Family/Birthday Lunch

...and there were five.

Today is Sunday. At our fellowship this morning it was Chinese Thanksgiving (why it's the day before Halloween/last Sunday in October - I don't know). They talked about having a thankful heart and what that looks like. So afterwards the 7 of us went out to eat KFC by choice of our Boy G. Since it was Thanksgiving Josh (another new foreign teacher on our team) instated the American tradition of everyone saying one thing they were thankful for.

Different students said things from family to our teachers, to Him, but the one that stuck out to me was one of our new sisters. She joined two days ago! She wasn't even supposed to go to lunch with her other friends who were eating with Josh, but was invited at the last minute. As they talked the Father opened up a door for Josh to share His story. She nodded along intently. By the end of lunch, she said "my roommate and I have been talking about this and we've wanted to do it, but we dont' know how?!" After a class that seemed like forever, Josh and our Boy was able to meet up with her and explain the "birthing" process. "She was His long before we sat down" Josh said. Her and her roommate had another teacher from our org. two years ago and had been considering and thinking about it since.

Today at lunch she sat down and as she started to describe what she was thankful for she just started crying. "I'm just so thanks to G for this new life." She went on to describe how the past year had much more than she anticipated and was really rough.  He has given her a new start and forgiven her and she was gasping for air. That's a thankful heart.

As I sat back at the table and looked around we had 2 foreign teachers and 5 new brothers and sisters that have all been added into the family in the last year. Two of them in the last month. My heart began to wake up to the amazement of the work He is doing and has been doing here. It's the redeemed. It's the Family table of the redeemed. Some who are 20 years old and others who are 2 days old - but 7 highly loved and valued individuals who have nothing but Him and are pretty excited about that.

I'm very excited and thankful for the new team that has come this year. Some of them have got passion and excitement and are expecting bigger things that I could have imagined. It's awesome because as good as last year was, I was trying to make this year like last year, but He's stepped up His game and the branches hang low with fruit. I asked for it but didn't practically expect it. It's a birthday semester. We've celebrated 4 teachers physical birthdays, and at least 3 or 4 students new birthdays. Plus, we've got one and maybe the start of a second pregnancy class going on for all the fetuses that are soon to be born into our Family.  It's not over yet, and we need more Thoughts. This comes after a really rough 2 weeks for all of us and still is in the midst of battle, but births in battle are well worth the pain.

We want ACTS like the past. Numbers added daily... we're asking for it. He wants it. Lets give Him the imagination and ideas He deserves.Thanks for your Support and Love. Look at what He's doing through us...but mainly look at Him.

Die – uh – re – uh

Just a quick clip from the classroom:

This week were talking about “body” and specifically sicknesses. Describing what the words are in English to express, “upset stomach” or “nauseous” or “sore throat” and even things like “hangover” and “twisted ankle.” All important phrases they needs to know when they “go to the doctor” instead of “go to the hospital.”

I had the joy of introducing them to a few words that they use all of the time or need to use but won’t find in a book anywhere. From the title of this blog you can guess it “diarrhea” was one of them. “Snot” was another one as we discussed having a cold.

Last but not least led my male classmates to plug their ears and two of my teammates to show up 10 minutes before my class to “observe” what I was teaching them after I told them the story the night before

Is it slightly awkward for me to teach to my 27 girls and 1 guy in this class? Yes. But if I don’t teach them how to say it… who will? It’s one of those things they have to talk about (even if it’s with other girls, but it’s not going to be in any book or translate very well.)

So I briefly stated, “Girls… once a month there is something that happens only for girls…” I paused to let that translate. “Oh!” The students who had better English turned red first and laughed the hardest. Others slowly caught on and decided to look down at their paper as they couldn’t control their laughter. I explained “’it’s that time of the month’ means that same thing. This is the best way to describe it. If you say this, everyone will know what you’re talking about.”

The first class did well…except for Bonnie.  Bonnie’s English is pretty low and she often forgets to speak in English in class, so when she got it she jumped with excitement then yells it in Chinese over the class… well, there goes saving face. 

Another adventure in China…

After seeing this picture, I realized I need to clean up my handwriting on the board.
It's not usually this bad, I promise.
Plus "have a rest" and "take a rest" are Chinglish phrases we were about to talk about.
I'm not intentionally teaching Chinglish. :)

Quick Thoughts

SO much has happened in the past few weeks and while I try to get pictures and stories caught up, I wanted to leave you with a few quick posts just for kicks.

I cut my hair (just a normal hair cut). Before my new students thought I was 30, afterwards another new set of students guessed I was 18. BIG DIFFERENCE!

I went to Grammars house and surrounding villages for 5 days and learned a lot about Chinese culture, language, and Grammar. It also involved buying a fake gun, riding a moped, stopping to eat peanuts from a field, a good translated conversation, and killing a chicken. (More stories later)

My teammates are awesome and celebrated my birthday in great style. This Friday is Ashley’s, teammate, birthday so we’re trying to do up the last birthday. Video to come soon.

Fun phrases I’ve taught my students in the past few weeks: “diarrhea,” “throw up,” and “that time of the month” (We were covering sicknesses and not feeling well.)

His hand is not provoked by my hand. Rather, my heart is provoked by His heart and my hands, feet, and rest of the body just follow along.

McGuyver

For everyone who missed out on the late 80’s early 90’s show McGuyver… I’m sorry. For those of you who know it, and know it well, Ma Gai Va (the Chinese version of McGuyver) has been releasing new episodes here at Hua Qiao.  It started as I began Asking that He would make me into a good husband and dad. Last year He did a lot of this through showing me how much He loved me (an area I still have a lot to go in), but this year it’s been more tangible situations.

                I’m on a team with 4 other girls – 4 awesome girls. I greatly appreciate them and their Love for the Father and His work. They do great things and each reflect a different part of His character. But as Ashley wrote in her recent supporter update “last year there were 4 girls, this year there are 4 girls and one guy. Who knew one guy could change so much?! He thinks so much differently than we do.” Haha. This is very true. But in this new process, I feel like He’s helped me and taught me how to be a good dad and husband to my future wife and daughters.

                With housing mix-ups, the girls had to move apartments the first week of school and I was able to help the moving process. I learned a lot about girls “nesting” and “having closure” on a place. I understand it a little bit more. I also learned how much difference getting some closets and dressers can make changing the whole atmosphere (physically and emotionally) of a new apartment that previously has none. I learned why guys say certain things at certain times, and thankfully from other's mistakes I’ve witnessed – I learned when it was best to shut up and just move boxes and lamps. I learned that moving isn’t just the things but the memories that are there and how to help get settled in, we can make new memories, good memories in the new place and quickly. 

                He taught me that to feel at home, it’s gotta have things like home. So we set out and fixed up temporary shower curtains for each of the girls’ bathrooms. We got furniture fixed and moved in. I put up a bath towel rod. I tore down the bath towel rod accidentally. I hung the bath towel rod up again. Then I repeated the process 2 more times.  Not good. Fighting (not yet won) the battle of mold and stink in the bathroom – including cleaning out the drain (which apparently no one had done in the last 5 or 6 or so years), mopping, scrubbing, cleaning and repeating…multiple times. Also trying to homify (to make more homey) my apartment by decorating and bringing in more homey characteristics like lamps instead of overhead lights and paintings or pictures for the walls to kill the white space.

                The top of the cake and the current climax of the season of McGuyver came tonight at Tannah and Ashley’s apartment. Quick recap: because it’s so cold here in the winter time, they came in to add a thick 2 inch layer of insulation to the outside walls. In the process of doing this they had to clear off the walls and everything around it… including the radiator. This wouldn’t have been a big deal had they turned off the water, put a plug in it, or even told the girls what was happening. Instead Ashley walks back into her room this afternoon to find a bucket under this pipe which is now overflowing and many of her clothes on or close to the floor now soaked. They put a dishpan underneath but it fills up about every hour and half and requires dumping. )

                After 2+ hours of working on it, making a call to Tannah’s Dad and then almost calling my Dad at school on the other side of the world, we found a compromising solution. We tried a few many things before this and this is what it came down to.

1)  1) Take a yellow bouncy ball and jam it on the end of the open pipe.

2)  2) Ductape the yellow bouncy ball as tightly as possible onto the end of the pipe.

3)  3) Use a strip of ductape to tie it down like rope.

4)  4) Put a balloon over the whole thing.

5)  5) Put 4 Ziploc baggies over the whole thing.

6)  6) Use the ductape rope again to synch it tight.

7)  7) Put more ductape on it to hold it down and tight.

8)  8) Use a little more ductape to rope it again.

9)  9) Cut a styrofoam cooler (which we stole from the trash pile in another building) down to fit under the pipe.

1010)Add a final piece of ductape to lead the extra dripping water from the back down into the cooler.
 
     Is it stopped? No. Is it still running? Yes. But are Ashley and Tannah going to get to sleep tonight? Yes. Is He awesome? Yes. Do I feel like I’m kind of excited about getting to be a husband and dad one day? Heck yes! Am I tired? Oh yes. Should I go to bed now? Definitely. Do I love you? Of course. Am I done asking myself questions to lead the conversation? Probably for now.

Goodnight and thank you for watching “Ma Gai Va: Espoise 61: The Drippy Radiator Pipe”

Show Time! - Too Late to Apologize!

Well... here is the moment we've all been waiting for...

MID AUTUMN DAY / FRESHMAN WELCOME PARTY

The opening act was the "school's" rock band.
I guess the guys said the school doesn't really like their music, but they did an awesome job opening it up.

Act 2 - Traditional Chinese Dancing
(Oddly enough, my morning yoga outfit looks exactly the same but in blue.)

It started out as a joke with some students that I could beat box some. A week and half later, after adding 8 more people (5 singers, 2 more beat boxers, and a piano player), 2 auditions, changing many things, and practicing for 2+ hours a day we went on stage. We performed 'Apologize' by Timbaland/One Republic in front of 1000+ freshman in military fatigues for the Mid Autumn Day Festival/Freshman Welcome Party. It was a great chance to get to Love them a different way and see them outside of class. I'm glad we did it but I'll be more careful about what jokes I say next time. When in China...

Then we were on...
"It's now time for class, please go back to your classroom and get ready..."

Tannah and Eric leading the verses.

The Chorus - Piano, 5 singers, 3 beat boxers.

Nothing says bad boy beat boxers like bubbles... oh China.
I feel sorry for the other two guys as they had to share a mike to beat box in...awkward.
They did pretty good since they just learned how to beat box a week and a half before this.

Grand Finale after the dance.
Dance? Check out the video for the whole performance.

FOR YOUR VIDEO VIEWING PLEASURE...
Apologize by the Foreign Teachers and Students from the English Department
(note: 5 of the students are freshman, 2 are sophomores singing in a foreign language!)

Hope you enjoyed.

(In case the video didn't work or something you can click "here" for the youtube link.)

Made in China - Smile for the Camera

Do you ever say yes to something before you realize what you said yes to? I feel like this happens a lot in China between languages and cultures. You'll soon see a video of a performance we did with students soon but this was another little side adventure that happened last Saturday. A friend of a students asked Monica (my teammate) if she could get some foreigners together to help her friends company. They needed foreigners to model some clothes while they took pictures. They were starting this company and needed some foreign faces. To bless the student and help bring her face we thought, "eh, why not? It's not that big of a deal." haha. Oh were we in for a surprise.

It might take a few minutes for all the pictures to load, but trust me they are worth it. I hope you enjoy our Saturday morning 5+ hour photo shoot.

China, not Africa.
But we are out in the middle of a park getting these pictures taken "for a friend."

This was a super warm coat. It matches my shorts so well.
Thank goodness for cropping.

The modern day "Thinker"

You'd be surprised how many clothes they can pack in here.
It was pretty much nonstop for over 5 hours.
Took one coat off and they had another coat/jacket/overalls/suit for us to put on.

Look very closely at my left arm.
There's a little yellow screwdriver they put in there for looks.

That little yellow screw driver jumped out of my pocket as I banged my arm on the rail.
Don't you know, it jumped right into that water!
Luckily we had a shovel and pick ax for props to retrieve said little yellow screw driver.

80's running man?

Yeah... at this point I started to feel famous.

They caught me in action taking off my sunglasses.

You've heard of "Blue Steel" this one is called "The Squat"

Focus really hard on the ground right ....there.

The beautiful foreign teachers of Hua Qiao.
This was our own shot just for kicks, you can tell by the lack of professional lighting.

This is the pose I offered many times, but they always rejected.
I guess too much for China.

Yes, even hunting gear.

Check out these guns!
Seriously, they gave us toy guns to use in the picture to make it look more real.
Can you even get these in China?

Award: Most Awkward Picture of the Day!
I couldn't quit laughing at the cracks we were making.

You wanna mess with this? Pssh. This plastic is dangerous.

Action shot.

Who doesn't go hunting with an uzi?

We're having a show down. Who can "shoot" the other first.
He won.

Changed locations and headed off to work on the road way.
Action shot part 2.

Just in case anyone needs firemen outfits, or look-a-likes, we got em.

Stud.

High Ho High Ho - It's back to work I go.

This is the company we just signed on for http://en.forbright.com/. Apparently, they make clothes in China and then export all of them to England, Germany, and France (and potentially America soon). The website is in 4 languages and apparently this company is a lot more establish than I had ever imaged. Coming soon some good looking Americans on their webpage. :) I guess since we're foreigners/Americans they imagined us to be much bigger so they brought BIG clothes... even after they facebook stalked us to get our sizes. Good photo shoot though. I never imagined anything like this when I came to teach English... ah... when in China

Kacki Pants, Dress Shoes, and a Fishin Dock

Something familiar.

He’s been good to help me process a lot more this year and think through things. One thing at training I heard this year was “do what keeps you sane.” Many times we want to be as Chinese as possible for the Chinese people, but we know and they definitely know that we are always going to be foreigners no matter how hard we try. Some people try the submerge technique where they abandon their old culture and try to do things as Chinese as possible, while others go the imperialist route and do things as American as possible. Their answer, do as the Chinese do and do what keeps you sane.

Last year, I would say I was more in the submerge category. I tried to withdraw from my Americanisms and adapt more Chinese ways. Unfortunately, in this, I gave up a lot of my balances. It wasn’t that it was a neglecting of them, but many of them I just couldn’t do or didn’t have time for. I learned what it really meant to “call out” to the Father in desperation and confusion.Our intimacy grew.

I was thinking about how it seemed much easier to adapt in Africa than here. (I know I had issues there too. I know I was there for only a month and in the "honeymoon" stage of cultural living, but I was just wondering.) I think some of what is tricky about living in China is that so much of it looks like America. Roads are roads. Stores are stores. People are there. If you turn off your literacy, there are places that seem like they could be America. When your subconscious kicks in thinking your in America, yet people are playing by a different set of rules, your subconscious sounds the alarm that somethings not right. I don't think we're in Kansas anymore Toto. But yet... everything looks like it. Once your consciousness kicks in we realize, I'm in China, things are different. But when you've had long days or are even just thinking about normal things (friends, food, family, what I have to do before tomorrow) and zoned out - our minds revert back to what we've known the most. For me, America.

So last night, the Father gave me a glimpse of WV to live in for a few moments. For some reason, the school put in a wooden dock near the edge of the river... I don't know why. But it provided the perfect height for me to sit on and swing my feet over the water. :) I know I was still in teacher clothes, I know I was probably being watched by tons of Chinese people, I know it wasn't very Chinese, but... it kept me sane.  I'm at this crossroads of "being the adult and responsible one," being looked at and watched intently as the foreigner, and still just trying to enjoy Him and life. Sometimes I put myself in awkward positions to get a good picture. I like to just study people. I make random jokes involving comedic dance moves. I like to just sit outside on a rock or a dock because I think better there and it reminds me of home. Pretty much they're all anti-Chinese things, but they help me think, process, live in a way that I can be invested and learning.

I am very thankful for Him giving me a dock, the opportunities to play music, paint, and joke around with students, and to still live in China and love those around me.