It's official

After some thought and pr@yers I have decided that I will return to China again next year. What does that mean? It means that this summer I will return home for a month or so and then return once again to Wuhan, China. I will fly home sometime at the end of June, chill out in America, then fly back to china somewhere around the middle or end of August. I plan to teach at the same university next year, which means... I don't have to move! This will be the first time I have not moved before a school year in 7 years. Looking forward to coming back to my same apartment for a second year. :)

Turning over a new leaf

I'm trying something new in China. Trying to be healthy. I'm biking to work and attempting to eat healthier. So far, the past 2 times I went grocery shopping, I did not buy junk food. It felt good walking past those isles and going to the checkout. Then, I continue on to the fruit and veggie market to buy my snacks! Here is a list as to how this change (although temporary so far) has affected my life:

1. I have to go shopping more often (fresh foods don't last as long)-this also means I get to go to the veggie market more often. I took my parents there, but it was completely dead that day. Now it is bustling every morning (I will take my camera next time).
2. I cook food!- doesn't always mean the most delicious meals, but, I'm learning.
3. I don't have to sit in crowded buses as often. I LOVE traveling by bike throughout the city.
4. Last, but not least... I have to wash dishes more often. I'm forced to, my kitchen is too small to hold many dirty dishes. 

Wish me luck on new healthy living!

From Around the World

For those who know me, your probably thinking this post will be about some trip I took around the world. Sorry to disappoint you, it's not. It's about the THOUGHTS that have been going up to Him from around the world. A few days ago we in Wuhan learned that Emily, a former Wuhaner like myself, was rushed to the hospital. She had a blood clot in her heart. She was also 4 months (I think) pregnant. We pr@yed for her in kids' study, ch-rch, and in other studies throughout the week. Although she hasn't been in Wuhan for over a year, people here still went to him in pr@yer. In English or Chinese, it doesn't matter.

I heard today that she has been woken up from her drugged induced coma. She is alert and should be ok. The baby still has a heart beat, but we won't know if there is any lasting effects for the child. Please continue to ask for His blessing as they continue to recover.

What did I learn??? I have made friends here that will be thinking of my and pr@ying for me long after I am gone. We all have brothers and sisters in Him far away. Thanks be to G0d. :)

China Changes You

This was one of my phrases when my parents were here, "China changes you..." Then I would do or say something that is a bit different from how I would do or say it before I lived in China. Here are some ways China has changed me. Some things are quite simple...

• I enjoy and actually prefer to eat with chopsticks. They are much easier to grab the food you are trying to eat.
• I am a bit more aggressive when it comes to waiting in line. 
• I randomly say Chinese phrases.
• My main cooking utensils are a wok and rice cooker.
• I buy my fruit and veggies from the local fruit market (similar to farmers market) not the grocery store.
• I talk slower and with simple words. I also enunciate some words much clearer.
• I mop my bathroom floor after every shower, since I don't actually have a shower stall, My drain is just on the floor. So, the whole bathroom floor gets wet.

Some things are a little more drastic...

• I can have a full conversation in Chinese. Short, but full.
• I have developed the skill of small talk. I meet new people all the time, so I try to make them feel comfortable.
• Most importantly, I can give a brief explanation of who I am as a sinner, what that has done to me, and how I can be happy despite of that. 
• I can give (and have given) a reason for the hope that I have. This here is how China has changed me and I am so thankful for it!

Tonight we had our first Wednesday study. I've been doing this study for 1 1/2 years now. I've seen people come and go, some have remained the same. I yarp (read it backwards) that the new and returning people who joined us tonight will continue to come and learn about HIS amazing love!

Sure, Why Not?

Last week: Nicole sent me a message, "Want to go to a show with Grace?" Grace is a Chinese friend who often invites us to things. She usually has some good connections and whatever we do with her is fun. I replied, "sure, why not? What is it?" "I don't know and she's offline now, I'll ask her later" Nicole replied.

Today 6:30pm: We are eating lunch with Grace before the show.
Me: So what is this show?
Grace: I don't know!!!
Me: (thinking) Hmm... who knows what we are getting ourselves into...

7:25: We entered the auditorium and realized it's a play. I'm hoping a musical so we can at least watch people dance. There is a 100% chance that this play is all in Chinese, which means, I probably won't get a whole lot out of it.

7:45: Nope, not a musical, it's just a play. Plus, there are no scene changes, and it's a serious play. Hmm... just stay awake!!!

8:15: Was doing really well paying attention. The actors did great at keeping my attention. However, I did give into the tiredness for just a moment.

8:30: As I was watching a scene with a drunk guy and his mother, I looked closely at the guy... hm... he looks like a mutual friend that Nicole, Grace, and I have. To Nicole, in a shocked voice, "Is that Logan???"
Nicole: Yup! :)
Grace: (laughing next to Nicole)

9:30: Play is over and a Chinese guy comes up to me and asks (in Chinese) "Did you understand it?" I replied, "No, I didn't" and we both laughed. I wonder what the people thought with there being two foreigners sitting near the front.

Soo... Grace did know what this show was about, she just didn't want me to know that our friend Logan was in the play. Well... it was an OK play, wish there were subtitles. I still believe that you never say "no" to Grace! :)

Hong Kong

Well, I've been back a week now and I've finally found time to write a blog about what happened two weeks ago. Sorry about the lacking of blogs, it was hard on vacation this year (not as much down time and more blocked internet sites)

From Jan 29 to Feb 11 I was in Hong Kong. I started with my parents for 4 days, then they left and about 50 Friends of China teachers came for a retreat. Then they left, and my sister came for a week. A crazy time of family and friends together. Here's what I did...

The first day we explored to find a Nunnery. It was located inside of the city and so you have a cool building with skyscrapers in the background. We also wanted to find a "Walled Park" but when the bus dropped us off, there was no wall in sight. We ended up walking for a while until... finally... we found a park with a wall around it. Sadly, the bus that dropped us off, did not return the same way, so we ended up walking back to the subway stop. It made for a very tiring first day of Hong Kong.

The next days were filled with exploring and hiking. We hiked Dragon's Back, saw a beach, waited in line for and hour to take a tram to the top of the mountain/hill, saw a big Buddha, ate lots of awesome American food like McDonald's, Shakey's Pizza, Burger King, Subway... oh the western food was a joy to have in my stomach!

(trying a new format on my blog, not sure how it's going)
Here is the nunnery with the buildings behind it. As we were looking at it, we accidentally got in line to go through and bow down to the statues or get blessed by someone. Luckily, we were sly and we snuck out before it got too awkward. :)

Here I am on top of Victoria's Peak. It's the view of Hong Kong from the sky. We had to wait 1 hour to take the tram up. Later, I found out there was a bus up! I didn't know that existed. I thought the only way up and down was walk or tram and I sure didn't want to walk up!







Here is the view from Dragon's Back hike. We were told it would be about a 5 hour hike, but we got confused, so it ended up only being 2 hours. Not bad, get confused and make it shorter. Usually confusion means a longer hike. We just ended up taking the bus to the beach instead of walking there.




  

This is a beach on Lantau Island (not the same beach as above). We climbed in those rocks and ate lunch. I ended up taking a little cat nap. However, we had to move before the tide came in and trapped us inside of the rocks!

 

For some reason, I can't figure out how to type in the space below the big buddha and next to those towers... sad. So, here it is. You can see the big buddha, however, you can't appreciate how big it really is. You have to see it to understand it. It's huge!

Those towers are unique. It's a view from Hong Kong Park and I think they put them in a great spot! I like this picture. :)

This is a fishing village on Lantau Island. It was towards the end of the trip, so by this point we were all tired. Except for mom. She was still running on adrenaline, I think. She never stopped!

I'll add more pictures and stories later... time for lunch!

Back in Wuhan

I made it back to Wuhan! Sorry there has been a lack of posts lately. Mostly due to the fact that I haven't had a vpn. Then, I went to Hong Kong and didn't need a vpn, but then I was so busy I didn't have time to post anything. Now I am back and I'm sure I'll find time to catch you all up. Here is a quick itinerary of where I was.
Beijing-2 1/2 days with parents
Vietnam- 1 week (parents)
Wuhan- 2 days (parents)
Train to Guilin -1/2 day (15 hours)
Guilin/Yangshuo 4 days (parents)
Hong Kong- 2 weeks (4 days with parents, retreat with FoCers, then 1 week with my sister)

Now I am back in Wuhan, I will meet with the head teacher tomorrow to find out what exactly I teach, and I will start teaching on Tuesday! I would teach Monday, but this term Mondays I don't have to teach, so that works out well!

Pictures will come too...