Posts
It's midterm season here in Shiyan, and this semester I decided to ask my students to use their personal time to go out and serve the "less fortunate" in their community in some way...and bonus points if they could do it in English. For their presentations, they had to show me video or photographs documenting their activities, and then tell me how their world view was changed. I was so proud of them...they went to orphanages, nursing homes and kindergartens. One family even cleaned up garbage for hours after a major campus wide event. They all expressed really great insight afterwards, and there were even promises of continuation of service. It was so refreshing to bring the values of the Father into the classroom, and see how those moments of service challenged them.
So, I have to share one family's service project in particular with you - the Knights. I have to share this, not because it was particularly successful mind you, (actually, they kind of missed the point and I had to give them a bad grade!) but because:
A) Their English is just SO bad, I have to share my downfall as a teacher with you
B) I love these girls and don't care that their English is bad...they are hilarious
C) Andy chases a boy
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
The Little Things
This week has been so full of little insights and heartbreak, complete randomness and incredible blessings...as well as apparent adjective over-usage. Anyway, just a few little things to show you how He is taking care of and entertaining us over here.
- Rediscovery of the 80's thanks to YouTube. Watch TAKE ON ME, the literal version...I have seen this video 18 times in the past week, and am only slightly exaggerating. Thank you Kat and Trent!
- Visit to Xiangfan: Carie's homemade potpie, Amish American survival cookbook with inappropriate tips and complicated breadfruit recipes, and Mexican Twister ala William. (Shiyan representing!) We had a great time, and were able to visit a local orphanage as well. I named three boys John, Mike and Sarah, and showed off my impressive sling shot skills - what a blessing to be around those kids! "I miss having kids around"
- Angelyn and I exercised our American democratic right - and BARACKED it!
- New author I am aspiring to be like: G0d. We've been discovering his incredible writing style through our morning studies in Isaiah. Hemingway has nothing on him...that's for you Finn. Faulkner...
- Wildflowers, turtles and flip books
- One of my favorite students, Lawrence, has been working his tail off to get to America and just found out he was accepted into a really competitive program at Ohio State University. I'm not sure if America is ready for this guy, he is going to shake up their world...
- Learned that no one should ever, EVER, ask me to explain a participle...you would think by now they would know I am only pretending to know what I am doing as an English teacher
- Talked to my top 5 international callers, even got to hear Dane's voice
- Had the opportunity to do an English Talk Radio Show with one of our Qi Yuan favorites, Crazy Christina, which hopefully had some value. Educating the girls on campus about self-protection, safety, and wise choices when surrounded by strangers during the International Wushu Festival. There will be hundreds of foreigners arriving in Shiyan next week, and there is already concern that some of them may have come with dishonorable intentions. Please lift up the safety of the Chinese girls over the next few weeks, they are so trusting, its truly terrifying
- Old-fashioned Wushu restaurants with meat dish, after meat dish, after inedible meat dish...
- Singing nothing but Hard, Fighting Soldier these days. A friend from the Children's Home of Lubbock and an inspirational warrior for the Father passed away last week...can't sing it without thinking of you Billie, bet you are rocking that heavenly choir!
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Mr 152 insights into my soul!
Thank you Mama Kat, for what has proven to be a highly entertaining and kindred read... Last week I borrowed a little book called Lost on Planet China: the strange and true story of one man's attempt to understand the world's most mystifying nation...or how he became comfortable eating live squid. If you want to really understand my life here, and get a perspective a little more eloquently presented than this blog, I suggest you read this book. From describing just how disgusting it is to be surrounded by the sound of 1.3 billion people hawking loogies...to pondering why it is that the world's most powerful nation can't figure out how to stop their toothpaste or milk from poisoning people...this guy gets China. Allow me to give you a sampling:
It was after crossing a street that I came to my second observation about life in Beijing [China]: Do not play chicken with Chinese drivers. Even if they see you, they will not slow down. Even if the pedestrian light is green, they will not slow down. So do not play chicken with Chinese drivers. Or you will die.
A moment later I made my third observation about life in Beijing [China]: Do not play chicken with Chinese cyclists. See observation 2. Same applies. You will die.
How does one navigate through the mayhem that is a Chinese city? Very, very carefully. Crossing a street was no straightforward wander from curb to curb. First, I'd dart through the mass of bicycles and mopeds that hugged the road near the curb. From there, I'd cross the street one lane at a time as cars whooshed by just inches from my being, and I'd try very hard not to linger on the noteworthy fact that China has the world's highest per capita rate of vehicular fatalities.
(Note, Shiyanites refer to street crossing as the ultimate game of Frogger. I believe we are all somewhere around level 98 - No Hesitation!)
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Kids Say the Darndest Things - quotes of the week
On Dating Culture in China, versus America:
"In China, you should plan a time to meet the girlfriend. But, if you become to busy, you should say 'I have something important to do', and she will not be angry...in addition...in America, if you invite [a girl] to dinner, you have a better chance of extreme development after, so the first date should be lunch."
...insert Chinese chuckle
On Getting Accosted by a Crazy Waiguoren:
"Oh No"
...insert rolled eyes of 5 year old child
On Getting to Know your Teacher Questioning:
Student: "As you have lived in China for one year, do you find yourself fall in love with Chinese boy?"
Teacher: "hahaha, No, I am sorry, I have not!"
Student: "Oh, will you fall in love with me?"
Teacher: "I don't think so..."
On Irony Completely Lost on your Chinese Students:
"Mouse, why were you so quiet in class today?"
...insert dad dance here
"In China, you should plan a time to meet the girlfriend. But, if you become to busy, you should say 'I have something important to do', and she will not be angry...in addition...in America, if you invite [a girl] to dinner, you have a better chance of extreme development after, so the first date should be lunch."
...insert Chinese chuckle
On Getting Accosted by a Crazy Waiguoren:
"Oh No"
...insert rolled eyes of 5 year old child
On Getting to Know your Teacher Questioning:
Student: "As you have lived in China for one year, do you find yourself fall in love with Chinese boy?"
Teacher: "hahaha, No, I am sorry, I have not!"
Student: "Oh, will you fall in love with me?"
Teacher: "I don't think so..."
On Irony Completely Lost on your Chinese Students:
"Mouse, why were you so quiet in class today?"
...insert dad dance here
Monday, October 6, 2008
Traveling with the top 5
I know, I know - chastising completely deserved. My pledge to write less and more often has become an afterthought, and I'll go ahead and apologize now, this post is about to be standard Jessica rambling. So for the faint of heart, and irritated of length, stop here; I have to fill the rest of you in on the last amazing week.
Angelyn, Trent, Finn, John, Megan and I hopped on a train 9 days ago for an October Holiday travel, 4 days in Beijing, 4 in Qingdao, 50+ hours of train rides total. After a potential international conflict with 32 many luggages and sword-wielding (okay, carrying) Hungarians on the train, we arrived in Beijing...China's capital city...in the middle of a national holiday...you get the picture. Craziness ensued, but nothing a little ill-gotten Papa John's couldn't fix. That night we hit up Tiananmen Square and basked in the 30 foot portrait of Mao himself. In other highlights: "I know pipes, my father owns a pipe factory", and "We will find her more handsome man, with many more money".
The next morning we went to Temple of Heaven, my favorite place in Beijing. While the others visited the sights I'd already seen, I spent the morning practicing my Tai Chi, playing Badpong with a grinny old man, being educated on the art of Chinese massage stones, and listening to the most ear-splittingly hilarious music. We met back up to do a little worshiping of our own at the temple, to a much bigger Man. Then we packed up our bags and began the journey up the wall...one that would not end until the next morning because we had a mission. Go BIG or go HOME, we were sleeping on the great wall! So we hiked up Mutianyu, a much less crowded section of the wall, for a few hours - until we were out of sight of as many people as possible - and set up our tents atop guardtower #19. Team Wussy made a handsome showing, we sang songs under the stars, heard some real life ghost stories, learned of our chances of being murdered, and slept on some 1,500 year old stones. Other highlights include an unfortunate chicken pancake choice, and an ill-timed visit from a mule for Angelyn.
In the morning, we woke up before dawn to a haze of Chinese fog and the beautiful solitude of being the only people for miles on the wall. We hiked down the wall to the luge, and then proceeded to luge down the great wall. I feel no need to embellish this with flowery words - its as amazing as it sounds. That night we met up with the Hills, a couple who used to live in Shiyan and have moved to Beijing, for some catch-up time at Peter's Tex-Mex to the complete joy of all the foreign taste buds (Mexican food is hard to come by, lest a Calvillo is feeling kind). It was great to see them, and we spent the rest of the evening wandering around looking for the Olympic Stadium - not meant to be, but who cares when you are wandering around the city for hours with your top five?
The next day we were leaving Beijing, so of course, a Starbucks trip was in order! Waking up with the sun turned out to not be necessary, as China apparently doesn't understand the concept of coffee being used for its caffeine properties, and XingBaKe doesn't open its doors until 9:30...this was followed by the accosting of a Chinese guard's comfort level...and another trip to Tiananmen to visit forMAOdehyde (Megan), Mao's preserved body! Sadly, and for the second time, we were told to go away because they were cleaning...ew...Trent continued in his efforts to secure PLA paraphernalia, but is still looking for someone to give him that belt. We finally made our way to the bus station, to be pleasantly surprised with a sleeper bus for the 13 hour trip to Qingdao. Zaijian Beijing, you redeemed yourself on so many levels...Beijing Photos
While the motto for Beijing was "Go Big or Go Home", Qingdao's was "Qingdao - No Plan". An old German colony on the ocean, this quaint Chinese town of a few million people is east meets west. The city is filled with German architecture, if it weren't for the Chinese street signs and blackhaired people chewing on sticks of squid, one could easily forget where they were. We arrived at 2 am to a hostel in an old church, with lavender-sprayed linens thanks to Mama Kat. The Breelands and the Xiangfan crew had already arrived, and after rousing the troops in the morning, we hit the beach! Now the ocean is generally were I find the fulfillment of my souls...but as you'll see from my photos...Chinese beach life is a little different. Imagine wall-to-wall people wading in the polluted mucky sand in their business suits and high heels, or nakedness, covered with umbrellas lest they get dark, and digging for craps amongst plastic bags and sunflower seed shells. Still the ocean, but not exactly my ocean. Still, we walked around the pier for a bit, then explored the island of little Qingdao. That night, the foreigners trekked across town to seek out Lennon Bar - a Beatles themed hole-in-the-wall bar that turned out to be hiding the most amazing cover band I think I have ever seen! As fun as that was, there was dancing on the agenda, so a few brave souls ended up at Feeling Club - being more or less, but definitely mostly more "felt" by a crowd of Chinese on a bouncy floor, listening to Weezer's Beverly Hill's while black and white Communist war movies played on the big screens behind the DJ. Only in China...
The next day was more "Qingdao-No Plan" fun. Trent, Finn and I spent the day wandering between the pier, starbucks, and grassy knolls - reading, ipod listening, chillaxin. The highlight was definitely when we were approached by the Chinese Mickey Mouse club, a group of adorable little kids from Wuhan who had traveled to Qingdao to practice their English with foreigners they met on the street. There was nearly a group kidnapping effort of "I'm MIKE". That night was more squid on a stick, and more Lennon bar.
Since we were at the beach, an early morning to catch the sunrise was required. We left the hostel around 4:30 am, and arrived at the coast just in time to watch the stars fade. It was peaceful and definitely soul-replenishing, despite the sad fact that we "orb" was not "actually" visualized. Dissatisfied with what Qingdao's beach had offered us, we hopped on a ferry later that morning to go to another beach per Lonely Planet's suggestion. Good suggestion. We found the real beach, miles of red, golden sand fewer people and cleaner water, and we spent the day swimming in the Yellow Sea (check) and sunbathing. It was perfect. As was the night spent watching Qingdao go to sleep from the roof of the hostel...I've been a lot of places in China, but no where has captured by heart like mellow, intriguing Qingdao. There is something in the comfort of just seeing a church from your window in China, of remembering that life can slow down for just a minute. Qingdao Photos
So we are home, more rested and with more pleasant memories than I have ever had from a China trip. This last week has been a testament to Abba, who blessed us at every turn with laid back, amiable travel companions and a system that aimed to please. I have so many incredible memories of moments with those close to my heart, and hilarious stories of sniffing strangers... slapping strangers...poking strangers...generally alienating strangers. As great as the trip was, of course there were the twinging moments of missing you. Mom, you would have loved Qingdao, I thought of you at every interesting architectural turn. Dude, boys, seriously...you should have HEARD this band - you would have loved it. Heather, I wanted to call you so badly from Beijing - if only you had been there with me, to pull away for a classic gab fest over a cup of coffee. But, back to Shiyan, back to the day-to-day. Thanks for the memories, you are all securely in my top five! ;o)
Angelyn, Trent, Finn, John, Megan and I hopped on a train 9 days ago for an October Holiday travel, 4 days in Beijing, 4 in Qingdao, 50+ hours of train rides total. After a potential international conflict with 32 many luggages and sword-wielding (okay, carrying) Hungarians on the train, we arrived in Beijing...China's capital city...in the middle of a national holiday...you get the picture. Craziness ensued, but nothing a little ill-gotten Papa John's couldn't fix. That night we hit up Tiananmen Square and basked in the 30 foot portrait of Mao himself. In other highlights: "I know pipes, my father owns a pipe factory", and "We will find her more handsome man, with many more money".
The next morning we went to Temple of Heaven, my favorite place in Beijing. While the others visited the sights I'd already seen, I spent the morning practicing my Tai Chi, playing Badpong with a grinny old man, being educated on the art of Chinese massage stones, and listening to the most ear-splittingly hilarious music. We met back up to do a little worshiping of our own at the temple, to a much bigger Man. Then we packed up our bags and began the journey up the wall...one that would not end until the next morning because we had a mission. Go BIG or go HOME, we were sleeping on the great wall! So we hiked up Mutianyu, a much less crowded section of the wall, for a few hours - until we were out of sight of as many people as possible - and set up our tents atop guardtower #19. Team Wussy made a handsome showing, we sang songs under the stars, heard some real life ghost stories, learned of our chances of being murdered, and slept on some 1,500 year old stones. Other highlights include an unfortunate chicken pancake choice, and an ill-timed visit from a mule for Angelyn.
In the morning, we woke up before dawn to a haze of Chinese fog and the beautiful solitude of being the only people for miles on the wall. We hiked down the wall to the luge, and then proceeded to luge down the great wall. I feel no need to embellish this with flowery words - its as amazing as it sounds. That night we met up with the Hills, a couple who used to live in Shiyan and have moved to Beijing, for some catch-up time at Peter's Tex-Mex to the complete joy of all the foreign taste buds (Mexican food is hard to come by, lest a Calvillo is feeling kind). It was great to see them, and we spent the rest of the evening wandering around looking for the Olympic Stadium - not meant to be, but who cares when you are wandering around the city for hours with your top five?
The next day we were leaving Beijing, so of course, a Starbucks trip was in order! Waking up with the sun turned out to not be necessary, as China apparently doesn't understand the concept of coffee being used for its caffeine properties, and XingBaKe doesn't open its doors until 9:30...this was followed by the accosting of a Chinese guard's comfort level...and another trip to Tiananmen to visit forMAOdehyde (Megan), Mao's preserved body! Sadly, and for the second time, we were told to go away because they were cleaning...ew...Trent continued in his efforts to secure PLA paraphernalia, but is still looking for someone to give him that belt. We finally made our way to the bus station, to be pleasantly surprised with a sleeper bus for the 13 hour trip to Qingdao. Zaijian Beijing, you redeemed yourself on so many levels...Beijing Photos
While the motto for Beijing was "Go Big or Go Home", Qingdao's was "Qingdao - No Plan". An old German colony on the ocean, this quaint Chinese town of a few million people is east meets west. The city is filled with German architecture, if it weren't for the Chinese street signs and blackhaired people chewing on sticks of squid, one could easily forget where they were. We arrived at 2 am to a hostel in an old church, with lavender-sprayed linens thanks to Mama Kat. The Breelands and the Xiangfan crew had already arrived, and after rousing the troops in the morning, we hit the beach! Now the ocean is generally were I find the fulfillment of my souls...but as you'll see from my photos...Chinese beach life is a little different. Imagine wall-to-wall people wading in the polluted mucky sand in their business suits and high heels, or nakedness, covered with umbrellas lest they get dark, and digging for craps amongst plastic bags and sunflower seed shells. Still the ocean, but not exactly my ocean. Still, we walked around the pier for a bit, then explored the island of little Qingdao. That night, the foreigners trekked across town to seek out Lennon Bar - a Beatles themed hole-in-the-wall bar that turned out to be hiding the most amazing cover band I think I have ever seen! As fun as that was, there was dancing on the agenda, so a few brave souls ended up at Feeling Club - being more or less, but definitely mostly more "felt" by a crowd of Chinese on a bouncy floor, listening to Weezer's Beverly Hill's while black and white Communist war movies played on the big screens behind the DJ. Only in China...
The next day was more "Qingdao-No Plan" fun. Trent, Finn and I spent the day wandering between the pier, starbucks, and grassy knolls - reading, ipod listening, chillaxin. The highlight was definitely when we were approached by the Chinese Mickey Mouse club, a group of adorable little kids from Wuhan who had traveled to Qingdao to practice their English with foreigners they met on the street. There was nearly a group kidnapping effort of "I'm MIKE". That night was more squid on a stick, and more Lennon bar.
Since we were at the beach, an early morning to catch the sunrise was required. We left the hostel around 4:30 am, and arrived at the coast just in time to watch the stars fade. It was peaceful and definitely soul-replenishing, despite the sad fact that we "orb" was not "actually" visualized. Dissatisfied with what Qingdao's beach had offered us, we hopped on a ferry later that morning to go to another beach per Lonely Planet's suggestion. Good suggestion. We found the real beach, miles of red, golden sand fewer people and cleaner water, and we spent the day swimming in the Yellow Sea (check) and sunbathing. It was perfect. As was the night spent watching Qingdao go to sleep from the roof of the hostel...I've been a lot of places in China, but no where has captured by heart like mellow, intriguing Qingdao. There is something in the comfort of just seeing a church from your window in China, of remembering that life can slow down for just a minute. Qingdao Photos
So we are home, more rested and with more pleasant memories than I have ever had from a China trip. This last week has been a testament to Abba, who blessed us at every turn with laid back, amiable travel companions and a system that aimed to please. I have so many incredible memories of moments with those close to my heart, and hilarious stories of sniffing strangers... slapping strangers...poking strangers...generally alienating strangers. As great as the trip was, of course there were the twinging moments of missing you. Mom, you would have loved Qingdao, I thought of you at every interesting architectural turn. Dude, boys, seriously...you should have HEARD this band - you would have loved it. Heather, I wanted to call you so badly from Beijing - if only you had been there with me, to pull away for a classic gab fest over a cup of coffee. But, back to Shiyan, back to the day-to-day. Thanks for the memories, you are all securely in my top five! ;o)
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Do Not Fear
But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descended from Abraham my friend. I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, 'You are my servant; for I have chosen you and will not throw you away. Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your G-d. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.' (Isaiah 41:8-10)
Thanks to a particularly convicting discussion with Barry and Angelyn on the passage above in our morning study, I have spent the last day meditating on the idea of fear. The WORD is filled (I've heard over 300 times, but don't quote me on that) with the plea of the L-rd, 'Do not fear', and as I ponder its obvious importance, I am struck with how I truly live as a slave to fear.
I am often told by my students I am very brave, whether its my ability to have a conversation with a boy, my insistence on following my own ideals, or the fact that I moved halfway around the world and left all familiar things behind. But I realize that the idea of fear they have is so far from the truth; how little they recognize the little girl inside of me who carries a heart burdened with it! The more I think about it, when He says not to fear, HE is not asking me to be confident and unafraid in the face of consequences, but addressing the spirit inside who crumbles at the idea of vulnerability. The spirit who fears abandonment, or crushed pride, or misunderstanding. The spirit that lives in fear of being unworthy, or never enough. How much more this fear permeates and overtakes my life than anything physical. "I will not throw you away" - how directly these words speak to, and refute, exactly what is feared.
People ask me if I am afraid, being here in China, doing what it is I do. In all honesty, fear of "trouble" is nothing compared to the fear of the students and friends I meet never knowing truth. I'm wondering more and more if his call to be brave is not directed more at the things not of this world, than the things in it. Fear not what can destroy the body, but the soul within it, right? Do not fear the evil one, fear a life without ME. Do not fear a broken heart, but fear a spirit broken by sin and timidity. To not be a slave to those fears, but to fear the L-rd. I'm reminded of another word picture in Isaiah, that the same G-d who holds the hollows of the waters in his left hand, cradles me in His right. How can you fear anything with that picture in front of you?
As I continue to meditate on fear, I realize how closely it is linked with learning to love. How can you really love in fear? Abandonment of that fear is the only way to embrace the spirit of boldness I have as his child, the one that is vulnerable enough to cry Abba, and then give itself up to those around me. I am a bow in your hands, O L-rd - Draw me, lest I rot - Do not overdraw me, L-rd, I shall break - Overdraw me, L-rd, and who cares if I break? (Nikos Kazantzankis)
Thanks to a particularly convicting discussion with Barry and Angelyn on the passage above in our morning study, I have spent the last day meditating on the idea of fear. The WORD is filled (I've heard over 300 times, but don't quote me on that) with the plea of the L-rd, 'Do not fear', and as I ponder its obvious importance, I am struck with how I truly live as a slave to fear.
I am often told by my students I am very brave, whether its my ability to have a conversation with a boy, my insistence on following my own ideals, or the fact that I moved halfway around the world and left all familiar things behind. But I realize that the idea of fear they have is so far from the truth; how little they recognize the little girl inside of me who carries a heart burdened with it! The more I think about it, when He says not to fear, HE is not asking me to be confident and unafraid in the face of consequences, but addressing the spirit inside who crumbles at the idea of vulnerability. The spirit who fears abandonment, or crushed pride, or misunderstanding. The spirit that lives in fear of being unworthy, or never enough. How much more this fear permeates and overtakes my life than anything physical. "I will not throw you away" - how directly these words speak to, and refute, exactly what is feared.
People ask me if I am afraid, being here in China, doing what it is I do. In all honesty, fear of "trouble" is nothing compared to the fear of the students and friends I meet never knowing truth. I'm wondering more and more if his call to be brave is not directed more at the things not of this world, than the things in it. Fear not what can destroy the body, but the soul within it, right? Do not fear the evil one, fear a life without ME. Do not fear a broken heart, but fear a spirit broken by sin and timidity. To not be a slave to those fears, but to fear the L-rd. I'm reminded of another word picture in Isaiah, that the same G-d who holds the hollows of the waters in his left hand, cradles me in His right. How can you fear anything with that picture in front of you?
As I continue to meditate on fear, I realize how closely it is linked with learning to love. How can you really love in fear? Abandonment of that fear is the only way to embrace the spirit of boldness I have as his child, the one that is vulnerable enough to cry Abba, and then give itself up to those around me. I am a bow in your hands, O L-rd - Draw me, lest I rot - Do not overdraw me, L-rd, I shall break - Overdraw me, L-rd, and who cares if I break? (Nikos Kazantzankis)
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Weekend Update, the short of it
Studies...We have a large and unexpectedly interested group of seekers - students who have just come out of the woodwork! We have begun studying the book of John with them, and our discussion group a few days ago led to some really wonderful discussions of the HS and "swimming" (hopefully that translates) Angelyn and I will also begin a study with some sisters on the book of Acts, which is sure to challenge. I'm excited to dive into this with them, as it speaks to powerfully as to exactly what WE ARE as HIS children, and what HE asks us to do to spread the Word. HE IS POWERFUL!
Foreigners...There is a new foreigner who joined the team of our college this year - Praise HIM for Barry! His testimony is phenomenal, and his life is so full of joy that all the Chinese are flocking to him like a magnet. He has already been a powerful witness in just the short time he has been here, a complete answer to our "requests". (And, my new guitar teacher) The other foreigners are delightful, from the sarcastic to the hilarious, I'm so blessed to be surrounded with old and new kindred spirits. I have such great memories of each of them already, from daredevil shopping cart antics to electric slide, flashdance inspired moments. Its incredible to see the others discovering China and their purpose here through the eyes of experience, I can see Him working on them as He did on me.
Funding...Brian returned to the states this summer, and an anonymous member of his congregation asked if he could send $150 monthly to another foreigner from Brian's family. Combined with Broadway's aid, I now have $3,400...almost exactly the amount I first requested and enough to provide for all my needs.. HE IS AMAZING!
Lucy...basically, she has not eaten a drop of food in 2 weeks and after numerous trips to the Vet, we learned she had a stomach virus with a 30% chance of survival. But Ang, I and Lucy are warrior women, so we are fighting and after 3 days of 3 shots her temperature is way down and she shows signs of improvement. Which is good, because she is so beloved among the foreigners and our chinese, there may have been a pretty extravagant grieving display. This xiao mao has been pr-y-d over and cuddled more than any other cat in China, and we are so glad she's ours.
Personally...working on law school applications despite my kitten's best efforts to distract me with her cute face. Am still struggling day to day to learn to love to the point of idiocy, though I feel I may be making great progress as have probably been making others uncomfortable with my over the top adoration! Have both failed and succeeded, depending on the day, in my efforts to spend more time talking HONESTLY with my Abba...he is so patient with my fickle heart and rambling words. Finally, I am missing my family and friends this week, I would love to hear from you. All my love.
Foreigners...There is a new foreigner who joined the team of our college this year - Praise HIM for Barry! His testimony is phenomenal, and his life is so full of joy that all the Chinese are flocking to him like a magnet. He has already been a powerful witness in just the short time he has been here, a complete answer to our "requests". (And, my new guitar teacher) The other foreigners are delightful, from the sarcastic to the hilarious, I'm so blessed to be surrounded with old and new kindred spirits. I have such great memories of each of them already, from daredevil shopping cart antics to electric slide, flashdance inspired moments. Its incredible to see the others discovering China and their purpose here through the eyes of experience, I can see Him working on them as He did on me.
Funding...Brian returned to the states this summer, and an anonymous member of his congregation asked if he could send $150 monthly to another foreigner from Brian's family. Combined with Broadway's aid, I now have $3,400...almost exactly the amount I first requested and enough to provide for all my needs.. HE IS AMAZING!
Lucy...basically, she has not eaten a drop of food in 2 weeks and after numerous trips to the Vet, we learned she had a stomach virus with a 30% chance of survival. But Ang, I and Lucy are warrior women, so we are fighting and after 3 days of 3 shots her temperature is way down and she shows signs of improvement. Which is good, because she is so beloved among the foreigners and our chinese, there may have been a pretty extravagant grieving display. This xiao mao has been pr-y-d over and cuddled more than any other cat in China, and we are so glad she's ours.
Personally...working on law school applications despite my kitten's best efforts to distract me with her cute face. Am still struggling day to day to learn to love to the point of idiocy, though I feel I may be making great progress as have probably been making others uncomfortable with my over the top adoration! Have both failed and succeeded, depending on the day, in my efforts to spend more time talking HONESTLY with my Abba...he is so patient with my fickle heart and rambling words. Finally, I am missing my family and friends this week, I would love to hear from you. All my love.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Mid-Autumn Festival: The Legend
Happy Mid-Autumn Day! I have spent two of these holidays in China, and so far as I can tell, its a day celebrated by eating gobs of mooncakes and taking the day off class. Today, the family spent an amazing day at the lake, and as we were traveling home I realized that I didn't actually know WHAT we were celebrating....almost like Boxer Day. So I paid a visit to my friend Google...
According to a famous Chinese legend, there were ten suns hanging on the sky. The suns scorched the earth so much that people could not farm. There was nothing to eat. A young man named "Hou Yi" was strong and powerful. He was a very good shooter. He wanted to help people and save their lives. So he shot down nine of the suns with his magic bow and arrow.From then on, people could live in peace and happiness. Hou Yi became famous and honorable for what he did. He married a beautiful girl, whose name is Chang O. Hou Yi was a good husband. He loved his wife very much. He wanted to live with his wife forever. So, he hoped to find the herb of immortality.One day, Hou Yi went to visit the Western Goddess. He told her what he wanted. The Western Goddess was very touched by Hou Yi. She decided to give him the herb of immortality. However, the herb was only good to make one person immortal. Hou Yi never wanted to leave his wife. So he could not decide who should take the herb, his wife or himself. Either way, one of them would have to leave the other one behind.
Therefore, Hou Yi told his wife, Chang O, to put the herb away for the time being. Chang O put this magic herb in a secret place. However, a man called Bu Mo heard and saw everything. He wanted to have the herb of immortality himself. So, three days later, after Hou Yi left for hunting, Bu Mo came to visit Chang O and ask her about the immortal herb. Chang O became suspicious about Bu Mo's ntention. She put the herb into her mouth trying to protect it. But she swallowed it by mistake.After a while, she felt her body become lighter and lighter and start to float up higher and higher all the way to the sky. She could not stop herself, because she did not want to leave her husband. However, Chang O landed on the moon and became an immortal godness.Hou Yi could not believe what had happened; his wife had left him. Late at night, he looked into the sky and saw that the moon was extremely bright. There was a shadow on the moon, which looked like his beloved wife, Change O. this made him miss his wife even more.
According to a famous Chinese legend, there were ten suns hanging on the sky. The suns scorched the earth so much that people could not farm. There was nothing to eat. A young man named "Hou Yi" was strong and powerful. He was a very good shooter. He wanted to help people and save their lives. So he shot down nine of the suns with his magic bow and arrow.From then on, people could live in peace and happiness. Hou Yi became famous and honorable for what he did. He married a beautiful girl, whose name is Chang O. Hou Yi was a good husband. He loved his wife very much. He wanted to live with his wife forever. So, he hoped to find the herb of immortality.One day, Hou Yi went to visit the Western Goddess. He told her what he wanted. The Western Goddess was very touched by Hou Yi. She decided to give him the herb of immortality. However, the herb was only good to make one person immortal. Hou Yi never wanted to leave his wife. So he could not decide who should take the herb, his wife or himself. Either way, one of them would have to leave the other one behind.
Therefore, Hou Yi told his wife, Chang O, to put the herb away for the time being. Chang O put this magic herb in a secret place. However, a man called Bu Mo heard and saw everything. He wanted to have the herb of immortality himself. So, three days later, after Hou Yi left for hunting, Bu Mo came to visit Chang O and ask her about the immortal herb. Chang O became suspicious about Bu Mo's ntention. She put the herb into her mouth trying to protect it. But she swallowed it by mistake.After a while, she felt her body become lighter and lighter and start to float up higher and higher all the way to the sky. She could not stop herself, because she did not want to leave her husband. However, Chang O landed on the moon and became an immortal godness.Hou Yi could not believe what had happened; his wife had left him. Late at night, he looked into the sky and saw that the moon was extremely bright. There was a shadow on the moon, which looked like his beloved wife, Change O. this made him miss his wife even more.
According to the legend, Chang O transformed herself into brilliant moonlight. Today, couples would declare their love for each other under the full moon of this mid-autumn day. Separated lovers make wishes for their reunion.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Our kitty is definitely not a Communist
So Angelyn and I have had a plan since December of last year - the day we met the Sim Garden Hostel puppy in Chengdu - get a China puppy (against the expressed order of our school) and name him SimSim. We decided to go for it when we got back this year, so on Sunday morning two of Angelyn's students went with us to pick out a puppy at the dog market (the petting, not the eating kind). There were SO many adorable puppies, from giant face to baby cockers to beautiful huskies, but no one jumped out to us. None cried "SimSim". So we begrudgingly set out to go home, when my heart called to me to go look at the kittens.
Now a kitten was never in our plans, but when the rescuing hearts of two women cry out, what can you do? Amidst a tower of kittens sleeping peacefully in their minuscule cages, we heard a pitiful, hoarse, screaming kitten. There on the ground in front of us was a little orange and white kitten attempting to bite, claw and scratch her way to freedom. We looked at each other and said instantly, "We are taking that baby home!". So practically ripping her away from the evil cat lady (who should be shot, btw...), we put kitty in the taxi and took her home. Our hearts will never be the same again!
Now I don't want to be one of those new parents who does nothing but talk about their children...but I just can't contain myself. She is the best kitty ever! We tortured her with a bath, picked all the fleas off her, cleaned her ears with giant q-tips and then passed her between 30 people, and she still loves us best. Well, she still loves Angelyn best, but I'm working on her. She will scream and scream unless she can see us, and bounds around the apartment following our giant feet. She purrs at the same time she screams, and she's already a cuddler.
We tossed around a few names: Amendment, Liberty, Harriet Tubman, Madame Bovary, Amelia Earhart, Karen Carpenter and Fran Drescher (for various reasons). For about 24 hours, kitty was nameless. But finally we settled on Lucille Ball (Arnaz). The reasons are multi-fold:-Red hair
-Constant screaming and crying
-Living with foreigners
-Clingy and needy (we are her Ethel)
-She is definitely not a communist (explanation: during the Red Scare, Lucille Ball was called before the Committee of Un-American Activities...she was cleared, and Dezi was quoted as saying "the only thing red about Lucy is her hair")
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
On Love
Each day, I have a tendency to surprise myself with my incredible capacity to fail in love. The number of things I wish I never said, or things I never had the openness to say in the first place...they could fill volumes, perhaps entitled, "Ice Princess" as a rather wise woman once said. I long to love others as HE did, to give freely and without reservation or entitlement.
I recently climbed my own personal Everest in the form of my first Dostoevsky novel, The Idiot. A admittedly fantastic read after the first 300 pages, I was struck by the obvious correlation between the Prince's humble, given and abused love to everyone around him, regardless of their love of him to the point of idiocy - and the love by which HE loved.
I would love to learn to love to the point of idiocy...I ask for the constant strength to love better.
Meditations on Love:
"The desire to feel loved is the last illusion: let go and you will be free. Just as the sunrise of faith requires the sunset of our former unbelief, so the dawn of trust requires letting fo of our craving spiritual consolations and tangible reassurances. Trust at the mercy of the response it recieves is bogus trust"
(The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning)
"Why am I afraid to dance, I who love music and rhythm and grace and song and laughter? Why am I afraid to live, I who love life and the beauty of flesh and the living colors of the earth and sky and sea? Why am I afraid to love, I who love love?"
(The Great God Brown, Eugene O'Neil)
"The way we are with each other is the truest test of our faith. How I trust my brother or sister from day to day, how I react to the sin-scared wino on the street, how I respond to interruptions from people I dislike, how I deal with normal people in their normal confusion on a normal day maybe a better indication of my reverence for life than the anti-abortion sticker on the bumper of my car. We are not pro-life simply because we are warding off death. We are pro-life to the extent that we are men and women for others, all others; to the extent that there is no human flesh that is a stranger to us; to the extent that we can touch the hand of another in love; to the extent that for us, there are no 'others'."
(The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning)
"Reason demands moderation in love, as in all things, but faith destroys moderate love. Faith tolerates a moderate love of ones fellow man no more than it tolerates a moderate love between man and G-D."
(John McKenzie)
"Israel, don't ever be so foolish as to measure my love for you in terms of your love for me! Don't ever compare your thin, pallid, wavering, and moody love with my love, for I am G-D, not man. More pleasing to ME than all your prayers, works and penances is that you would believe I love you"
I recently climbed my own personal Everest in the form of my first Dostoevsky novel, The Idiot. A admittedly fantastic read after the first 300 pages, I was struck by the obvious correlation between the Prince's humble, given and abused love to everyone around him, regardless of their love of him to the point of idiocy - and the love by which HE loved.
I would love to learn to love to the point of idiocy...I ask for the constant strength to love better.
Meditations on Love:
"The desire to feel loved is the last illusion: let go and you will be free. Just as the sunrise of faith requires the sunset of our former unbelief, so the dawn of trust requires letting fo of our craving spiritual consolations and tangible reassurances. Trust at the mercy of the response it recieves is bogus trust"
(The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning)
"Why am I afraid to dance, I who love music and rhythm and grace and song and laughter? Why am I afraid to live, I who love life and the beauty of flesh and the living colors of the earth and sky and sea? Why am I afraid to love, I who love love?"
(The Great God Brown, Eugene O'Neil)
"The way we are with each other is the truest test of our faith. How I trust my brother or sister from day to day, how I react to the sin-scared wino on the street, how I respond to interruptions from people I dislike, how I deal with normal people in their normal confusion on a normal day maybe a better indication of my reverence for life than the anti-abortion sticker on the bumper of my car. We are not pro-life simply because we are warding off death. We are pro-life to the extent that we are men and women for others, all others; to the extent that there is no human flesh that is a stranger to us; to the extent that we can touch the hand of another in love; to the extent that for us, there are no 'others'."
(The Ragamuffin Gospel, Brennan Manning)
"Reason demands moderation in love, as in all things, but faith destroys moderate love. Faith tolerates a moderate love of ones fellow man no more than it tolerates a moderate love between man and G-D."
(John McKenzie)
"Israel, don't ever be so foolish as to measure my love for you in terms of your love for me! Don't ever compare your thin, pallid, wavering, and moody love with my love, for I am G-D, not man. More pleasing to ME than all your prayers, works and penances is that you would believe I love you"
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