Where is Urumqi?

Some of you have asked where we are traveling to pick up Josiah.  He was presumably born in Urumqi which is located in the Xinjiang province in northwest China.  Urumqi is a fascinating city with a lot of history.  It is also the most landlocked city in the world and boasts one of the largest mountain ranges.  Josiah is currently living in the Children's Welfare Center in Urumqi.  This map will give you some perspective on how far out Urumqi is compared to Bejiing and the rest of China.

China Itinerary

We received our official travel itinerary this past week and wanted to share the day-to-day schedule with you.  We also found out we will be in China with 17 other families that are adopting through Bethany!  Excited to meet them and share in this experience together.  God is good.

December 3, 2013            Drive to Omaha

December 4, 2013            Fly from Omaha -> Detroit -> Beijing

December 5, 2013            Arrive in Beijing

December 6, 2013            Visit Great Wall, the Cloisonne Factory,  & the Bird’s Nest

December 7, 2013            Visit Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and Hutong Tour. Acrobatic show in the late afternoon.

December 8, 2013            Travel to Urumqi.  

December 9, 2013            We will meet and receive our son Josiah!  We’ll also go through our adoption registration

December 10, 2013          Free day.

December 11, 2013          Visit Red Hill Park.

December 12, 2013          Visit Xinjing Provincial Museum and People’s Park.

December 13, 2013          We will receive all the adoption documents and travel to Guangzhou.

December 14, 2013          Medical exam for your child in the morning.  

December 15, 2013          Visit Shamian Island. 

December 16, 2013          Visa appointment  and visiting Guangzhou Folk Art Museum

December 17, 2013          Pick-up visa

December 18, 2013          Fly Home!

Travel Approval!!!!

Today we received news of our travel invitation and confirmation of our visa appointment at the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou, China!  This is incredible news for us as we were a little uncertain on the timing of both our travel invitation and the dates of our trip.  

We leave for China on Wednesday, December 4 and return on Wednesday, December 18.  We are amazed that one month from today, we will be returning home with our new son, Josiah.  God has been so faithful to us throughout the process.  We marvel at His goodness and His perfect providence in orchestrating every detail these last couple years.   

Introducing...!!!

It brings much joy to our hearts to introduce you to Josiah Haibo Reynolds.  This little guy is our son and we can't wait to bring him home.