If You Feed Them, They Will Come

One of the challenges of teaching the majority of our classes on a campus 30 minutes from where we live is the lack of ease in which students are able to come over to hangout.  It takes a lot of effort to coordinate a time for us as teachers to stay on campus to see students, or for students to ride the city bus for close to an hour to our apartment.  At the start of the semester, my teammate Deborah and I like to tell our students that if they make the trip to our apartment, we will cook for them.  This invitation has been well received so far this semester.  It is always a joy for us to share a meal with students, play games and laugh together outside of class.  We have also noticed that this makes a difference in the classroom as well.  The students that have taken the time to visit with us outside of class are more comfortable speaking and participating in class.  It is just fun to get to know our students on a personal level and hear about their family and friends, their college life struggles as well as their successes.  On a couple occasions, our students have wanted to cook Chinese food for us!  What a blessing and privilege it is for me to have the opportunity to invest in the lives of these students.

Shopping for and cooking hot pot.

Guys from a Junior class.  They can eat!

Sophomore girls.  They can eat too!

Eating tacos with chopsticks...a first time for everything!

Chinese dumplings and American apple pie!

Personal pizzas

Girls from a Junior class.  We make a lot of tacos!

Playing "Chopsticks" instead of Spoons

Simple Joys

Graham crackers from Mom: $80 USD
Dove chocolate: ¥19.90 CYN ($3.25 USD)
Marshmallows from the import store: ¥26 CYN ($4.25 USD)
Toaster oven s'mores around a virtual campfire with teammates: Priceless

 

 

 

 

 

Fall Colors

Psalm 27:4 ...this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

A city after my own heart!  Christmas is coming!

The Joy of Friendship, Part Two

October 1st is National Day in China.  It is like their 4th of July, celebrating the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.  The holiday is celebrated with a Golden Week and as a result we had 7 days off.  I took a trip to visit my friends the Kellers in Xi'an, where they are raising their 2 kids and teaching.

Thailand January 2014

I know Mike and Amanda from Minnesota and they were instrumental in the Father's plan for me to teach in China.  My first visit to China was with the Kellers in January 2013, and now it is fun to connect with them every semester as a resident here.  They both have the gift of hospitality and desire to serve others, which makes it fun to visit them in whichever city they live.  They are good at inviting people into their life and at making people feel welcome.  They have many circles of friends that when mixed together feels like one big family.  Their encouragement, love, wisdom and sense of adventure is a continual blessing to me.  It is always a joy to spend time with them and their family.

Shaunda, SJ, Janice, Amanda

Mike and J

The Kellers had a full house during the holiday as our mutual friends Janice and Shaunda were also visiting.  I met Janice in Changchun in January 2013 on my trip with the Kellers, and I met Shaunda in Beijing in August 2013 during teacher training.  It was fun to hang out with this crew during the holiday; sharing stories, laughing, sharing meals, being entertained by the kids, exploring the city and just relaxing.  I love how the Father puts the exact people you need in your life at just the right time.  I also love how He grows, strengthens, maintains and sustains friendships across the miles.

We were brave (or crazy) enough to join the holiday crowds in the heart of the city.

We were excited to walk through the Muslim Quarter to shop and take pictures of the street life.

 

Photo Credit Janice Edge

Visiting a like-minded friend that paints scrolls and fans.

Yángròu pàomó = flatbread soaked
in lamb soup = lunch!

With orange soda made in Xi'an!

After lunch we walked around Dàyàn Tǎ, the Wild Goose Pagoda.

The norm when walking around with
cute foreign children!

 

Another highlight of the trip was driving an hour outside of the city to see the Nestorian Daqin Pagoda.  It was built in the 7th century by Syrian Christians who traveled to China on the Silk Road and settled in the mountains outside of Xi'an.  It was fascinating to learn the history of the Pagoda and amazing to stand on the Holy Ground.

 

We topped off our holiday weekend with dinner at Peter's Tex Mex Restaurant with friends.  Legit Mexican food!  Food and fellowship, so good for the soul!