Nanjing City Gate

This was the beautiful scene we saw as we drove up to the Nanjing city gate this morning. Our guide wanted to take us there and now I can see why. So, for a little history here we go. Nanjing was the capital of Ch*na during the Ming Dynasty. These gates within the walls of Nanjing are original. They were built in the 1400's. It was amazing to see them in such good condition. An interesting fact we learned was that each brick weighed the exact same weight. The brick-maker had to inscribe his name and information onto the surface of every brick he made. This was in case there was a problem with a brick or it broke etc. The inscription would lead the soldiers back to that brick-makers house and he would be killed. How would you like that? This picture shows some of those bricks with the writing on it.

This is a picture of the gardens around the city gate, and of course, Jeremy back-packing Mariah!

Nanjing has twenty-seven city gates. Within each gate was a tunnel. Those tunnels each held 100 soldiers. At any given time during the Ming Dynasty, there were 2,700 soldiers guarding the city. The following pictures show the beauty we watched from the gardens to the surrounding Qinhuai River. 

This picture below is Mariah and her new piece of jewelry.

After we finished at the city gate, we then went to a Jade store. We wanted to get Mariah something specific from her province. Since my idea of buying her a set of combs from Changzhou was foiled by the orphanage buying each of us a set and then my idea of pearls from the pearl market was foiled by the adoption registrar giving her a string of pearls.....we had some fast thinking to do.


Jiangsu is known for many things. But one thing we have learned is the skilled craftsmen that populate this province. Jiangsu is known for the hand carving of Jade. So, we went to a Jade store. 


The jade was certainly on display but so were we. We had so many people comment on us with a Chinese baby. It has been a little surreal to see the attention we draw. The people in her province just do not understand it. It has opened doors to communicate a little. 


Since we learned the Mariah's name also means "Peace" we saw a jade pendant that was in the shape similar to a life saver. When we asked what that shape represented, the sales person told us that it stood for peace. We purchased that pendent and they gave us a beautiful necklace made out of silk with small pieces of jade within the chain. Here is picture of our sweet Mariah wearing her necklace.


Tonight we again walked the Confucius Temple market area. It was fun!!! Again, we drew attention. No one has been brave enough to ask us for a picture with them but it has been very obvious with the attention we have attracted.


We do ask for prayer as this precious child is having a difficult time with grieving. We knew to expect this but it certainly does not ease the pain of watching her work through this process. She does not trust me and gladly goes with Jeremy. She has been in bed for 3 hours and has been up several times. 


This is not what the past two nights have been like. She has slept great until tonight. We are praying that the Lord puts her mind to rest and allows her to begin healing and trusting me. 


All in the Lord's timing and not ours. That is definitely one thing I have learned in this process. She is our child for such a short time.