: Gene’s comments

you’re right. economically, China’s doing well, but the rest of their society is in trouble.

I’m curious: why do you say that the world will regret having the Olympics there?

I think China is going to put their best face on and treat everyone there really well, despite the inner turmoil. But do you believe something will happen to really ruin the Games?

Re China and the Olympics: they have banned the Australian Olympic team from bringing any Australian food with them, which means that they cannot follow their strict nutritional program! That’s essentially going to cripple any team that competes!
I think the Olympics will highlight more negatives than positives. (If that makes sense)

My thoughts about China are a big tangled knot. I’ve spent time in various places there. I’ve been in the glittering cities and in the poverty stricken mountain villages. My youngest daughter is from Shanghai, but we don’t think of her as Chinese. She is more “Orphanese” in that she lived in an orphanage with no real outside contact for the first 10 years of her life.

I’ve seen first hand the MASSIVE changes Beijing has undergone to get ready for the Olympics and it is unbelievable and scary. Streets that were once two lanes are now major highways. It is just wild. Neighborhoods that were once vibrant are GONE!

I think for one to really understand China they have to study their history and still then you can come away shaking your head. It is that mind boggling. Many, many government decisions - especially during the time of Mao make NO sense whatsoever and I believe they are still trying to dig themselves out of that time period.

The pollution is so incredibly bad that we can’t begin to get our heads around it. I’ve prayed for rain so that we would be able to breathe, so we could see the buildings next to us, so that my students wouldn’t have to sit with their tissues over their noses. The people can’t even drink the water. They have to boil it before it is safe for them to drink due to the pollution levels.

And then you have the most amazing giving, caring people. I’ve worshiped with people that had to hike 4 hours through the mountains to meet with fellow believers. I’ve sat with believers in their homes that look and feel as if they could collapse any second and yet they are giving you their best and in great abundance. I’ve had a taxi driver go out of his way to make sure that I am where I need to be and the people are there to take care of me. I get tears just thinking about the spirits of the people. I’ve had a family give me their best bed, coverings, tuck me in and make sure the mosquito netting is in place, boil water on their stove, which is a open fire, so that I can bathe.

So, as you can see, if you have read this far that I have tangled feelings.

Sad and scary….

@Paula Can they do that to the Australian team?