Back i n the USS....umm, Back in the USA, Don't Know how Happy we are.....

Yep, we are home.
Yep, we are happy.
Yep, we are sad.
Yep, we are confused.
Yep, we are in shock.
Yep, we do not know exactly where we fit now....or if we even fit.

Serving overseas changes things in your life in ways you cannot imagine unless you have been there yourself.  I use to think, there is no way that 2 short years can change a person that much.
But we did not serve 2 short years.
We served 2 long, hard, wonderful, sad, happy, crazy, angry, joyful, trusting, believing, rejoicing, growing years.
We saw things we had only read about. We met people we could have only imagined. We helped with needs too far beyond our comfy American lives. We traveled to areas I had only seen on TV,  poorer than poor. We saw lots and lots.
We also saw love, and hope, and faith, and joy. We meet families that had been directly affected by persecution. We met new believers that had been laughed at and ridiculed by their own family. We saw true worship in churches where people came to worship God in extremely humble surroundings (concrete buildings with plastic stools to sit on). We gave out school supplies to orphans who were truly thankful and thanked the Father, and not just us. We were able to give away clothes and belongs to poor elderly people who went through our trash daily and we were able to reap the reward of a "thank you" with bright eyes, in the best broken English they could muster up. We were able to see friends become Part of the Family and others who are getting closer and closer.

So, coming home has been hard. We Americans are so caught up  in self it is unbelievable. We go days, months, years, lifetimes with out ever sharing our faith.
I am the first to admit, before I went to China, I was not as bold as I am now, I talked to people often then, about my faith and "come to church with me",  but not as directly, not as straight-forwardl-y, not as URGENTLY.

We need an URGENCY  about us. We need to share and love and help and sacrifice. We need to be the Hands and Feet  of Christ.
Being overseas put that urgency in me and I do not want to lose it, as I return back to my comfortable, plush, rich life ( and believe me, we all are rich here in America compared to there).

As we try to fit back in, please help us pray that God places us where we can continue to minister to Asian populations, work for the Kingdom in a church fellowship where we are needed, and where the kids will find a place to belong. As Bob considers jobs in various locations, the above 3 are our biggest concerns. We want to still hold onto our China mindset as we begin a new life and purpose here in the states.

And that, folks, is the ballgame....thanks for coming out.....

Ending well. Not just showing up for the game...or quiting when the playing got tough or exhausting. But playing the whole ballgame. Putting your all into it.

I look at these past 2 years as a game- set amount of time, set amount of opportunities. We all have these. But I stopped to think how many opportunities I have in the US. How many of these do I really seek after? Am I really in the game, both overseas and at home.

I have been back in America one week now. It has been and will continue to be an adjustment. Things are different. I am different.

I feel I finished well. (Bob is still there for 2 more weeks). I played my best game til the end, was able to say goodbyes and  with tearful eyes, leave  to return to a home that doesn't feel that way anymore. I keep sittin around, I think in part, to see if it will start to feel more "normal"...but what is normal now?

I will continue to write here, as we become American again. As I become a part of my old life. As I see where He leads next.

Tick....tick....tick....tick....

Time is running out. There are less and less days of school left- 81 til school is out, about 55 school days. Time is running out to teach my students all I can about His Word. Help me to be clear in the message and simple in my teaching. To be child-like in my faith and show them how to trust and put my eyes on Him.

Time is running out. There are less and less opportunities to show people in the general community compasion, care, a smile. Less time to let someone else go first, less time to kindly and with love correct my children while curious eyes are on me, less time to speak to the cleaning ladies and garbage men showing them they are important enough to be noticed and appreciated. Less time to show them J-sus through my actions, words, deeds.

Time is running out. There are less and less chances to hang out with our Chinese friends, friends we have grown to know and love over the last 2 years. Less time to be personally involved in their lives- be counted as family at their wedding, to show concern and share pr-yer with them for their father with cancer, less time to celebrate holidays with their families as honored guests. Less time to sit and talk and share and grow and bring them to the cross.

Time is running out- 11 weeks of school, 81 days til school is out, 95 days til we board a plane to America in all likelyhood, never to return. Time is running out.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Count your blessings....

At lunch today, Bob and I were talking about things here being so hard, little things we take for granted in the US of A, things I vow right now to never forget when I am back in my comfortable life in America....such as the blessing of...

#1- being able to wash more than 10 items in a washing machine and dry the items in less than 4 hours

#2- having more than 2 burners to cook on

#3- no worrying about, at any given time, power, water, gas, or internet going off....for days at a time

#4- being able to get in a car and drive to dinner, not riding on a crowded, smelly bus for over an hour to our favorite restaurant on the other side of the city

#5- being able to go in the kitchen an hour before dinner time and throw together meal, not having to go to the store daily and hope and pr-y they have hamburger meat

#6- having people hold doors for you, smile at you, just be pleasant instead of scowls, stares, and fighting to be first through a doorway or getting onto a bus

#7- using water from a faucet and not having to boil it first to keep from sickness

#8- being able to flush toilet paper, instead of having a special lidded can for it that fills quickly and is not pleasant to change

#9- not breathing dirty air that causes dry, "boogery" noses and ear gook as well as a cough that stays and stays

#10- ordering in a restaurant and knowing they will have what you have ordered, not hearing "Don't have" with no apology whatsoever

#11- not being stared at all the time and reminded you do not fit in and with many people, you are also not wanted here

#12- Vacuuming my house. Here you sweep, cold hard floors...and it can get filthy overnight. I have to sweep the entire apt 4 times a week at least.

#13- Coming home to a warm/cool house. Here you turn off heat and AC when you leave...so coming home to a 35 degree apt is not enjoyable.

#14- Toilet paper in public bathrooms. Take your own with you here.

#15- sleeping on a soft comfortable bed. When we got here I thought our bed was missing the mattress, that it was only the boxsprings....nope, that was it. We bought cheap foam to put on top....not the same.

#16-Walking on sidewalks without fear of being run over by a bike, moped, or a car....yes, cars are driven on the sidewalks and they will blow for you, the one walking on the sideWALK to move out of their way!

#17- people knowing how to wait in line, wait their turn....not cutting, just going ahead of you, pushing their way up.

#18- being able to run the heat, hair dryer, and light with out tripping the breaker

#19- being able to walk barefoot on the grass and not fear dog mess, but also human mess

#20- see churches on every corner, not hidden in apartments and stores....a freedom we need to cherish and fight to protect

I will have more later, but remember these are all real, they are all my life, and they will be many peoples lives for their whole existance.

We are blessed. Little things we do not even think about are truly blessings when you have to do without.

What a night!!!

Ok, so I am so blown away. I could feel people pr-ying for us during our Christmas dinner tonight. Thanks thanks thanks!!! So here is how it went.....

Every single person we invited showed up....plus a few extras....we had to go out and get extra food- afraid we weren't going to have enough. They ate and ate and ate- turkey,dressing,rice ( of course), gravy,mac and cheese, deviled eggs, green beans, and desserts- cheese cake, cookies, and brownies.....it was sooooo good.

Then we shared about Christmas- what people thought of when they thought of Christmas. Answers ranged from Santa to Jingle Bells to shopping. Many said they thought of dinners with family and friends...some said they thought of giving gifts.

This led into me, Angie, trying to share about the best gift EVER and tearing up through it. But it opened up for more discussion- why did He come here? What do we do to receive the gift?

The discussion lastest over an hour and a half!!!

Lots took information papers- in their native tongue- to learn more. And I had a discussion with one person before the dinner even started!!

This was an amazing night for us....to see all the work leading up to this night- help us build the relationship to the point of being able to share with them. I was amazed at how hungry they all were to know more and more.

There are two left that I am pr-yin hard for...they are still resistant- can see it in their posture and faces, but we serve the One who can do anything....no worries.

So, thanks!!! If you were prayin tonight/ am for you guys, we felt it!!!

Will keep you updated on how it all plays out now- the ball is in their court....

Merry Christmas to you all!!!

Almost half way there!!!

Hard to believe but Christmas is almost here and with it's arrival, we will be half way through the school year!!! As excited as I am about heading home, I feel a sort of loss that the time here is almost over. We have made some very good Chinese friends that we hope to welcome into the family very soon!!

Interesting story- we have been pr-ying for all 1o or so of our closest friends, that they would be open to what we share on Christmas night and that the ones that are to be here would be here and others, that are not "Ready" would not be here for dinner.

One friend we have not seen in a while. His dad has been sick so he has been away taking care of him and attending to his business affairs ( rich family). We have been remembering him and hoping he would get back to the city to be able to attend the dinner over the holidays.

Finally, this past week, he showed up at our Thanksgiving gathering!!! PTL!!! So hopefully he will be around for Christmas too.

Please help us pr-y for these friends.....we would love to see some fruit, but if not we can see the plants beginning to grow...

As Christmas comes closer, my opportunities to share at school become more. I have 16 students in my B-ble class and I also want pr-yer for them. Many are Korean and are worried about issues there and family members - ones there and ones that do not believe.

Please put this on your "list". These kids are precious and are growing in their faith- scary world they face going back home.

Also, youth group has several non-believers in it. Next week, at our home,I will be sharing a lesson about What is Christmas. These students are all in our school, but many do not have a personal faith and are questioning things.... they are from faith-less families and are confused and uncertain....hoping to help change that!!

SO.....we need lots of talking to Daddy for us- about Chinese friends as well as international expat friends....the need is great, and at this time of year, doors are opening for opportunies to share the greatest gift of Christmas!!! Please remember us!!! We thank you all for pr-yers- we can feel them!!!

Hard to believe how fast this year is going by for us. I think it is going faster for us- no adjusting to a whole new culture, no trying to find our way and figure things out. It is nice to be able to get in a cab and go, speaking enough Chinese to communicate our wants and needs.

As we work now, at school and in the community, the people have become more real, more personal, more "our people". That may not make sense, but until you live and become a part of a foriegn culture, you feel like a guest, a visitor, with no real tie or devotion to what you are doing. Now we have friends, we have a community, and we are a part of Chinese people's lives. We are "in" with the community and it feels more normal.

Seeing how fast the year is going and knowing we will be headed home in less than 7 months puts a whole new urgency on what we are doing.
Many, many opportunities are come out for us to share our beliefs and ideas. It is like we do not even have to "work" to find opportunities or create these chances. They are presenting themselves and they have G-d written allllll over them!!!

Many of our new friends are searching- for meaning, for answers, for joy. This is a country where there is very little joy. I see some laughing but it seems in evil ways- at others expense or from nerves....not real joy, not real contentment.

As we work especially hard with our friends and even starting a new English circle next week, we are seriously asking for pr-yers. We need energy, focus, discernment ( big dose of that), the right words- His, not ours, and patience.

Also remember our kids as they strive to make an impact on this country too.
They are helping us pry daily for the friends coming here for Christmas dinner. We want the Spirit to move through this home and touch their hearts and we know that pryer can get the prep work into place.

Learning Chinese is a long process and we have to do any sharing in English- pr y for the right words that they will understand.
We are excited about the coming months and all that we will get to be a part of. We want to do all we can while we are given this opportunity to show light to a very dark area.
It is hard to even describe what it is like here- it is definately a see it to believe it place. But His work can, will, and is being done here.

Philippians 1:9----- He is with us wherever we go!!!

Beijing 2010

We just returned from Beijing and the rest of the trip was a time to see the sites and also a good reminder for us about our purpose.
We met a driver who took us to the great wall that has been a "brother" for 5 yrs. He and his wife have 2 boys, Matthew and Luke are their English names.

When we asked him about his family being "in the family", his response was "not yet". I love that faith- pr-ying and waiting....faith.

He was talking about their fellowship and that there are 1000 of them in his group and they divide up to meet.... different places, different times,... takes a lot of locations for that many people.

Said that the sisters are 80% of the group....less brothers.....need to "remember" these new family members as they look for spouses and try to find like minded partners. Gonna be tough.

This trip was a good break for us. I had a conference in Beijing for school first, so since I was already there ( and it was paid for) we decided it was the best time for the others to come too.
But where ever we go, we are constantly reminded how we are there for HIM and that we are dependant on Him in a world so very foreign to us. I spent a lot of time talking to HIM on this trip- and we always found our way afterward.

More to come....

Beijing.....angels and "others"

As stressful as travel can be in America, it can never compare with travel here. Not being able to read signs, not being able to talk well with those speaking "Northern" dialects of Chinese, it all adds up to confusion and frustration for us.
We have had several bumps in the road this trip- having our hotel "changed" for us even though we had a reservation, getting frustrated with cabdrivers that cannot understand us, having our hotel move all of our things to another room without permission while we were not here.....sigh.,....makes for a stressful trip.

Well, we reached a breaking point and that happened right when we got off the subway, where we were supposedly in a city area to catch a cab quickly to Happy Valley Amusement Park.
The subway exit instead put us out in an apt development....with no cabs and really not too many people around. We walked and walked, not knowing if we were heading to the entrance and the city streets or the opposite direction.
As my family began to complain and get more upset, I reminded them to begin to Pr-y, not complain,,,,put that energy to use.
Well, this is the truth, believe it or not.....literally....2 minutes later, a very nice looking Chinese guy appeared and said" Do you need some help?" in perfect English and I said "Yes!!!"
His name was Chen Jin and he was on his way to the gym. He is an architect and is on vacation for the National Holiday week. Not only did he help us with how to get to a cab, but he said, "Never mind, I will just take you". So we all piled into his very nice Audi......(found out he has a girlfriend so no setting him up with my friends) ...and he drove us to the front gate of the amusement park!!! Things are so different here- you would never dream of doing that in the US, but here, you just have a different level of trust with people.
He was so nice and helpful. He said he works in the US 3 or 4 times a year in NYC. He was around 30-35 I would guess.

So that is our second time having an angel to help us. I told him he was our angel and he just giggled.

THAT was a lesson for our children- that G-d is there, He just wants us to ask for help when we need it!!!

More to come from Beijing......

Bits and Pieces...

We are back in the routine of school and life. Lots going on- wanted to share a bit.

#1- my class at school only has 5 students, but I am getting to teach Bible to 16 kids!!! So glad!! I teach Bible to 3rd and 4th graders. We are having a great time and it also gives me multiple opportunities to share the good news with them often through the year.

#2- 3 kids are doing great, 1 still needs pryer.....Jack is still struggling. He just needs to mature a little and learn to get it all together. He does have a teacher who is trying really hard to help him so that is a blessing. It is just a bit much for him- changing classes, 5 teachers, a locker, ....middle school. So please remember him. A praise though is that he seems to like school better!!!

#3- English Corner- going really well. Had a great chance to talk to about "World Views" the other night and really share what I feel life is about. They listened carefully and it got some of them really thinking.
We hope to continue those conversations in the weeks to come.

Going to dinner with a bunch of them tonight so we will see what He has planned!!

#4- Work with Chinese Educational English Materials Company- we are going to do more work with them this week- the boys modeling and Charlotte doing voice work. One of the ladies e-mailed me this week to see if I knew the song Zacheus. Not sure where that came from, but I will be more than glad to share with her ALLLLLL I know about that song.....lol.

So that is where we are right now- settling into the routine, seeing friends again, and looking for opportunities. This year will pass quickly- pry we do not miss any chances to do the work we are called here to do.

More to come....

Back to Life....

After a wonderful, relaxing summer in South Carolina, we are back at work here in China. Bob came back the first of July and I returned with the kids and 15 suitcases and 9 carry-ons the end of July. We brought back 6 suitcases of food...the extent we will go to for the foods we like!!!
That was a very big praise though- that we made it safely, in good humor, with all our baggage....good day!

School is starting up so right now all of my energy is going toward getting my classroom set up. We will only have 6 students to start the year, but it will still be a lot of fun. Great opportunity for me to really mentor Julia in her teaching and help her build her confidence up before she flys out to get a teaching job. She wants to teach in a "like minded" Chinese school....yes, there is such a thing...

We had a lot of the staff over for dinner 24 hours after arriving. Yes, I am crazy. But it was fun- casual dinner and Apples to Apples for hours and hours. Lots of new staff with the same lost look in their eyes that we had last year- the first few weeks are completely overwhelming.

Bob has been continuing with the English corners and building relationships with other school families while we we re still stateside. I look forward this week to going to English corner and planning weekend activities with our Chinese friends.

One limiting factor has been the heat. This Friday the high t emp is expected to be 105 with a heat index of 136 !!!!!! Kinda hard to do anything in these conditions. If I remember correctly, it should cool down a bit by the end of August....highs in the low 90s....yes, that is a cool front.

So, I will try to update more often. Please remember us often as this is the year we want to give all we have and come home completely exhausted for HIM in June....not a single wasted opportunity.....

After school each da, weather permitting, Bob and I head outside to play with our kids....and now all the neighborhood kids from our school.

Kinda our own "kids club". They really love the attention and some do not get a lot at home.

This is another way for us to "reach" people-most here are not b-lievers.

They love to play basketball, go on bike rides, and take goofy pictures!!!

If nothing else, it is good for them to see a family that enjoys spending time together....

Wrapping up Year One

I can't believe it, but our first school year here is about over!!! We have 5 weeks left and then we head home for the summer.
It has been quite a year. Now that we feel pretty well adjusted, it is time to go back the states and mess it all up! No, I am kidding really, but next year will be a lot LOT easier since we know how to go places, how to communicate a little, and are forming wonderful friendships with friends from English corner.
I hope in the fall to do even more English corner type work at the university near our school. College students love talking to us and they are a lot of fun. I feel like this is an area I am called to serve. And when we return home, that is an area I can continue working in- helping Asian students adjust to American culture, since I will have lived here and can see/ experience the difference. It has got to be as hard for them in America as it is for us here.

Before we wrap up the 2009-2010 school year, I hope to finish up strong with my students, especially teaching them truth, continue to build relationships with Chinese staff and English corner friends, and spend time with all of the above enjoying the weather now that is has finally gotten warm. Did I mention it was close to 90 today?

Thanks for all your continued support. We will be visiting churches this summer to share what G-d is doing in China and in our lives. If you would like us to come to your church, let me know- we still have a few open dates and we love to share as much as possible, where we can openly.....

Until next time,
Angie

Spring is here!!!

The weather has changed- we are now actually seeing the sun occasionally. It is still not warm- around 50-60, but we are on the up-side now. We are excited and our moods( all 6 of us) seem to be feeling a lot better mentally. It is hard to be up-beat when it is cloudy every day, very cold wherever you are, and raining. For the past 2 months, really even since Christmas, I have really doubted why we are here and wished I were back home.
But then the weather change came and with the nicer days came a nicer me...lol.
I know that this is where we are to be. It has been an extremely difficult winter for us. The boys have had a hard time, but with spring coming and a trip home soon, we all see the light at the end of the tunnel.
My dependence on Daddy has grown so much this year. He can handle my anger at the way my kids have been treated, he can handle my frustation at the way this society squelches "individual thinking", and he can handle my depression from the weather and being sad from lack of opportunities to do what I feel soooooo strongly led to do.

We are building relationships here, that like the beautiful cherry blossoms all over Wuhan, are beginning to bloom and grow. We have a few close Chinese friends, plus all the school staff of Chinese locals, and others we are now meeting at the English corner we help run on Wednesday evenings.
We go out to dinner with our local friends, go on picnics, and even roller skating.
Several of them visited our school last week which was a great opportunity to share with them all of our curriculum.

I continue to pr-y daily for opportunities and the right timing for things to fall into place for us to do as we have been led. Patience is definately needed here, as we take advantage of times here and there to share.
There is a staff member at our school who doesn't know Him. She asked me the other day why I sing all the time. I told her because of Him I have joy. I may not be happy all the time, I may have problems ( which they have all seen our family go through), but I have HOPE and thus, joy....so I sing.
I hope that little things like that make a difference. We are planting, but may not be here for the harvest, but that is ok. As long as we are being used.

So with spring comes new life. We just returned from a short trip to Hong Kong for the kids mostly. They needed a "China time-out" and a day at the amusement park helped with that!!

Continue to remember us as we finish out our first year here. We will be stateside for most of the summer getting medical help for Jack's anxiety and OCD. We hope and pr-y he will have a better year next school year as he starts middle school.
Remember us as we try to raise more funds over the summer to help with expenses, as well as m-ssion opportunities we have here to go to other areas of Asia and really speak truth.

Thanks for all your support!! Hard to believe we have been here for 8 months already!!!
Spring is here and we are ready to grow, be green, and share new life.

Trip to Thailand....

Mountain Hostel Painting the Girl's home

Children's Hostel in Mountains of Thailand

The fam all went to Thailand for our Chinese New Year break. It was fantastic....here are the highlights....

#1 Went on a 3 hour trip through the mountains and jungles to a village to visit a Childrens Hostel and deliver gifts- a computer, supplies, some clothes, and toys our kids gave them. It was so humbling to see those children so thankful for our visit and everything we brought to them. They sang for us and then thanked us for everything we did. They also pr-yed with us- they were so respectful and humble. Seeing kids who have nothing but clothes and mats to sleep on was eye opening, for me and our kids. It was a great day though. I loved seeing the kids that live there.

#2- Working at the new home for orphan girls. There are 3 girls there and 2 more to come in the future. The ones there now are 2.4. and 6 years. Their stories are very sad-parents dying of AIDS, no one to care for them, extremely poor families and villages.

We took clothes, toys, and Cheetos to them (hey, the Cheetos were a big hit- they had never had them). We bought paint and supplies and painted the whole interier of the house- 3 br,bath, common area, hall, kitchen, and the house dad even painted some on the outside.

We had a ball playing with the girls and making them smile and giggle. I was having a wonderful time with the littlest one and Shirley told me I may be the first person ever to play with her. That is enough to break your heart. They were still in semi- self- peservation mode- not sharing food and stuffing it quickly in their mouths.

By the end of the week, we were so thrilled- they were reaching for us, playing with us, and hugging us. We had formed relationships, even though we never spoke a word to each other- they speak hill tribe, no Thai and no English. But by the end, we had them saying No No...that is worth something, isn't it?

Please remember these little ones as they further adjust and start school in June. It is harder than anything I can imagine- starting over with complete strangers at such a young age.

#3 - English Classes- Bob,Madeline and I helped teach English classes to Thai children that came to Faithful Heart. Bob worked with the older kids and Madeline and I the beginners. It was fun, once they got over their initial shyness. They were eager to show how much English they knew. We did body parts and then taught them Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes. Then we taught them Jes-s loves me in sign language. These were just random Thai kids, many of other faiths, so it was really cool.

#4- Meeting Thai people- Thai people are very friendly with big smiles and happy laughs. It was ver different from China where most are more shy and just stare from a distance. We made several friendships and hope to keep in contact with them. One is not a "brother" but very close we believe. He is afraid of family pressure. We are remembering him daily and hope you will do the same....just call him Dune....Our Father knows who he is....

#5- Dinner with all the Faithful Heart Children... We went to a special dinner, thrown it turns out, just to meet us!!! All the boys from the 4 homes and the 3 girls were there. All the house parents too!!! They all sang for us and it was a wonderful blessing!!! We so hated to leave. We felt so welcome and at home there.

We are back in China now, gearing up for school to start back on Monday.

Please remember us as we continue to work for Him. Also, special prayer request- we are trying to come home for the summer- our parents are paying the airfare- they insist we come. So please pry we find cheap rates and the best deal out there. It is very expensive for 6 people.

That is about it for now. I will try to update more often. I was reminded I was slacking off so I will try to do better (ok Rick?)

Blessings to all,

Angie

Christmas in Shanghai...

We were there for a week. It was really fun seeing all the buildings, historic sites, and shopping til we dropped. We were having fun right up until Christmas day and then it hit us just what we were missing. We all we kinda bummed the whole day, wishing we were back in the states, if only for one day!!!

I am glad we went to Shanghai, but next year we are heading somewhere much warmer,the "Hawaii of China". I think that time on the beach and warm weather will help us to live through the hard separation at the holidays.

Above are a few pictures we did take.

The group with Santa hats is our new friend, Justin from Charlotte and his co-workers at our Christmas 101 Night, where he shared ALL about Christmas.....

Christmas in China

#1- Christmas is not even a holiday here...at all. No one is off work, kids are not out of school....nothing.
#2- Christmas is slowly infiltrating in. Decorations are more and more common. Christmas carols, even the ones with real meaning, are played in every store. People are more and more curious about what it is all about.
#3- Santa is not a g-d. We heard one national ask that question this year...if Santa was a g-d. That is how much they do not "get it", that is how much work is to be done, that is motivating and depressing all at the same time.
#4- The devil even celebrated- The people here like to wear costumes to celebrate Christmas. I guess it all stems from dressing in Bib-ical attire. But the costumes are really random...and weird. Devil horns, tails, and pitch forks are popular costumes. We saw several over the holiday, even one girl performing in the Christmas program at our apartment complex. All this relates back to #3- don't get it.
#5- Christmas here makes us realize what we are missing there. We really would have loved to have gone home for Christmas like many of our staff, but they are all single and have only one person to pay airfare for, while we have 6. Sitting in a cold hostel, eating random Chinese dishes for Christmas dinner, and being without family really made it tough. We were all fine until Christmas day and then it hit us all. Next Christmas we are going to head south to the beaches where it is warm and sunny and we can at least have that as a diversion.
All this to say, enjoy every Christmas at home with friends and family. It is truly a blessing to be able to, one that we really missed this year.

Hope you had a great Christmas, wherever you are!!!
More to come...

A good day for "Getting the WORD out"

In the past 24 hours, the WORD has really been spread here. Starting last night, at our school Christmas program, the story was told and Chinese Government officials were there for the program, local Chinese people, and families in our school that are not part of "the" family.
I wrote the script and brought the true meaning of the holiday.

Then today, we went to a Chinese wedding. The song, playing in the background, throughout the entire ceremony, was Amazing Grace. And then a choir sang it in English and Chinese. And our principal shared what guide book he uses for his marriage. It was wonderful too- to be with bro/sis from here and see their dedication in the midst of a room of others with no respect for their beliefs. They have to be strong here- non's make it really hard.

It was a good chance for us to see faith in action....glad I was here the past 24 hours...

Work with meaning...

I was so excited today. Got to share "the" story with my students- the one where a decision is necessary afterward. I just hope some seeds were planted.....please help me in remembering them in your thoughts in the coming days.
As relationships are slowly built, I hope more opportunities are presented for this to happen. It is such a high afterward- just knowing you are planting seeds, whether you are here to see the harvest or not......

Movin' onward and upward.....

We have now been here in China for 3 months. Seems like a long time when I think about missing family, seems short when I think of how busy we have been...and we are just getting started.
Now that we know day to day life and school is falling into place, we want to get on with the bigger picture, the reason we are here. the reason we gave up our comfortable lives to come here, where things are so different and quite uncomfortable to us. So we are asking Him everyday why? what? where?
One area I feel for me is the English corner here at out apartment complex. We meet once a week and they get to practice their English. We have different discussion starters and it can get very interesting. Although we are not allowed to "teach" or "mention", it always comes up by one of them. And it makes my heart happy.
As the relationships grow and become more personal, we will be able to have some over for dinner, go places with them, just hang out. Hey, I already have one guy wanting to cook for me!!! lol
Most are college age and that makes me very happy. I miss my college age students at home. I have even taken to naming, them in my mind,...like "wow, that guy sounds like Dillion" or "that girl's mannerisms really remind me of Kelsey"...lol

So that is where I am heading. Madeline is also interested in the English corner- there are a few high school age there so she is going with me in a few weeks.

Also we are all planning to get involved in a Chinese Christian private school.- can't give much in the way of info, but there is a lot to be done there with high school and college age so I am really excited about that.

There is a foriegn fellowship on the other side of the city we are planning to visit. They have a very very spirited service- lot of african expats attend- so I am excited to visit there in 2 weeks. Several "friends" attend there and we will go with them.

There is so much going on help...sharing just the tip of the iceberg. Please remember us daily as we seek to do what He would have us do here in a land of many, many people in need.