Steven Curtis Chapman- Shanghai!!

This weekend I went to Shanghai with some friends to see Steven Curtis Chapman in concert! What an incredible concert! This was definitely history being made. I think this was the first time that a major C artist has given a concert in China. (SCC has won 5 grammies and I think 50 Dove Awards!) Steven Curtis Chapman has adopted three little girls (Shaohannah Hope, Stevie Joy, and Maria Sue) from China and you could really see his love for this country. He is hoping that this is the first of many concerts to be held in China.

The children in white t-shirts above are orphans who attended the concert. There were 100 Chinese children sitting behind him during the concert. It was really special to see him interact with them. When he spoke, he had a Chinese interpreter interpret so that everyone could understand. Eight of the children joined him to sing a song in Manderine. It was beautiful.

There was also a time of lifting up the Father's name together. This was one of the first times I have been able to lift up the Father's name with my Chinese brothers and sisters! It was an amazing experience to hear us all singing together.
We didn't have backstage passes so we didn't meet Steven. We did get to meet Adam, the bass player. It was fun talking to him and hearing about their travels. They really had to sacrifice a lot to do this tour. They have been a way from their families for such a long time. Steven Curtis Chapman's oldest daughter was at the concert and the rest of his family was going to meet him in Beijing, but they have been on a 71 concert tour!
On Sunday, we went to an international fellowship. SCC turned up there to open the service! It was great to hear him sing again and share from the Book. He shared my favorite verse (Zep. 3:17 and also a passage from Psalm- Psalm 68:6- He sets the lonely in families) This verse is so true! He has truly provided me with a family here. Being single it is hard to be away from your family, but the single girls here have truly become my China family.

Highlights from the Shanghai trip.

We went to the Shanghai community center- hoping to meet Steven Curtis Chapman- we missed him by only 30 minutes! BUT we were treated by several other acts including a Japanese choir that was inspired by the movie Sister Act! All of their songs were from the movie! What fun!!

Jane and I posing at the LOVE statue. Christy and I tried to get our picture together here afterwards, but we got in trouble by a guard and were unable to get a pictur eof the two of us.

What trip would be complete without a trip to Starbucks?!?! We all love the Mango Tea Frapuccino there! (Christy, Lisa, Kelly, and Me!)We bought 2 new travel mugs to add to our collection of mugs from the various places we have visited...

Before the concert we ate at Moon River Diner! It is like a 50's Diner. The food was great! Lisa and I shared some "tots!" We tried to avoid making Napolean Dynamite comments:) "Get your own tots!!!" We actually did share the tots with our friends!

Some of our group at the diner. The person in the front right corner is Nancy. A group of 4 of us, including myself, stayed at her apartment in Shanghai!