Update: Summer 2015

It's great to be back in the United States (for a while)!

Doug, Isaac, and Kelley at the
Xi'an International School Graduation

It has been another exciting and fruitful year in China. In June, Isaac graduated from Xi'an International School. This summer has been short and quick, filled with graduation parties (4 total!!! - 1 in China, 1 in Minnesota, and 2 in Iowa) and preparation for Isaac to attend college.  In just a few weeks Isaac will begin his collegiate career at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA.

Isaac with some of his classmates in Xi'an

We've had a busy summer of traveling through the US. First it was graduation parties, then a family wedding in Iowa, then off to GTC Directors and Board Meetings in Florida, and now, California to get Isaac set at School. Bless all of you who have allowed us to "camp out" in your homes

Isaac, Renee, Doug, and Nate in Stillwater

While we were in Minnesota, we had a special time with Nate and Renee. Nate is entering his sophomore year at DePaul University in Chicago and Renee is entering her senior year at Mahtomedi High School in Minnesota.

Before having dinner together in Stillwater we took some pictures!!

Renee will be a senior at Mahtomedi High School

Nate has been getting involved with many exciting media opportunities this summer. We'll try to post some of his creative work soon!

Having fun in Stillwater

Carly is still working for Committee Films in Minnesota where they had one of their productions ("In An Instant") picked up by ABC last Fall. She was the associate producer and wrote 3 of the episodes. ABC is continuing the series! Congrats to Carly!

Carly with the crew/team on a recent shoot.

In January, Liza went on a trip with Healing Haiti and had an awesome time loving all the kids - her sweet spot!!

Isaac has been growing in his skills as a song writer/composer and recently wrote and recorded a song with Kelley singing back up. Listen to Isaac's song it at...  https://youtu.be/oZly-zUnkug

If you would like to know when we will be in your area and would like to see us, please email us at dsamuelson@globaltc.org.

More to come.......

Summer 2014

It has been another amazing year in China, but we are so glad to be back in the United States for a short time. 

Family News!!

The big news is that our son, Nate, graduated from Mahtomedi High School this June and will be attending DePaul University in Chicago.

Carly is still living in Minneapolis and working at an independent film company, Committee Films.

Liza just turned 21 (!!) and is at St. Thomas working on a Criminal Justice/Psychology degree.

Isaac is a senior in High School, turns 18 in December, and is the only one of our children with us in China. He will graduate from Xi'an International School this spring.

Renee (our youngest) will turn 17 in October and attends Mahtomedi High School where she will graduate in just under 700 days.

We're celebrating all we can this summer with graduations, birthdays, Father's Day, etc...

Liza, Renee, Doug, Nate, and Carly at Nate's Graduation Dinner Party

The brothers at Nate's big Day!

Renee, Carly, Doug, Kelley, Nate, Liza, and Isaac

Enjoying some clean air and beautiful sunsets!

Isaac with one of his cabins at Hidden Acres Camp, Dayton Iowa

 Isaac has been spending the summer working at Hidden Acres Camp. All the kids love him and are amazed to hear him speak Chinese.

Kelley with her new niece, Evelyn June

In other news.... Kelley was able to make it back just in time for the birth of her new niece Evelyn June (her sister Marlene's first baby). She is also anticipating the birth of another nephew (due to her sister Kim in Mid-July).

Isaac testing out his new drum set at the music store.

A special Thank You to the kids at Converge for giving Isaac a drum set in China.

Summer 2013 update

We have had a wonderful summer in the United States. It has been absolutely packed with meetings and busy Sunday's, but we have been blessed to spend time with friends and family and have also had opportunity to make many new friends.

It's already time for us to return to China, so we want to take a moment to update you on the amazing summer we have had. There's no way we can capture it all, but this gives you just a glimpse into our lives this summer. (also see the "Summer 2013" pictures to the right)


 
In the midst of a packed schedule Doug had a wonderful summer spending time with the USA Samuelson kids. Going out to eat, camping in thunderstorms (on Father's Day), going to Como Park with Liza and the kids she nanny's, and.....

Father's Day

being part of the welcoming of the newest family member.... Carly's dog Quincy!

Look out! New driver on the road!

Isaac had a great summer working as a counselor at Hidden Acres Camp in Iowa. He also completed drivers ed and is now a licensed driver!

Isaac as a counselor

Shopping in the US!

Shopping in the US is so much easier than China!

Kelley at Iowa Father's Day Celebration

John Schuler at his Maple Grove store.

We were blessed by such generous and creative support! One example is John and Nancy Schuler (Schuler Shoes) outfitting our family with shoes for an entire year of walking in China!

We won't be seeing this for a while!!!

It's going to be hard to leave behind amazing meals,

Iowa Farm Fields

Washington State Sunrise

beautiful scenery, fresh air, most of all... you!

Back in the US

Hello Friends and Family,

We are excited (and ready) to be back in the US for a short few months. Doug arrived in Minnesota in early May and Kelley will return  with Isaac after he finishes up the school year at Xi'an International School (in late May). Please pray that time will go fast (we hate being apart!).

It has been a hectic but blessed year for us. Thank you to everyone who so graciously helped us to get to Thailand for medical needs. It was a huge blessing to have so many of you support us in that urgent need. We can't thank you enough.

Another Goal for Nate (#25)

Doug has already been able to spend time with the U.S. Samuelson kids since his return. He is having the time of his life watching several of Nate's lacrosse games. (Doug reports 5 goals in the last 3 games!)

 

Renee at Lake Minnetonka

And watching Renee race in a sailing regatta!











Carly graduates from St. Thomas later this month and has recently accepted a position in a Minnesota film company that makes documentary movies. Liza is wrapping up her sophomore year at St. Thomas and is talking about the possibility of taking some time off next year to explore the world before declaring a major. 

Isaac as "Prospero" in Shakspear's The Tempest

In Xi'an, Isaac has had a great year sophomore year. This spring he was the lead in The Tempest ("Prospero") and did a great job with memorizing about 200 lines and monologues. This summer he will work as a counselor at Hidden Acres Camp in Iowa.

We are so blessed to have such talented kids!



We are excited to be back in the US for a few months and are hoping to see all of you. Be sure to check out the calendar section of our blog to see when we will be in your area.

Also, take a look at the updated needs list and prayer list to see other ways that you can support us.

We are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family who support us in our calling.

We hope to see you soon!

 

Urgent Need!

Dear Friends, Family and Faithful supporters,

We need your faithful prayers and we are asking each one of you, to pray about giving financially towards these two urgent needs.

 The first need is for $5,000 that is due Feb 15 that pays for our years rent for the headquarters that provides a launching and training base for our efforts in Northern Asia.

 The second, Kelley is needing some medical care that she is not able to get in China she will need to travel to Thailand and have an outpatient surgery.

Typical Kelley, full of life!

 

Kelley, on one of the very low air quality days

Kelley has really been struggling with the bad pollution that has recently spiked in Xi'an (it hit 800 on the index - severe conditions are 300!). Our joy filled wife and mother needs your prayers! Our son Isaac and myself are also needing to see doctors in Thailand. We have excellent insurance, but our copay and travel costs total $2500. The medical funds are needed as soon as possible.

We can’t thank you enough for praying about this situation.

If you have any specific questions, please email me

Busy in Xi'an

Hello Family and Friends,

I apologize for the lack of posts lately. We have been having an increasingly difficult time adding new posts while being out of the country. Hopefully that will change soon, but regardless I am taking advantage of being back in the states for GTC board meetings this week.

Children with their new backpacks on.

Backpack Giveaway!!
Our friends invited us to their school in a nearby rural community and we brought blessing backpacks containing a hat, a scarf and a stuffed animal for each kindergartener. In return, they gave us bags of the most amazing apples in the province!

Isaac, Kelley and Doug with the local school leaders

Xu Xue, Translating Materials

Translation of Materials
We are excited about translation efforts which have begun. The materials being translated will be used this spring as small groups are launched in the Northeast where communities have asked for assistance. Mark W., our like-minded friend, contacted us nearly a year ago about the need for these materials in that region.  





Christmas in China!
The recognition of Christmas as a holiday has recently begun in China and there is much confusion surrounding the Christmas Holiday. The image of Santa can be seen taped to store windows, random traditions have sprung up (some including giving apples as gifts), and often you will find Christmas decorations mixed in with Halloween masks, etc... There is very little (if any) understanding of the birth of Christ as a part of it.

Chinese New Year, 2012

Non-stop fireworks for 2 weeks!

We will soon be experiencing Chunjie (Chinese New Year) which is a celebration that lasts from February 2 - 17th. This is considered the largest mass migration of people in the world as many millions on people return to their home cities to spend the holiday with their family. Most stores close during that time or have greatly reduced hours. Fireworks can be heard nonstop and often the sky is filled with smoke. We have heard that walking out side during this time is worse than smoking two packs of cigarettes a day.

Lately we have hit a string of days with poor air quality. It has hit all of us pretty hard.

The difference in air quality can be striking!

Congratulations to Isaac!
This summer he will be working as a counselor at Hidden Acres Camp in Dayton, IA.  

Christmas with my Kids and Winter in Minnesota!

I just had a wonderful Christmas celebration with 4 of my 5 children (Isaac, #5, is in Xi'an with Kelley right now)!

Renee, Liza, Carly, and Nate
December 2012

Nate

Carly, Liza, Nate, Renee, and Colin (Carly's boyfriend) all met up in a beautiful setting in Wisconsin. Our friends, the Carlson's, let us take over their cabin for 2 days. We had a blast watching videos of Christmas' past and eating way too much of our favorite foods. We made the most of the time. I'm so proud of my children and blessed that we all have a great relationship. It was hard to say goodbye for another 5 or 6 months, but we are looking forward to spending more time together this coming summer.



I thought I might be able to sneak in and out of Minnesota without any of the "winter-y" stuff.

When I arrived it was in the 50's and even 60's. I thought to myself, "wow, maybe Minnesota weather isn't as bad as I have made it out to be"....... But, Minnesota had the last laugh!

A foot of snow later....
I was scraping windows and shoveling snow. It sure is beautiful though.

I head back to China today. It's always great to return to the States, we have such an amazing country. China is not an easy place to live, but Kelley, Isaac, and I have a "grace" to be there. We love our time in China and know that is right where we should be.

Exciting things are taking shape in China, so I'm anxious to get back....I'm also really missing my wife!