A Very Shaoxing Easter

Easter? Are we supposed to talk about Easter? OK, I'll talk about Easter! While the rest of the team was rockin' it in Hangzhou we had a much smaller event for Easter in Shaoxing. We did the usual with egg-dyeing, little triangle sandwiches, and a humongous rabbit shaped cake. I don't know about your family, but that's definitely a tradition in ours!

More importantly, we all sat together to experience the true feeling of Easter. We read the story of Jesus' crucifixion and then we listened to a dramatic reading of Jesus' resurrection. As we listened, we all sat with eyes closed, trying to picture the faces of Jesus, the people he met, and their various expressions. I tried to share that it was completely natural to feel shocked, doubtful, amazed, grateful, etc. Jesus' friends felt all of those things and it's OK for us to feel them today, too. (Quick side note - loved the Clear Creek Easter video on Facebook!) We then talked some about why it matters for us today that Jesus rose from the dead.

There were about 20 people who came for the Easter party, most of them people who have already been coming to our weekly Bible study. We pray that it was a good chance for them to learn what is at the very heart of our faith and why it's so important for our lives today!

Caleb with Zhang Wen Qiang - a student Lisa's been studying with for more than a semester

An Easter huddle

The famous Taylor/Bailey Easter Bunny Cake