Total Solar Eclipse

Well, in China this morning.. and India and a few other places... there was a total solar eclipse. We all got up and went to Jonathan and Danielle's roof.. where at 9:35 we watched the sun disappear behind the moon. It was one of the cooler things I've experienced in life. It got completely dark.. street lights came on.. fireworks were shot off. You could see the ring of the sun behind the moon. It was really cool to see.

I took some cool pictures, and prayed. It's supposed to be one of the most spiritual times, and for me it was. It's amazing how our World works completely together. It's wonderful to get to see things that were created by our Father and how they work together completely to make such amazing sights. I am blessed to have been in one of the best places to get to see it too.

Life is good. Job isn't quite what I signed up for, but it's ok. I'm making the best of it, and learning a lot. It is amazing how life tends to work out for the better. I trust our Dad and his plan for my life.. I know I'm where I'm supposed to be. The eclipse was cool.. i'll post pictures when I get them on my computer later.

Interesting Travel Stories

Well.. I have a little time. So here's a real update.
Finishing teaching was really sad. My students did great on the Final Exam presentations, and it was easy to see how much they grew this year in their English speaking and their thinking process. It's just such a rewarding job. I will miss my students dearly. It's nice to walk into a classroom and have your own automatic 45 member fan club. They laugh at your jokes, and love you instantly. I love it. I am thankful that I am going to still be near enough to see them.

Then I got all moved to Hangzhou and worked for a little over a week. I got a whole lot done before I took 2 1/2 weeks off to travel with Mom and Dad. I picked them up in Shanghai and it was so wonderful to be enveloped in hugs and be given a snickers and a Dr Pepper. :) We spent the night in Shanghai and then we came to my apartment in Hangzhou. I showed them around a little while they got over jet lag. It wasn't that bad coming over here, but I hear it's hitting hard now. Anyways... after a day in Hangzhou.. we flew to Xi'an to see the Terracotta Soldiers.. after one day we moved on to Beijing to see the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, WangfuJing street, and the wonderful Silk Street. Silk Street is a complete Chinese culture experience. It's basically booth after booth of knockoffs. You bargain hardcore and end up with amazingness. I got a couple little bags and a few wallets for extremely cheap. I love it!!! Dad didn't really like when the guy was grabbing him trying to bargain more. As long as I stayed with him and did the bargaining.. it was OK.

The history in Beijing is deep.. and it's surreal to be there after I've read so much about China, and learned so much about how China has formed and changed so much. This country truly is an amazing place... with a long long history.

After some time in Beijing we flew to Ningbo for me to get the rest of my money for finishing my teaching contract.. then we took the bus to Hangzhou. We rested in Hangzhou for a little while and then the next day we flew to Bangkok, Thailand. I love love love Thailand. I was truly excited to get to go back and explore the culture a little more. Once we got to Phuket we found a place to stay on the beach, and I crashed. I was truly finally on vacation. So I slept the entire night and into the next morning. I got up and went and laid on the beach. Well... my skin doesn't get much sun here in China.. so I fried. I was beat red, but man did it feel good. The next day we shopped and stayed out of the sun.. then a monsoon came. So we enjoyed the sunshine on Racha Island. Google it.. phenomenal place. Then we flew back to China and went into Hong Kong for about 24 hours.

Hong Kong is one of the most cultural cities I've been to.. besides Bangkok. I love it. It's like going to America for me. It was british for so long that it's civilized... beautiful... and everything is available. I found so many English books. Living in China.. I starve for new books. I can only bring 2-50 pound suitcases to China.. and I have to bring everything.. So i end up with like 10 books. Well, when I got to Hong Kong.. I get to buy more. I have read all 10 original books before the first 2 weeks is finished and then I have a year with nothing. So... Hong Kong. I bought about 2o books. I love love love browsing the book stores. Then we eat American food.. California Pizza Kitchen, Burger King... etc. I can also find Turkey Sandwiches. It's wonderful. It's just so much like getting to be in a real place.. Everyone speaks English and there are people from all over the world there.

Funny Story: I was getting out of the elevator in Hong Kong.. and I hear my name. Someone yells.. Heidi!! What are you doing here?! I look up.. and there is Angus. He's my best Chinese friend who is studying in England right now. He was on holiday in Hong Kong! It was so wonderful... So that night he came up and visited for a few hours. I miss him so much.. and still daily wish we were still in Hangzhou near each other. I just haven't really found that friendship with any other Chinese people. He's so great. It was such a blessing to get to see him in a completely random place!

Then it was back to Hangzhou for a day.. and then to Shanghai to take Mom and Dad to the airport.. I was really sad to see it go so quickly. I was not ready to say goodbye. 16 days a year with my mom is just not enough.. it's tough to be so far away, but it's OK. I love my new job, and I know I'm where i'm supposed to be. I am so blessed to have been provided a job with an income and where I can still do DAD's work. It's wonderful.

Then I had to go back to Hong Kong to get my new visa.. that was an experience. Mostly I just stayed in my hotel room and read.. and then bought a bunch of other books. I'm almost finished reading most of them.... hahaha. oh well. I just love love love reading. If you haven't ready Jean Sasson's Princess series... go find it right now and read it. It's such a window into the Muslim world. You'll learn so much about such a secretive part of our World. I have a new passion for working in the 10/40 window.

Well.. with all of that. We took 3 trains, 3 busses, 9 airplanes (2 delays and 1 cancelled flight), and a bunch of taxis and cars... The Asia tour. Anyone else ever want to make the tour.. please use my travel agent services. I know all the secrets for doing it pretty cheaply.

I miss you all and love you! It looks like I'll get a holiday in American around Christmas. I am so glad i'll get to be home for Christmas this year. We'll see. Now daily work is going to be interesting.. so I"ll have lots of funny stories for you. Blessed day!

seriously.. update

well, blogspot has not been working. So... I have finished teaching, started my new job, and traveled a whole lot. My parents just came over for 16 days of insane Asia tour. In 16 days we flew 9 times, and saw everything of importance in this area basically.
It was a complete blessing to have them here and to get to hug and laugh together. We rode elephants in Thailand.. we went snorkeling, we climbed the Great Wall, saw the terracotta soldiers, saw Hong Kong, and Bangkok and just enjoyed the insanity. Only 2 cancelled flights and a few delayed flights.. lots and lots of western food!!! (it was my vacation too)
Then I had to go back to Hong Kong this weekend for my new visa to stay in China.. and work.
Everything else is going really well. Work is amazing.. coming along. We hope to be out of Beta by September and all ready to go. It's a lot of craziness and stuff.. we'll see what happens.
I realize this is short, but I've lost my zeal for updates.. I think i talk to most of the people who read this.. so yeah.

Spring

A new season. It's a season known for bringing new life. It's a season that brings beautiful scenery and flowers. It's a season that revives the dead of winter, and reminds us just how perfect and incredible this creation is.

Spring for me has meant busy. I have come back to life. I have been working non-stop, and trying to fit in some social life time too. I have been teaching, and also doing my job at the website. www.nihaoareyou.com is a new social networking site in China. It is social networking on steroids basically. It's facebook, myspace, youtube, and msn all combined. It has games, news, tv shows, music, shopping, and so much more. It is a site to bring Chinese and Americans together. It gives people a way to connect and learn about cultures.. teach about culture and language. I am really excited about it. This is my new job, and I love love love it. I officially start full time in July. I will be moving back to Hangzhou, and living there working. I am excited to be working a job that has to do with my area of expertise. I am excited to be working with an amazing group of Texans, and Chinese. I am excited to not be under contract anymore. I am excited for the outreach this website is going to provide.

Spring has also meant more time with friends and students. They have more free time, and I have more desire to leave the house now that it's warming up. I have been busy every night with students. I have had them coming over to cook me amazing food, me cook them amazing food, go out to eat good food, and going shopping. It's been really fun to get to see them outside of class. I love having had the same students all year. I only have 4 weeks left with them, and I started to tear up a little in class today. It's going to be weird to not be in front of a class anymore.

DAD has truly blessed the work here, and relationships. So much has happened recently. I'm just so excited about it all. Please remember us as we're finishing up this term. Leaving the work in Ningbo is going to be hard for all of us. I am so blessed to get to stay so close.. visits will be easy. Also.. please think about me as I am apartment hunting in a country with no language skills... and changing jobs. I have hired a personal assistant to help me with those jobs, and with planning my parent's trip over. I am so excited to see them in a month!

Peace and Love

It has been such a blessing to get to know my fellow teachers this year. I have spoken of Graham and Jessica this year in my blog a little. Graham is in his 3rd year in China, and Jessica her 2nd. Graham and I were in the same group that came over my first year. This year I have grown closer to them as my brother and sister. It has been so amazing to get to share such an amazing experience and work with 2 incredible people. Just before we returned to China.. they started dating, after having worked together and built up a strong friendship for a whole year.

This past Thursday, Graham got down on one knee and asked the love of his life to marry him. She said yes. It was very special. The few of us foreigners that are closest to them got to be there. We were in a restaurant in a room that overlooks Moon Lake in Ningbo. It is a great little place that is right on the water. It was night time and just perfect. He said the sweetest things and offered her a gorgeous Diamond. It was such a special thing to get to be apart of.

They will get married on August 22nd in California in front of some of the most important people in their lives. It is so encouraging to see a relationship like theirs. They have the same priorities, goals, and beliefs in life. Those are the things that count the most. Graham is a kind and caring man. Jessica is beautiful inside and out and has the most amazing kind spirit. To get to witness a relationship like this has been wonderful. To get to see them grow together and learn things about life and each other in this Work. They have done amazing Work here for our DAD and it's been a pleasure to be apart of that.

I find it completely and purely encouraging to know that there is one more marriage that is going to make it. In a world where divorce is so common, and betrayal. It is just reassuring to know that there is one more couple in this world with the right focus and who is going to be together forever. They have the right base to their relationship to make it last. They are in it for the long haul as most would say. It's just encouraging to see.

I was thinking the other day about the uncertainty of life. How there are so many things that people don't know or understand. We are put into situations daily that people don't know how to handle. I am never in this situation. I may feel like I am. I may feel like I don't have the right answers. I might feel like I am completely lost, but I'm not. I have the guidebook in my hands everyday. I need to learn that guidebook inside and out so that I never question the right answer again. Whenever I don't think I know where I'm going.. I need to remember to look in my play by play. I am so blessed to have had DAD write down everything that I would need.

Other things going on life: I have been busy teaching.. fellowshipping with students. My apartment has not been empty one night since their big exam was over. I have had students come cook for me. I have cooked for students. I am so glad to have had the same students for a whole year. It has helped build those relationships so much more. I am so thankful for that. This weekend was May Day or Labor Day. Jessica and our student Coco and I all traveled to Suzhou to get some wedding stuff done. We got her bridesmaid dresses and wedding dresses made. They won't be ready for a few weeks, but we got it done. We also got wedding favors for the guests. Then we went to the foreign import stores, and TGIFridays to reward ourselves and celebrate such an amazing life we are getting to live. It was a good weekend of influence on Coco, and growing friendship for us. I am so blessed with people in my life here in China. Especially Jessica this year. Nothing else really has been going on... just lots and lots of work. The semester is winding down, and it's getting to be finals time. I have been working in Hangzhou and it's been really great. There have been some amazing things going on here for DAD and that is always a blessing..

Peace and Love is the ultimate wish for someone.. and that is what I wish Graham and Jessica. They already know where to find it.

What a day

Traveling in China is always an adventure for a foreigner. If you don't understand.. just ask, I have tons of stories. This weekend was a pretty special occurance though. I was going to Hangzhou as usual.. and I decide I'm going to save some money by taking the bus of the "yelling people" outside the station. I call them that because that's what they do.. they yell. Usually they see a foreigner and yell "Shanghai!".. and I say.. "Hangzhou." Then I bargain for a NON-foreigner price.. and continue to follow them through alley ways and shady places to a bus that is hidden. Well, this weekend it was a crowded street.. and basically a bus pulled up and the woman threw me on and the bus barely even stopped. haha. There were no seats.. so they tried to make a man get up for me, only have another woman take the seat. I didn't want to kick anyone out of their rightful seat.. so I sat on a stool. No problem. They charged me even less money.. which was nice, but they told me to stay hidden. haha.
When arriving in Hangzhou.. they just dropped me on the side of street. I am glad I know Hangzhou well. I knew where I was and how to get a taxi.

Coming back to Ningbo today was even better... I decide I am going to take the cheap way home.. because I never do. I bargained with a man for a long time.. he wanted 20 yuan more than the regular bus.. so I got him down and ended up saving about 20 yuan. Anyways.. he takes me to this little shack of a house. and sits me on the couch and gives me a piece of paper that he wrote Ningbo on. He told me it would be 15 minutes.. I said "hao de." Then I don't see anyone. I play with the little 2 year old girl for a while.. and talk to a random woman washing dishes. Then about 45 minutes later 2 girls come in and sit down. No English.. so I used me Chinese and asked when the bus would leave. They said in 50 minutes.......... more waiting around. I listened to my lesson podcasts and finally they usher us out to a minibus. It has no seats. Just these wooden stools that are basically 2 sticks glued together. I sit carefullly, to ensure that they stay in tact. I didn't want to be the "fat foreigner who broke the 2 stick stool." haha. When in fact one of the other girls broke her stool. Anyways. The minibus takes about 5KM and pulls over. He stands at the back of the van and a bus flashes it's lights. He opens the door and we all run out and jump on the bus. This one barely stopped either. Thankfully it was fairly empty so I got a row to myself. I got to sleep for the remainder of the trip. When arriving in Ningbo, the bus driver stops on a random road and tells me I have to get off now. I have no idea where I am.. I dont' know Ningbo too well. So I just start walking down random streets and looking for a familiar hotel, or landmark. Finally, these 5 girls say hello as I am passing.. so I ask in Chinese, "Nan Zhan zai nali?" and it turns out that's where they were going. So they walked with me. I really think they just wanted me to share the umbrella, because that was the first thing they did was just under my umbrella and latch on to my arms. haha.

Needless to say.. I made it home. I saved some money. I spoke Chinese. I learned a lot. I really love the random experiences I get to have in this amazing Country. If I were traveling in America.. I would have gotten in my car and driven. So boring and easy... never meet new people that way...

I am happy the TEM-4 is finished.. now I can have a life with my students and friends! Now if it would only stop raining.. The TEM-4 is the major English exam for sophomore English majors. It is a huge part of their schooling. My students have had morning and night classes/study time, and practice exams every weekend. I am so glad that is finished. We were all burnt out on TEM-4 talk..

Yeah.. I know.. I'm getting bad at this

Hey guys. Sorry it's been a week. I know I am getting bad at this. Spring is so completely busy. I went to work in Hangzhou this weekend and it was wonderful. If you want to join a new social networking site for Chinese and Americans.. join nihaoareyou.com. It's pretty cool. At least go check it out. A lot of my students.. old and new are using it, and it's fun!

In other happenings.. DAD is doing incredible things in this part of the World. He is reaching people that I never thought possible. I have enjoyed getting to spend more and more time with my students and friends during the weeks and then seeing my Hangzhou family on the weekends. This weekend I am going to hang out with some friends from Ningbo, and family. I am pumped about this. The weather is beautiful and sunny and warm. I am in short sleeves and flip flops. If you know me at all... I am happy!! haha. Just when I needed some light in my life.. DAD gave me some "light." It's amazing to see his image in his children here.. eventhough they are unaware of it most of the time.

On the bus to go downtown on Friday, the boy next to me wanted to chat. So we talked for a little bit.. and we started talking about music. Best sentence ever spoken to me by a Chinese person...

Him: "I think we are the same. I like the Backstreet Boys, the Spicey Girls, the Kitty Dolls. I am good at KTV with them. I can sing all their songs, and even do the sex dance."

He really meant the spice girls, and the pussycat dolls, and the sexy dancing.. haha. I didn't even know how to respond. I just started laughing.. It was the best thing ever.

This week we are talking about incorrect English spoken in China.. often referred to as Chinglish. I realize how bad my English is, and how fluent I am in this made up language. I don't know if that is good or bad. I also found myself doing something my students do on a regular basis. I was typing something in Word, and i highlighted a word, found the synonyms and found a larger word that sounded more intelligent. haha. I can't believe I did that. I always laugh when my students do that, but my vocabulary has gone down significantly.

On Sunday, I ran into a few friends at the Hangzhou bus station. It was wonderful to get to see them. It was 2 friends that I haven't gotten to see much of because of work and distance. We didn't talk much, but just seeing them made my heart smile.

Everyday I fall more and more in love with this people, and their country. I still have my China Days of course.. the issues, but love it all inspite of those things. I wish I could show you what the "Real China" is... but it's just not possible. Sign on to nihaoareyou.com and you can learn from the actual Chinese. This is a new way to reach them.. they are so eager to talk to foreigners.

Peace is such an amazing feeling, and the past week and a half has brought that to my life completely. I can see exactly how DAD is taking care of me.. and I can see the side he is fighting in the battle for my heart with his enemy. It's easier to know who is on what side.. I can make better decisions when I know which side I'm on. I know that sounds like rambling, but it's what's going on inside that has torn me apart so much this term. To feel the Peace that IS HIM... is so wonderful.

Please keep the work here in your thoughts.. we have about 10 weeks left in Ningbo. Then I'm just not sure if I"ll be coming home immediately or later, but whatever it is.. it will work out perfectly. It always does. Thank you for the love and support. I talk to DAD about you daily.

Amazing Weekend in Hangzhou

Well, this last weekend was tomb sweeping festival in China. That means that you go honor your ancestors. Needless to say.. it was a travel weekend for many many people.

We Americans decided to meet for a weekend of fun in Hangzhou. 2 of my friends from Wuhan came and we had a blast catching up and hanging out. They are so much fun and just encouraging to be around. It felt good to laugh a lot. There were times that the weekend was a little bit hard, and they were right there to talk to DAD with me about it. It was nice to be around girls who would drop everything for a few minutes of that conversation time. I appreciated it so much.

The hard part of the weekend was trying to figure out next year. It seems that DAD's plan and my plan are a little different. I didn't see his plan at first and I wasn't quite sure about it all. I was rather upset on Sunday because it looked like next year was going to be exactly what I feared it would be. I was prepared, but really upset. I got to spend some time talking with Rachel about it.. and the thought of leaving China just is not an option. I knew that whatever worked out.. was not going to be ideal. Well, then DAD answered my questions in a compeletly random way.

In this life people come in and out for a reason. We meet people and form levels of friendships for specific purposes. DAD uses those relationships for his purposes and it's hard for us to see sometimes why we might have met those people. Well, one of those "randoms" came back into my life this weekend... and offered me a job. It looks like I will be staying in China, but changing professions. I will be doing video production for a website.. and keep doing DAD's work too. It's the same deal except no teaching... I'm rather excited about this prospect. I have a couple things to work out, but it should be great.

Now.. I have to go to Shanghai to get new pages sewn into my passport so I can get my visa. It also looks like I might not be coming home in July.. or it will be a very short trip home. We'll see. Anyways...

Hangzhou is my Chinese home and I am so excited for next year. I will be busy and involved and get to be with my friends there. I know DAD always has a plan, and all things work for the good... It's just hard sometimes when I feel blind.

A Piece of My Daily Life

So this week in class we are playing taboo. I had my first class make a bunch of taboo cards.. and this is what I got. Instruction was to write one word and then 3 words that describe it.

Tea: green, bitter, health
Student: hardworking, childish, naughty
Person: kind, friendly, yellow
Boy: strong, handsome, wise
Earth: planet, vigorous, is being destroyed
Girl: beautiful, pure, innocent
Cartoon: Japan, interesting, various
Hat: black, small, ugly
Miniskirt: sexy clothes, mini, woman
Car: convenient, expensive, dangerous
Chocolate: black, sweet, romantic
Boyfriend: lovely, gentle, handsome
Building: huge, oringe, tall
Beijing: 29th, Olympic, sports
Phelps: swimming, 8, foreigner
Light: dim, hot, uncomfortable
Australia: beach, opera, reverse
Gay: two, boy, love
Eye: big, black, shiny
Hair: long, yellow, curl
Woman: beautiful, talkative, diligent
Love: sweet, absurd, forever

This activity taught me more about my student's mentality than anything else has this year. It's amazing to see the cultural differences.

Now for that update

Hey guys.. I know. It's been a long while. For that I am sorry. I have been so busy lately.. not even enough time to catch some quality zz's. I am home now and staying that way for a bit. When I returned from the Mill's, I taught for a very busy week, and then I went to Hangzhou to visit some friends. Jeremy Painter came in from Wuhan and we had a great weekend seeing The beautiful and famous West Lake, Hefang Jia, and some people. It was a wonderful weekend to just chill with old and new friends.

That friday night we went to meet Steve at his school.. and he was judging an English Singing Competition. He got to get on stage and perform and Jeremy sang a song. I just videoed and laughed. It was very entertaining. It truly doesn't take much to be a star in China.. at least if you're a foreigner. It was awesome.

Then I came back and we took a little girls trip this week. It was incredible and amazing and I'm exhausted. This weekend is a little busy, but mostly just trying to catch up on some sleep and cleaning. I haven't been home much at all.. so it's somewhat a disaster zone at the moment.

Cultural News: I saw a group of well dressed people running through the park one day. When there is a shift change at a store the employees have a "pump you up" kind of meeting.. this one company decided to run their employees around the park. It was interesting. All in nice suits.. jogging through the park. about 50 of them.

My friend Ice is married, but she will have her wedding on December 12th. I am so excited to have my first real Chinese wedding experience. They also can not afford a photographer.. so I am going to do that as their wedding gift. I am going to take some Engagement pics and then some wedding pictures as well. I am so excited. She is one of my Chinese sisters in Hangzhou, and one of my closest friends here. Amazing experiences to come.

Travel in China is always an experience. Being no lines or consideration.. getting on and off a plane can get very frustrating.. I'm starting to see more and more of these differences come out. It's hard to understand when you dont' completely understand a culture, but I'm learning to just accept it. The things that i love about China far out way the things that drive me insane. I am finding more and more humor in the situations I am put in as well.

I have so much more to type, but am having a hard time getting it organized in my head.. so for now. Zai Jian. Oh yeah.. chinese class is going well too.

Quick Updates

Well.. the weather for the last month has just made my days all mesh together. I lost complete track of all things living other than my students. It has been a constant rainfall and that is finally gone. The sun came out this week.. so I have returned to life.

Recently, not a whole lot has gone on. Just school... which is nice and underway now. My students seem to be enjoying class a lot and the lessons. They are finally not speaking Chinese in class... my number 1 rule. It seems to be going really well. I love it.

I went to visit David and Sharon Mills this weekend in Jin Hua. It is about 2 1/2 hour bus ride from here. It was wonderful to see them and spend time with them and the family there. They are always such an encouragement to me. It was just like old times. Eating Sharon's amazing dinners, and playing Farkle. The walks and talks. I always learn so much from them, and their guidance. It was wonderful. I also got to see Rain.. who is in the family there. I met her in Hangzhou 2 years ago.

Then I met my soul mate.. in a 52 year old Chinese woman who speaks absolutely no English. It was instantanious friendship. She was hilarious and not afraid to talk to you even if you didn't understand. With hand motions and her slow speech and my broken Chinese.. we talked for a long time. She was so sweet and funny. By the end of the night she was on the phone looking for me a Chinese boyfriend.. and also asking if I would be her adopted daughter. She is in the family in Jin Hua and I can't wait to go visit her again.

I have broken down and am paying for Chinese lessons. I figure it is the only way I am truly going to learn Chinese. I have 2 tutors. One is great at giving me lots of vocabulary and the other is great at helping me with my tones and grammar. I am learning a lot so far... I find myself speaking more and more Chinese. It is comforting to speak the language a little better when I'm living in a place. I feel more in touch with the locals, which is something that I love. It is so important to learn the language, and here it's so difficult. You can get by with just English because so many people speak it, but there are so many people out of reach because of the language barrier. I am excited to be conquering this.

All in all.. spring is here and it's amazing. This is the most beautiful time of the year in China. The best weather and everything is blooming.. it's amazing to see DAD everywhere. I am also working on seeing his image in EVERYONE. During the frustrating times it's hard to remember that those people were made in HIS image as well. I am working on it. I am reminding myself everyday that these are HIS people even if they are denying him right now. Genesis 1:26-27.

Busy Days

Lunch group on Women's Day

Wall at the DIY Garden

Tricia, Shane, and Geoffrey cashing in our 373 tickets!!

Jade and Geoffrey and Tricia playing at the Arcade.. good fellowship.

Jade and Tricia cheating at the kids game.

It seems that Spring is always busier. I take on a little more and try to keep myself moving. The weather motivates me... once Spring weather kicks in. So far it hasn't. We had a day of sunshine today and a little on Friday. It was wonderful.

Saturday was a long day... The school took the women on an outing to celebrate Internation Women's Day. They took us to the newly opened Ningbo Museum. It was interesting. The architecture of the building was the coolest part. It is very modern contemporary. Lots of angles and things. There were 3 Greyhound busses worth of us women from all over Ningbo doing the tour, making it really easy to sneak away from the group. After the museum we went to the planning office for the New Ningbo Eastern City Center... because one center to a city is not enough.. they need to build another one. Then on to a fabulous lunch at a famous fishery restaurant. It was special Ningbo seafood.... quite delicious. We sat at a table of women from Tiawan. They were cute and funny and didn't speak much English. I actually understood a lot of what they were saying. It's always fun to realize you speak more and understand more of a language than you thought. It was a great lunch. Then we went on to a small village outside the city to a Confucious Temple, and then to the DIY Garden.

The DIY Garden was so interesting. It is a center where Chinese and foreign volunteers are working to build up the Arts and Creativity in China. They make all kinds of art and different things that are traditional Chinese.. and also are doing some western Art. There are a couple foreign companies that are selling art supplies... real supplies. Real paints and canvases and things. It was wonderful to see real supplies. Then there is Prim that does sewing and quilting. Real fabric scissors, thread, yarn, needles... etc. It was great to see. It was very nice to see someone bringing original thought and creativity back into this culture.

After this long day... I met Jade and the downtown family for some great fellowship. We had a nice dinner of Mickey D's double cheeseburger... and then on to an arcade. Much like fast tracks or celebration station. Minus the go carts and batting cages. We played and laughed and cheated at children games.. and won tickets and ended up with one pencil each, and the girls got a hair tie. That's what we could get for all of our tickets. It was great fellowship and just learning more about each other time. They really appreciated us making the trip downtown just to spend some time with them.

I enjoyed it so much more. With the busy life I lead here sometimes, and my focus on the seekers and the family out at campus.. it's hard to do more than spend all day Sunday with the downtown family. I am going to make more and more of an effort to be downtown during the week. That can be difficult because of classes and the long trip to town, but so worth it. I am making that more of my focus for the time being. The new boundaries in our team, and the work we are doing is going very well. We all know exactly what to do and how to do it. We all have the support we need and the meetings and time we spend together is going well. This is all because of you and your emotional, financial, and spirit*** support. Thank you.

Middle School

I do not miss school...

Teaching is going really well. I have been completely ble**ed to have the same students this term. This means that I can get even deeper into their English training.. instead of starting anew with all new students again. This is awesome. We just finished watching Freedom Writers and I have now given them their Final Exam Projects to work on all semester. It should be very interesting and a great learning experience for me and for them.

Along with teaching my other students.. I am teaching middle school now. I have 4 classes of 14 year olds. This is quite the challenge. They are very talkative, active, and excited. That is wonderful, but quite the challenge to keep them in control. I enjoy the teaching of young kids, but mostly I just want to hug them. They are so precious.

I love teaching and learning here in China. I mostly love the other work I am doing. The second semester is always the hardest. Not only is it time to prepare my sophomore students for no more Foreign teacher.. but it's also a life decision making time. What to do when my contract is up.. all of that. I get tired of working on a year to year basis. I am wanting to work more long term somewhere... so I'm currently looking at options. I love China and want to stay in Hangzhou. I just feel like lately so many of my China doors are closing.. and other doors are opening. Oh the CALL inside...

Just Talk to DAD please. Thank you. Love you all.

Rainy Weather

I remember this time 2 years ago. It rains in China and is cold from December till the end of March. We are in the end of February... we still have about a month of rain. It's cold and cloudy and dreary. This fits the things going on around me too. The attitudes of people are cold and cloudy and rainy. The things I am dealing with are being dealt in that manor.

The end of March cannot get here quick enough. I am looking forward to the sunshine and warmth. The rain doesn't come back... it gets hotter and hotter and then about mid September I'll be wishing for end of October when it starts to cool down again. It's beautiful here in April. The flowers are in bloom, the animals are out, the sun, and it's warm. It's perfect. Easter is the perfect picnic/kite flying weather.

I am looking forward to spring. I hope with Spring comes new friendships and new encouragement. As of late... I haven't been able to identify with the foreigners very well. I've been secluding myself from their contact. They don't understand me or care to get to know me. It's making it hard. It has been encouraging to have a few conversations with my friend Ashley. She understands where I am in life and what is going on with me. It's nice to have one person to identify with and talk to.

Our Father is so incredible the way he works. The way he brings people in and out just when we need them. Since being back from holiday and not talking to the foreigners as much... he has brought old chinese friends back into my life. He also brought in some friends from home. He has made apparent the people who truly care about me. He has shown me his love through HIS people here. It's amazing to sit back and see and show that to others.

I am truly focused on my job here... It is the biggest blessing I've been given.

Wisdom is Supreme

Proverbs chapter 4 20-27

My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.

Romans chapter 14 and 15

Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
Who are you to judge someone elses servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he WILL stand, for the L--d is able to make him stand.
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers everyday alike. Each one should be FULLY convinced in his own mind.
For none of us live to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the L--d; and if we die, we die to the L--d. So whether we live or die, we do so to the L--d.
For thsi very reason, Ch---t died and returned to life so that he might be the L--d of both the dead and the living.
So then, each of us will give an account of HIMSELF to G-d.
Therefor let us stop passing judment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself adn G-d. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Ch---t did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encourgement of the BOOK we might have hope.
Accept one another, then, just as Ch---t accepted you, in order to bring praise to G-d.
May the G-d of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I have found so much comfort in these passages as of late. Just thought I would share.

Dad's Love

I'm continually amazed at how relationships that are centered on DAD can go through so much and still come out stronger than ever. I have recently been reunited with a very close friend and it's like time never went by. We are right back to where we were.

I am also amazed at just how much wisdom some people can have and share. I've been having a hard time with some relationships and with some forgiveness and I was just reminded that the standard I hold for people.. I have to live up to myself. So many other things were taught and said, but that was the gist.. the most important thing I learned today.

I love being back in class... I love teaching and the joy I see on my students faces. It amazes me the effect I can have on a group of people. Dad is truly working in me and here every single day. I am continually blessed.

I have also had a few random friends from my past pop back in my life, and I find that comforting. The internet has truly made this World a smaller place, and time have no restraints. It's pretty cool.

I start Chinese class next week... yay!

First Day of School

Well, when I started my Spring 2006 semester I said.. "It's my last first day of school!" I didn't realize that I would teach someday and have more first days of school. Today was by far my favorite first day of school I think I have ever had.

The semester is looking very exciting and the students are pumped about it. It was also great to see my students again. I missed them a lot and them me. It was just normal to be there. Then I had lunch with a friend/student.. and I am excited to get to know her better. She is a seeker and that's amazing to get to be apart of that. I really do love my job and students so much. They really are encouraging and just happy to be in class. Even the ones I had problems with last term are at least in class this term. That's nice.

I am excited for what this term is going to bring. I'm sad I only have 17 weeks left though. That's not many at all. I guess I should get on the job hunting for next year in Hangzhou.. or wherever.. hmm. I hate decisions.

Winter Trip

Winter Trippers

During Class

Girls Night Out-Pete's Tex Mex!!!

Chinese New Year Fireworks

Children watching fireworks

Well, I'm back from the Winter Trip to Beijing. It was wonderful to see the friends from America that came to teach us. The workshop was so helpful. Not only in my current situation, but for the work I have cut out for me for the rest of my life. I learned so much about DAD's work and how i can further that.

It was wonderful fellowship as well. We started to call it "Camp for Adults" by the end, and leaving was just as hard as leaving camp. We had classes all day.. with speakers who taught us so many things. Then evenings were spent in fellowship with Girls Night/Guys Night and also a TALK TO DAD time for one whole night. It was the biggest blessing of this year. I got refocused and some great advice on our situation here.

I have an inner peace about life right now. I also have a lot of unrest about what to do next year. I guess We'll see just what DAD has in store for me. He tends to make his plans work out perfectly.. I need to stop worrying and just start letting him weed out my options. I'm not really big into decision making.. ugh. Anyways. It was wonderful and I am back safely.

A Glimpse of His World

These travels I have just finished have taught me so much. I have learned so much and changed so much and experienced so much. I got to see a part of His World that many people don't get to see. Some of it was completely incredible. Other parts were not as amazing. They were hard to see.

We started on January 11th in China.. flew to Guangzhou (South China). When we arrived we took the bus shuttle to the train station. We didn't have tickets to Nanning... and everything has been really sold out. It's hard to travel in China during holidays. Not enough transportation for all of the people in China. Well, we get to the train station and have problems.. like everytime I get up to a window.. the close for lunch. They don't understand what I need.. finally this Chinese girl decides to help me. We ended up with train tickets overnight that night. WONDERFUL! We took her and her friends to lunch for helping us for the 2 hours it took.. Then we chilled till we caught our train. We were not looking forward to overnight train to Nanning because the girl told us we had soft seats. Comfortable, but not perfect for overnight. So.. we're walking to our car and it ends up we have soft SLEEPERS... so wonderful. We proceed to get situated and then we get in our car and shut the door and spend time fellowshiping together and communing with our DAD. It was a wonderful start to the trip.

5 people traveling together can get interesting..

Once we got to Nanning it was 5 am. We went to sit outside the Visa office till it opens so we can apply for our Vietnam Visa and get it back the same day. Not thinking about having to give them our passports, but also having to have them to check into a hostel. So I break out my resources and find the hostel that does the Visa service for you. So we go there and they have 5 beds left. Perfect. Then they do our visa for us. So we spend the day doing a lot of nothing.. showers, shopping last minute at Wal-Mart, exploring, hanging out. Then we left the next morning on the bus to Vietnam.

Vietnam was amazing... we went to Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Saigon. It's an open tour bus. You get tickets all the way down and when you get to that city you stay till you want to leave for the next place. It was a wonderful way to see the whole country. Kayaking on Halong Bay, Motorbikes in Nha Trang, Clothes made in Hoi An, and nothing in Saigon. I didn't like Saigon.. actually I think by then, I didn't like Vietnam. It was such a Worldly place.. so much evil around. There were drugs guys that would ride up next to you and say.. Marijuana??? Everywhere. There were prostitutes, drinking and partying everywhere. The foreigners on vacation were cursing so much and just all about the Worldly. It was so hard to be there. I felt like I was IN the World, and had never been so happy to not fit in. It broke my heart to see so much of that.

Cambodia still had a lot of World. It was mostly the foreigners who were traveling through. We smelled a lot of marijuana. The country was amazing though. It was so poverty stricken. The children were not kids.. they would school, and then go to work. There wasn't playing. The 6 year olds had better English than my 22 year old students... their English was better than mine. The adults were smiles, but begging. The country as a whole was just so beat up. They have been the underdogs in so much political mess.. they just kind of get pushed around by everyone around them. While we were traveling through I read "First They Killed My Father". It was really hard to read, but such a great history lesson on Cambodia. The take over of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot. The genocides.. Vietnam taking so much of their country. The constant fighting between them. There is so much amazing history here.

While we were here we were in Phnom Penh and visited some Family. I got to see some fellow workers, and family friends.. the Northens. They do free dental work on a ship up and down the Mekong. The villages have come to rely on them so much and appreciate them. They are doing so much for our DAD in this job. Then we went up to Siem Reap to Angkor. This was first built as an Empire for the King in the 12th Century. Then they were changed to Hindu Temples to Vishnu.. then to Buddhist Temples. It was amazing to see. You need so many days if you want to see every inch of this place, but we only had one day and that was a enough. We did the highlights and the most popular temples. There are so many. It's the largest religious structure in the whole world.

Then on to Thailand... We did Bangkok for a day. Bangkok was like being in a big Chinese city or in America. It was nice, but I loved the small villages of the entire trip. I didn't miss being in a city. Then we left for Koh Phayam where we layed on the beach for a few days. It was a nice end to the traveling. It was so relaxing. We got to just swim, lay on the beach, play frisbee, football, volleyball, nap, nap, nap. I spent a lot of time in our DAD's amazing creation. It is incredible how you can go from the mountains of Vietnam to the beach of Thailand and see the variety he has given us in life.

Getting back was fun.. 2 hour ferry, 9 hour overnight sitting bus, day in Bangkok, flight to Guangzhou, overnight in the airport, flight to Hangzhou, bus to Ningbo, taxi to apartment. in 65 hours I slept 2 hours tops.. I have been exhausted. haha.

This trip was amazing and hard. It was really hard to be in a group of my brothers and sister and feel so completely alone, like I didn't fit in at all. Like my life was worthless. It was so hard. It was also amazing because I finally took that last step to having DAD as my best friend. I finally felt that inner peace and comfort that comes from being around HIM constantly. He consumed my time completely. I spent all of my time talking to him, and studying. I learned more about myself and HIM on this trip, than I ever have before. It was amazing and wonderful.

I am home now and headed to Beijing for a Conference tomorrow. It should be great. I will get to learn a lot about my long term work here on this Earth. I know that it will help me so much in my future. It will also be nice to fellowship with others, and encourage each other. I have gotten to experience so many amazing things. I am so thankful for this. There were no big kinks in the trip.. it all just worked out adn we were mostly safe. I am so thankful.

I have so many stories that I wish I could share, but I'm afraid it's just too much. I'll share a few at a time when I update for a while. I have them in my written journal and hopefully that means in my book that I'm working on. So just buy the book someday..

Thailand

Angkor Wat Day

Snapshots

Fellow Family and Workers in Cambodia. I've known them for years and it was so wonderful to see them and their work. Such a breath of fresh air.

Our Group on the Mekong River Boat Project.

hahaha.. European

Vietnam

My Son Temple fallen

Some of the Best

Vietnam...

Travels

There is just so much to update.. I'll have real updates when I'm back in China next week, but for now...

We started in China and ended up in Thailand via Vietnam and Cambodia. We spent about a week and a half in Vietnam going down the coast. We took an open tour.. so basically we got to get off the bus where we wanted and then catch another when we want. It was a really great way to travel.

Vietnam as a whole is an interesting country. The history is interesting with the war and their development. They don't hate Americans.. or have any anger towards us. We got to go to the DMZ and the tunnels and the military cemetary. It was a great learning experience. Other parts were the drugs and partying and foreigners. I felt like I was in a completely new World.. and everyone was so much A Part of the World. It broke my heart and drove me to this breakdown of sorts. It's not like innocent China. It's corrupt. It was really hard to be apart of.

Cambodia was by far my favorite. I was reading "First They Killed My Father" while we were going through this country. It was a great way to experience the country and see part of the history. The children just captured my heart. There was a cute little girl who sold me a bracelet. She was 6 and so smart. Her English was so much better than my students. She also knew the capitals to lots of countries.. that was her sales tactic. She won me.. Then there was another girl who also was 6 years old. She got a dollar for 10 postcards, my necklace, and my heart. Her name was Saren. She was beautiful and precious. I just adore these children.

We went to Angkor Wat and looked at the temples. We did the short tour and saw about 10 temples. Amazing. Largest religious structure in the World. I had so much going on in my heart about it. We all signed a paper and wrote Matt. 24:2 on the paper and hid it in the walls at one of the temples. It was such an incredible day.

The bus to Bangkok was interesting today. We started on one bus that was packed and luggage all over us. It took them an hour to situate us and the luggage. To get off the bus we had to climb the seats to get on and off. When we got to the border we were standing in line, and they decided it had too much order.. being asia.. they just told us to move up and make a mass. haha. then we get through and they tell us to wait on the Thailand side. Our group has been split at this point. We wait and finally just walk past the officials and end up on a bus. A little worried, but we end up in Bangkok and meet up with the boys again. It was an all day affair.

It's been an amazing trip with lots of emotions tugging on my heart. I will have pictures and updates when i'm home mid-februaryish. i still have about 3 weeks of travels left. So much... I'm homesick for my friends and family and people that understand me. It's difficult to be with people who don't understand me or give me hugs..

I also got to watch the Inauguration. It's interesting the Global interest on the topic. So many people want to talk about it when they find out I'm American. It's so interesting their views..

Way Up High or Down Low

I'll go wherever you lead me. I'll do whatever your will is.

This week has been busy and stressful. I have had a bad China week. They happen sometimes.. They are very rare for me, but this week was the ulitmate. I am just so ready to be outside for a while. I am excited about the next month and being away. I'm hoping less people smoke down in southeast asia.

I have been a little sick too.. so. Needless to say, I am ready for holiday. I am finishing my grades tonight and tomorrow is packing and cleaning. Saturday we are leaving. We have had to revise our travel plans a little, but I know it's all going to work out for the best.

Please just keep me in your conversations with DAD. Special requests are the traveling that is going on this month in China.. it's holiday. My health, patience, understanding. It's going to be an amazing trip, but it's going to be long and there are 5 of us going.. which will be interesting. I'm sure I will have so many stories to share when I get back.

New Years

Good Friends

Ringing in the New Year

Pool and Balloons

Staticy balloons

It was really fun to be with some good friends to ring in the new year. We had a good time playing some pool and people watching. There was a great live band and just some good fellowship. It was a blast. now 2009 is here... I've never been one for resolutions. I know that I'm not in complete control of my life. I do control some things, but this year I am making one.

I am breaking away from my independence. I don't want to be independent from DAD. I want to just be completely submitted in that relationship. I still have a few steps to take to get there, so that's what i'm going to work on this year. My life committment is in the right place, and my talents are not being buried. I still have to get out of the independent mindset. I need to be completely dependent on that relationship. I need to stop thinking for myself and be completely consumed by that relationship.

Happy New Year!!