biking beast

Just so you all know, Leko and I biked 18 miles today.

Did I mention I love biking?

Hola!

Praise the L0rd, I'm on holiday finally!! Now that I have a bit more time on my hands I will update you all on the recent happenings here in Dongguan.

I celebrated Thanksgiving at a Brasilian restaurant with Leko and Jason, a recent grad of Wheaton College and resident of California. He's not your typical surfer dude. The entire gang here celebrated on Sunday after services. I baked two pumpkin pies for the dinner. Now, imagine not having a rolling pin while making crusts and an oven that holds one pie pan while baking for 100 people. It was an adventure. Leko came over and we slaved away until 3am. He made a Brasilian dessert that was amazing while I rolled out pie crusts with a tin can that held cologne at one point. It was definitely a great memory.

The dinner went well. We had people from all over join us. Dinner was complete with mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey, sweet potato casserole, etc. Afterwards we cleaned up a massive pile of dishes and sang every hymn we could recall.

We had four weeks of teaching between Thanksgiving and our holiday that began yesterday. We had the opportunity to teach the children what Christmas really means as well as have a Christmas play. My children sang "Jingle Bells." They were very cute. I also taught them "Frosty the Snowman" and "Joy to the World." I really wanted them to learn "Rudolph" but they weren't having it.

I went to Hong Kong last weekend and attended a live recording of a w-rship album sponsored by The Vine ch-rch in HK. It reminded me of being home a lot. The teaching was for mature believers and it was so free there. Very unlike mainland China. I didn't know this before I came so maybe you all don't either, but HK is not really considered China. Therefore, there is liberty there. In addition to the religious freedom, one of the perks of HK is that it's comprable to the States. I'm spoiled, I know, but it's nice to see Gucci, Prada, H&M, etc. Not that I shop there, but it felt like home. And there are so many non-Asians there! I think I'm going to be REALLY intimidated when I come back to the States. I'm used to being the minority here so it's weird to be part of the crowd again. I don't know if that makes sense to you all, but I think we all feel it here sometimes.

I realized this weekend that I have very uncommon experiences here ALL the time, yet I fail to recognize them because they've become common to me. For instance, at dinner on Sunday there were four countries and five languages spoken with only six of us at the table. I was NEVER in that situation in the States, yet here it is normal and I overlook it now. This experience is so amazing. I can't even wrap my mind around why He is blessing me with something so extraordinary.

Two quick things before I go: I bungee jumped for the second time last month, and I was invited to Australia for Chinese New Year in February for free! I don't think I have even the slightest idea what a hundredfold is after all.

I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Ni gan shen me America?!

WHAT IS GOING ON IN AMERICA?! ALL I've been reading in the news these past two weeks is how many people are being killed by fellow Americans. I'm beginnning to understand why other countries think all we want to do is kill each other and go to war . It makes me very sad and angry. Ugh. Get your act together, America.

getting schooled in ping pong...

After three months, I think I'm comfortable here. This month has contained some of the best moments of my life!!!! I've had so many new friendships blossom and new, exciting experiences that I can't even begin to articulate how much the L0rd has blessed me. Showers of blessings indeed.

I've been having really good conversations with my Chinese teacher, Maple, and another Chinese girl named Sybil. You really have to build relationships here in order to have an impact and fruit is finally visible.

On a less serious note, yet very exciting in my opinion, last night I watched a group of Chinese people play ping pong against Aurelio, my Brasilian friend. They were using hand signals under the table to communicate the spin they were about to put on the ball and all sorts of new things. It was crazy!!!!! I didn't dare play against the Chinese or Aurelio because he's taken lessons and he's really good. However, I watched for over two hours with a smile on my face the entire time. It was SOOOO much fun to watch a good game of ping pong. They kept asking me to play, but I was too intimidated. They play nightly so hopefully I will gain enough confidence to put up a fight later this week. I wish I could show you a video of it though. It was hilarious. We were all keeping score in Chinese, I was understanding their jokes, they were trying to figure out how to say my name (big surprise), etc. It was wonderful. I don't think I'll ever forget last night. Definitely one of the most memorable moments from China thus far.

Thanksgiving is this week as well as my Dad's birthday. I thought I would be more homesick, especially since I've been missing home a lot lately, but it's so hot here I don't even feel like it's Thanksgiving. We're having a dinner on Sunday so maybe it will hit me then. I don't know...the L0rd has just really blessed me this month with a couple of new relationships and I'm not homesick anymore. I'm so content. I don't know, guys...I think He's going to have to tear me away from this place if things continue to improve. I wish I could be more candid, but that will have to suffice.

And one last thing...I had an awesome run tonight. I don't often enjoy running , but man it was good. I just ran and ran while I had good music going on my iPod. Running here has also given me some of my best moments.

Please be pr-ying for wisdom as to how long He wants me to stay. I don't have to really decide until April or May, but I'm dense so it may take awhile for me to see what He's saying :)

Happy Thanksgiving! I love you all.

The absolute best weekend I've had in years!!!!

If the title doesn't give it away, I had the best weekend in years. It was almost perfect....

We have a fellowship on Friday nights which is basically a youth group except we're all in our 20s. There are Americans, Chinese, a Brazilian, Australian, etc. There are probably 60 of us that gather each Friday. I've only been twice, but I CRAVE Friday nights now. I've never looked forward to something so much, ever! We begin with singing then break into study groups and come back for singing and hanging out. We play games until 2 am and have deep conversations until 4am. It's exactly what I've been looking for. A hundredfold He promised and my gracious, He has surely given me a hundredfold just on Friday nights.

However, the weekend was just beginning after the Friday night bonding. On Saturday, I went over to hang out with one of the American guys I don't know very well, Aaron, and his new Brazilian roommate, Aurelio. We went to the park with another Chinese guy, Bill, and had a marvelous time. We climbed to the top of the hill and saw Dongguan on one side and mountains on another. It was beautiful. Then we played ping pong which of course I loved. (Aurelio has taken lessons! I didn't know people did such things.) So that was a lot of fun. Then we went to a Chinese dance in the park and I danced with a woman. There didn't seem to be a pattern to the dance, not that I can dance anyway, but it was still lots of fun. Then I tried to Samba and that went well...lol. Not at all really. But it was a lot of fun.

From there we went to "Flower Street" where you can get a gorgeous dozen of roses for about $4! I bought flowers for my class this week because we're learning about plants. Then we all stayed up talking on Saturday until 4am again. Sound familiar? It was just like college.

Then of course on Sunday we had our regular gathering. My coordinating teacher, Maple, is a believer and goes to the gathering so after the service she, Rachel, Sybil (Chinese) and I went to eat. One thing about most Chinese people is that they do most things slowly so it turned out to take a couple of hours, but it was so nice. Although Maple is a believer, she has a lot of questions and a few gaps. She and I had a great conversation and she said it helped. That was my first "real" conversation since I got here. It was so wonderful, especially since we work together all day, every day.

To top it off, we only have the children for two days this week, go to the zoo on Wednesday (I'm so pumped about that!), and then we have work days to finish up everything before this first term ends. I've been struggling a lot lately with missing everyone, but this weekend was such a relaxing and refreshing time. He blessed me with a couple of new instantaneous friendships that I think will be lasting.

I cannot wait to see what He does with our fellowship on Fridays. All of us girls are going and love it! Things have been rough within the group recently as well, but I think things are starting to get worked out and we're learning how to budget our time better and focus on Him instead of school.

I'm just in awe of His blessings. I could not have had a better weekend. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him!!!!!

teach us...

I'm lying in bed in my apartment in Dongguan, China at midnight on Wednesday, November 7th. I'm now 13 hours ahead of you all so you all are about to eat lunch I suppose. I should be sleeping, and although I'm really going to pay for this tomorrow (or my kids will), I can't sleep.

As most of you know, I'm not really an openly mushy person and fight that part of my personality because I don't enjoy it. But oh well...I'm giving in tonight. It's all because of some Christmas decorations I saw in Walmart yesterday. As soon as I saw them I stopped in mid-stride and smiled like I am doing now. Not a huge smile, but a little smirk if you will. I just miss home. I miss calling ALL of you when I feel like it, or worse, when I need to. I miss the possibility of driving to Wesleyan to see that branch of my family. I miss the possibility of walking down the street and seeing someone I know. I miss the possibility of you all calling me. I miss so many things, guys...and so many of you.

I'm reminded of the verse in Phillipians 4 that says, "Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content." I'm content because I serve an amazing G-d who provides, encourages and loves me regardless of my geographical location. I am pra-sing Him for where He has brought me. There is no other place I'd rather be than in His will. I feel like I'm defending myself...do you all I understand what I'm saying? I am content, yes. I miss home, yes. They don't conflict with one another. He's using them to compliment each other. The more I miss home the more I begin to understand what being content really means. The verse says "I've learned." I'm learning.

I love you all so much. Have I told you that before? I often think about the reunions that will take place and nearly burst. I have to take those thoughts captive lol. Otherwise I'd never get anything done. But you see my point I think. It's going to be wonderful.

He's teaching me so much, team. I can't wait to tell you without dashes and code words. Until then, I'll be pr-ying for you.

"So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (P-alm 90:12)

books

I have a selfish request. I would like to have books about Jonathan Goforth and books for learning the Madarin language.

I have read "Jonathan Goforth: An Open Door in China" by Janet and Geoff Benge so any other books by or about him would be appreciated.

Any language books will be greatly appreciated.

I know this is a selfish request, but if you do send them please mail to:
Eton House International School
LaRee Croy
Dongguan Dynatown, Dongcheng Dong Road
P.R. China 523013

I'll leave you with some quotes from the book.

Jonathan then preached from the story of the loaves and the fishes.

The story tells of how more than five thousand people followed J-sus to hear Him teach. As night approached, the disciples wanted to send the crowd away because they had nothing to feed them. Just then a young boy came forward with five loaves of bread and two fish. J-sus blessed the food, broke it into pieces, and told the disciples to distribute it to the crowd. Everyone had enough to eat, and afterwards there were twelve basketfuls of leftovers.
When Jonathan had finished retelling the story, he said, “Now, let’s imagine for a moment that the disciples fed the first two rows of people. When they were done, instead of moving on to feed the back rows, they went to the front and fed the first two rows a second and then a third time. After a while, people in the first two rows were so full they turned away when food was offered to them. All the while, people in the back two rows were fainting from hunger.”
Jonathan paused for a moment to let the congregation think about what he had said. “My friends, aren’t we doing the same thing when we put most of our time and money into giving the Bread of Life to those who have heard it so often while millions of people in China are starving for the g-spel message?”

Jonathan also said "The G-d of Hudson Taylor is ours."

The G-d of Paul, David, Timothy, John the Baptist, Moses, Noah, Joseph, Elijah, Ezekiel, Isaiah, John, Job, Mary, Abraham, Ruth, Mary Magdelene, Oswald Chambers, C.S. Lewis, etc., etc., etc., etc., etc., is yours as well. Take heart in that. It is the Almighty we serve.

Boo how (no good)

Microphones plus my computer plus China equals boo how! (phonetic spelling for "no good"). Maybe if you just subtracted China from the equation it would be how how (good good). I'm bitter about the microphone because first of all, I've been here two months now and I haven't been able to call anyone. Reason number two is as follows...

Rachel and I went to Carrefour (similar to Walmart) today to exchange our boo how microphone. Two hours later....still there. I had to be a bit rude with him after the first hour. I'm not exaggerating either-- we were there for two hours trying to get our money back. In the end, they gave us another microphone. However, it doesn't work on my computer either. At any rate, it was an adventure and definitely a memory.

This past week went very well. Rachel and I had pr-yers answered right and left. And not just pr-yers, but little desires. I've never seen them answered so quickly. It's like they're tangible in a sense. For instance, we've started a new schedule in the afternoons with the kids who don't nap. This new schedule requires Rachel to teach my 3 year olds and I in turn teach her 2 year olds. This has added stress to our day because the age difference really changes our lesson plans and we don't know how to teach the different age group because we're used to our own age group. So Thursday we ended up not teaching the different age groups and Rach was ecstatic. When we got home, Rachel had an IM from her friend Traci in Shanghi saying she had pr-yed that afternoon that Rachel's afternoon class with my 3 year olds would be cancelled and that she would receive extra encouragement that day. One of the other teachers sent her a note that same day telling her she was pr-ying for Rachel that day, which she has never told her through a note. Ugh, it was amazing. And today another one happened! On our way to Carrefour Rachel nonchalantly said she'd like to see Kendra, a Chinese worker at the school. Lo and behold, Kendra runs into us at Carrefour 2 hours later when we're about to finally get our new microphone and leave. If we hadn't been at Carrefour for those 2 hours we wouldn't have seen her and He couldn't have blessed Rachel so tremendously. He is so good.

I have a request since I wrote all of that...if you pr-y for something specific , please let me know so I can let you know when He answers it. It is so encouraging to know when pr-yers are answered for you and me. I know they're being answered, but I'd like to know specifically if you don't mind sharing :)

I know I write a lot of funny anecdotes and don't get very personal since this is visable to everyone in the world, but I want to share something today. I'm a bit lonely over here. I look forward to the reunions that will take place. My friends are amazing people and I miss you all so much. I could write something I miss about each of you, but I'm afraid I'd leave someone out because it's late and I'm falling asleep. Please know that I love you all and I appreciate you all a lot. I'm not alone. It's going to take more than an ocean to separate me from all of you. I trust that. I take heart in that. I cling to that.

permanent starch and a haircut

An interesting fact about my life in China: my clothes are permanently starched. We wash our clothes and they come out stiff. Ironing is quite easy. They stay pressed and the process is much shorter.

Enough of that. Onto more important things...like hair. Okay, hair really isn't more important, but an update nonetheless. I got my hair chopped off during my trip to Yangshuo last week. It was almost to my belt, and now it's just below my shoulders. Quite a change, and I love it. There are pictures on facebook if you're really curious.

Speaking of pictures, can someone email me or send me a facebook message to confirm if the picture I tried to post is visable? I'm going to keep trying to post pictures on here in the hopes that they are visable.

Yangshuo was beautiful by the way. Google it for pictures. The geography is crazy. It's a little town where there are mountains of rock formations. We went on a hot air balloon ride (that adventure will be posted when I have more time) and got to see the splendor of it all. Listen to the song, "Indescribable" and you'll know what kind of images I saw. It was such a blessing to see His work.

School is going a lot better. Another American teacher has come to help me and Rachel. She worked at Eton House last year so she is a great resource. She and her husband were miss-onaries in the Phillipines for 17 years before moving to China 3 years ago. Amazing woman to say the least. The kids are growing on me and I hope I am doing the same.

I have a pr-yer request if any of you have the inclination...my college loans are really weighing on me, especially because I'm not earning much money here. Please pr-y for peace about it first of all, but also for the debt to be erased. I know the money will come but it does weigh on me.

I miss you all a lot. Things continue to get busier so I apologize for the lapse in communication on here, email, facebook, etc. Thank you all for hanging in here with me. And "mad props" to Teub because he asked me to do so since he's flagged my blog and reads it a lot :)

I love you all and I'm pr-ying for you as well. Keep looking up. That's where the miracles come from.

Best day yet!!!

Today was a success!!! We went on a quest for butterflies! Our unit the past two weeks has been the life cycle of a butterfly so I decided to wrap it up by seeing a real one. I didn't really expect to find one because I've never noticed one here, but we found FOUR today!!! Tell me that wasn't divine intervention. Wow.

The kids stayed with me the whole time and chased after me instead of me chasing them. And their faces were priceless. They were all so excited. (Check out facebook to see the pictures.) What a rewarding day. Today was the best day I've had in China, even before I began teaching. PTL. I think He's making me a teacher afterall :)

On another positive note, I'm going to be traveling to Guilin this weekend. We have the next week off for National Day. Six of us are taking a train tomorrow evening, sleeping on the train, then touring Guilin for two days. We are staying in a hostel Saturday night, then traveling back on the sleeping train again on Sunday night. I'm so excited. It's cooler in Guilin which will be welcomed with open arms, and what I can tell from pictures it's gorgeous! Look it up. I'm so blessed. A hundredfold indeed.

I just tried to put a picture with this post. I have no clue if it worked because everything is in Chinese. Hope it did though :)

I love you all. I can't wait to tell you all about Guilin! PEACE!

Thank you!!

I know at the end of the majority of my posts I say I miss you all and love you all so I just want to take this time to say I mean it. I mean it everytime, guys. Your IMs, emails and facebook messages brighten my day so much that I can't help but love and miss you all even more. Every morning I get excited to see who sent me a message and I carry them with me for days, sometimes longer. Thank you so much, all of you. Every comment has encouraged me, no matter how small. Please keep them coming :)

I love you and I miss you.

B-e-a-U-tiful day

*Yesterday I wanted to go home and there's still a part of me that's struggling that won't soon disappear, but that's part of the journey over here. Thanks for hanging in there with me.*

The weather today was beautiful!!!!!!!!!! It was probably only 80 degrees and there was a breeze! There hasn't been a breeze here since they opened the door to the plane. Okay, maybe that's a slight exaggeration, but only slight. It was a gorgeous day.

On another bright note, my kids made circles and hearts with playdough for almost an hour today. That had never happened until this morning. Usually they're all over the place, but today was an answer to pr-yer. Speaking of which, thank you ALL for lifting me up. That's all that's going to get me through this job.

Rachel and I went to the fruit and vegetable market for the first time today. It was really fun. I don't know much Mandarin yet, but it was so much fun to use what I have learned. The fruit is really good here, and cheap. We can walk to the market within ten minutes. Everyone looks at us wherever we go. Rachel compares it to being a celebrity. Not that I know what that feels like, but I imagine it is similar to this. People yell, "Hello!" to us no matter where we are, and are always turning around to look at us. In America it's not odd to see foreigners, but we are quite a spectacle here I guess.

Have I mentioned that I can't read my blog? I'm sorry if I repeat myself.

Until next time, enjoy the breeze at home and the changing leaves. I miss you all.

Today was a really rough day. If I had a reason to come home I think I would have hopped a flight back home today.

finally connected

I finally have internet in my apartment. PTL!!! Hopefully communication will be easier now.

School has gotten better. My kids are so cute, but that doesn't really make up for the stress they cause. For instance, three of my children locked me out of the room today. Since we're not allowed to be negative at Eton House I had to calmly say, "We don't lock Miss LaRee out of the room" instead of my natural inclination which was to say, "Listen, you DON'T EVER lock me out of the classroom, do you understand me, punks?"...or something like that. I like this approach though. It produces results every now and then, but it keeps me positive throughout the day as well. If I was constantly saying my initial reaction to their behavior I would only use one word all day-no.

Since I can't just say no to the children, I say, "No thank you" to get them to stop punching me, each other, what have you. Today my entire class started chanting, "No thank you!!!" for a solid two minutes. I didn't know if I should laugh or get frustrated. I decided to laugh because I hadn't just told them to stop; that's simply one of the few English phrases they can remember at this point because it's all I seem to say.

I'm off to shop for groceries with Rachel!!!!! She's finally here :)

No taste = no calories

Preface: I wrote this last week but was unable to post it until today.

As I sit here eating my tasteless chocolate flavored swiss roll, I do not feel guilty. I don’t feel guilty because if it doesn’t have any taste it doesn’t have any calories either, right?

So I started teaching yesterday. It’s rough teaching kids who don’t speak your language. Of course that’s understandable, but my gracious…I didn’t expect it to be this hard. Classroom management is the least of my worries at this point. I can’t even understand if my kids need to go to the toilet which creates quite a problem if a three year old pees his or her pants in the middle of circle time, or what is supposed to be circle time. I can barely get them in a circle before one jumps up and begins reading a book. I understand that this is typical behavior for three year olds regardless of their nationality, but I can’t even get mad at them because they don’t understand what I’m saying. They’re not disobedient; they just speak Chinese, or Japanese, or Korean, etc.

I miss you all a lot. The team here is great, but I miss the comfort of each of our friendships. I can write something that raw because I’m sure if you’re reading this we’re close friends. If not though, thanks for reading. I’m sure you’ll get to know me really well if you keep up with my year. J Anyway, I miss little things, like calling you all. I don’t have internet at my apartment yet so my communication is neither consistent nor lengthy. When internet gets hooked up though I’m sure I’ll be writing you all a lot more.

Speaking of mail, I may not be writing many letters home. I went to the post office for the first time on Sunday, which took an hour and a half to find by the way, and it was packed. Sorry guys, but emails are going to be easiest. Expect cards at Christmas and maybe your birthday. J

Rachel gets here a week from today. I’m really looking forward to that. At least we’ll each share a piece of home by being together.

My advice for today: NEVER take American food for granted. I didn’t know how much I would miss it until today when the spaghetti sauce smelled like vomit, seriously. And when my chocolate swiss roll was not an oasis away from the bland rice, but instead proved to add to my growing longing of good, familiar food.

I love you all dearly.

Nihao!!! (pronounced nee-how) This is the first chance I've had to write. Sorry if you've been waiting on the edge of your seats which I'm sure you all have. Anyway, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the girls and one guy (poor thing) that I'm working with here. We have so much in common and an instantaneous fellowship began the first hour I met them. They are such a blessing.

I haven't started teaching yet, but I did get to meet four of my children today. Two of them are twins from Japan. Oh my word, they are gorgeous. I think I'm going to like teaching them, but I'm quite nervous yet. I look forward to the kids finally coming Monday so I can dig in.

My internet isn't very reliable so I'm sorry if I don't respond to emails, etc. for a few days. Please be patient.

I have to run to a meeting now, but I hope to write again soon. I have a cell phone if you'd like to call with a calling card, but Skype is absolutely FREE to talk with over the internet if you'd like to download that. It's similar to IM except you get a mic and you can talk to me as if we were on the phone. Shoot me an email if you're interested in that and I'll hook you up. My cell number is 13416802940 if you want to call immediately.

I miss you all and cannot tell you how much I love you each. Peace!

I'm off!

I'm not sure I've been very clear about what I'm going to be doing in China so here's the scoop. I'll be teaching 3-4 year old children at an international school called Eton House in Dongguan. I'm leaving in about 3 hours and I'll be returning to the States the first or second week of July next year. You can visit the school's website at www.etonhouse-dg.com or you can email me.

On a personal note, it's really hard to say "see ya later" to my family. It's bittersweet. We all know I'll be back of course, but it's hard at the same time.

Alright team, next time I write I'll be using my "Great Wall broadband" (I LOVE that it's called that). I love you all. Peace!

Change of plans

Have any of you seen "Blood Diamonds"? If you have, do you remember when they say to each other, "This is Africa" or TIA? Well, I'm saying that about China-TIC. I say this because plans changed in less than 24 hours and I'm now jetting off to China on the 23rd of this month.

TIC and I'm just trying to keep up at this point.

China?! I thought I was going to Africa

Hello everyone! I'm jetting off to Dongguan, China on Sept. 10th to teach English as a second language and this is how I plan on keeping everyone up to date on my glorious adventure.

Yeah, I said China. If you all know me at all I'm sure you're aware that I can't wait to get back to Africa. However, He has clearly provided an amazing opportunity for me (and Rachel!) in China. Here's how it happened...I was taking a Zumba class at the gym (I have a free membership because my boss cut a deal with the gym's boss) because I had written an article about it for the paper and decided to check it out. The teacher of the class was a 27 year old girl named Mikel who was friendly so we chatted after class some. Well, one week I asked her how much longer she was going to teach the class because in the interview the owner of the gym said he may not keep the class going long if people didn't show up. Mikel told me she was going to be leaving in August but her sister was going to replace her. I asked where she was going and she replied, "China." I asked why and she said, "to teach." Now, I had been looking into teaching in South Korea for the two previous weeks so when I heard she was going to China I immediately thought there's no way He is opening this door...right? Well, as it turned out, she was going with nine other Chr-stians, she'd taught in China before, all of the people are around my age, she wants to be a miss-onary and she wants to go to Africa for Christmas break. If that isn't Him orchestrating I don't know what is. So I'm off to China folks!

I will post more as the time for depature draws nearer and will post as frequently as possible while in China. Thanks for reading. I appreciate you taking this adventure with me. I can't wait to see what He has in store :)