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.
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