Updated on August 2, 2011
Picnicking Chinese Style
Earlier this week, some students invited me to join their class picnic. While I did not teach them this semester, I had taught their class for two years, so knew the students quite well. In the midst of giving and grading finals, not to mention sorting, trashing and packing, the idea of heading off to a picnic for a few hours was a bit stress inducing. However, as in most cases when you choose people over tasks, it ended up being entirely worth it.
Updated on August 2, 2011
Surprising Stella
On Tuesday we surprised Stella with a little graduation party. Surprising her turned out to be quite the chore. The party had been planned for the previous week, but down with a bit of a cold, she decided to stay at home rather than returning to our small hamlet. When she sent me a message Saturday saying she had finally made the trip back, we quickly rescheduled the party for Tuesday (finding a time during the last week when all TEN of the team was free was simply a miracle). Then Stella sent me a message saying she would go home on Sunday. Enter much pulling of hair on my part. I mean how dare she miss her own party?
But after much pleading, and coaxing, and making up things I needed her help with, and a big pouty lip, I managed to convince her to stay until Tuesday afternoon…all without mentioning the little shindig.
We put on a spread of her favorite food…PIZZA! Which, ironically, just so happens to be one of my favorite foods.
I also whipped up her my favorite dessert, carrot cake. (Seriously, make this cake today. It, and obscene amounts of coffee, are the only things getting me through this week.)
The writing on the cake…a little messy. But considering I had this cutie on my hip while doing the writing? Pretty awesome.
Why did we put all this together for Stella?
Because she constantly blesses us with her humor, her wit, her sarcasm, her joy, her profound and practical love for the Father, and her willingness to do a million small and big things. She’s bought train tickets, carted pounds upon pounds of butter from the big city to our small city, arranged things with the orphanage, persuaded train officials to let people carry my luggage to the platform, negotiated with post office workers…and done many other countless things to make my life easier. If you need to get something done, Stella is your woman.
We all love Stella.
Updated on August 2, 2011
Something to get excited about
Today…today was one of those days that leaves your head spinning. I’m pretty sure I experienced every emotion known to man at some point. However, amidst the stress and tears and grief there is a mighty bright spot on the horizon. Very soon I will be very close to these two gorgeous ladies.
And while I’d love to have the people I love from China and the people I love from America together in one place, I am grateful for this bit of sunshine to look forward to.
Updated on August 2, 2011
Homeward bound
I’m not the only one headed to the states in the near future.
This little guy will soon be headed home.
He’s one of the kids we were able to help send to An Orphan’s Wish.
Since returning from the casting unit, he’s been at the foster care center in our city.
Where his spunky personality has continued to blossom.
This kid loves to pose for pictures.
And the thought of him united with his family?
As well as seeing one more link in the extraordinary, faith-building chain of provision for this little guy?
Makes me pretty darn excited.
Updated on August 2, 2011
The Fourth Annual Spelling Bee
For the past four years, the freshmen spoken English teachers have held a spelling bee for their students. The students compete in class, and then the top two spellers from each class advance to the big stage. I haven’t taught the freshmen during this time, and have always had other engagements on the night of the bee. However, quite fortunately, my plans on spelling bee night this year got canceled. I was in for a fun evening of watching students excel and crack under the pressure.
Updated on August 2, 2011
Lately it’s Joshua
Throughout my time in China, there have been different people from the Word that have greatly encouraged me in particular seasons. During these times, different individuals’ stories have seemed to connect intimately and personally to my own journey, and I’ve poured over the truths contained within their experiences. There have been times with Peter, with Abraham, with Moses, and with Joseph.
Right now it’s Joshua. Each time I open up to his life, I hear echoes of my own life and the Father’s whispers into the needs of the moment. As I stand on the brink of great change, I find comfort in watching Joshua lead the Israelites into territory that was new and old at the very same time.
They stood at the end of years of wandering, years of unsettledness, years of daily dependence on bread rained down from heaven. The journey had been by no means easy, and at times had been downright unpleasant, and yet they had encountered the Father in ways that no one ever had before. And astonishingly, as they looked back, they realized in all that time that their clothes had not worn out and their feet had not become swollen. That’s a lot of miles traversed without swollen feet.
I have a feeling Joshua, and the nation of Israel, stood there next to the river Jordan with mixed emotions. There was a land of promise before them. The promise of comfort. Of permanent dwellings. Of a crop tended by their own hands. Of rest from the constant work of packing and unpacking their lives. However, they knew the land wouldn’t just be handed over without a battle. They knew their problems would not all instantly be solved. And they knew that they now faced the challenge of living out the truths learned in the wilderness. Of trusting and relying and loving their Great Provider in a place where their need for reliance would perhaps not be as starkly evident.
Don’t get me wrong, I by no means think America is paradise or the epitome of perfection. It’s not a land flowing with milk and honey, although it is (quite thankfully) flowing with cheese and ice cream. However, there are many aspects of life, simply because I spent those formative growing up years there, that are simply more comfortable for me. It’s a lot easier to convince myself that I have a handle on things and can run the show in America. China has a way of reminding me moment by moment that I have no clue what I’m doing. My hunger for the one true Bread is more apparent, and I’m more likely to daily gather it outside the doorway of my tent.
I know that the return to life in America will have its fair share of bumps and bruises and battles…and blessings. It will be an adjustment and that adjustment won’t happen overnight. And yet I find strength and comfort in the Father’s message to Joshua: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged, for I will be with you wherever you go.” The Father doesn’t say, “don’t be afraid! you’re awesome and strong and beating all these nations will be a cinch!” He doesn’t promise Joshua an easy road. He doesn’t promise Joshua that Joshua has enough brains, brawn, and valor to accomplish the task. He simply promises that He will be with him. And that, my friends, is enough.
Updated on August 2, 2011
Pain in the neck
Sorting through all the things you accumulate over a period of six years and figuring out how to move all of that back to America in two fifty pound suitcases is a pain in the neck.
But that’s not the pain in the neck I’m referring to.
I woke up with a slightly sore neck yesterday morning. And then (perhaps foolishly) I worked out. And then progressively throughout the day the pain increased. By the time I went to bed I could barely turn my head to the left.
Sleep didn’t fix the problem. In fact, if anything the problem was worse today. The good news is I still live in China where massage services are cheap. I’m not the biggest fan of massages. Frankly, I’m a wuss, and most of the time don’t consider the pain of a massage worth the results of a massage. However, after mercilessly mocking the fact I had to turn my entire body to look at them, my teammates gave a concerned plea to at least give a massage a shot. And so this afternoon I stopped by our neighborhood masseuse for a visit, and paid about $2 for forty minutes of work on my neck and upper back. As of now, the pain and stiffness hasn’t been reduced that significantly, but the masseuse instructed me to return tomorrow. For that price, I will likely spring for a second massage in hopes of getting rid of this pain in my neck so I can deal with the other more figurative pains in my neck.
Updated on August 2, 2011
Saying farewell to teaching…for now
This week is my last week of teaching lessons. Come noon on Thursday, I’ll be retiring my chalk. Come Thursday a week from now, post exams, I’ll also be retiring my red pen. I have truly loved most moments in the classroom, and have been spoiled rotten by the respect and hard work of Chinese students. They laugh at my corny jokes, tell me I’m beautiful on a regular basis, and generally bring joy to my daily life. I’m going to miss the Chinese classroom. I will not, however, miss the slate chalkboards and constant coating of chalk dust on all my things. Enjoy this peek into my last week of lessons!
Updated on August 2, 2011
Sunday Snapshot: Picnic at the Park
What is one to do when move across the ocean is imminent? When the to do list stretches a mile long? When there is six years’ worth of things to be sorted and trashed and given away and packed away? When there are grades to calculate and papers to mark?
If one is wise, she guiltlessly leaves it all behind to head out on a picnic.
Updated on August 2, 2011
Scatter-brained
This morning at our team meeting, we marked our calendars with all of the events of the next two weeks. And then I wanted to crawl in a corner and cry. Let’s just say it’s going to be a blur of activity once Tuesday morning hits. I’m a bit scatter-brained at the moment, so I apologize if this post is a bit all over the board.
Thankfully, this weekend is a three day holiday weekend, which means I have quite a bit of time to get organized. I spent a lot of today cleaning out desk drawers and going through the piles of paper and stuff that accumulates over six years. One of the things I was sorting through were letters and cards received over the years. And I was once again reminded that I have the most incredible group of people who have loved and supported me all along this crazy journey. And I am quite excited to live a bit closer to some of those folks real soon.
Yesterday, a student came over to play the Pipa (pronounced pee-paw) for Seth and teach him a bit about playing it. I was able to enjoy the concert while doing some grading, and couldn’t resist getting a few shots of this beautiful instrument.
Late last night, the team gathered together to celebrate Lauren’s birthday with pound cake, ice cream, and a handy cam copy of the new Pirates movie. Unfortunately, we’re all apparently getting old, because none of us were able to stay awake for the whole movie.
And now I’m off to try to get some much needed sleep. Here’s hoping at some point in the night the whirring and grinding and pounding of the rapidly rising building next door will stop. Kami received an early Chinese birthday cake this week (her birthday is on Tuesday). When soliciting advice for what to do with it (Chinese cakes are notoriously beautiful and notoriously cardboard-esque), Lauren and I suggested chucking it out the window in a certain direction when construction goes on too late in the night. But perhaps that wouldn’t be so neighborly of us…
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