I went out to dinner tonight. It's a sweet little place called Salvador's. The owners are a couple--I believe the guy is from America and his wife is from China. The menu includes some of my favorite Western dishes here...Salads, Quesadilla's, and Panini's!! They also have a really good smoothies. I asked Grace Li, one of the assistant teachers I work with to come, and told her I'd treat her to dinner. There ended up being a lot of girls there, but Grace and I talked a lot with each other.
In addition to having a full-time job at KIA, she is also a full-time student. She takes classes at Yunnan University. She's an English major, and right now she's taking a class about American Culture. She learned today about friends and how we make friends in America. It is very different from how Chinese make and keep friends. She was shocked and amazed that we did things this way, so she wanted to check with me and others at the table to see if it was really true. After she told us what she'd learned, we all concluded that it was true.
Grace told me a story she had heard in class. A Chinese man had gone to America to study. He wanted to meet some Americans and learn the culture. He met a classmate, and they hung out a lot--went to dinner, went to events together, etc. The Chinese guy considered the American his best friend. The next semester, they did not have the same class, and their schedules made it more difficult to get together. The Chinese guy was hurt by the American who had failed to call him to hang out. He went to the American and asked if they were still friends. The American said yes, but their definition of friends was vastly different.
If you are in contact with anyone from another country, take time to get to know them and their culture. Learn what is expected and be cautious...don't just assume! Let's change the way we are. Slow down. Take time to get to know people. Share openly with people. Share life experiences, interests, failures and successes. Share the One who has made it possible for us to love. It needs to happen. We're hurting people just because we don't take time to focus on someone besides ourself. Love is patient, Love is kind...Love is not self-seeking...
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Good ol' Oswald
(paraphrased)
Matt 28:19
J.C. did not say--Go and save souls, but--"Go and teach" (disciple) "all nations," and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples came back from their first task they were filled with joy because the devils were subject to them, and J.C. said--Don't rejoice in successful service; the great secret of joy is that you are rightly related to Me. The great essential of the worker is that he remains true to the call of the Father, and realizes that his one purpose is to disciple men and women to J.C. There is a passion for souls that does not spring from God, but from the desire to make converts to our point of view.
The challenge to the worker does not come on the line that people are difficult to get saved, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, that there is a wadge of callous indifference; but along the line of his own personal relationship to J.C. "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Our Master puts that question steadily, it faces us in every individual case we meet. The one great challenge is--Do I know my Risen Ld? Do I know the power of His indwelling Sprt? Am I wise enough in Gd's sight and foolish enough according to the world, to bank on what J.C. has said, or am I abandoning the great supernatural position, which is the only call for a worker--boundless confidence in C.J? If I take up any other method I depart altogether from the methods laid down by Our Ld--"All power is given unto Me..., therefore go.
Matt 28:19
J.C. did not say--Go and save souls, but--"Go and teach" (disciple) "all nations," and you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples came back from their first task they were filled with joy because the devils were subject to them, and J.C. said--Don't rejoice in successful service; the great secret of joy is that you are rightly related to Me. The great essential of the worker is that he remains true to the call of the Father, and realizes that his one purpose is to disciple men and women to J.C. There is a passion for souls that does not spring from God, but from the desire to make converts to our point of view.
The challenge to the worker does not come on the line that people are difficult to get saved, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, that there is a wadge of callous indifference; but along the line of his own personal relationship to J.C. "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Our Master puts that question steadily, it faces us in every individual case we meet. The one great challenge is--Do I know my Risen Ld? Do I know the power of His indwelling Sprt? Am I wise enough in Gd's sight and foolish enough according to the world, to bank on what J.C. has said, or am I abandoning the great supernatural position, which is the only call for a worker--boundless confidence in C.J? If I take up any other method I depart altogether from the methods laid down by Our Ld--"All power is given unto Me..., therefore go.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
How He Loves Us
My new favorite song...I'm sure ya'll hear it on the radio all the time over there...
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves.
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…
He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of his wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realize just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
And oh, how He loves us so,
Oh how He loves us,
How He loves us all
Yeah, He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves us,
Oh! how He loves.
We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
And Heaven meets earth like an unforseen kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way…
Monday, October 26, 2009
Check This Out!
I would highly recommend the book Eternity in Their Hearts by Don Richardson. It talks about how people have a God-shaped hole in their heart and soul, and how the unreached people groups around the world have the sense that there is a one-true God...it reminds me of the verse, "For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and his nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse," found in Romans 1:20. Check it out!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Buses, Coffee, and Zhang Yi
Yesterday afternoon was one of the best I've had here in Kunming! I went to Dairy Queen downtown (sorry I don't have proof--they had a sign that said no pictures), and went shopping with Grace, one of my roommates from California. Then, I caught a bus back to where I needed to catch another one, so that I could hang out with Jenny (Zhang (family name) Yi (given name, which means happy)).
I walked to a bus stop around the corner, and not knowing which one to get on (out of about 6 buses that stopped there), I just picked one and hopped on. Well, it went up to the next intersection and turned right. I needed to just go straight down Xi Yuan Lu, but...it wasn't looking too goo. So, I called some of my Chinese friends to ask them which bus to take. Too bad I was meeting at a place where I only knew the English name...they had no clue! So, I walked back to Xi Yuan Lu, and got on the next bus that came. Guess what?! It did the same exact thing! I ended up way past Xi Yuan Lu though, because the next stop was way down the road (Renmin Xi Lu). I know these roads, and usually I ride my bike down them. So, I got off the bus and walked back. Only this time, I was really far east from Xi Yuan Lu. I ended up walking toward the Think UK apartment buildings, which I could kind of see in the distance. Overall, it was about an hour commute from downtown to Chicago Coffee...one that should have been half that. It was quite an adventure! I'm still not sure I could figure it out on the buses!
Anyway, I met up with Jenny at 4pm (I was only a few minutes late...) for Coffee at Chicago Coffee (owned by Americans) to learn Chinese. I was not expecting to meet up with her this week, based upon the way she left it open last week, and considering that I had not really talked with her much during the week about it. We stayed at Chicago Coffee for about 2 and a half hours! I learned a lot, and our friendship blossomed. :-) I asked her if she would like to go get dinner. She said sure, so I took her to a little squatty restaurant that I like around the corner. After conversing with a 12 year-old boy at the squtty and finishing our noodle, chicken and veggie soup, we took a few different buses back home. We plan on meeting again this Wednesday after school for more Chinese. This time, she'll come over to my apartment. I'm really excited, because she seems to be very open and happy to hang out with me and she has a lot of patience with me. She's a great teacher!
When we were saying goodbye, she said, "I'm so glad that you asked me to teach you Chinese. I have had such a great time, and I am so happy to meet you." I expressed my gratefulness to her; for all the time that she is sacrificing to teach on a weekend to a foreigner. I told her that I'm excited about our friendship, and that I would see her at school tomorrow.
I walked around the corner to the little store I frequently visit to buy a drink before heading home. The owner told me that I was "kai xin," which means happy. He thought real hard about the English word for kai xin, and he finally told me happy ('cause I had no clue what he was saying). I asked him if he was saying 'I am happy'..."wo shi kai xin?" He said "dui, dui," which means correct. It was a fun little exchange after meeting with Jenny for hours (it was about 9pm at the store...).
I walked back home, beaming. It's so neat to hear people compliment you, or notice things about you that you know have nothing to do with you...but all about Him, and what He's done in and through you. Praise the Father! May these two come to know you, Dad. You alone are the only One who can make one truly joyful and full of life! May they see you in me and want to get to know you more!
I walked to a bus stop around the corner, and not knowing which one to get on (out of about 6 buses that stopped there), I just picked one and hopped on. Well, it went up to the next intersection and turned right. I needed to just go straight down Xi Yuan Lu, but...it wasn't looking too goo. So, I called some of my Chinese friends to ask them which bus to take. Too bad I was meeting at a place where I only knew the English name...they had no clue! So, I walked back to Xi Yuan Lu, and got on the next bus that came. Guess what?! It did the same exact thing! I ended up way past Xi Yuan Lu though, because the next stop was way down the road (Renmin Xi Lu). I know these roads, and usually I ride my bike down them. So, I got off the bus and walked back. Only this time, I was really far east from Xi Yuan Lu. I ended up walking toward the Think UK apartment buildings, which I could kind of see in the distance. Overall, it was about an hour commute from downtown to Chicago Coffee...one that should have been half that. It was quite an adventure! I'm still not sure I could figure it out on the buses!
Anyway, I met up with Jenny at 4pm (I was only a few minutes late...) for Coffee at Chicago Coffee (owned by Americans) to learn Chinese. I was not expecting to meet up with her this week, based upon the way she left it open last week, and considering that I had not really talked with her much during the week about it. We stayed at Chicago Coffee for about 2 and a half hours! I learned a lot, and our friendship blossomed. :-) I asked her if she would like to go get dinner. She said sure, so I took her to a little squatty restaurant that I like around the corner. After conversing with a 12 year-old boy at the squtty and finishing our noodle, chicken and veggie soup, we took a few different buses back home. We plan on meeting again this Wednesday after school for more Chinese. This time, she'll come over to my apartment. I'm really excited, because she seems to be very open and happy to hang out with me and she has a lot of patience with me. She's a great teacher!
When we were saying goodbye, she said, "I'm so glad that you asked me to teach you Chinese. I have had such a great time, and I am so happy to meet you." I expressed my gratefulness to her; for all the time that she is sacrificing to teach on a weekend to a foreigner. I told her that I'm excited about our friendship, and that I would see her at school tomorrow.
I walked around the corner to the little store I frequently visit to buy a drink before heading home. The owner told me that I was "kai xin," which means happy. He thought real hard about the English word for kai xin, and he finally told me happy ('cause I had no clue what he was saying). I asked him if he was saying 'I am happy'..."wo shi kai xin?" He said "dui, dui," which means correct. It was a fun little exchange after meeting with Jenny for hours (it was about 9pm at the store...).
I walked back home, beaming. It's so neat to hear people compliment you, or notice things about you that you know have nothing to do with you...but all about Him, and what He's done in and through you. Praise the Father! May these two come to know you, Dad. You alone are the only One who can make one truly joyful and full of life! May they see you in me and want to get to know you more!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Jenny
KIA is sharing a campus with a local Chinese school. I am on the second floor, and on the second floor down the hall, 1st and 2nd grade Chinese students are also learning. Jenny (one of the first grade teachers) has become one of my friends recently.
Our friendship started by just saying "hi" in the hall. Due to the fact that KIA took over most of the campus...which included the bathroom section, the Chinese school uses our bathrooms. They will soon have their own to use, but they're not quite finished yet. Jenny would walk her students down the hall in two straight lines. They were quiet, until they saw me, and then they'd all burst out into "hello! hi! hello! hi!" So I of course respond back, "ni hao." I acknowledged Jenny one day and she responded with a load of English. I was a little surprised, so we talked for a bit and then I went into my classroom.
A couple days later, I gave her an old Chinese book that was for learning English. She accepted it and expressed her thanks. After that, we were just kind of friendly in the hall. Until...last Friday! I walked down to her classroom around 6pm (I know, why was I at school still at 6pm on a Friday?!). The Chinese schools eat dinner at school too. So, they don't officially get out of school until 7pm. CRAZY! They start school before us too. Insane!! So, I walked down to her class and I spoke with her. I asked her how she'd been...just catching up. She offered to teach me Chinese, so I readily accepted. More than anything, I just wanted to become friends with her, in hopes of sharing parts of me that mean so much (you know..).
We met on Sunday for my first lesson. It's great learning Chinese from a 1st grade Chinese teacher. She taught me the vowel sounds, the tones, and then she taught me to read some characters (about 16) and then the pinyin (the phonetics for Chinese). It was quite entertaining to me when she held my hand to show me how to write the letter 'a'. She asked me to continue to write it for the remainder of the line. Then she looked at me and was like, "oh...you do this all the time. Sorry!"
Monday morning we met and I gave her some tea (apparently some really nice tea), and she gave me a Chinese book. I'm really excited about this new developing friendship. It will be difficult to meet up because of the lack of available time. She is at school M-F from 7am until 7pm! Keep her in your thoughts and lift up future times that we'll meet to the Father who makes all things clear and new. May she find new purpose in her life very soon, and joy that comes in the morning.
Our friendship started by just saying "hi" in the hall. Due to the fact that KIA took over most of the campus...which included the bathroom section, the Chinese school uses our bathrooms. They will soon have their own to use, but they're not quite finished yet. Jenny would walk her students down the hall in two straight lines. They were quiet, until they saw me, and then they'd all burst out into "hello! hi! hello! hi!" So I of course respond back, "ni hao." I acknowledged Jenny one day and she responded with a load of English. I was a little surprised, so we talked for a bit and then I went into my classroom.
A couple days later, I gave her an old Chinese book that was for learning English. She accepted it and expressed her thanks. After that, we were just kind of friendly in the hall. Until...last Friday! I walked down to her classroom around 6pm (I know, why was I at school still at 6pm on a Friday?!). The Chinese schools eat dinner at school too. So, they don't officially get out of school until 7pm. CRAZY! They start school before us too. Insane!! So, I walked down to her class and I spoke with her. I asked her how she'd been...just catching up. She offered to teach me Chinese, so I readily accepted. More than anything, I just wanted to become friends with her, in hopes of sharing parts of me that mean so much (you know..).
We met on Sunday for my first lesson. It's great learning Chinese from a 1st grade Chinese teacher. She taught me the vowel sounds, the tones, and then she taught me to read some characters (about 16) and then the pinyin (the phonetics for Chinese). It was quite entertaining to me when she held my hand to show me how to write the letter 'a'. She asked me to continue to write it for the remainder of the line. Then she looked at me and was like, "oh...you do this all the time. Sorry!"
Monday morning we met and I gave her some tea (apparently some really nice tea), and she gave me a Chinese book. I'm really excited about this new developing friendship. It will be difficult to meet up because of the lack of available time. She is at school M-F from 7am until 7pm! Keep her in your thoughts and lift up future times that we'll meet to the Father who makes all things clear and new. May she find new purpose in her life very soon, and joy that comes in the morning.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Un dia del Jessica, la professora.
After several requests from many people to continue to write, I’ve decided to force myself to do it. It is exhausting keeping up with everything. Sometimes I feel like I’m living in two different worlds. Oh wait! I am. I love being here and living life here. I don’t want to miss anything. It’s hard to make myself sit down and just write or journal or e-mail. I have kept up with e-mails pretty well, but other than that, it’s been a little more effort. I’ll get off my “soap box,” as Christa would say.
I think I will take you on a little journey in the day of my life in China. How shall I start? Once upon a time… nah! When I get up in the morning… (TMI) (This is why I don’t enjoy writing. I struggle sometimes!) Well, most days I get up around 5:45 when the sun is just arriving in Japan (or thereabouts). Then I hop in the shower and get myself pumped up for the day. This part is a necessity, because I am with 6 -8 year-olds all day! After pumpin’ it up, I walk my 4 minute walk to school and go visit the mail room. Usually there is nothing in my box in the morning. Nobody else is at school at 7:30 (because school starts at 8:30), but I like to have time to sit in the classroom and review my lesson plans before I jump into “teacher mode.” Martha, my mentor, friend and co-teacher that I share a classroom with usually gets to school around the same time. We get to share, encourage and bounce ideas off each other. Without her, I’m pretty sure I would have no creative juices flowing in this now short-haired head of mine! Usually there is a meeting in the morning (except for Tuesdays), so I attend that. Occasionally I have before and after school duty. Duties are no fun! I mean, I guess they’re alright, but I just hate watching over 100 kids by myself! Too much liability!
2nd grade is the first class I get to go into in the mornings. I teach reading for an hour to the mid-level reading group. I have a few ELL (English Language Learners), and a few native English speakers. It sure is a fun group…ALL BOYS! It’s a little rowdy at times, but they sure do say some funny stuff. I get a break after the first hour of teaching, while the kids go to their special area and morning recess.
I head into 1st grade next to facilitate reading groups 4 and 5 (out of 6). I love the kids in my groups. They say some of the funniest things! Lunch and recess is my intermission between 1st grade reading and 1st grade writing. It’s really such a blessing to see children progress so much in their writing. I now only have to remind them every once in awhile to put the period at the end. AND they can identify the “naming” part of the sentence (or subject) and the “telling” part of the sentence (or predicate).
My afternoons are a bit crazy. I go straight from 1st grade writing to 2nd grade CLS (Content Language Support), which is where I pull the 7 ELL students out and work with them for 30 minutes. It’s really such a short time. It’s hard to get much done. I find that the days when I just focus on one skill, is the day when I feel most productive with the kids. There’s just too much to cover though! I have to remember to have fun and enjoy teaching the little things. If I cover them more extensively, they’ll be more likely to retain the information in the future. After CLS, I take the 2nd grade ELL’s back to 2nd grade and I help Lisa with writing. Finally, at 2:20, my day is finished and I have planning until 3:30. However, most teachers know that “planning” never means that you get to actually sit down and plan. NOPE! I end up covering for other teachers, testing children, pulling them out again to work on something, etc.
That’s my fun, exhaustive day at school (while the students are still there). AFTER the students leave I grade papers, talk to other teachers, attend meetings, go to Chinese class, plan my lessons, write e-mails, clean up the classroom, go through some files and talk to parents.
Usually after I leave school, which ends up being around 5:30 or 6 (but has gone until 7…once), I go eat dinner with some of the young female teachers here. It’s nice to get on my bike at the end of the day and just ride for a half hour for food! Haha. I get to enjoy that same ride back after I’m fed and satisfied too. It’s a great way to end the day. That is primarily why I don’t get on my computer every night, and especially why I don’t write! Actually, I haven’t even read much. I love to read. What’s wrong with me? I did get to finish a book over the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. That was an accomplishment.
Okay…I’ve written enough for today…especially since I’m writing at school. I knew I wouldn’t do it when I went home, so I decided that I would type here and then publish it later. I’m sure I’ll get more writing done this way. I’ll make it part of my job.
I think I will take you on a little journey in the day of my life in China. How shall I start? Once upon a time… nah! When I get up in the morning… (TMI) (This is why I don’t enjoy writing. I struggle sometimes!) Well, most days I get up around 5:45 when the sun is just arriving in Japan (or thereabouts). Then I hop in the shower and get myself pumped up for the day. This part is a necessity, because I am with 6 -8 year-olds all day! After pumpin’ it up, I walk my 4 minute walk to school and go visit the mail room. Usually there is nothing in my box in the morning. Nobody else is at school at 7:30 (because school starts at 8:30), but I like to have time to sit in the classroom and review my lesson plans before I jump into “teacher mode.” Martha, my mentor, friend and co-teacher that I share a classroom with usually gets to school around the same time. We get to share, encourage and bounce ideas off each other. Without her, I’m pretty sure I would have no creative juices flowing in this now short-haired head of mine! Usually there is a meeting in the morning (except for Tuesdays), so I attend that. Occasionally I have before and after school duty. Duties are no fun! I mean, I guess they’re alright, but I just hate watching over 100 kids by myself! Too much liability!
2nd grade is the first class I get to go into in the mornings. I teach reading for an hour to the mid-level reading group. I have a few ELL (English Language Learners), and a few native English speakers. It sure is a fun group…ALL BOYS! It’s a little rowdy at times, but they sure do say some funny stuff. I get a break after the first hour of teaching, while the kids go to their special area and morning recess.
I head into 1st grade next to facilitate reading groups 4 and 5 (out of 6). I love the kids in my groups. They say some of the funniest things! Lunch and recess is my intermission between 1st grade reading and 1st grade writing. It’s really such a blessing to see children progress so much in their writing. I now only have to remind them every once in awhile to put the period at the end. AND they can identify the “naming” part of the sentence (or subject) and the “telling” part of the sentence (or predicate).
My afternoons are a bit crazy. I go straight from 1st grade writing to 2nd grade CLS (Content Language Support), which is where I pull the 7 ELL students out and work with them for 30 minutes. It’s really such a short time. It’s hard to get much done. I find that the days when I just focus on one skill, is the day when I feel most productive with the kids. There’s just too much to cover though! I have to remember to have fun and enjoy teaching the little things. If I cover them more extensively, they’ll be more likely to retain the information in the future. After CLS, I take the 2nd grade ELL’s back to 2nd grade and I help Lisa with writing. Finally, at 2:20, my day is finished and I have planning until 3:30. However, most teachers know that “planning” never means that you get to actually sit down and plan. NOPE! I end up covering for other teachers, testing children, pulling them out again to work on something, etc.
That’s my fun, exhaustive day at school (while the students are still there). AFTER the students leave I grade papers, talk to other teachers, attend meetings, go to Chinese class, plan my lessons, write e-mails, clean up the classroom, go through some files and talk to parents.
Usually after I leave school, which ends up being around 5:30 or 6 (but has gone until 7…once), I go eat dinner with some of the young female teachers here. It’s nice to get on my bike at the end of the day and just ride for a half hour for food! Haha. I get to enjoy that same ride back after I’m fed and satisfied too. It’s a great way to end the day. That is primarily why I don’t get on my computer every night, and especially why I don’t write! Actually, I haven’t even read much. I love to read. What’s wrong with me? I did get to finish a book over the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival. That was an accomplishment.
Okay…I’ve written enough for today…especially since I’m writing at school. I knew I wouldn’t do it when I went home, so I decided that I would type here and then publish it later. I’m sure I’ll get more writing done this way. I’ll make it part of my job.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
What on earth am I here for?
Seriously! I thought I was coming to China to serve, not to be served. I thought I was coming to live a life of sacrifice, not luxury. I thought being a teacher meant to leave your mark on children’s lives, not to be impacted myself!
…I’m learning a lot here. Can ya tell?
So, I have several students whose parents are workers here. They live simple, humble lives. I’m comfortable around these people. They have me over for hamburgers or a typical American meal. Then I have a select few students whose parents are in high society. These parents either have really high expectations, and want me to feel the weight of it by making me uncomfortable when I am pampered and given gifts, or they are just really grateful….but most likely, it’s a mix of both.
One of my students lives in a townhome (which is pretty much unheard of in China). Mom informed me in an informal way that the house cost about 300 million RMB. The exchange rate is 1 USD to 6.8 RMB. Hmm…you do the math! So her and her husband own several restaurants all over China. She invited me over to lunch on a Saturday, but I already had plans, so I told her that I could do it after my fellowship on Sunday. She said “that would be great, see you then!” So…knowing that her Korean fellowship was up on the North side of town, I hauled myself up there on my bike (which took about an hour and 15 minutes) and called her after the meeting was over. She came around and picked me up in her nice Volkswagen Mini-SUV (I’m not even sure what it was because it was so nice…). I left my bike at the location of the fellowship, in the lobby of the building. We drove for about 15-20 minutes (further North) to her home. She lives in a secluded gated neighborhood that does not look like China…on a mountainside. It was hilly throughout the complex, with beautiful landscaping and huge stone houses and townhomes. I was amazed and tried to control myself so I didn’t make her feel awkward. She and her bao mu (not sure how to spell the pinyin or Roman alphabet representation of Chinese sounds)… (bao mu means house helper/ nanny) made a really nice spread for lunch. We had a shrimp/ salmon/ oyster pasta (with homemade tomato sauce, which was delicious) and salad (with basil leaves). Then there was fruit for dessert. Followed by baked fish flakes/ chips (not a huge fan, but apparently it’s a big Korean favorite). After playing the Wii for a bit (or my student playing and me pretending to play with the one that had bad batteries), she took me for a long walk (hour and a half) around the ‘hood’. I felt like I was in a really nice neighborhood in America. There were cars outside most houses (HOUSES in China…this is a BIG deal!), people in really nice clothes, even just really nice, clean, everyday people clothes! ….
After watching the kids play in the water at the end of our walk, she asked me if I’d like to make a pie. I wasn’t sure what to say, and at this point, the sun is starting to go down…and I still have at least an hour and fifteen minute bike ride back home. I was thinking, “ooh, I’d love to…but the sun is headin’ over to mom and dad right now…so, eh….” “SURE!” I said. So, we went inside, and she began to make dough from scratch. I’ve not really ever done that before, so that was fun to watch. Oh yea, I forgot to mention….she wouldn’t let me touch anything when she was preparing lunch. She did kind of let me help. I usually do clean up and wash the dishes, because I don’t know how to cook…but she wouldn’t let me do that either. I felt totally undomesticated, lazy and spoiled! She also decided that while she was making dough, she would just go ahead and make dinner, so she made homemade pizza. Holy moly…best pizza I’ve ever had! She makes her own tomato sauce…and boy is it good! So yea…I stayed for pizza and pie. She sent me home with plum juice that she makes, pickles (that she taught her bao mu to make, so I took the ones she made), two pineapple pies, and homemade strawberry jelly. She actually didn’t send me home, she drove me home. But remember that bike? Yea…we picked it up and put it in her nice car. Dirty bike inside nice car. EWW! Once again, I felt kinda awkward. She blessed me and treated me and gave me her time.
We had about an hour long drive home, so we talked about all sorts of things. …One of them being that she just wants a friend. It’s kind of weird to be that for her, because I am her son’s teacher. But, I feel like that is something that the Father put right in my lap. I can be a friend to her. One thing I’m realizing is that teaching in China at this particular school is far different than it would be in the States! I hope to be able to share more time with her and share my culture and holidays with her. I hope to talk more about our shared faith. Though she professes to be a follower, she does not have the joy that one should have. She is lonely and feels like an outcast in her Korean fellowship. It’s primarily because of money. She has it and it makes people uncomfortable, but isn’t that what being a follower is all about? Being uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel? Loving people and becoming selfless so that others are blessed and come to know the power of His love and grace? “Love is patient, love is kind….it is not self-seeking” It would be wise for me to heed these words. Often I think about time…and rush out of conversations that could be fruitful. “…love is not self-seeking.” People just need love, and to feel loved, they need our time. I need to open up my schedule and not rush out of meaningful moments, just because I have something else to do or something on my own agenda.
I hope you’ve been blessed, because I sure have been! He’s teaching me powerful lessons. …In ways I didn’t think I would be learning them. Who knew?!
…I’m learning a lot here. Can ya tell?
So, I have several students whose parents are workers here. They live simple, humble lives. I’m comfortable around these people. They have me over for hamburgers or a typical American meal. Then I have a select few students whose parents are in high society. These parents either have really high expectations, and want me to feel the weight of it by making me uncomfortable when I am pampered and given gifts, or they are just really grateful….but most likely, it’s a mix of both.
One of my students lives in a townhome (which is pretty much unheard of in China). Mom informed me in an informal way that the house cost about 300 million RMB. The exchange rate is 1 USD to 6.8 RMB. Hmm…you do the math! So her and her husband own several restaurants all over China. She invited me over to lunch on a Saturday, but I already had plans, so I told her that I could do it after my fellowship on Sunday. She said “that would be great, see you then!” So…knowing that her Korean fellowship was up on the North side of town, I hauled myself up there on my bike (which took about an hour and 15 minutes) and called her after the meeting was over. She came around and picked me up in her nice Volkswagen Mini-SUV (I’m not even sure what it was because it was so nice…). I left my bike at the location of the fellowship, in the lobby of the building. We drove for about 15-20 minutes (further North) to her home. She lives in a secluded gated neighborhood that does not look like China…on a mountainside. It was hilly throughout the complex, with beautiful landscaping and huge stone houses and townhomes. I was amazed and tried to control myself so I didn’t make her feel awkward. She and her bao mu (not sure how to spell the pinyin or Roman alphabet representation of Chinese sounds)… (bao mu means house helper/ nanny) made a really nice spread for lunch. We had a shrimp/ salmon/ oyster pasta (with homemade tomato sauce, which was delicious) and salad (with basil leaves). Then there was fruit for dessert. Followed by baked fish flakes/ chips (not a huge fan, but apparently it’s a big Korean favorite). After playing the Wii for a bit (or my student playing and me pretending to play with the one that had bad batteries), she took me for a long walk (hour and a half) around the ‘hood’. I felt like I was in a really nice neighborhood in America. There were cars outside most houses (HOUSES in China…this is a BIG deal!), people in really nice clothes, even just really nice, clean, everyday people clothes! ….
After watching the kids play in the water at the end of our walk, she asked me if I’d like to make a pie. I wasn’t sure what to say, and at this point, the sun is starting to go down…and I still have at least an hour and fifteen minute bike ride back home. I was thinking, “ooh, I’d love to…but the sun is headin’ over to mom and dad right now…so, eh….” “SURE!” I said. So, we went inside, and she began to make dough from scratch. I’ve not really ever done that before, so that was fun to watch. Oh yea, I forgot to mention….she wouldn’t let me touch anything when she was preparing lunch. She did kind of let me help. I usually do clean up and wash the dishes, because I don’t know how to cook…but she wouldn’t let me do that either. I felt totally undomesticated, lazy and spoiled! She also decided that while she was making dough, she would just go ahead and make dinner, so she made homemade pizza. Holy moly…best pizza I’ve ever had! She makes her own tomato sauce…and boy is it good! So yea…I stayed for pizza and pie. She sent me home with plum juice that she makes, pickles (that she taught her bao mu to make, so I took the ones she made), two pineapple pies, and homemade strawberry jelly. She actually didn’t send me home, she drove me home. But remember that bike? Yea…we picked it up and put it in her nice car. Dirty bike inside nice car. EWW! Once again, I felt kinda awkward. She blessed me and treated me and gave me her time.
We had about an hour long drive home, so we talked about all sorts of things. …One of them being that she just wants a friend. It’s kind of weird to be that for her, because I am her son’s teacher. But, I feel like that is something that the Father put right in my lap. I can be a friend to her. One thing I’m realizing is that teaching in China at this particular school is far different than it would be in the States! I hope to be able to share more time with her and share my culture and holidays with her. I hope to talk more about our shared faith. Though she professes to be a follower, she does not have the joy that one should have. She is lonely and feels like an outcast in her Korean fellowship. It’s primarily because of money. She has it and it makes people uncomfortable, but isn’t that what being a follower is all about? Being uncomfortable for the sake of the gospel? Loving people and becoming selfless so that others are blessed and come to know the power of His love and grace? “Love is patient, love is kind….it is not self-seeking” It would be wise for me to heed these words. Often I think about time…and rush out of conversations that could be fruitful. “…love is not self-seeking.” People just need love, and to feel loved, they need our time. I need to open up my schedule and not rush out of meaningful moments, just because I have something else to do or something on my own agenda.
I hope you’ve been blessed, because I sure have been! He’s teaching me powerful lessons. …In ways I didn’t think I would be learning them. Who knew?!
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