Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from our new home in Shanghai, China!

Here is a brief run down of what we have been up to:

Asa- Turned two this year! Our favorite red head likes to: climb, throw whatever he can find, follow his sister around and make us all laugh. He is a joy to know and to see start to become a little boy.

Both kids attend a local Chinese preschool three days a week. As the only foreign kids in their school it has been a challenge sometimes to communicate! But they both seem to love it and have made some friends. Asa is now mixing Chinese words with English words. It is fun to see him learn two languages simultaneously. Miriam is speaking Chinese a lot more too; in fact, sometimes she translates for Emily!

Miriam- Turns five in a few days! She is a joy and it is a wonder to see how inquisitive she is about the world around her Emily has started homeschooling her the two days a week she is home from Chinese preschool; she is learning to read and doing a great job. Emily and Miriam also joined a home school coop here in Shanghai; once a week they have drama, P.E and art class. Miriam counts down the days each week until the next class!

Emily- After completing the Thunderbird MBA program in May, Joab and I sat in the backyard of the house we were renting in Arizona and talked about the fact we felt led to sell all our stuff and move the job search to China. The events that followed that were a test of my patience and trust in God. In the end, we were blessed beyond description! I spent the summer traveling around the Midwest visiting friends and staying with my parents. It was a wonderful time to connect with family and let my kids get a taste of Iowa living!

In China I am back to meeting with a tutor once a week to study Chinese, managing our household and taking care of the kids. I also was able to find a local Bible Study which has been wonderful. I am thankful, challenged and amazed at this wonderful city we call home.

Joab- After completing the faith journey of an MBA why was I surprised to find an even more challenging journey awaiting - moving the job search to China. With Emily's incredible support and determination I flew to Hong Kong in late July to meet in person with companies I had contacted previously. In only three short weeks, God provided numerous job opportunities, the most attractive of which was a product marketing position HSBC Bank. After three short months on the job I continue to be challenged and am continually reminded of His sufficient grace for every moment. I have also been blessed to see how well our family has adapted to long-term living in China and found community connections.

Our hearts our overflowing with gratitude for his provision this season; not only a job and a new home, but more importantly grace displayed in a child whose coming made a way to set us free.

The Meyers

"It is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child Himself."---Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol