Sausage

In two weeks it will be Chinese New Year. In Chinese culture, families love to hang some dry meat and fish during the cold winter time and store it for the snowy days. We had 10 pounds of sausage made yesterday in the market. We bought meat and had it ground. Then they added salt and sugar in the meat and filled the meat in clean pig intestines. We hung the sausage on our balcony to dry. In half a month, it will be delicious to steam on rice or stir fry. The sausage has added a festive atmosphere to our house.

IT'S A GIRL!

GaoYan and I saw an ultrasound yesterday. It’s a girl! Maybe her name will be Joy GaoXin Davis, but still thinking about the name. “GaoXing” means joy and happy, but maybe we will use “Xin信” which means faith. If you say the name they sound almost the same.
GaoYan really really wants a girl. “If I have another boy, I will live in the kitchen all my life cooking food for you guys.” I am also excited. GaoYan says, “Girls love their Daddy the most.”

Meet Alex

For quite some time now, I have been meaning to write a post about Alex. I thought I would show some pictures and tell you some about him. We have been mentioning him, and I know that many of you have been lifting him up.

Last year Alex was in both Jon and my Oral English classes. Actually he was really only in one class, but he went to both. He worked very hard to improve his English. He also came to English corner quite often. I thought he was a super nice guy (still do).

Alex was a little older than most of our students. I believe he worked for a while before entering college. His major was automotive engineering (or something like that). He has now graduated and is working as a teacher in a vocational school near our apartment.

Alex has a racing bike. It is different than most of the other bikes around. He rides his bike a lot. He can go really fast too.

Alex is from Hangzhou. He lives with his parents in the Northern part of the city. His dad teaches people to swim. So naturally Alex also swims (at least in the summer time). Alex is very close to his parents.

Alex came over to our apartment some last year. Alex is the guy that gave the kids the turtles (of which we only have one now). Jon and him were talking and he mentioned his mom was Buddhist. That opened the conversation to spiritual things. Jon asked if he wanted to study the Good Book, and he did.

Jon has been studying with him for a little less than on year.






This was taken at Liam's birthday last May, right after we move to our new apartment. Alex is helping Liam put together a new car.






The boys eating oranges!


Alex has been coming to our apartment on Sunday mornings too. Last week, when he came to study Jon told him that James was going to take a dip on Sunday night. Alex said he wanted to do that too! We were pretty excited.

We tracked down the portable tub and made plans. It was decided that Alex would go with Jon to Georges and take a dip after James. Jon had planned on George doing the dunking, but he got nervous and indicated that Jon should do it. He agreed but said that George should do the next ones.

Jon got George to take pictures. Let's just say, that George's talent is not taking pictures or videos. However he did get a picture of our brand new brother Alex!




I love the big smile on his face! Jon plans to continue to study and mentor Alex. Please continue to lift him up.

Alex's parents do not know that he has taken this step. They know that he has been studying. His dad thinks it is a good thing, but his mom is less thrilled. Please lift them up as well.
We ask for Alex to continue to grow and to (hopefully soon) take a leadership role in our Sunday mornings. Also we would really like to see him sharing his new faith with others, maybe even his family.

Glory to Him

From the Clarks:
Thanks so much for the prayer that y'all have put into helping to see us through this pregnancy and upcoming birth. God is hearing you and things are getting better and changing, and I do have the sense that we are being guided. Ever since the day that CC dedicated to be in prayer for us and the team, things have been shaping up a lot. It's not really that much has been decided or a big change has occurred, but there is more peace and a sense, like I said, of guidance. Shanghai will not probably be where the baby is born after all, but looking into that option informed us and started us on a little bit more proactive path. I am gradually calming down, with major help from God, and to Him be the glory for it. The appointment here in Hangzhou on Tuesday was the best one we have had, and it does seem that we are becoming more comfortable with our doctor here, and she with us. That provides some relief. The baby is growing and lively, and we are really thankful for that. Praise God. And thanks again for your persistence in prayer and perseverence with us.

As for the work, this is a major time of prayer. We have 5 now that are students (some more promising than others) that we have taught and that now will be going to spend the festival time with family for about a month. This is a time when we won't be in contact with them, and it is all up to them to decide what they do with their ample free time: will they use it to drift further from Him, or draw near? We have told them how to become closer to Him, but the choice is theirs. So, let's be in prayer for the choices of Allen, Helen, Cecelia, Ashley and Katrina.

And let's not forget She Jun Mei, the egg-lady's sister. She is an adult lady, a divorcee with an 11 year old daughter, Leona. She has been a faithful attender on Sunday now for weeks, and shows some signs of commitment and faith, but hasn't taken the step. What is standing in her way? Whatever it is, pray that it will be removed. We are ready to see her as our sister, but we know it needs to be in His timing. We have definitely told her the message repeatedly, but one thing we have prayed for is that Elaine, Margaret, Shenli, or another sister Liwen, that one of them would be the next one to share with her about what needs to be done. That would be wonderful, but is that His plan? Pray that it'll happen in accordance with His plan and His timing, and that it will happen at all.

Thanks! We love you all!

Sad today

I just got a message that my grandmother ( Mona McNeely) is nearing the end of this life. She has been sick for about a year. We knew this time was coming, but it is still hard. The doctor has said it is just a matter of days, probably no more than a week. She is at home and they are trying to keep her comfortable. Please pray for strength and peace for my family, and comfort for her.

Clarks: remember our students

Today, Saturday, is the day after the 19th week of school, which is the official final week of the semester. The students are now finished. We are trying to fit in last minute times with them so that they can keep in mind what we have studied the past few months. Today Cecelia came, and she plans to return on Monday with Ashley and Katrina. Please keep all three of them in your prayers, especially Cecelia. There is really a "battle" for her soul. She was doing great, growing in her belief and feeling more confidence and peace, and then today when she was here, she seemed a lot more tired and kind of "confessed" that she hasn't really picked up the Book or talked to Him for about a month, that in fact she had become scared of losing the approval of her friends. She says she doesnt' like the result: now she feels more fearful and feels like she is being more "snobbish" to people. So she asked our advice. I told her simply: I am not here to judge her, but I think she should get back into the Word daily and be talking to Him - for at least 20 minutes a day, and I recommend she doesn't think so much about what others think of her. Easier said than done, I know. I told her I'd be praying for her daily, so please join us. She is a wonderful girl who we believe is being called by Him. Thanks! And pray also, for Helen, and a boy she "introduced" to our meeting just last Sunday - Allen. Thanks for your prayers and support.
Love y'all.

Clarks: Christmas Time Is Here! (AGAIN!)

Do you remember when we were complaining that no packages had arrived for Christmas? Well, guess what!

We just got THREE packages today! One from Mom & Dad (things to replace the lost package from back in November), one sent to ourselves from Amazon (all those baby books), and a BIG ONE from church members at Clear Creek! THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE CHRISTMAS GIFTS! We're glad to say that they've all finally arrived, which certainly has made this an uplifting and fun day spent mostly at home.

We did venture out once today - to get train tickets.
We're going to Shanghai on Sunday/Monday to check out the American-Sino OB/GYN clinic where we think we might like to deliver the baby. More about that after the trip...

And just as a bonus, I'm including a picture taken a week or two ago, when all the snow came through, looking back toward our apartment building.