To China, with love

When Toby and Wendy Mueller adopted their daughter Katie in 2006, they fell in love with their child and China.

The Raymond, Wisconsin couple said they had definite thoughts of how they wanted to raise Katie prior to the adoption, but that changed after they experienced the mystery of the Chinese culture and its people.

“While we were preparing for the adoption, they kept talking about the Chinese culture and Toby said, ‘No, she’s going to be an American.’ But once we got there, that changed. She’s always going to be American, but she also has this culture and that’s part of her. Seeing that in China changed us a lot,” Wendy said.

Katie came from Yangxi, a poor rural area in China, where fishing is one of the main industries. Sightseeing in the more metropolitan cities like Beijing and Shanghai, Toby and Wendy realized how much poverty there was in the country. They also noticed that despite their economic status, people still danced in the streets, but they also worked hard.

“Families are really important there,” Wendy said.

So last year, when Toby and Wendy competed in the Ironman Competition in Madison last year, the day after they decided to do it again this year. But the couple thought if they were going to do it, then they needed a purpose. That purpose came in the form of helping the people of China.

Toby and Wendy are members of Grace Church in Caledonia and they felt called to help build a church in Wushan, China, one that isn’t too far from where Katie’s birth parents live.

“This is a place where Katie’s birth parents could find themselves in,” Wendy said.

They found the church they wanted to help through ICM, a nonprofit, trans-denominational ministry that helps build churches worldwide. And for 2009, an anonymous donor will be giving $1 for every $3 that is given. Toby and Wendy want to raise $25,000 of the $31,000 budget the church needs to build a new house of worship, which is currently outside.

“After seeing pictures of these Chinese worshippers meeting outside, God placed that church on our hearts,” Toby said. “That would be our goal. We know that raising $25,000 for a church building in Wushan, China will be challenging in this economy. But, God has a plan and nothing is impossible with Him.” 

Toby and Wendy also hope to finish in the top ten in the Ironman Competition to raise money through the Janus Charity Challenge. Janus, an investment management firm, contributes to the beneficiaries of the top fundraisers at each of the races.

“This was a way to give something back that’s in our heart,” Toby said.

“And because training can be very selfish,” Wendy added.

The couple trains daily for the triathlon, which includes a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike, and a 26.2 marathon.

“The first time going in, you don’t know what you don’t know, but after the race last year we learned what we would do differently,” Wendy said. “But while you are doing it you think: No matter how sick you feel, no matter what goes wrong… you are going go finish what you started,” Wendy said. “This time is our do over.”

But one other thing has changed since Wendy and Toby went to China to get Katie. Wendy has decided to learn to speak Mandarin.

Katie is now three-years-old and giggles when she sees the photos of her parents seeing her for the first time.

“I want her to be bilingual, she’s already learning Spanish,” Wendy said. “And I think the opportunities she will have will be endless, but I also want her to know about the place she came from.”

Toby and Wendy are also on the waiting list for another child, but this one will be a child with special needs.

To make a contribution, go to www.januscharitychallenge.com and click on “How to Donate.”