My mom sent some awesome pictures of the opening ceremony. The bird's nest was filled with people! I watched it all online, it was awesome. Unfortunately, I didn't get a glimpse of Matthew when the U.S. atheletes came in. If you watch it, get ready with your fast forward button. The U. S. team is the 99th team to enter in the procession! The video also shows a man in a wheelchair being lifted up high in the air to light the torch. Pretty cool stuff. Matthew was able to visit the Great Wall of China this week. Can you imagine????!! It really blows my mind. He said it was a long hike up a steep hill but it was really worth it. Mom and Charlie arrived safely in Beijing and have been able to spend a little time with Matthew. They have purchased a cell phone there so now I don't feel so out of touch with them. For a few days after they left, I really didn't know if they made it or not. The hotel they are staying in is nice and not too far from all of the olympic events. They plan to watch several events and do a bit of site seeing this week. Matthew is going to stay around the olympic village, train and just get focused on his events. Please pray for him! I can't imagine how much pressure he feels right now. Pray for good rest, calm nerves, and that whatever happens, it will accomplish God's will in his life. His first event is this Wednesday. He will be throwing the shot put.

opening ceremony

The opening ceremonies can be seen live on this website: http://www.universalsports.com/

Go to the paralympic link on this site and click on the schedule. It looks to me like it will be at 7am tomorrow morning. I am hoping that the video will be archived so that you can view it at any time.

Another site is :http://www.usparalympics.org/ You can view the results next week on this site.
You can also try:www.en.beijing2008.cn\paralympic

amy

Adios Jan and Charlie!

Jan and Charlie are on their way to the big "C" tomorrow afternoon!! I wish I could go too. Matthew should already be their and settling in. I'm hoping he will post something soon. Maybe some pictures??? I talked to him on Saturday and he was still having a great time. He said he had some phenomenal sushi for breakfast the other day. He mentioned that he was really being spoiled. Ya think? I am currently living the life as the lowly art teacher here in little ol' Idalou, Texas. My breakfast, for lack of a better word, will be some toast or maybe some yogurt. I guess I will have to live vicariously through my baby bro.! Sushi!(and ribs) for breakfast!?? Must be nice!

Matthew is packing his bags and making ready to leave Japan and travel to Beijing Tuesday. He has had a great time in Japan but is very anxious to begin the next leg of his journey.

His throwing practices have been good, but not great. Hopefully he's saving that fantastic throw for the games!

While in Japan, each team member was assigned a military individual as a sponsor. Matthew's sponsor works on the C130 airplanes. Matthew was given a tour of these huge cargo planes and was allow to start the engines! He spent one day seeing the sights of the area and visited the worlds largest aquarium. He said Japan was beautiful, the people were very friendly and was a place he would enjoy visiting again.

Please keep him in your prayers.

What's ahead?

Matthew is in Okinawa(sp) Japan right now preparing for the 2008 Paralympic games in Beijing! How exciting. He is staying at an airforce base and says it is really nice. He has his own apartment and good food. It is hot and humid in Japan right now and rains every day. He should be at the Beijing Olympic Village on September 2nd and is scheduled to throw on Sept 9th and 16th. Jan and Charlie are set to leave for China on September 3rd.

We don't know much about media coverage right now. We will keep you posted on all of that!

Have a great week!

amy