I mentioned that Hallie was much happier in the thanksgiving list. I thought I would elaborate. She was not really unhappy to be in China, but sometimes she thought she was. When she was very tired and something happened, she would sometimes say “I wish we were back in America”. Sometimes she would complain and say she missed America. It was starting to rub off on the other kids too. She was not like that all the time, most of the time she was a normal 8 year old girl (that lives in a foreign country). We had to talk to her about her attitude and how important it was that she at least seem happy.
Thanksgiving Day was hard on her. She cried because she missed the Annual Hardin Thanksgiving breakfast (never mind that they did not do breakfast this year). We have had to talk to all of the kids about not dwelling on what we don’t have or are missing, but being thankful for what we DO have. Sometime after that she had a turning point. When we had our Thanksgiving celebration, she said that it was a “great Thanksgiving”, (it might have had something to do with the 5 rice crispy treats she ate).
She has two friends now. One I already told you about, and the other I will write about in another entry.
The other day on the bus, some students asked if she liked China, and she said yes! Before she would only say, it was ok. She says now she is used to China. We are very thankful that she (and the other kids) are adjusting and feeling “at home”.
Monday, December 29, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Progress in December
Searching for someone to fix up our new apartment, GaoYan met a Christian contractor. His family is also Christian. They meet with a large group on Sundays. The contractor’s wife called a sister who lives close by to us. She visited our home one night to encourage and pray with GaoYan and her mom.
In my English classes we studied the birth of Jesus Christ starting with John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” Mary and Joseph, birth in a manger, the shepherds, and the wise men. The students were surprised to learn that Mary was younger than any of them. I also played some Christmas songs Michael W. Smith “Welcome to Our World” and MercyMe “What Child is This?”
I have not appreciated Wednesday night “required” English corners. Finally they are over for the semester. Looking back, however, I can think of four students specifically who have heard the good news message.
The WenSan group hosted a fabulous well planned Christmas party at a school for autistic children. I have enjoyed visiting their services for the past month. And we are looking forward to building some relationships in a small group setting during the semester break.
GaoYan Caleb and I have been spending some time with a young boy named Eric and his parents. They lived in Los Angeles for two years, so Eric speaks English better than most other seven years olds in Hangzhou. Eric’s dad is a doctor. Last night we learned Eric’s dad does stem cell research for liver regeneration.
Reading the book Simple Church, how is a clearly defined focused plan with movement so that disciples develop applied to a small congregation in China? How is a focused plan applied to me so that I can become a better disciple of Christ?
In my English classes we studied the birth of Jesus Christ starting with John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” Mary and Joseph, birth in a manger, the shepherds, and the wise men. The students were surprised to learn that Mary was younger than any of them. I also played some Christmas songs Michael W. Smith “Welcome to Our World” and MercyMe “What Child is This?”
I have not appreciated Wednesday night “required” English corners. Finally they are over for the semester. Looking back, however, I can think of four students specifically who have heard the good news message.
The WenSan group hosted a fabulous well planned Christmas party at a school for autistic children. I have enjoyed visiting their services for the past month. And we are looking forward to building some relationships in a small group setting during the semester break.
GaoYan Caleb and I have been spending some time with a young boy named Eric and his parents. They lived in Los Angeles for two years, so Eric speaks English better than most other seven years olds in Hangzhou. Eric’s dad is a doctor. Last night we learned Eric’s dad does stem cell research for liver regeneration.
Reading the book Simple Church, how is a clearly defined focused plan with movement so that disciples develop applied to a small congregation in China? How is a focused plan applied to me so that I can become a better disciple of Christ?
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
sisters fellowshipping (by Cecely)
Hi everyone! We are enjoying the beautiful wintery weather and the wonderful Christmas decorations all around town and in our own house this season. Drinking hot chocolate and tea, thanks to you. I wanted to add to what Jason has said that I've started to see a spirit of fellowship developing between the RJ group's ladies and the W3 group's ladies lately. Julia has come over to visit Margaret for a Sunday meeting once recently, as has Connie. Both are really warm and bring a spirit of encouragement not only to Marg. and Elaine, but also to us. I've taken to sending all of them short encouraging text messages to keep them thinking on higher things, and they reciprocate.
Also, I want to say that Wei and Zhao have shown over the past month or so, a little more curiousity about the scriptures I read before or after our yoga class. I am really thankful for their questions, as that had been a prayer request. Please keep that in your thoughts.
And also, be asking that soon we can strengthen our relationships with Mei Hong and Qing Peng, a couple who will be our new neighbors after we change apartments, and Bob Ruan, a co-worker of ours, and his family who live here in our complex as well. I hope the approaching holiday break will give us time to strengthen these connections and get something good started.
We have two main things to focus on: strengthening the existing believers and sharing the message with new contacts. Please pray that we will have spirit of balance and discernment, patience and courage, as we strive to incorporate both into our min. here.
Thanks for your support, all of you! It means a lot!
Also, I want to say that Wei and Zhao have shown over the past month or so, a little more curiousity about the scriptures I read before or after our yoga class. I am really thankful for their questions, as that had been a prayer request. Please keep that in your thoughts.
And also, be asking that soon we can strengthen our relationships with Mei Hong and Qing Peng, a couple who will be our new neighbors after we change apartments, and Bob Ruan, a co-worker of ours, and his family who live here in our complex as well. I hope the approaching holiday break will give us time to strengthen these connections and get something good started.
We have two main things to focus on: strengthening the existing believers and sharing the message with new contacts. Please pray that we will have spirit of balance and discernment, patience and courage, as we strive to incorporate both into our min. here.
Thanks for your support, all of you! It means a lot!
The Miracle of the Mattress (or Chinese Chanukah)
Clarks again... [as if the title didn't give it away]
I just thought it might be a good idea, in this current cultural climate of fairness and equality* -- and since, after all, we just celebrated 30 Years Of China's Reform And Opening-Up Policy** here in the "motherland" -- to share with you a brief personal story that I think captures the spirit of that other major, religious, winter holiday*** quite well.
God's providential care touches us all at many times and in many ways, some no doubt more amazing than others. Depending on your definition of terms and/or theological slant, you might call these occurrences "miracles" or maybe not. But, there's no denying the fact that we've all seen some pretty cool things happen when we least expected it.
Like, a few weeks ago when we went out to buy a new mattress pad for the bed:
When we moved in here, all we had on our bed was a box spring. Period. Which (you'll know if you've ever tried it) is not very comfortable to sleep on by itself.
In the guest room was a futon couch/bed. So, being the highly adaptive creatures that we are, we figured out -- after like only 2 or 3 painful nights -- to take the futon mattress and use it as a bed pad on our main bed. Smart, huh? So, we were going along fine, until...
Wei comes over for yoga, you know, and she had seen that we were not using the futon; we had the frame out on the porch, as a matter of fact -- to make room for yoga class. So, she had this guest coming to stay with her family and asked if she could borrow our futon [which, since she's the landlady, you know, is really hers anyway]. I didn't have the heart or guts to say no; to explain that, although we aren't using the frame, we are actually using the mattress. In fact, it's the only thing that allows us even the moderate level of comfort we struggle to enjoy night after tossing-and-turning night. I just said OK, she can keep it, no problem.
In fact, I even helped carry the whole contraption down the six [or 11, depending how you count 'em] flights of stairs to the bottom of our apartment building -- straining my back something awful -- hauling away my only hope of happy rest.
So... fast forward. It's a couple weeks later; I'm hurting. We know we are about to move, so we are trying to hold out. We think -- if only we can make it -- maybe the new bed will be better. But we just can't take it; we've gotta get a bed pad for this thing!
And so, we went off to the store to have a look. But, what we didn't think of was to measure the bed. China, you see, doesn't have King and Queen and so on -- too many feudal connotations, I guess -- instead, they use metric measurements, as in 195 centimeters long by... Well, we weren't sure how wide. And since we're dumb Americans, 150, 170, 180, 200 centimeters -- it's all the same to me.
But we figured it out pretty fast, using another favorite American way of thinking: just buy the biggest one! And so, we bring it home, put it on the bed, and...
"Wow, there's like a foot or more hanging off the side!"
"That can probably be tucked under."
Yes, we'd bought the 200, when it turns out our bed is only a 150.
Well anyway... I'm sure you're thinking this story sure doesn't sound like a miracle. But wait!
The very next day [or maybe it was later than that, but for the sake of drama...] we finally got to see the new apartment, which we'd never seen before, mind you. And... Lo and behold... what size do think our new, future bed will be... or, is I should say...?
Yes, it's a giant 200cm master bed -- that's hard as a rock -- there's literally no mattress at all!
And here we'd just bought this seemingly stupid, over-sized bed pad!
Wow! I mean, doesn't that make you want to light a menorah candle!
Seriously, we thank God every day for His wisdom and providence.
I encourage us all to do so.
May He bless you this day and tomorrow.****
FOOTNOTES:
*I say this tongue in cheek; although, we should of course and always show respect and love for others.
**Even though we didn't personally participate, there were actually big celebrations on campus and around the country. And hey, if it weren't for this poilicy, we wouldn't be allowed here!
***If you don't know what Chanukah / Hanukkah is all about, then it's probably time you googled it.
****Amen.
I just thought it might be a good idea, in this current cultural climate of fairness and equality* -- and since, after all, we just celebrated 30 Years Of China's Reform And Opening-Up Policy** here in the "motherland" -- to share with you a brief personal story that I think captures the spirit of that other major, religious, winter holiday*** quite well.
God's providential care touches us all at many times and in many ways, some no doubt more amazing than others. Depending on your definition of terms and/or theological slant, you might call these occurrences "miracles" or maybe not. But, there's no denying the fact that we've all seen some pretty cool things happen when we least expected it.
Like, a few weeks ago when we went out to buy a new mattress pad for the bed:
When we moved in here, all we had on our bed was a box spring. Period. Which (you'll know if you've ever tried it) is not very comfortable to sleep on by itself.
In the guest room was a futon couch/bed. So, being the highly adaptive creatures that we are, we figured out -- after like only 2 or 3 painful nights -- to take the futon mattress and use it as a bed pad on our main bed. Smart, huh? So, we were going along fine, until...
Wei comes over for yoga, you know, and she had seen that we were not using the futon; we had the frame out on the porch, as a matter of fact -- to make room for yoga class. So, she had this guest coming to stay with her family and asked if she could borrow our futon [which, since she's the landlady, you know, is really hers anyway]. I didn't have the heart or guts to say no; to explain that, although we aren't using the frame, we are actually using the mattress. In fact, it's the only thing that allows us even the moderate level of comfort we struggle to enjoy night after tossing-and-turning night. I just said OK, she can keep it, no problem.
In fact, I even helped carry the whole contraption down the six [or 11, depending how you count 'em] flights of stairs to the bottom of our apartment building -- straining my back something awful -- hauling away my only hope of happy rest.
So... fast forward. It's a couple weeks later; I'm hurting. We know we are about to move, so we are trying to hold out. We think -- if only we can make it -- maybe the new bed will be better. But we just can't take it; we've gotta get a bed pad for this thing!
And so, we went off to the store to have a look. But, what we didn't think of was to measure the bed. China, you see, doesn't have King and Queen and so on -- too many feudal connotations, I guess -- instead, they use metric measurements, as in 195 centimeters long by... Well, we weren't sure how wide. And since we're dumb Americans, 150, 170, 180, 200 centimeters -- it's all the same to me.
But we figured it out pretty fast, using another favorite American way of thinking: just buy the biggest one! And so, we bring it home, put it on the bed, and...
"Wow, there's like a foot or more hanging off the side!"
"That can probably be tucked under."
Yes, we'd bought the 200, when it turns out our bed is only a 150.
Well anyway... I'm sure you're thinking this story sure doesn't sound like a miracle. But wait!
The very next day [or maybe it was later than that, but for the sake of drama...] we finally got to see the new apartment, which we'd never seen before, mind you. And... Lo and behold... what size do think our new, future bed will be... or, is I should say...?
Yes, it's a giant 200cm master bed -- that's hard as a rock -- there's literally no mattress at all!
And here we'd just bought this seemingly stupid, over-sized bed pad!
Wow! I mean, doesn't that make you want to light a menorah candle!
Seriously, we thank God every day for His wisdom and providence.
I encourage us all to do so.
May He bless you this day and tomorrow.****
FOOTNOTES:
*I say this tongue in cheek; although, we should of course and always show respect and love for others.
**Even though we didn't personally participate, there were actually big celebrations on campus and around the country. And hey, if it weren't for this poilicy, we wouldn't be allowed here!
***If you don't know what Chanukah / Hanukkah is all about, then it's probably time you googled it.
****Amen.
Clarks: The 4 or 5 Days of Christmas
Good News: Our moods are lifting! Thanks, at least in part, to your holiday gift-giving! Hooray and thank you!We've had the tree up for the better part of the month -- with gifts underneath the whole time* -- and now we have started to open our presents!
Yes, this is one of the privileges of being a grown-up (with no kids either) -- we get to start unwrapping things pretty much whenever we want! So, because we will be up at the school most of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, we are making this whole week our own Clark-style Christmas -- complete with lights, music, and gifts... every day!
So far, we have opened a few from our family members in Arkansas [that black cat curled up in the upper-left is fake, by the way, something Grandma Ellen sent us] and a few from the "family" at Clear Creek. I've got an extensive coffee collection -- like, with 9 types total, plus syrup; Cec has enough warm socks and PJs to see her through this winter and next; we even got some dijon mustard and fancy cheeses. Oh, and I've already redeemed my iTunes card to purchase a great new Christian rap CD by a guy named K-Drama. I spent forever surfing around and making my decision, which was an awesome way to spend the better part of Monday morning, and then finally decided on this one from a guy I hadn't known of before. [See music link** and comments*** below.]
Also, we're hosting a small Christmas gift exchange party this Saturday. The whole team, the Beamons, and Steve are all invited. We'll be having some of the coffee and tea you sent, and there will be brownies and pumkin bread, which I think must also have come in a package some time or another.
Other than our material blessings, I should mention that the team has done really well working together recently to come up with some definitive plans for helping the W3 and others. I wrote to Joseph about some of the issues I've been concerned about, and he is really open to discussing and re-examining those things, so that was encouraging. I included a lot of encouraging comments towards him and what he has accomplished so far in his teaching and reaching out, so it was uplifting for both of us. And Connie -- whom some of you will recognize from W3, but whom I just really met for the first time at Marg's place -- gave me some great advice and encouraging words last Sunday. She's a mature and self-assured lady who, despite her young spiritual age, has a wealth of insight and wisdom. [Too bad she's going to Beijing!]
So, we're doing better. Very well, in fact.
Thanks for your prayers and presents.
FOOTNOTES:
*It was cool because the first box of presents arrived the same day when I had been whining about not getting anything yet -- and the same day we had already planned to go get the tree!
**If you wanna check out the CD I bought: http://holyculturedownload.com/index.php?cPath=9&sessID=8e0f974b07df5de98632e477cd1d015f Of course, if the link fails, you can just go to the main page and find K-Drama from there. Also give a listen to Lecrae & Trip Lee.
***Parents: I want to suggest that, if your kids are into rap music at all, you turn them on to this website and these albums. I know some people have reasons why they don't support the "Christian" music scene, but if you listen to what "mainstream" rappers are talking about, then you'll probably be willing to reconsider and give these guys a chance.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Clarks: Yes, we're still here!
It seems like "a month of Sundays" since we last posted anything! So much has been happening... there've been times when we thought of something we wanted to write about or a picture we wanted to share, but then something comes up... or we're just too exhausted from living the experience to sit down and write about it.
But now, teaching is finished - all that's left is final exams (and grading!) - so we finally feel like we've got a minute to spare. So, let's catch you up on a couple of things:
First, Joseph:
I've (Jason) been going out to see him and a sister, Monica, to study and pray and have lunch together. It has been going well, but to tell you the truth, I sometimes don't know where it's going, like, what's the point or the end goal. So, I thought we'd switch it up this time and I asked Joseph to prepare us some kind of service project to do. We even decided to move the day from Wednesday to Tuesday so Cec could join us after class. She also had the idea to take a sack of gifts - things we got in the mail from you guys, actually - to give away to... well, to whoever Joseph had arranged for us to serve. Presumably some of the poor residents of his neighborhood or some school kids or somebody like that.
That isn't exactly how things went. It's a rather long and relatively boring story... The shortened version: We went to the art studio where he teaches part-time and met a few of his students. Then we toured the art college campus. Then we ate lunch. Then we went to his house and looked on his computer at some pictures and the first few slides of a .ppt that he'd gotten from some American guy and had recently shared with those aforementioned art students. The point of which... I have no real idea. We left the sack of stuff with him and Monica to distribute at some later date to whomever they see fit.
Just writing that short little description tires me out and discourages me. That's the feeling right now, I must admit. I mean, we went straight from Cecely's class all the way down there, spent five hours mostly just walking around having our picture made in front of different buildings, then slogged our way back home in HZ's heavy late-afternoon bus traffic - in service of... what? [All I can do is console myself with the thought of Romans 8:28, but that hardly helps when you're tired and frustrated and foot sore and wondering When does the big service project begin?] I guess there was a misunderstanding; either that, or maybe whatever Joseph had in mind fell through, and he just didn't have the heart to admit it.
Anyway, we're tired. We're thankful to be coming up on this six-week break. All the team needs the rest. We'll still be working - wink, wink - which we are glad about. In fact, we have some big things coming up with W3. [More news later.] But we will also have some time to enjoy the city and won't have to schedule everything around our classes and activities at school.
So... There've been ups and downs... The moving stuff [which is sort of on hold - too complicated to explain, but we'll let you know when it actually happens]; some issues at school [we will give exams for 6 hours on Christmas day - again, not worth telling what all we've been through with that issue]; we have had really good weather recently, and... We have received your gift packages! We love everything we've seen - and expect the same for those gifts that were wrapped and are waiting under the little tree beside our TV.
Guang likes the boxes!
There are still so many other things that come to mind - some good news brewing among the RJ ladies' group; the witnessing of - just yesterday on a public street near the school - what is certainly the worst act of animal cruelty I have ever had the misfortune to see; a really nice evening out near the lake; the on-going congestion of our cat (who is doing really well this morning, though). We give him nose drops, cough syrup, Chinese herbal medicine tea - whichever he seems to need at the time - at least once every day.
We are blessed. We are happy (mostly). We need this break and are thankful to have it.
Thank you for your concern and prayers. Please just say something to our Dad about restoration and rejuvenation - for the whole team - and things will no doubt pick-up again (mood wise) very soon. Blessings to you. Amen.
But now, teaching is finished - all that's left is final exams (and grading!) - so we finally feel like we've got a minute to spare. So, let's catch you up on a couple of things:
First, Joseph:
I've (Jason) been going out to see him and a sister, Monica, to study and pray and have lunch together. It has been going well, but to tell you the truth, I sometimes don't know where it's going, like, what's the point or the end goal. So, I thought we'd switch it up this time and I asked Joseph to prepare us some kind of service project to do. We even decided to move the day from Wednesday to Tuesday so Cec could join us after class. She also had the idea to take a sack of gifts - things we got in the mail from you guys, actually - to give away to... well, to whoever Joseph had arranged for us to serve. Presumably some of the poor residents of his neighborhood or some school kids or somebody like that.
That isn't exactly how things went. It's a rather long and relatively boring story... The shortened version: We went to the art studio where he teaches part-time and met a few of his students. Then we toured the art college campus. Then we ate lunch. Then we went to his house and looked on his computer at some pictures and the first few slides of a .ppt that he'd gotten from some American guy and had recently shared with those aforementioned art students. The point of which... I have no real idea. We left the sack of stuff with him and Monica to distribute at some later date to whomever they see fit.
Just writing that short little description tires me out and discourages me. That's the feeling right now, I must admit. I mean, we went straight from Cecely's class all the way down there, spent five hours mostly just walking around having our picture made in front of different buildings, then slogged our way back home in HZ's heavy late-afternoon bus traffic - in service of... what? [All I can do is console myself with the thought of Romans 8:28, but that hardly helps when you're tired and frustrated and foot sore and wondering When does the big service project begin?] I guess there was a misunderstanding; either that, or maybe whatever Joseph had in mind fell through, and he just didn't have the heart to admit it.
Anyway, we're tired. We're thankful to be coming up on this six-week break. All the team needs the rest. We'll still be working - wink, wink - which we are glad about. In fact, we have some big things coming up with W3. [More news later.] But we will also have some time to enjoy the city and won't have to schedule everything around our classes and activities at school.
So... There've been ups and downs... The moving stuff [which is sort of on hold - too complicated to explain, but we'll let you know when it actually happens]; some issues at school [we will give exams for 6 hours on Christmas day - again, not worth telling what all we've been through with that issue]; we have had really good weather recently, and... We have received your gift packages! We love everything we've seen - and expect the same for those gifts that were wrapped and are waiting under the little tree beside our TV.
Guang likes the boxes!
There are still so many other things that come to mind - some good news brewing among the RJ ladies' group; the witnessing of - just yesterday on a public street near the school - what is certainly the worst act of animal cruelty I have ever had the misfortune to see; a really nice evening out near the lake; the on-going congestion of our cat (who is doing really well this morning, though). We give him nose drops, cough syrup, Chinese herbal medicine tea - whichever he seems to need at the time - at least once every day.
We are blessed. We are happy (mostly). We need this break and are thankful to have it.
Thank you for your concern and prayers. Please just say something to our Dad about restoration and rejuvenation - for the whole team - and things will no doubt pick-up again (mood wise) very soon. Blessings to you. Amen.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
HOT DATE DAVIS
Actuall the weather was quite cold. GaoYan and I took our date money and escaped. Some of the best memories in our marriage have been exploring new cities on vacation, so we spent one night in Shaoxing. We left Caleb with Grandma. Shaoxing is so close it actually took more time getting to the train station than the train to Shaoxing. But we felt like we were on vacation. A boat man rowed us down the canal with his foot oar. He would stop along the way at cultural sights. We could get out of the boat, walk around, and then we would continue down the canal under little bridges. Ladies were making sausages, cleaning out pig intestines and stuffing them back with chopped pork and fat. Then the sausages were hung in the sunshine to cure. For dinner we enjoyed hotpot for nearly two hours. The window in our hotel room opened up to a small canal. We slept in until 8:45 and enjoyed a cup of coffee and pastries at Starbucks. On the train ride back, GaoYan and I were amazed by how refreshed we felt after just a day and a half out of town.
Friday, December 5, 2008
An answer!
I have been asking all of you to remember several specific things. One is that Hallie wants a friend. There are times that she really does feel lonely. This past Wednesday night we went to the required weekly event, "English corner". Sometimes the kids really like this time, but lately Hallie has really dreaded it.
The teacher in charge of English corner was there that night and she had her daughter with her! Her daughter is only about a month or so younger than Hallie. She stayed and they played together. There were a few awkward moments, but they managed to find a few games that they could play without really talking. I tell you, it was so great to hear Hallie laughing and giggling with a friend!
They just moved to an apartment close to campus. Michelle said her daughter has been feeling a little lonely too because most of her friends are in the city. She invited Hallie to come and play with her sometime. I really hope this works out. It really seems like an answer to a prayer!
Also we will probably do something with a nearby school and our kids will be able to participate too. He is really REALLY good!
The teacher in charge of English corner was there that night and she had her daughter with her! Her daughter is only about a month or so younger than Hallie. She stayed and they played together. There were a few awkward moments, but they managed to find a few games that they could play without really talking. I tell you, it was so great to hear Hallie laughing and giggling with a friend!
They just moved to an apartment close to campus. Michelle said her daughter has been feeling a little lonely too because most of her friends are in the city. She invited Hallie to come and play with her sometime. I really hope this works out. It really seems like an answer to a prayer!
Also we will probably do something with a nearby school and our kids will be able to participate too. He is really REALLY good!
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Sunday we had our church Thanksgiving meal. We planned it for Sunday because most of us have classes on Thursday and Friday. Saturday, we went with the ……on a trip down the Grand Canal. We did not even try to find a turkey this year. We figured that goose and Chicken would be much easier. We did need to find a place to cook the goose because our oven would NOT be big enough. Jon took a student and arranged for a restaurant to bake the goose. Sunday morning dawned and Jon went to the market to get the goose. Yes, it was alive when he picked it out, but they did butcher, pluck, and clean it for him. Then he took the goose (head and feet connected) to the restaurant. However, they said that it was too big to fit in their oven too! We got someone to help us and they ended up frying the goose for us. They did have to chop it in half first. We also ordered some chickens from that restaurant. The meat was really delicious. I made corn bread dressing, rice crispy treats (no leftovers) and chocolate oatmeal no-bake cookies. Cecily made red jello salad, sweet potato casserole, and pumpkin pies (yum yum). The Beamons ( a family that lives in the north of the city and worships with us) brought green beans, corn, and mashed potatoes. Josh and Yan brought the drinks and some Chinese short ribs. There were no left-overs there either! After the meal we sat around and drank some hot cider and nibbled on desserts before and after our regular Sunday meeting. This all sounds normal and not that amazing, but to us a large real Western meal is a huge treat! Hallie said that it was a great Thanksgiving! ( she did eat FIVE rice crispy treats!) We are thankful that we are in China but we are also thankful for a taste of home.
The spread of food!
The meat, chicken and goose!
Enjoying the meal
The spread of food!
The meat, chicken and goose!
Desserts: pumpkin pie, chocolate oatmeal cookies, and rice crispy treats (covered)
Enjoying the meal
Caleb still has tummy woes, but he ate jello and bread.
An Hour of Peace
GaoYan was saying you have to sit at the tea house on campus. The views are great. The porch overlooks a hillside patterned with tea plants. You can buy a cup of tea. They give you a thermos of hot water for as many refills as you want. Finally I made it here. The morning sun is warming my back and birds are singing about left over sunflower seeds.
For the past two weeks Caleb has had a stomach virus. We have felt worried and overworked, so GaoYan’s parents came to help. This allows Yan and I time of escape from the house we don’t normally enjoy. Sunday I attended a local worship. And last night we rode the bicycle, Yan holding tight with her arms around my stomach, to the KFC to prepare our English lessons. We are even planning to get out of Hangzhou for a day to explore a nearby water town. And now God has brought me to this hour of peace.
In daily life my prayer time is filled with “Help me to be a good father and husband. Help me to reach out, encourage, and teach that person. Give us health. Give me strength.” There are hundreds of things I should do or be. Finally God has shown me rest in this hour of peace. In the distance behind me God has set rows and rows of mountains. For the past hour I have only thought about this tree covered hill before me meeting the light blue sky and God made it beautiful for my eyes. Or the bamboo trees blow back and forth without a sound.
For the past two weeks Caleb has had a stomach virus. We have felt worried and overworked, so GaoYan’s parents came to help. This allows Yan and I time of escape from the house we don’t normally enjoy. Sunday I attended a local worship. And last night we rode the bicycle, Yan holding tight with her arms around my stomach, to the KFC to prepare our English lessons. We are even planning to get out of Hangzhou for a day to explore a nearby water town. And now God has brought me to this hour of peace.
In daily life my prayer time is filled with “Help me to be a good father and husband. Help me to reach out, encourage, and teach that person. Give us health. Give me strength.” There are hundreds of things I should do or be. Finally God has shown me rest in this hour of peace. In the distance behind me God has set rows and rows of mountains. For the past hour I have only thought about this tree covered hill before me meeting the light blue sky and God made it beautiful for my eyes. Or the bamboo trees blow back and forth without a sound.
Friday, November 28, 2008
One hundred days!
We have been in China 100 days now. It is a little strange that I know that, but I counted it! Does it seem that long?
Not long after we arrived, I was chatting with the kids and somehow 100 days came up. Some schools have a special day when they have been in school 100 days, so I thought it might be fun to plan something special for our 100th day in China. I counted on my calendar and today Friday, November 28, 2008 is the 100th day since our arrival. I had plans to do a bunch of things today, but with my teaching schedule the only thing we did was count 100 chocolate chips and put them in cookies. We also stirred the batter 100 times. The kids wish that they could eat 100 cookies. Maybe we should count another 100 and have another celebration again in the spring.
Not long after we arrived, I was chatting with the kids and somehow 100 days came up. Some schools have a special day when they have been in school 100 days, so I thought it might be fun to plan something special for our 100th day in China. I counted on my calendar and today Friday, November 28, 2008 is the 100th day since our arrival. I had plans to do a bunch of things today, but with my teaching schedule the only thing we did was count 100 chocolate chips and put them in cookies. We also stirred the batter 100 times. The kids wish that they could eat 100 cookies. Maybe we should count another 100 and have another celebration again in the spring.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Jason: There's a new building going up...
...across the street from us. And, although it must have been there all along, I just noticed it out the kitchen window yesterday afternoon.
It's weird how that happens.
I mean, there are so many buildings going up in this city, it's by no means unusual to see cranes and scaffolding rising into the sky, growing taller day by day, at first hidden from view by the saftey wall / advertising billboards surrounding the area, then peeking above the wall, then before you know it jutting toward the sky, another edifice bearing witness to this country's unprecidented growth. It's not unusual at all.
But it is a little weird to look out the window of your own house and realize that, somehow, you've never seen, or certainly never quite noticed, this giant construction project right there!
Things sometimes happen that way. Stuff just pops up out of nowhere, or so it seems; but to look at it, you realize this must have been going on all along; I just never noticed.
So... I'm sitting here thinking about it.
And of course, there are tons of life applications that each of us could make: family, children, Clear Creek... If you're thinking of something - some situation that comes to mind - then, by all means, "think on such things." For me, here's where I am:
I just left from a lunch/study with Joseph and Monica (a believer whom Joseph met at a student fellowship)... And now my 1:00pm alarm is sounding the call to prayer... So, let's do this: I'll just type my prayer and let you get my idea that way.
Father, when I saw that building it started me thinking: What do I want to build? How should I build? Like Paul said, there's this need to build upon the right foundation, and to use the correct kind of materials, so that the structure will be sound and the building will last, so that the materials will survive the heat. I want to be careful how I build. I want to make sure, always, that the foundation is upon the Rock. I am not the base; I am just one of many living stones. Please use others, too. May the family here, all of us, do what we can. I know that these kids are wanting to do the right thing, and they want and need all the help we can provide. Thank you for gifting me with some measure of ability to teach and strengthen them; but at the same time, I hand them over to you. I don't want to be the one upon whom the building is set. I want that cornerstone and foundation to be You and Yours. The words spoken and given to us all, the wind that freely blows, from the beginning until this very day, in this very place. So let it be, that these and others (you know them) will be built into the life you have planned for them. So let it be, that I will know how, that I will have opportunity, and that I simply will use the tools you provide me to carefully and correctly build. So let it be.
It's weird how that happens.
I mean, there are so many buildings going up in this city, it's by no means unusual to see cranes and scaffolding rising into the sky, growing taller day by day, at first hidden from view by the saftey wall / advertising billboards surrounding the area, then peeking above the wall, then before you know it jutting toward the sky, another edifice bearing witness to this country's unprecidented growth. It's not unusual at all.
But it is a little weird to look out the window of your own house and realize that, somehow, you've never seen, or certainly never quite noticed, this giant construction project right there!
Things sometimes happen that way. Stuff just pops up out of nowhere, or so it seems; but to look at it, you realize this must have been going on all along; I just never noticed.
So... I'm sitting here thinking about it.
And of course, there are tons of life applications that each of us could make: family, children, Clear Creek... If you're thinking of something - some situation that comes to mind - then, by all means, "think on such things." For me, here's where I am:
I just left from a lunch/study with Joseph and Monica (a believer whom Joseph met at a student fellowship)... And now my 1:00pm alarm is sounding the call to prayer... So, let's do this: I'll just type my prayer and let you get my idea that way.
Father, when I saw that building it started me thinking: What do I want to build? How should I build? Like Paul said, there's this need to build upon the right foundation, and to use the correct kind of materials, so that the structure will be sound and the building will last, so that the materials will survive the heat. I want to be careful how I build. I want to make sure, always, that the foundation is upon the Rock. I am not the base; I am just one of many living stones. Please use others, too. May the family here, all of us, do what we can. I know that these kids are wanting to do the right thing, and they want and need all the help we can provide. Thank you for gifting me with some measure of ability to teach and strengthen them; but at the same time, I hand them over to you. I don't want to be the one upon whom the building is set. I want that cornerstone and foundation to be You and Yours. The words spoken and given to us all, the wind that freely blows, from the beginning until this very day, in this very place. So let it be, that these and others (you know them) will be built into the life you have planned for them. So let it be, that I will know how, that I will have opportunity, and that I simply will use the tools you provide me to carefully and correctly build. So let it be.
Monday, November 24, 2008
making the most of every opportunity
My job, I find, as I go forth each day, is to make the most of each opportunity I come across. To show warmth and to radiate love to the people I encounter. I tried to do that today. To be patient. To explain a little more carefully. To mention the reason for my hope any chance I got. And to enjoy the day. To live in today, and not worry about tomorrow, or next month (when I'll be moving!), and certainly not next year. To live today, and "live the questions" as I read in a book once. Tiring this life, but energizing too, and a day lived well is extremely fulfilling. That is why I came back to China; that is why I am here now.
P.S. Pr-y for the sisters across Hangzhou. I am hosting a weekly meeting open to any of them. I hope that one day we will develop into city-wide sisters who know each other and edify each other, and even hold each other accountable. But that is a long way off. So just write this request down somewhere, and remember to lift it up.
Cecely
P.S. Pr-y for the sisters across Hangzhou. I am hosting a weekly meeting open to any of them. I hope that one day we will develop into city-wide sisters who know each other and edify each other, and even hold each other accountable. But that is a long way off. So just write this request down somewhere, and remember to lift it up.
Cecely
Autumn @ 19-1-601
Here is a photo taken from the kitchen window of our apartment @ 府苑新村19-1-601. This is where we live.
I didn't expect to see anything like Autumn here, so these few colorful trees are a nice surprise.
I've shown you the view from our place once or twice before - the fireworks most recently, and a view of the mountains a while back.
Turns out, though, that the time of our views from 19-1-601 is limited. Wei and Zhou have sold the apartment. We will be moving out in January.
She is helping us to arrange a new place, still here within the FYXC apartment complex. It will probably be near the back, or western, side of the grounds - farther from the street, the bus stops, the shops, the restaurant, the canal. Probably on the second floor - which has the plus of not being the sixth floor, but probably means we won't have our same mountain view. In fact, it certainly will not be our same view. It will be different.
Even if we can still see the mountains, even if we can still see the changing leaves - well, the trees will be barren in January, I suppose - still, the location will have changed, the perspective will have shifted, that "certain slant of light" the poet speaks of will be coming in through another window.
Our life will change, will shift - how, we know not - as it always does, for each of us. We will have new blessings - it is reported that this place has newer furnishings and an extra bedroom. We will have new frustrations, new inconveniences - longer walks to and from the bus, carrying our groceries in the then-freezing temperatures, perhaps clumsily balancing an umbrella in one hand, fumbling for the keys with the other, wind-whipped snow or drizzle or worse threatening at every moment to colapse the whole teetering performance.
Or...
I was just reading something last night: G.K. Chesterson, as quoted in Richard Foster's Spiritual Classics, says, "An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered." For example, he says, consider the way we might react to a jammed kitchen drawer: Most of us have somehow come to expect that drawers should and must always open smoothly the first time; but, come to think of it, why should we expect this? And certainly, why should we huff and puff and curse and spit when - not surprisingly, after all - we find that, in this fallen world (in this physical world, fallen or not, I would suppose), the drawer happens, this time, to be jammed? Why not rather think of this as an invitation to adventure?
Imagine yourself a surgeon, he would suggest, performing a complex operation in hopes of removing - in your case, a dish towel, let's say - from the patient's abdomen. If you were in the operating room and met such a difficulty, how would you react? Surely it does no good to curse the towel, nor the abdomen, not the man lying on your table (whose fault it presumably is for swallowing the rag in the first place). Instead, we need to "make the most of every opportunity" - concentrate, remain calm, take it a step at a time - and after it is all over, maybe even remember to thank the One who gifted us with this (albeit unexpected) chance to exercise our unique skills.
And the same goes for moving: I am, after all, "just a pilgrim here below," so I should by no means find it strange that I am asked to move from time to time. I need not worry at the inconvenience of it all. Rather, I should view this as a sort of small adventure. A new home, a new view; a new perspective, a new outlook.
And I shall bless the Maker of it all.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Jason: I went running again
Yes, I ran today.
No, I don't mean that this is only the second time I've gone running since when I first mentioned the idea several weeks ago.
No, that's not to say I've gone running very much; but this is not just the 2nd time.
And yes -- thank you for saying so -- I do think I'm looking a little thinner, as a matter of fact.
It's getting cold here in HZ. Long-johns weather. But sunny. And, you could even say, warm in the mid-afternoon. Kids are laying out on the lawn all over campus to soak in the last few golden rays of summer before the really really cold weather sets in next month. And in that same spirit, I decided that -- although I was tired, although it's been a longer-than-usual week -- still, I better take advantage of this afternoon's nearly ideal running weather and go outside and, you know, run. So I laced up and headed out.
For the first time in my (admittedly brief) running career I decided to take the iPod and listen to some good ol' American classic rock. I heard Lynard Skynard, the Allman Bros., Phil Collins [I know he's not exactly "Classic Rock", but it's on the playlist anyway], U2, Hall & Oates... Awesome stuff. I also prayed in snippets, and enjoyed seeing a sliver of the sun through the increasingly-cloudy sky. I watched birds chasing one another, jealously defending their favorite branches and berries. I said "hello" and "fine, thank you" and "my name is Jason" to giggling school girls skipping rope.
Hey, wait a second... I had to get the door.
Cec has ordered Mexican food from Pancho's and had it delivered to our house!
So, [no pun intended] I gotta run.
Blessings to you.
No, I don't mean that this is only the second time I've gone running since when I first mentioned the idea several weeks ago.
No, that's not to say I've gone running very much; but this is not just the 2nd time.
And yes -- thank you for saying so -- I do think I'm looking a little thinner, as a matter of fact.
It's getting cold here in HZ. Long-johns weather. But sunny. And, you could even say, warm in the mid-afternoon. Kids are laying out on the lawn all over campus to soak in the last few golden rays of summer before the really really cold weather sets in next month. And in that same spirit, I decided that -- although I was tired, although it's been a longer-than-usual week -- still, I better take advantage of this afternoon's nearly ideal running weather and go outside and, you know, run. So I laced up and headed out.
For the first time in my (admittedly brief) running career I decided to take the iPod and listen to some good ol' American classic rock. I heard Lynard Skynard, the Allman Bros., Phil Collins [I know he's not exactly "Classic Rock", but it's on the playlist anyway], U2, Hall & Oates... Awesome stuff. I also prayed in snippets, and enjoyed seeing a sliver of the sun through the increasingly-cloudy sky. I watched birds chasing one another, jealously defending their favorite branches and berries. I said "hello" and "fine, thank you" and "my name is Jason" to giggling school girls skipping rope.
Hey, wait a second... I had to get the door.
Cec has ordered Mexican food from Pancho's and had it delivered to our house!
So, [no pun intended] I gotta run.
Blessings to you.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Bad News: Can't See Blog
I'm not sure if we told you all about this or not, but we have lost the ability to actually see the blog from here. The only reason this matters for you, though, is this: We can't see any comments posted here. Please send your comments to our email accounts. Thanks.
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Jason & Joseph
OK, this is like the third (or actually forth) time that I am writing this entry. I doubt any of you saw the first one or two. I had written a bunch of stuff, then edited, then decided to re-edit, then had to just give up and go to bed. So, here goes (again)...
Frank & Joseph came over Tuesday night. And I went to Joseph's today (Wednesday)
Now that I have a few minutes - very few, in fact - let me try to say what I was wanting to tell all of you: The time with them here at the house was good. They explained to me some of the family history here in HZ and gave me an idea of the current state of affairs, particularly in reference to the Wen San (W3) group [aka, "downtown"].
One little note: I don't know if anyone has heard this or not, but Charles is probably NOT going to Canada, after all. His wife is "with child."
Still, there is, to some extent, an on-going leadership vacuum with the W3 family. You might already know, they have had a number of struggles through the years, and for much of their collective lifetime they have relied on outside teachers and short-term "good news blitzes," if you will, for their growth and sustenance. While we are thankful for those who have come before us and who continue to serve in what ways they can, we [the team] do not see this as the best way for the long-term. Frank & Joseph also see the problems and weaknesses inherent in this situation, and all of us are thinking about how to change things - how to build-up, transition, grow, reach-out, etc., etc.
I could go on and on about the details, but there's no time right this minute. Suffice it to say, we had a good talk, and we are thinking about these issues.
So, today I went out to Joseph's place.
He lives waaay down south. He just moved out there, actually. He wanted to sort of "get away from it all" and have a quiet place to study. He is, or I should say was, an art student. But his true passion is the Passion, as it were. He very much wants to devote himself, and this is his aim. Out there at the southern end of HZ, there are a number of fellowships, it turns out, comprised primarily of students who live and study in the area. He has a great deal of contact with others who share his beliefs. I met two of these today. We had a good, long talk about the current situation in HZ, their impressions of both the W3 group and others around town, and what exactly needs to be the focus and methodology employed so that the greatest effect may be realized. We closed by jointly aiming our thoughts above.
I really don't know what else to say...
I could tell you that Joseph lives just outside of a huge, fake, Song-dynasty village/movie set where many films and TV shows are produced; or, that this same village area turns out to be the home of that guy who, you may recall, fatally stabbed the American volleyball coach, then committed suicide, during the BJ Olympics this year; or on a lighter note, that having missed my bus stop on the way home, I decided to just follow the route to the end where I was able to walk to a nearby Starbucks and grab an iced, grande, cherry-mocha latte.
But I need to go to English Corner, so...
Just keep this whole situation in your thoughts.
Thanks.
Frank & Joseph came over Tuesday night. And I went to Joseph's today (Wednesday)
Now that I have a few minutes - very few, in fact - let me try to say what I was wanting to tell all of you: The time with them here at the house was good. They explained to me some of the family history here in HZ and gave me an idea of the current state of affairs, particularly in reference to the Wen San (W3) group [aka, "downtown"].
One little note: I don't know if anyone has heard this or not, but Charles is probably NOT going to Canada, after all. His wife is "with child."
Still, there is, to some extent, an on-going leadership vacuum with the W3 family. You might already know, they have had a number of struggles through the years, and for much of their collective lifetime they have relied on outside teachers and short-term "good news blitzes," if you will, for their growth and sustenance. While we are thankful for those who have come before us and who continue to serve in what ways they can, we [the team] do not see this as the best way for the long-term. Frank & Joseph also see the problems and weaknesses inherent in this situation, and all of us are thinking about how to change things - how to build-up, transition, grow, reach-out, etc., etc.
I could go on and on about the details, but there's no time right this minute. Suffice it to say, we had a good talk, and we are thinking about these issues.
So, today I went out to Joseph's place.
He lives waaay down south. He just moved out there, actually. He wanted to sort of "get away from it all" and have a quiet place to study. He is, or I should say was, an art student. But his true passion is the Passion, as it were. He very much wants to devote himself, and this is his aim. Out there at the southern end of HZ, there are a number of fellowships, it turns out, comprised primarily of students who live and study in the area. He has a great deal of contact with others who share his beliefs. I met two of these today. We had a good, long talk about the current situation in HZ, their impressions of both the W3 group and others around town, and what exactly needs to be the focus and methodology employed so that the greatest effect may be realized. We closed by jointly aiming our thoughts above.
I really don't know what else to say...
I could tell you that Joseph lives just outside of a huge, fake, Song-dynasty village/movie set where many films and TV shows are produced; or, that this same village area turns out to be the home of that guy who, you may recall, fatally stabbed the American volleyball coach, then committed suicide, during the BJ Olympics this year; or on a lighter note, that having missed my bus stop on the way home, I decided to just follow the route to the end where I was able to walk to a nearby Starbucks and grab an iced, grande, cherry-mocha latte.
But I need to go to English Corner, so...
Just keep this whole situation in your thoughts.
Thanks.
Rats!
I am pretty scared of rats. In the past I have had nightmares after hearing people just talk about rats. Why anyone would want one for a pet was beyond me. When I lived in China 10 years ago, I would occasionally see one, alive or dead. I did not like it, but I did start to get over my fear and was just thankful that they were outside and not in our building. Since being in Hangzhou, I have not seen a rat. I am sure they are here, but I have not seen one. We live next to one of the school cafeterias, but there are often cats and even sometimes some dogs that hang out after dark. I am thankful that I have not seen one. I might scare the kids if I screamed.
We have been preparing for winter around here. Jon has been plugging holes and drafts and things like that. He said that he needed to find steel wool. We were looking for something like that in the store and I mentioned not seeing any rats or mice. Then Jon admitted that the other day he heard a noise in the kitchen. When he went in the kitchen, he caught sight of a tail! The tail was disappearing through the hole that the washing machine drains. (the machine that we rarely use, since we use the one in the other “kitchen”) The hole is larger than the drain pipe, and we know that mice and rats can fit into very small areas. Jon plugged the hole with some aluminum foil, but that didn’t do any good.
Well, I am sure you can guess what is coming…
A couple of nights ago, I heard a noise and thought that one of the kids was up. I got up to check on them, but everyone was sound asleep. I kept hearing the noise, and could not go back to sleep. The door to the kitchen was closed (thankfully). I knew that I was hearing a mouse or rat. Now, often people will call mice “rats”, but do you know the difference? Mice are tiny, and rats are NOT tiny.
There was no way I was going to go into the kitchen! Finally I thought that the critter was on the counter (it wasn’t, but I thought it was). That was when I woke Jon up. He made some noises at the door and then went into the kitchen. He wanted it to run away so he could plug the hole and have it trapped in our kitchen. It worked. We figured out that it was indeed a rat!
How do we know? Well, because it got into my Pop Tarts! Yes, I know that mice probably like Pop Tarts too, but could they get a package off a shelf and then drag it all the way across the floor? The rat ate about half of a package of chocolate Pop Tarts, one bite from a brown sugar Pop Tart and part of an apple. I really hope that it had a bellyache!
Jon plugged the hole at about 4 am, and so far we have not seen or heard anything.
When we were at a large store the other day, Jon thought that he would ask about traps or rat poison. We have an electronic translator feature to our cell phones, so he typed in “rat” and then made some gestures like a trap and then dead (drawing his finger across his throat and then sticking his tongue out) to a store worker. Without much hesitation she pointed to the large cleavers and knives! We all laughed at that, and then she told us she did not think that they had anything like that. I am sure we can find some thing else, but in the meantime, my Pop Tarts are in a locked container!
We have been preparing for winter around here. Jon has been plugging holes and drafts and things like that. He said that he needed to find steel wool. We were looking for something like that in the store and I mentioned not seeing any rats or mice. Then Jon admitted that the other day he heard a noise in the kitchen. When he went in the kitchen, he caught sight of a tail! The tail was disappearing through the hole that the washing machine drains. (the machine that we rarely use, since we use the one in the other “kitchen”) The hole is larger than the drain pipe, and we know that mice and rats can fit into very small areas. Jon plugged the hole with some aluminum foil, but that didn’t do any good.
Well, I am sure you can guess what is coming…
A couple of nights ago, I heard a noise and thought that one of the kids was up. I got up to check on them, but everyone was sound asleep. I kept hearing the noise, and could not go back to sleep. The door to the kitchen was closed (thankfully). I knew that I was hearing a mouse or rat. Now, often people will call mice “rats”, but do you know the difference? Mice are tiny, and rats are NOT tiny.
There was no way I was going to go into the kitchen! Finally I thought that the critter was on the counter (it wasn’t, but I thought it was). That was when I woke Jon up. He made some noises at the door and then went into the kitchen. He wanted it to run away so he could plug the hole and have it trapped in our kitchen. It worked. We figured out that it was indeed a rat!
How do we know? Well, because it got into my Pop Tarts! Yes, I know that mice probably like Pop Tarts too, but could they get a package off a shelf and then drag it all the way across the floor? The rat ate about half of a package of chocolate Pop Tarts, one bite from a brown sugar Pop Tart and part of an apple. I really hope that it had a bellyache!
Jon plugged the hole at about 4 am, and so far we have not seen or heard anything.
When we were at a large store the other day, Jon thought that he would ask about traps or rat poison. We have an electronic translator feature to our cell phones, so he typed in “rat” and then made some gestures like a trap and then dead (drawing his finger across his throat and then sticking his tongue out) to a store worker. Without much hesitation she pointed to the large cleavers and knives! We all laughed at that, and then she told us she did not think that they had anything like that. I am sure we can find some thing else, but in the meantime, my Pop Tarts are in a locked container!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Elaine and Margaret
Cecely here. I wanted to post a quick note to say that I had a good Monday mtg. with Elaine and Margaret today, who had their own good mtg. yesterday by themselves at Margaret's house. They are feeling good and I think they are about to enter a phase of growth and spiritual high spirits. They pr-y very sincerely and well. We are reading some of the Ps-lms at their request, and they are gaining some insights and working on their own applications of the verses. All this growth has been a big answer to pr-yer and we can definitely see His hand working in this. Thanks for lifting them up and please continue to do so. I'd like to ask that you talk to Him about giving them discernment, so they can recognize truth and untruth when they see it. Also that He will continue to help them foster a sense of spiritual independence, and confidence that they can understand what they read. On the other hand, pr-y that they'll have an awareness of interconnectedness with the group at large, as their bros. and sis.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Clarks: Fireworks for the B-Day Girls!
Apparently word has gotten around the neighborhood that tonight is Gao Yan's, and tomorrow Cecely's, birthday! To celebrate this "Double Happiness" （喜喜 for those of you studying Chinese characters at home) the people across the street are blasting us with several rounds of colorful fireworks [see fig. 1]. The view is impressive and the sound absolutely stunning.
Not to be outdone by these merry-making revelers, Jake and Shelley treated us all to about $100 (USD) worth of Papa John's pizza this noonday meal. We had two pepperoni pizzas, a(n) Hawaiian, and a Heart-Clogger's special. [I believe the menu identifies the latter as "Meat Lover's"] Besides that, there was a rice dish - because, you know, we live in China, so how can you say you've really eaten without having some rice? - and, like, four pitchers of soda to wash it all down. Good guy, that Jake.
As for presents, Cec has a number of wrapped items on a table here in the living room [see fig. 2] to go along with the books we bought her this afternoon [fig. 3]. So, not a bad birthday weekend. 
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Clarks: All-Around Update
Hey there. Sorry to keep you waiting for a new post (in case you were waiting, that is).
First things first: Yes, Jake & Shelley are here, as Josh mentioned. [Sorry I don't have any cute pictures to show you. I imagine they will have plenty to share when they get back to Chatt.] Right now, they are visiting in XiaSha, where they taught last year. This weekend Jake is planning to treat the team to pizza! Wow, what a guy!
Next: We had a b-day party for Hallie last Sunday. Jenn took pics, but I get the feeling that she isn't exactly finding the free time to edit photos, post blogs, etc. So, in lieu of her... Let me say, Hallie's party was a smash: Home-baked chocolate cake and (store-bought) ice cream... Lots of nice gifts, including pj's, art supplies, and what all else I don't recall... It was a nice get-together after our usual Sunday get-together.
In other news: Wei is starting to ask questions when Cecely reads to her during yoga class, so that door is opening just as we have been hoping it would. Last Friday, we took a student from Jason's senior English classes [a different student from the one I told you about last-last Friday] and went to the You-Know-What Bookstore. She had seen me reading such a book before class one day and had asked "what's that? can I get one here?" and so we took her to get one she could have and read for herself. We'll see what comes next; we haven't seen her or talked to her since Friday. Hopefully, she's been reading and will want to get together for some instruction.
Oh, and this is cool: Last night, as we were leaving our favorite noodle restaurant, a faux-Japanese chain called Ajisen that serves some of the best Korean kimchee in town (go figure), along with other delicious delicacies like cold-salad-sesame noodles with tender, smoked, pulled, boneless chicken and their signiture "1000-Flavor" noodle soup which comes with the best hard-boiled egg you can imagine [I know it might be hard to imagine anything special about a hard-boiled egg; if so, you need to come here for a visit]... oh, and the tea there is the best... and I almost forgot to mention, their miso soup is out of control! Get Jared and Cassie to take you down to Sushi Nabe at Coolidge Park on the river, and get a taste of their soup; it's exactly as good as that, and much cheaper! But, anyway... wasn't I saying something?
So as we were leaving, Cec caught sight of this guy reading the Book. He's just sitting there in the middle of the restaurant (literally, he was in the middle) reading it in Chinese, like that's just the most normal thing in the world - which of course it isn't, not in this counrty, not in the US either. So she spoke with him a little bit, and then while we were wandering around in the adjacent shopping center, I had this feeling, you know, like I ought to go back there and talk to him some more, so we went back, and this time I spoke with him and indicated that I might like someone to read with in Chinese, and blah, blah, blah... "by the way where are you from?" and it turns out he is a student at Steve's college! [Who's Steve? He's a guy that is here in town doing the same thing we are doing. He came through the China Calls program. I had met him at the China Calls orientation meeting last spring, and now he has been meeting with us most Sundays.] So, long-story-short, we have put them in touch with each other and are hoping that will work into something up there in their part of town (a little north of where we live).
Bottom Line: I find it impossible to keep up with You-Know-Who's pace. I mean, I think of cool things that happen - some seemingly small, some amazingly big - each and every day, that would make good blogging material, but who has time to write it all down? Like our old friend, John, once said, "If you tried to write down everything He did [and is doing] you'd fill the world with books [and blogs] and still just scratch the surface." Now, I know how John must have felt. And I bet his wrists were tender and sore, too, from so much typing. I know mine are.
First things first: Yes, Jake & Shelley are here, as Josh mentioned. [Sorry I don't have any cute pictures to show you. I imagine they will have plenty to share when they get back to Chatt.] Right now, they are visiting in XiaSha, where they taught last year. This weekend Jake is planning to treat the team to pizza! Wow, what a guy!
Next: We had a b-day party for Hallie last Sunday. Jenn took pics, but I get the feeling that she isn't exactly finding the free time to edit photos, post blogs, etc. So, in lieu of her... Let me say, Hallie's party was a smash: Home-baked chocolate cake and (store-bought) ice cream... Lots of nice gifts, including pj's, art supplies, and what all else I don't recall... It was a nice get-together after our usual Sunday get-together.
In other news: Wei is starting to ask questions when Cecely reads to her during yoga class, so that door is opening just as we have been hoping it would. Last Friday, we took a student from Jason's senior English classes [a different student from the one I told you about last-last Friday] and went to the You-Know-What Bookstore. She had seen me reading such a book before class one day and had asked "what's that? can I get one here?" and so we took her to get one she could have and read for herself. We'll see what comes next; we haven't seen her or talked to her since Friday. Hopefully, she's been reading and will want to get together for some instruction.
Oh, and this is cool: Last night, as we were leaving our favorite noodle restaurant, a faux-Japanese chain called Ajisen that serves some of the best Korean kimchee in town (go figure), along with other delicious delicacies like cold-salad-sesame noodles with tender, smoked, pulled, boneless chicken and their signiture "1000-Flavor" noodle soup which comes with the best hard-boiled egg you can imagine [I know it might be hard to imagine anything special about a hard-boiled egg; if so, you need to come here for a visit]... oh, and the tea there is the best... and I almost forgot to mention, their miso soup is out of control! Get Jared and Cassie to take you down to Sushi Nabe at Coolidge Park on the river, and get a taste of their soup; it's exactly as good as that, and much cheaper! But, anyway... wasn't I saying something?
So as we were leaving, Cec caught sight of this guy reading the Book. He's just sitting there in the middle of the restaurant (literally, he was in the middle) reading it in Chinese, like that's just the most normal thing in the world - which of course it isn't, not in this counrty, not in the US either. So she spoke with him a little bit, and then while we were wandering around in the adjacent shopping center, I had this feeling, you know, like I ought to go back there and talk to him some more, so we went back, and this time I spoke with him and indicated that I might like someone to read with in Chinese, and blah, blah, blah... "by the way where are you from?" and it turns out he is a student at Steve's college! [Who's Steve? He's a guy that is here in town doing the same thing we are doing. He came through the China Calls program. I had met him at the China Calls orientation meeting last spring, and now he has been meeting with us most Sundays.] So, long-story-short, we have put them in touch with each other and are hoping that will work into something up there in their part of town (a little north of where we live).
Bottom Line: I find it impossible to keep up with You-Know-Who's pace. I mean, I think of cool things that happen - some seemingly small, some amazingly big - each and every day, that would make good blogging material, but who has time to write it all down? Like our old friend, John, once said, "If you tried to write down everything He did [and is doing] you'd fill the world with books [and blogs] and still just scratch the surface." Now, I know how John must have felt. And I bet his wrists were tender and sore, too, from so much typing. I know mine are.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Jake and Shelly visit
Dear Friends
Jake and Shelly arrived safely here in Hangzhou. Tonight they came over for dinner. Gaoyan showed Shelly how to make some Chinese food. We watched the senders’ video together. After they left, we watched it over and over again, missing the time in Hixson with our church family. We saw so many faces that we love and miss. Your warm smiles in the video are just like yesterday to us. We really can feel how much we were loved by you while we lived in Hixson. Still now, you send your love in prayers, cards and caring packages. We are so blessed by having you as our church family.
Time went by so fast! We have been gone from you for two and a half months. Caleb is growing bigger. He enjoys his Bible class video in Clear Creek. We showed it to our toddler class and the moms were impressed by the volunteer work for children’s education and the classroom setting and how well Caleb would sit in the class. Our toddler class is going well. We have met four Thursday mornings. The moms talked about the five love languages for children and the five love languages for couples. It is still a challenge and learning experience for us to know how to get the toddlers to sit through the class without running around playing or fighting over toys. We rotate in three homes and there are always so many toys around.
Every Wednesday afternoon, I study with Angel, a realtor. She reads through the material twice and shares her understanding of the material. Then Angel explains how she can apply the material to her life. She is really open about the study. Please keep her in your prayers and pray that G will give me strength and wisdom to guide her. Caleb and I ride the bicycle to her place on Wednesday afternoons. It is a little scary to think about Caleb riding behind me on the baby seat crossing four lanes of cars and busses and two lanes of bicycles. The weather is getting colder and rained twice on Wednesday. I want to pray G will give us perseverance to keep this study.
It is so good to see Jake and Shelly. We really miss you too. We want to be better in our communications and write you more often. We hope you saving every penny for your plane tickets to visit us in China.
Jake and Shelly arrived safely here in Hangzhou. Tonight they came over for dinner. Gaoyan showed Shelly how to make some Chinese food. We watched the senders’ video together. After they left, we watched it over and over again, missing the time in Hixson with our church family. We saw so many faces that we love and miss. Your warm smiles in the video are just like yesterday to us. We really can feel how much we were loved by you while we lived in Hixson. Still now, you send your love in prayers, cards and caring packages. We are so blessed by having you as our church family.
Time went by so fast! We have been gone from you for two and a half months. Caleb is growing bigger. He enjoys his Bible class video in Clear Creek. We showed it to our toddler class and the moms were impressed by the volunteer work for children’s education and the classroom setting and how well Caleb would sit in the class. Our toddler class is going well. We have met four Thursday mornings. The moms talked about the five love languages for children and the five love languages for couples. It is still a challenge and learning experience for us to know how to get the toddlers to sit through the class without running around playing or fighting over toys. We rotate in three homes and there are always so many toys around.
Every Wednesday afternoon, I study with Angel, a realtor. She reads through the material twice and shares her understanding of the material. Then Angel explains how she can apply the material to her life. She is really open about the study. Please keep her in your prayers and pray that G will give me strength and wisdom to guide her. Caleb and I ride the bicycle to her place on Wednesday afternoons. It is a little scary to think about Caleb riding behind me on the baby seat crossing four lanes of cars and busses and two lanes of bicycles. The weather is getting colder and rained twice on Wednesday. I want to pray G will give us perseverance to keep this study.
It is so good to see Jake and Shelly. We really miss you too. We want to be better in our communications and write you more often. We hope you saving every penny for your plane tickets to visit us in China.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Clarks: Halloween
We hosted a Halloween party the other night for Jason's senior English majors. As you can see, we kept things fairly simple by just wearing Jack-o-lantern shirts and donning cat-masks. In the past in China we've gone to great lengths to prepare homemade costumes: she a rabbit, he a carrot; she a mouse, he a block of cheese.The Hardins were also able to make the scene - all five of them in costume. [I'll let them put something up when they get a chance.] The kids, of course, were a smash hit with the party crowd.
Speaking of which, they (the students, I mean) did a great job, too, of getting costumes together, preparing and helping decorate, bringing food and drinks, and cleaning things up afterward. There were all kinds of costumes - scary ones seemed to be most popular, though.
When I get a little time a will try to put together a slide show on here for all of you to see. [This picture was taken and e-mailed to us by a student; we've still not loaded our own shots from the camera to the computer.] It was great fun!
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Cecely's Comments on November 1st
Cecely here:
This is a cool misty day, the first of November. We are really feeling at home here, settling into a routine a bit, which is more than welcome. The neighborhood is starting to feel like our neighborhood. We see aquaintances outside while walking or going to the store, and say, "ni hao", and we meet up with some of our friends on a weekly basis, like Wei, our landlady, or Hong, the friend we met one day while walking after supper. Those relationships are strengthening, and beginning to feel like friendships, with ebbs and flows, times of receding and deepening. Please keep these relationships in your thoughts, that we will have wisdom to guide our discussions and choices in our times with them.
Also, more has been developing with Elaine. We have set up a weekly time to meet and study, but she called last Monday to cancel, saying she had a friend coming in from out of town, but before she hung up she added that she had invited the other ladies in "her group" over on the previous Friday, and they had all had a discussion together! I felt so glad! That is the very thing we have been pra-ing about when we think of her. That gave me real encouragement that she understands where this all needs to head, and so I feel so thankful.
We are also still enjoying our classes quite a bit, and recently got news from the school that we can reschedule our classes on Christmas day. We had been hoping to be able to cancel them altogether, but this is at least somewhat of an improvement. Anyway, at school we continue to get closer to some key students that seem promising, and I have begun studying Chinese each friday with a Chinese major named Joyce who is a really sweet girl. Keep her in your thoughts, please, as we spend time together, and please also be keeping me in mind as I try to study the language. Lately it has been much more of a struggle. I have trouble forming sentences in Chinese. I felt great for a while, then plateaued big time and it is just such a rough patch for me linguistically. And also please remember Wei Na and her boyfriend, the one Jason went to Starbucks with that night. They are a great couple who we will probably hang out with again in the future. We would also like to begin to make friends with a certain co-worker named Bob, and his family, so pray for us to get an opportunity to do that.
And also, we continue to go and visit at the hair salon. Last time we were there the subject of them coming over to visit us came up yet again, but something about their time schedule ususally stands in the way, so just please be asking that if that is supposed to happen, it will when it should by His timing.
It can get frustrating waiting for the next step in all of these relationships to happen. We are accustomed to moving a little more quickly than this, but we have been challenging ourselves to be patient and let things develop a little more naturally (and hopefully more sustainably) in these cases. It takes not only patience but discernment. Please just be lifting us and our contacts up.
In addition to all that I have said, I want to add: thanks for sending us here with a great team! We love our team members, and it is helping more than words can express to have them here. Last week me and Yan and Jen went together to get foot massages, and then have dessert at Pizza Hut, and it was just a fabulous night, very refreshing. And it is so nice that I already know these ladies, we are not just having to get to know each other on the field. So we are friends who know each others strengths and struggles, and we start from that point, able to sympathize and listen to each other in an educated way. Just a big blessing.
That's all for now. Also, thanks for sending Jake and Shelley. We look forward to seeing them soon!
posted by Cecely
This is a cool misty day, the first of November. We are really feeling at home here, settling into a routine a bit, which is more than welcome. The neighborhood is starting to feel like our neighborhood. We see aquaintances outside while walking or going to the store, and say, "ni hao", and we meet up with some of our friends on a weekly basis, like Wei, our landlady, or Hong, the friend we met one day while walking after supper. Those relationships are strengthening, and beginning to feel like friendships, with ebbs and flows, times of receding and deepening. Please keep these relationships in your thoughts, that we will have wisdom to guide our discussions and choices in our times with them.
Also, more has been developing with Elaine. We have set up a weekly time to meet and study, but she called last Monday to cancel, saying she had a friend coming in from out of town, but before she hung up she added that she had invited the other ladies in "her group" over on the previous Friday, and they had all had a discussion together! I felt so glad! That is the very thing we have been pra-ing about when we think of her. That gave me real encouragement that she understands where this all needs to head, and so I feel so thankful.
We are also still enjoying our classes quite a bit, and recently got news from the school that we can reschedule our classes on Christmas day. We had been hoping to be able to cancel them altogether, but this is at least somewhat of an improvement. Anyway, at school we continue to get closer to some key students that seem promising, and I have begun studying Chinese each friday with a Chinese major named Joyce who is a really sweet girl. Keep her in your thoughts, please, as we spend time together, and please also be keeping me in mind as I try to study the language. Lately it has been much more of a struggle. I have trouble forming sentences in Chinese. I felt great for a while, then plateaued big time and it is just such a rough patch for me linguistically. And also please remember Wei Na and her boyfriend, the one Jason went to Starbucks with that night. They are a great couple who we will probably hang out with again in the future. We would also like to begin to make friends with a certain co-worker named Bob, and his family, so pray for us to get an opportunity to do that.
And also, we continue to go and visit at the hair salon. Last time we were there the subject of them coming over to visit us came up yet again, but something about their time schedule ususally stands in the way, so just please be asking that if that is supposed to happen, it will when it should by His timing.
It can get frustrating waiting for the next step in all of these relationships to happen. We are accustomed to moving a little more quickly than this, but we have been challenging ourselves to be patient and let things develop a little more naturally (and hopefully more sustainably) in these cases. It takes not only patience but discernment. Please just be lifting us and our contacts up.
In addition to all that I have said, I want to add: thanks for sending us here with a great team! We love our team members, and it is helping more than words can express to have them here. Last week me and Yan and Jen went together to get foot massages, and then have dessert at Pizza Hut, and it was just a fabulous night, very refreshing. And it is so nice that I already know these ladies, we are not just having to get to know each other on the field. So we are friends who know each others strengths and struggles, and we start from that point, able to sympathize and listen to each other in an educated way. Just a big blessing.
That's all for now. Also, thanks for sending Jake and Shelley. We look forward to seeing them soon!
posted by Cecely
Friday, October 24, 2008
Clarks: This Evening
We've just come back from a really nice evening out with a student of mine (Jason's). She is a Sr. English major whose name is Wei Na; she goes by the English name "Venus". She is a modern-looking, talkative, and open-minded girl, a good student who really helps to make the class discussions come alive. For example, when the topic came up in class recently, she was quite willing to discuss the very sensitive issue of her mother's divorce, even though this is something most Chinese students find unpleasant and would prefer not to talk about -- even if their own parents are still happily married.
So anyway, Wei Na had invited us over to her and her (still-single) mother's home for dinner. She also asked another female student, Fei Fei, to join us, and had her own boyfriend come over, too, after he got off work. So, once everyone was there and sat down, we had dinner (which was really great, by the way) and made small talk -- mostly in Chinese, actually -- and you know, just had a real nice time. Then, when dinner was over, we left straight-away for the beauty salon where Venus and Cecely were going to get their hair washed (which means not only a hair-washing but an upper body massage, too) and have their nails done. [Yes, our life here is full of toil and trial, isn't it?]
But that left the boyfriend and I (Fei Fei went home) to either sit in the salon looking dumb or get our own hair washed (also dumb) or... and here comes the interesting twist... go to the Starbucks we had passed a couple blocks back and have coffee and talk. Except, the boyfriend does NOT speak English! So this means, if we decide to go for coffee, we are essentially agreeing to an impromptu "blind (and mute) date"! He was like, “ 我不会说英语”that is, he can't speak English, as in, "What am I supposed to do with this foreigner?! Go sit there in silence and stare at him!?" But Wei Na insisted, "Jason can speak Chinese. Go on!" And so, we went.
Really, it was so much like an awkward first date... he even held the door open for me when we left the salon and again when we entered the coffee house! He also wanted me to sit down while he ordered and then insisted that he pay for both of us. So we found a nice, romantic... NO, WAIT A SECOND!... let's just say we found a table and sat down, very macho-like.
And then the most amazing thing happened: We carried on a conversation. A real conversation.
We discussed coffee culture -- the whole "third place" phenomenon, if you understand what that means. We discussed politics. We discussed religion, namely the major differences between Catholics (his grandma is one) and Protestants.
I shared my story of growing up mostly with a single-mom, and how one of my step-dads did drugs, and how it has influenced my younger brother, and how I had to help take care of him when I was only nine-years-old and he was just an infant, and how that -- when my brother turned nine, himself -- I looked back at my experience growing up and wondered, "How in the world was it that I was taking care of a baby at nine-years-old when Lance can't possibly take care of himself at this age now?!"
And of course, he listened intently and sympathized and said things like, "What a hard life; you were really forced to grow-up too quickly... but, you know, every family has its problems, and likewise, every country and every culture, too, has its weaknesses. Like, in China, parents never want to let their kids grow-up at all or have any freedom or learn to do things for themselves, so at least your experience gave you the opportunity to learn how to take care of yourself at an early age."
"But to tell you the truth," I continued, "I feel like I didn't really grow-up at all, until just recently. I mean, when Cec and I got married... we were 20 and 22 at the time... I thought I was grown-up, but really I was so immature. We had a lot of trouble at the beginning of our marriage because I wasn't really a true man yet. You know what I mean?"
"Well, it's that way with every marriage, though..."
"Yeah," I said, "of course, that's true; but really, sometimes I think, if we weren't both Christians... I feel certain we would have gotten divorced."
"No way, ba!" [If you speak Chinese, you'll get the "ba" thing, otherwise...]
"Really though," I insisted, "being a Christian has improved my life so much, and I truly believe our faith is what kept our marriage together through the tough times."
He was like, "Whoa, dude... that's deep."
[OK, maybe he didn't exactly say that, but...]
Anyway, it was really cool. I mean -- in the interest of full disclosure -- it didn't sound quite so elegant and moving in real-time: Think more like Tarzan in a counseling session with Sigmund Freud and you've probably got a more accurate representation of what it must have sounded like to him. But anyway, we did communicate. And for that, I am thankful.
We expect to spend time with them again, some weekend before long. And who knows what we'll talk about then. But I'm praying for the best.
So anyway, Wei Na had invited us over to her and her (still-single) mother's home for dinner. She also asked another female student, Fei Fei, to join us, and had her own boyfriend come over, too, after he got off work. So, once everyone was there and sat down, we had dinner (which was really great, by the way) and made small talk -- mostly in Chinese, actually -- and you know, just had a real nice time. Then, when dinner was over, we left straight-away for the beauty salon where Venus and Cecely were going to get their hair washed (which means not only a hair-washing but an upper body massage, too) and have their nails done. [Yes, our life here is full of toil and trial, isn't it?]
But that left the boyfriend and I (Fei Fei went home) to either sit in the salon looking dumb or get our own hair washed (also dumb) or... and here comes the interesting twist... go to the Starbucks we had passed a couple blocks back and have coffee and talk. Except, the boyfriend does NOT speak English! So this means, if we decide to go for coffee, we are essentially agreeing to an impromptu "blind (and mute) date"! He was like, “ 我不会说英语”that is, he can't speak English, as in, "What am I supposed to do with this foreigner?! Go sit there in silence and stare at him!?" But Wei Na insisted, "Jason can speak Chinese. Go on!" And so, we went.
Really, it was so much like an awkward first date... he even held the door open for me when we left the salon and again when we entered the coffee house! He also wanted me to sit down while he ordered and then insisted that he pay for both of us. So we found a nice, romantic... NO, WAIT A SECOND!... let's just say we found a table and sat down, very macho-like.
And then the most amazing thing happened: We carried on a conversation. A real conversation.
We discussed coffee culture -- the whole "third place" phenomenon, if you understand what that means. We discussed politics. We discussed religion, namely the major differences between Catholics (his grandma is one) and Protestants.
I shared my story of growing up mostly with a single-mom, and how one of my step-dads did drugs, and how it has influenced my younger brother, and how I had to help take care of him when I was only nine-years-old and he was just an infant, and how that -- when my brother turned nine, himself -- I looked back at my experience growing up and wondered, "How in the world was it that I was taking care of a baby at nine-years-old when Lance can't possibly take care of himself at this age now?!"
And of course, he listened intently and sympathized and said things like, "What a hard life; you were really forced to grow-up too quickly... but, you know, every family has its problems, and likewise, every country and every culture, too, has its weaknesses. Like, in China, parents never want to let their kids grow-up at all or have any freedom or learn to do things for themselves, so at least your experience gave you the opportunity to learn how to take care of yourself at an early age."
"But to tell you the truth," I continued, "I feel like I didn't really grow-up at all, until just recently. I mean, when Cec and I got married... we were 20 and 22 at the time... I thought I was grown-up, but really I was so immature. We had a lot of trouble at the beginning of our marriage because I wasn't really a true man yet. You know what I mean?"
"Well, it's that way with every marriage, though..."
"Yeah," I said, "of course, that's true; but really, sometimes I think, if we weren't both Christians... I feel certain we would have gotten divorced."
"No way, ba!" [If you speak Chinese, you'll get the "ba" thing, otherwise...]
"Really though," I insisted, "being a Christian has improved my life so much, and I truly believe our faith is what kept our marriage together through the tough times."
He was like, "Whoa, dude... that's deep."
[OK, maybe he didn't exactly say that, but...]
Anyway, it was really cool. I mean -- in the interest of full disclosure -- it didn't sound quite so elegant and moving in real-time: Think more like Tarzan in a counseling session with Sigmund Freud and you've probably got a more accurate representation of what it must have sounded like to him. But anyway, we did communicate. And for that, I am thankful.
We expect to spend time with them again, some weekend before long. And who knows what we'll talk about then. But I'm praying for the best.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Toddlers Group
Caleb enjoys his life in China. I think what he enjoys the most is fresh made chicken and fish soup. In China, you can buy fresh produce such as live chickens and fish still in the water tank and fresh picked vegetables. Caleb likes to go to the market with me. He helps me pay all the vendors. All the good food has made him grow stronger and bigger everyday.
Caleb also loves the playground downstairs in our neighborhood. There are always so many kids and moms and grandparents downstairs. Caleb won their hearts. We love our neighbors. They are so kind and friendly. We started a Thursday morning mom and toddler class. We met the first time last week. Josh teaches six toddlers B-songs while the moms talk. Last week, we did a self-introduction. I am hoping to share and discuss some books on raising children and discipline. Hopefully we can grow from there. We plan to develop another group on Saturday with dads and kids.
Caleb also loves the playground downstairs in our neighborhood. There are always so many kids and moms and grandparents downstairs. Caleb won their hearts. We love our neighbors. They are so kind and friendly. We started a Thursday morning mom and toddler class. We met the first time last week. Josh teaches six toddlers B-songs while the moms talk. Last week, we did a self-introduction. I am hoping to share and discuss some books on raising children and discipline. Hopefully we can grow from there. We plan to develop another group on Saturday with dads and kids.
Clarks: Elaine
Just wanted to add a quick note about last night: Cecely had Elaine over yesterday for reading and talking [wink, wink] and is planning to keep up regular Monday evening appointments with her (and probably some of the others) for at least a while. Cec wants to see Elaine stand on her own, but it doesn't seem to be the time for that yet, which is certainly understandable. So we [again, it's mostly Cec] are going to mix teaching, then just listening, then letting them be alone, then getting back together and reflecting... and so on, for a time, so that they will be well-supported and, at the same time, allowed to mature somewhat independently.
Anyway, this has been a major concern of ours, and we are thankful to have finally gotten something really started with these ladies. Keep thinking about this situation, if you will.
Anyway, this has been a major concern of ours, and we are thankful to have finally gotten something really started with these ladies. Keep thinking about this situation, if you will.
Clarks: Weekend Trip
Hello everyone! We are so excited to be able to see the blog for ourselves! Let's pray that it remains visable to us -- it certainly makes it more fun when we can see our finished product.
So, we went out of town this weekend with Wei and her family. Wei ["Way"] is the mom; she takes yoga from Cec here at the house; she is also our landlady. Zhou ["Joe"] is the dad; he teaches and does computer tech service for a big university (same place that Wei teaches business, actually); he's nice but quiet, a loving and playful dad. Meng-meng [meaning, "Dream-dream"] is their 4-yr-old daughter; she is well-behaved and very clever; she really likes Cec & I a lot.
The trip was billed as us going to somewhere called Huzhou (a lake resort town?) and seeing alligators, 1000-yr-old gingko trees, and... well, I can't remember what else; but, we never actually made it to Huzhou, instead spending our time in and around a dusty little town called Changxing.
So, we went out of town this weekend with Wei and her family. Wei ["Way"] is the mom; she takes yoga from Cec here at the house; she is also our landlady. Zhou ["Joe"] is the dad; he teaches and does computer tech service for a big university (same place that Wei teaches business, actually); he's nice but quiet, a loving and playful dad. Meng-meng [meaning, "Dream-dream"] is their 4-yr-old daughter; she is well-behaved and very clever; she really likes Cec & I a lot. 
The trip was billed as us going to somewhere called Huzhou (a lake resort town?) and seeing alligators, 1000-yr-old gingko trees, and... well, I can't remember what else; but, we never actually made it to Huzhou, instead spending our time in and around a dusty little town called Changxing.
Also, the alligators never quite materialized; although, we did see a billboard advertising that there were some alligators somewhere; and of course, there's that statue over there: 
We ended up going to a geological park and viewing dinosaur remains and a 4-D movie.
[Yes, in China we have a whole other dimension: the theater seats wiggle, spray water on your head, and poke you in the back with a hard, plastic nail!]
Also, we got to spend a lot of quality time with Wei and her family, seeing this and that in the surrounding countryside. We took everything at a relaxed pace and just enjoyed the people and the scenes. People collecting and preparing gingko berries... Loofa gourds [from whence loofa sponges are born] hanging in the vines along the roadsides...
I even had time to play a game of Chinese chess with Meng-meng: She had to remind me of some of the rules, and give me advice before I made any foolish moves. Still, despite her coaching, I lost. [Yes, I was mentally out-manuvered by a four-year-old.]
She was a kind winner, though, telling Cec that "we are pretty well matched; he plays on my level."
Monday, October 20, 2008
The blog!
This morning, I was messing around on the computer and clicked on the team blog, and it worked! I used this time to update the colors of the blog and to add a couple of elements. On the side, I added a list we hope to keep updated. It is a list of things that we are asking you to think about and talk to Him about. On the bottom of the page, we also have a list of things that you could send us. We are excited that we are able to actually view the blog, but it may not last. Hope you like the changes. Thanks for all you do.
Jenn
[P.S. from Jason: We can also read your comments now, so post comments directly if you like.]
Jenn
[P.S. from Jason: We can also read your comments now, so post comments directly if you like.]
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Cooking in China
Well, it could have been worse.... Jon had class until 5 and then he had class again at 6:30, so I thought it would be easier to eat at home....but nothing is as simple as it should be in China.... I knew we had eggs and some ham and cheese, so I decided to make omlettes.
We only have an electric hot plate thing to cook on. It uses magnets to make ferrous metals hot...it is pretty cool technology if you are not trying to cook on it. The first pan I grabbed did not work (wrong kind of metal). Of course I did not realize it did not work until after I dumped the ham in it. So I got out another pan, but it immediately burned some of the ham! I took it off the eye and knew that I would need to clean the pan or else the omlettes would taste very burnt. About this time, Jon came home and suggested another pan, that was in the drawer. I forgot to look in the drawer...who keeps pans in drawers...oh they do in China. That pan worked better and I cooked the ham some and then moved on to the eggs....
I remember my mom and grandmother always telling me to crack open an egg in a separate container than your mix (or the other eggs). I almost forgot that advice....but it could have been worse...on egg number 5, I cracked it, but something seemed off...I noticed the smell and the green liquid about the same time. I am glad that none of the yuck landed in the other eggs. I am also very thankful that I did not open the egg all the way!! I can only imagine what I would have found. The smell was the worst part! I kept smelling it all night even way after I took out the garbage and scrubbed the kitchen.
Well like I said, it could have been worse. I started to cook the eggs, but the silly hot plate thing either gets very hot or not hot enough... finally they were cooked enough to add the ham and cheese. However, the omlette fell all apart. So I called it Topsy-turvy omlettes and the kids were excited. It was covered in cheese (a rare treat). The kids gobbled it up. Then I made one for Jon and me. It was ok, but I did have trouble getting it cooked all the way. I ate two bites, and it tasted fine, but I still smelled that other egg and had lost my appetite for eggs!
Everyone was still hungry, so when Jon went to class and took out the garbage, we got a snack at the cafeterria next door. I scrubbed the kitchen and washed the dishes, at least I could do that right!
Like I said, it could have been worse..at least we did have something to eat. I think tonight, we will go out to eat!
We only have an electric hot plate thing to cook on. It uses magnets to make ferrous metals hot...it is pretty cool technology if you are not trying to cook on it. The first pan I grabbed did not work (wrong kind of metal). Of course I did not realize it did not work until after I dumped the ham in it. So I got out another pan, but it immediately burned some of the ham! I took it off the eye and knew that I would need to clean the pan or else the omlettes would taste very burnt. About this time, Jon came home and suggested another pan, that was in the drawer. I forgot to look in the drawer...who keeps pans in drawers...oh they do in China. That pan worked better and I cooked the ham some and then moved on to the eggs....
I remember my mom and grandmother always telling me to crack open an egg in a separate container than your mix (or the other eggs). I almost forgot that advice....but it could have been worse...on egg number 5, I cracked it, but something seemed off...I noticed the smell and the green liquid about the same time. I am glad that none of the yuck landed in the other eggs. I am also very thankful that I did not open the egg all the way!! I can only imagine what I would have found. The smell was the worst part! I kept smelling it all night even way after I took out the garbage and scrubbed the kitchen.
Well like I said, it could have been worse. I started to cook the eggs, but the silly hot plate thing either gets very hot or not hot enough... finally they were cooked enough to add the ham and cheese. However, the omlette fell all apart. So I called it Topsy-turvy omlettes and the kids were excited. It was covered in cheese (a rare treat). The kids gobbled it up. Then I made one for Jon and me. It was ok, but I did have trouble getting it cooked all the way. I ate two bites, and it tasted fine, but I still smelled that other egg and had lost my appetite for eggs!
Everyone was still hungry, so when Jon went to class and took out the garbage, we got a snack at the cafeterria next door. I scrubbed the kitchen and washed the dishes, at least I could do that right!
Like I said, it could have been worse..at least we did have something to eat. I think tonight, we will go out to eat!
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Clarks: Soon to Be on the Cover of Runner's World?
From Jason:
I'm thinking of starting a running program.
I need the exercise and, frankly, the weight loss and muscle toning.
I know, you all think I'm so skinny [at least, I hope that's what you think] but that's b/c you haven't seen me with my shirt off [lucky for both of us!].
So, I'm sitting here at the computer reading about running. I'm not running yet, mind you, but I am thinking about maybe running. Maybe even today.
There's gonna be a marathon here in HZ next month. That's what got me fired up about running. But the deadline for entry is at the end of this month, and the fee is pretty high, actually... and also, I've never in my life run even one mile without stopping.
Maybe I will buy some new running shoes. That seems to be important, according to all the websites I'm reading. Great sites, by the way. Physically fit, smiling, energetic people--all running along there, like it's so much fun! Looks like something I might enjoy.
Then again, I have the electric bike. And I just aired-up the tires yesterday.
Shame to waste that air.
Then again, I guess it will keep.
Maybe what I need is fresh air in my lungs. Gasping, panting, lapping it up. "Feel the burn. Be the road." Chariots of Fire. "Dum dum-dum da-dum dum..."
The weather is perfect for running. I can tell just by leaning back, away from the glowing monitor of the computer, and looking out the window--yep, perfect running weather, looks like.
So, here in minute, after I'm done typing, and maybe after I look at a couple more training regimens online, and do some side-by-side shoe comparisons, and maybe finish checking my e-mail... and then I need to hang out that laundry that just beeped... oh, cute! Moonbeam just jumped into my lap!... and I do need to finish my lesson plans for the week...
I don't know if I'm going to have time to go running today. Maybe tomorrow.
We'll just have to see what happens.
Wish me well.
(1 Cor. 9:24ff; Heb. 12:1ff)
[UPDATE: I did go running. And I enjoyed it.]
I'm thinking of starting a running program.
I need the exercise and, frankly, the weight loss and muscle toning.
I know, you all think I'm so skinny [at least, I hope that's what you think] but that's b/c you haven't seen me with my shirt off [lucky for both of us!].
So, I'm sitting here at the computer reading about running. I'm not running yet, mind you, but I am thinking about maybe running. Maybe even today.
There's gonna be a marathon here in HZ next month. That's what got me fired up about running. But the deadline for entry is at the end of this month, and the fee is pretty high, actually... and also, I've never in my life run even one mile without stopping.
Maybe I will buy some new running shoes. That seems to be important, according to all the websites I'm reading. Great sites, by the way. Physically fit, smiling, energetic people--all running along there, like it's so much fun! Looks like something I might enjoy.
Then again, I have the electric bike. And I just aired-up the tires yesterday.
Shame to waste that air.
Then again, I guess it will keep.
Maybe what I need is fresh air in my lungs. Gasping, panting, lapping it up. "Feel the burn. Be the road." Chariots of Fire. "Dum dum-dum da-dum dum..."
The weather is perfect for running. I can tell just by leaning back, away from the glowing monitor of the computer, and looking out the window--yep, perfect running weather, looks like.
So, here in minute, after I'm done typing, and maybe after I look at a couple more training regimens online, and do some side-by-side shoe comparisons, and maybe finish checking my e-mail... and then I need to hang out that laundry that just beeped... oh, cute! Moonbeam just jumped into my lap!... and I do need to finish my lesson plans for the week...
I don't know if I'm going to have time to go running today. Maybe tomorrow.
We'll just have to see what happens.
Wish me well.
(1 Cor. 9:24ff; Heb. 12:1ff)
[UPDATE: I did go running. And I enjoyed it.]
These are some pictures I thought you might enjoy seeing. They were taken at the beginning of the October 1st Holiday. We took a trip to the West Lake with the kids. We stopped along lake at a small restaurant. We ate outside and caused quite a spectacle. well, not exactly us...the kids. (those of you with Facebook may have seen these pictures there)
It started out with just two girls taking pictures, then it grew to more......
And here is another view.....
The kids actually enjoyed this trip. They are starting to take the attention in stride (or at least accept it as a part of life here). Liam enjoys it the least. They all handle it better if they are well rested and not hungry. They get lots of attention no matter where we go, but when we go to the lake or downtown it is worse.
Someone told me that this picture looks an exhibit at the local zoo....hmmm maybe.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Clarks: news of late
I (Jason) went on a great bike ride today: I went all the way out to the campus--way out west--and spent time with Cec, who had classes in the morning, and then in the afternoon. After having lunch and spending time at the campus teahouse, drinking the locally-grown longjin cha and snacking on sunflower seeds and in-the-shell peanuts, I headed back into town; but when I got nearly home, I decided to turn off to the south and go toward the lake. I took the tunnel route--as in, I rode the e-bike thru this mile-long mountain pass, in the narrow, elevated, bike/ped. lane, paved with ceramic tiles so that your tires seem to be gliding over ice--which was amazing, terrifying, thrilling, inspiring, humbling, and just plain fun. I came out the other side, rode through the lush, green, rolling hills down to the West Lake, and then went across the Su Causeway--which is this long levee extending thru the length of the lake, all the way from the north shore to the south shore, with flowers, trees, benches, and Chinese-arched bridges all along the way. It was stunning, actually. Which... that's the thing with HZ. You hear all your life (well, all the time we've lived in China, actually) that HZ is this "paradise city", but you're thinking, "yeah, right," but then you get here, and it's more-or-less true. I mean, this is really a nice city.
Anyway, news item two: We are planning to go with Wei (our landlady) and her family, and I think her best friend's family, too--both ladies are Cecely's yoga students here in the home yoga studio--and visit this nearby city called Huzhou where we will see rare crocodiles. I can't recall what all else is supposed to be there to see, but we'll take the camera and post some photos when we get back.
All else is well: It's so hard sometimes to think of what to say. I have all these things in mind, but then I get on the laptop and get to typing and spell-checking, and then answering the phone, then whatever... But, we'll keep you up to speed.
Jake and Shelley are coming in less than a month! We're looking fwd to that!
Well... OK...
J & C
Anyway, news item two: We are planning to go with Wei (our landlady) and her family, and I think her best friend's family, too--both ladies are Cecely's yoga students here in the home yoga studio--and visit this nearby city called Huzhou where we will see rare crocodiles. I can't recall what all else is supposed to be there to see, but we'll take the camera and post some photos when we get back.
All else is well: It's so hard sometimes to think of what to say. I have all these things in mind, but then I get on the laptop and get to typing and spell-checking, and then answering the phone, then whatever... But, we'll keep you up to speed.
Jake and Shelley are coming in less than a month! We're looking fwd to that!
Well... OK...
J & C
Clarks: Thanks! [and updated wish list]
Thank you so much, to everyone who has so graciously sent us packages! We have rec'v'd all kinds of Halloween and Autumn stuff, including candy and decorations; lots of packets of Kool-Aid, Jell-O, Cup-a-Soup, instant oatmeal, spaghetti and taco mixes, etc.; magazines, including Nat'l Geo., Women's Day (and others like that), and a couple of Christian publications; and, we were even given the new, best-selling novel The Shack--which is cool b/c there was a review of that book in the latest issue of CT (Chr.Today), and now we get to read it for ourselves!
It is always a great treat to have a box arrive, so keep 'em coming!
To update our wish-list: We have plenty of the packaged things mentioned above. If you've already sent more, that's fine, but if you see this blog before you or someone you know sends something else, then you can know that we are already stocked-up.
Magazines, though, are always welcome b/c, you know, they're new every month. Cec has long subscribed to O, The Oprah Magazine, but she no longer has a subsc., so that would be a good treat for her. We both love Nat'l. Geo., DJ (if you don't know DJ, you can ask at LifeWay), CT (ditto, and I think my subsc. has finally expired to that one), Atlantic Monthly, Real Simple...
Anyway, other than that, we'd drink ground coffee. We'll burn scented candles. Cec will drink herbal teas. Uhm... You could even send a small block of cheddar cheese or a canister of dry Parmesan. [Yes, cheese does fine when it is unopened.]
The thing is, most of the things I just mentioned can, in fact, be found here, but they are expensive and not necessarily on every street corner, you know.
Well, so thanks again.
Oh, and did I ever mention... The mailman brings the packages directly to our door!
That may not sound like any big deal, but trust me, this kind of thing--this level of service--simply does not happen in China... ah, but in Hangzhou...
It is always a great treat to have a box arrive, so keep 'em coming!
To update our wish-list: We have plenty of the packaged things mentioned above. If you've already sent more, that's fine, but if you see this blog before you or someone you know sends something else, then you can know that we are already stocked-up.
Magazines, though, are always welcome b/c, you know, they're new every month. Cec has long subscribed to O, The Oprah Magazine, but she no longer has a subsc., so that would be a good treat for her. We both love Nat'l. Geo., DJ (if you don't know DJ, you can ask at LifeWay), CT (ditto, and I think my subsc. has finally expired to that one), Atlantic Monthly, Real Simple...
Anyway, other than that, we'd drink ground coffee. We'll burn scented candles. Cec will drink herbal teas. Uhm... You could even send a small block of cheddar cheese or a canister of dry Parmesan. [Yes, cheese does fine when it is unopened.]
The thing is, most of the things I just mentioned can, in fact, be found here, but they are expensive and not necessarily on every street corner, you know.
Well, so thanks again.
Oh, and did I ever mention... The mailman brings the packages directly to our door!
That may not sound like any big deal, but trust me, this kind of thing--this level of service--simply does not happen in China... ah, but in Hangzhou...
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Gui Hua
This week I learned the city flower of Hangzhou is Gui Hua.
O great choice! What is it? Sweet-scented osmanthus.
It is a small tree with hundreds of tiny cream colored flowers. Gui Hua smells wonderful. It just bloomed and is everywhere: in our apartment complex, at both the Clarcks and Hardins, at the bus stop, even the back street to the supermarket. The Gui Hua even overpowers the foul smells that come with 5 million close neighbors. We stick our noses right in a clump of flowers or stand back a few feet trying to find the most satisfying whiff. GaoYan says she will make rice balls with sundried GuiHua and sugar inside. Our windows are open at night because the aroma makes it up to our fourth floor apartment. I lie in bed thinking, "This is what life should smell like."
II Corinthinans 2:14-16 reminds and encourages us with the power of our aroma and fragrance leading our neighbors to know Him.
O great choice! What is it? Sweet-scented osmanthus.
It is a small tree with hundreds of tiny cream colored flowers. Gui Hua smells wonderful. It just bloomed and is everywhere: in our apartment complex, at both the Clarcks and Hardins, at the bus stop, even the back street to the supermarket. The Gui Hua even overpowers the foul smells that come with 5 million close neighbors. We stick our noses right in a clump of flowers or stand back a few feet trying to find the most satisfying whiff. GaoYan says she will make rice balls with sundried GuiHua and sugar inside. Our windows are open at night because the aroma makes it up to our fourth floor apartment. I lie in bed thinking, "This is what life should smell like."
II Corinthinans 2:14-16 reminds and encourages us with the power of our aroma and fragrance leading our neighbors to know Him.
Clarks: I've stalled long enough
Good Morning, Afternoon, or Evening. This is Jason.
It seems like forever since I last wrote something. In fact, I know it's been quite a while b/c last time I was complaining about the heat and seemingly-endless days of summer. Now though, it's been nice fall weather for, like, a couple weeks or so!
So why the delay?
Well, I was waiting for Cec to write something; that's the main reason. And then, even after she'd written, there's just been so much going on. It's like, I have this great story to tell, but before I have a chance to sit down and type it out, another story unfolds right before our eyes, so then I'm too busy to write, plus I've got this other story, then before you know it...
For example: the story about how we met those people Cecely mentioned (who the guy likes music a lot and the lady studies yoga)... great story, full of irony and providencial turns of event, with a funny and surprising plot twist mid-way through...
But who has time to tell about it when the next day your out riding the electric bike and lose power miles from home, having to push all the way back -- b/c also... (not that you've mentioned it, not having time to write anything) ...the chain is broken and missing, lost somewhere between Elaine's house and home -- ?
And even if, after getting home exhausted from pushing this 50-lb. bike about as far as, say, from the old building on Cloverdale all the way to the new CC building... I say, even if I had the strength and willpower to sit and the computer and re-tell the saga in all its glorious and (to be sure) humourous detail... I would not have been able to do so b/c, by that time, the cat had come down with a raging case of "feline infectous rhinotracheale" and had to be rushed to the vet for an intense round of examinations, including but not limited to stool and blood tests, stethoscopic observation, followed by 5 days of injections and oral antibiotic treatments.
So you can see, I haven't been slacking off, just busy.
And besides, most of my computer time is spent on ChinesePod.com learning and reviewing several Chinese language and culture lessons per day. I think I have something like 120+ new vocabulary flashcards in the current rotation.
That, and following the presidential race.
And wishing I could watch the new season of The Office.
But alas...
It seems like forever since I last wrote something. In fact, I know it's been quite a while b/c last time I was complaining about the heat and seemingly-endless days of summer. Now though, it's been nice fall weather for, like, a couple weeks or so!
So why the delay?
Well, I was waiting for Cec to write something; that's the main reason. And then, even after she'd written, there's just been so much going on. It's like, I have this great story to tell, but before I have a chance to sit down and type it out, another story unfolds right before our eyes, so then I'm too busy to write, plus I've got this other story, then before you know it...
For example: the story about how we met those people Cecely mentioned (who the guy likes music a lot and the lady studies yoga)... great story, full of irony and providencial turns of event, with a funny and surprising plot twist mid-way through...
But who has time to tell about it when the next day your out riding the electric bike and lose power miles from home, having to push all the way back -- b/c also... (not that you've mentioned it, not having time to write anything) ...the chain is broken and missing, lost somewhere between Elaine's house and home -- ?
And even if, after getting home exhausted from pushing this 50-lb. bike about as far as, say, from the old building on Cloverdale all the way to the new CC building... I say, even if I had the strength and willpower to sit and the computer and re-tell the saga in all its glorious and (to be sure) humourous detail... I would not have been able to do so b/c, by that time, the cat had come down with a raging case of "feline infectous rhinotracheale" and had to be rushed to the vet for an intense round of examinations, including but not limited to stool and blood tests, stethoscopic observation, followed by 5 days of injections and oral antibiotic treatments.
So you can see, I haven't been slacking off, just busy.
And besides, most of my computer time is spent on ChinesePod.com learning and reviewing several Chinese language and culture lessons per day. I think I have something like 120+ new vocabulary flashcards in the current rotation.
That, and following the presidential race.
And wishing I could watch the new season of The Office.
But alas...
Saturday, October 4, 2008
We were told that we had a package, so Jon went by the post office after class the other day. When he came in, he was out of breath. I wondered why, because it was not that hot out. When I came into the living room, I saw what he had carried back from the post office. We did not get one package, we got FIVE in one day! The post office was nice enough to let Jon borrow this mail bag. It was like Christmas morning at our house! Some of the packages were things that we had left behind, but some were new surprises. Thank you so much!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Clarks: Early October
Cecely here:
I'm sitting here eating salted plums and Dove dark chocolate and drinking jasmine tea. A delicious late evening snack! Life in China is full and busy, very satisfying, but can be stressful at times. I just read Josh and Jen's last blog entries, and while reading Jen's I couldn't agree with her more about the Christmas deal. Do please lift us all up as we deal with this. We want to do it correctly in a way that would be right for a follower, and we definitely do want to try at least to get the policy changed. So I echo that you could please keep us in your petitions about that. Also, please keep our future placement in mind, and that we will all make wise decisions about who teaches and doesn't teach in the future, as I think each couple on the team considers that issue.
As for the work, we are indeed being blessed and led. We have been guided to a salon where many of the workers already have some knowledge or belief in j.c. So, some groundwork is already laid, they (some of them) would, though, need to answer his call and become more active and serious, which are huge changes indeed, and will only happen if this is truly His will. There is a lady there, Lorna, who has a really colorful background, and belongs to an ethnic minority. She is a single mom who never graduated from elem school. She is probably about our age or a little younger. She has a sweet spirit and we are developing a fledgling friendship, just as we are with another girl there and a couple of guys. So, please be thinking about that whole situation in the coming days. In addition to the salon, please also keep in mind the place where we live, the apartment complex that is. I am teaching Chris'ian yoga to a couple of ladies who come over twice a week. Please pr-y that the words I share will take root and cause curiousity and good questions to emerge. We also met a family while out on our walk last night, and the man has a passion for music, and the lady for yoga. They would like us to go sing karaoke with them sometime, and she would like me to attend classes at the yoga studio where she goes. So please keep those new relationships in mind. And, I have an idea in my mind about the teahouse that is on our school campus, as well. Please keep the ladies in mind who work there. The teahouse would be a wonderfully strategic location on that campus if we would one day turn out to have sisters who work there, if you know what I mean. Also, please keep us in mind as we deal with our students and colleagues, so that we will have discernment of who may be stable, local, and influential, in addition to curious and hungering for him.
I'm sitting here eating salted plums and Dove dark chocolate and drinking jasmine tea. A delicious late evening snack! Life in China is full and busy, very satisfying, but can be stressful at times. I just read Josh and Jen's last blog entries, and while reading Jen's I couldn't agree with her more about the Christmas deal. Do please lift us all up as we deal with this. We want to do it correctly in a way that would be right for a follower, and we definitely do want to try at least to get the policy changed. So I echo that you could please keep us in your petitions about that. Also, please keep our future placement in mind, and that we will all make wise decisions about who teaches and doesn't teach in the future, as I think each couple on the team considers that issue.
As for the work, we are indeed being blessed and led. We have been guided to a salon where many of the workers already have some knowledge or belief in j.c. So, some groundwork is already laid, they (some of them) would, though, need to answer his call and become more active and serious, which are huge changes indeed, and will only happen if this is truly His will. There is a lady there, Lorna, who has a really colorful background, and belongs to an ethnic minority. She is a single mom who never graduated from elem school. She is probably about our age or a little younger. She has a sweet spirit and we are developing a fledgling friendship, just as we are with another girl there and a couple of guys. So, please be thinking about that whole situation in the coming days. In addition to the salon, please also keep in mind the place where we live, the apartment complex that is. I am teaching Chris'ian yoga to a couple of ladies who come over twice a week. Please pr-y that the words I share will take root and cause curiousity and good questions to emerge. We also met a family while out on our walk last night, and the man has a passion for music, and the lady for yoga. They would like us to go sing karaoke with them sometime, and she would like me to attend classes at the yoga studio where she goes. So please keep those new relationships in mind. And, I have an idea in my mind about the teahouse that is on our school campus, as well. Please keep the ladies in mind who work there. The teahouse would be a wonderfully strategic location on that campus if we would one day turn out to have sisters who work there, if you know what I mean. Also, please keep us in mind as we deal with our students and colleagues, so that we will have discernment of who may be stable, local, and influential, in addition to curious and hungering for him.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
A Cool Wind
Wow I finally got into this blogger everyone keeps talking about.
Yesterday was the hottest day for me so far. I had to walk across campus, up the hill, and to the fourth floor carrying my backback. I happened to be wearing my nicest shirt. I said to my students "I wore my best shirt for you today, but look what happened." My back was completely wet with sweat. I taught for the first hour trying to stand under the fan as much as possible. The bell rang and all the students layed their heads down, also exhausted from the heat. All of a sudden the curtains flew open and a cool wind rushed into the classroom. The students gasped in unison "Ahhhhh." Everyone ran outside and stood on the balcony to enjoy the refreshing cool wind. There were scattered showers that afternoon, and I saw my first ever bit of a rainbow in China.
GaoYan, Caleb, and I are meeting lots of families with young children. Please ask for wisdom and our action to deepen relationships.
Yesterday was the hottest day for me so far. I had to walk across campus, up the hill, and to the fourth floor carrying my backback. I happened to be wearing my nicest shirt. I said to my students "I wore my best shirt for you today, but look what happened." My back was completely wet with sweat. I taught for the first hour trying to stand under the fan as much as possible. The bell rang and all the students layed their heads down, also exhausted from the heat. All of a sudden the curtains flew open and a cool wind rushed into the classroom. The students gasped in unison "Ahhhhh." Everyone ran outside and stood on the balcony to enjoy the refreshing cool wind. There were scattered showers that afternoon, and I saw my first ever bit of a rainbow in China.
GaoYan, Caleb, and I are meeting lots of families with young children. Please ask for wisdom and our action to deepen relationships.
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