The African Bush & China

We haven't heard anything specific today about Jay and the team in Africa. Their schedule says that they were to drive from Ougadougou to Bobo-Diolasso (pronounced Bobo-Gilasso) and get acquainted with the missionary family, Kevin & Bonnie Oberg, and the other missionary team members and have a picnic.

As they are 7 hours ahead of us here in Washington, they will be getting up soon to start Tuesday. On Tuesday they will be driving out to the bush, specifically a village called Samorogouan. Jamae is really hoping Jay sees a giraffe while he is there, but Jay has told us that he'll be lucky if he sees an elephant. I guess the animals aren't roaming around as much as we picture it.

Please pray that God will work significantly in the heart of Jay during these two weeks. Please continue to pray for his protection and health.

On the adoption front, we don't know anything new today. Will you please pray that Ming is lovingly prepared for leaving the orphanage and joining our family? We don't know what the orphanage director and nannies are telling him, but we do pray that he knows we are coming on the 30th.

Safe In Africa

We just got word that Jay made it safely to Burkina Faso. They had an uneventful trip, all their luggage came through, and everyone is doing well. Praise the Lord! They were met at the airport by Kevin Oberg (the missionary the team is working with) and they will spend the night in Ouagadougou (pronounced Waga-doogoo).

Please continue praying for God's hand of protection on the team, especially as they adjust to a new culture and the heat.

Africa Bound

Jay is flying to Burkina Faso, Africa today for a 2 week mission trip with 6 other youth and 3 adults from our church. He will be working with Kevin & Bonnie Oberg, who are missionaries from our church. Please pray for Jay as he travels today. He departs Seattle at 2:05 pm and will arrive in Africa tomorrow afternoon at 4:40 pm. He was not really looking forward to the long trip, but he loaded up with snacks, movies to watch and video games to play. I'm sure the trip will go fast as he is traveling with good friends. Jay has the amazing opportunity to spend two weeks ministering in Africa and then two weeks in China to bring home his brother Ming. Two back to back trips half way around the world. Good thing he is young! I'll be giving an update on Jay each day these 2 weeks. I know he appreciates your prayers.

Burkina Faso is the red area on this map of Africa


Jay will arrive in Ouagadougou tomorrow at 4:40 pm. The group will then spend the night there.

Happy Birthday Jay!

Today is Jay's 17th birthday. I'm having a real hard time believing that he is actually 17! Could it really have been 17 years ago that he made me a mommy? He has had a real fun week. First school got out, then he had a big birthday party Wednesday night, today is his birthday, and tomorrow he leaves for Africa!

We started the morning with family breakfast and presents.


Jay and I then finished packing his suitcase and backpack and then he headed to Walmart to spend his birthday money. When he got home, the kids and I went to the Surf "N Slide Waterpark for a couple hours of swimming. We ended the day with our favorite chinese take-out and reeces peanut butter ice cream cake. Over cake, I told the traditional telling of Jay's birth story. He groaned when I started telling it, but I know he secretly enjoyed it. It's Bowser tradition after all.

Has China Called Yet?

Everyday Jamae asks me "Has China called yet?" I have finally been able to say, "Yes! China called and we are going to get Ming!
We are leaving for China on Saturday June 28!!!

Here's the story: Monday, we received a call from our agency telling us that the next group leaving for China was on June 28. My heart sunk because we were really hoping to leave July 5th. I know that sounds strange that I was hoping to leave later since we have been so anxious to get to China. The reason is because Jay comes home from Africa on Friday, June 27th and we were hoping to give him some time between trips. My main fear is that he would not be able to leave Africa on time or miss his connection in Paris on the way home and therefore not arrive in Seattle when he is supposed to, therefore not being able to leave with our family on Saturday. We have spent the last few days praying and trying to figure out the best solution. We have looked into changing his flight from Paris to fly to Hong Kong instead of coming home, but because of the cost, we have decided not to do that. So, we have decided to leave on the 28th, praying that Jay arrives home on time on the 27th.

We secured our flights today. We will leave Moses Lake on Friday morning, June 27, meeting Jay's plane at 11:35 am. Our family will then spend the night in Seattle reconnecting with Jay and will fly out of Seattle Saturday afternoon, June 28. We will arrive in Hong Kong Sunday night, spend the night, and fly to Fuzhou Monday morning, June 30. Monday afternoon we will be united with Ming! Tuesday we will adopt him and he will become a Bowser. We will be flying home on Friday, July 11. Wow! It is amazing how this has all come together after 9 months of waiting. Please pray that God will prepare Ming to join our family in 2 1/2 weeks.

NASA Comes To Moses Lake

We had a very unusual experience today. We had the opportunity to travel about 1 mile from our house to the sand dunes and watch a NASA demonstration. Apparantly, Moses Lake has the most "moon like" surface in the United States so NASA came to practice their moon vehicle manuevers. We were able to watch the astronauts get on the moon vehicle and watch as the vehicle moved around the sand dunes, being directed from Houston. We also saw a robot vehicle that will dig for water on the south pole of the moon.

School Is Out For The Summer

School is over and summer is here! Today was an exciting morning at the Bowser house. We started the day off with our tradition of breakfast out and then the kids went to school for their 2 1/2 hour day. How fun to realize that when we have our traditional breakfast out to start the next school year, Ming will be at the table.


Jay finishing 11th grade


Jesse finishing 8th grade


Madison finishing 6th grade


Mitchell finishing 2nd grade

Fun At The Dentist

Today, Jamae had her first dentist visit. She has been going to the dentist with her sister and brothers and watching all the "fun" that they have had and she was very ready for her first visit. The "fun" is having your picture taken and put on the wall and getting a bag full of toys and chapstick. Here is a picture of Jamae on the wall. She was excited to have her picture put under her two good friends, Ella & Elijah Shaw.

The dentist was pleased at how still she sat and how she allowed him to look at her teeth. Jamae thought it was a lot of fun, especially when she left with her bag full of surprises.