The Panda Zoo

KENNETH WRITES:

It's Thursday in Fuzhou and we are a few days away from our departure to Guanzhou. Yesterday we received the official adoption document and now await only the procurement of Samuel's passport and away we'll go to the final leg of the journey.

As for yesterday, we had the extraordinary pleasure of taking a trip to the Panda Zoo. Why is it called the Panda Zoo, you might ask? Because the only creature they have there are pandas! In fact they have 7 giant pandas and quite a number of what they call "lesser pandas". The "lesser pandas" look more like raccoons to me. Seeing the awesome giant pandas up close was a real treat, as was being just about the only people in the entire zoo (which isn't that large to begin with). However, there was a film crew there doing a bit to prepare for Children's Day in China which is June 1st. We were asked to say "Save the Panda" and "Pandas are Rare" in Chinese into the camera. So, perhaps we'll be famous in China!

What happened after this was particularly cool, for the zookeepers had one of the pandas perform for the film crew! It is a rare event that had the panda sit on a chair, hold a bouquet of roses, hold a baby doll (which he licked), and twirl some sort of scepter. Who would have thought the panda was a performer?

All this excitement was followed by a trip, of all places, to Wal*Mart, to pick up some sundry items. It was a Wal*Mart by any other name complete with employees of the month and that wonderful friendly service.

As for the boy, he is really warming up to Mama and will occasionally give me the time of day. Now, is that any surprise with such a lovely woman as my dear wife? He's now investing much effort into a deck of Looney Tunes playing cards as I've taught him to match up the like cards. I cannot wait to get him in front of the chess board...

That's it from wonderful Fuzhou, as we prepare to venture out to a Chinese temple and a tea house. I'll be picking up some tea, so put your orders in now!

"I will extol the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly. Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them". Psalm 111:1-2.