That awkward moment when...

…you accidentally give your phone number to a 45+ year old Chinese man.

I’ve had quite a few awkward moments since moving to China…but I think today’s might make the top of the list.

This morning, at our school, we had an all-school assembly. Before the assembly began, the teachers and staff were responsible for helping move chairs to the gym and setting them up for the students.

Anyway, I was thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to serve and work alongside the Chinese teachers and school staff. In addition, there were a few maintenance men who worked for the school to which I enjoyed nodding and saying “ni hao.”

As we were finishing up with the chairs, one of these maintenance men came up and began talking to me in Chinese…AND I actually understood him. My pride instantly skyrocketed. I can speak Chinese!! I proudly thought to myself. It was so fun. We talked about where we were from, what I taught, and he offered to give me his phone number. How nice of him! I innocently thought to myself. He continued to talk in Chinese…I didn’t understand it all, but I thought I could catch his message through his hand motions. He wants me to call him if I ever need any help with anything. I thought, and I innocently gave him my number, too.

And then, mere moments after I punched my number into his phone, a few other men walked into the gym. I did not recognize these men and instantly realized that they were a part of the assembly program (presenters in the puppet show). They started talking to this “maintenance man,” and I quickly realized that the maintenance man was not a maintenance man after all. He was the sound man for the presenters in the assembly.

The reality (and irony) of the whole situation hit me in the face. I had inadvertently given my number to a complete stranger… a Chinese man, at least 10 years my senior.

Embarrassment over the whole situation rushed upon me as I graciously excused myself back to my classroom. I cannot believe I just did that, I inwardly groaned….and then, laughed at myself. How embarrassing. :)

Needless to say, my pride of being able to talk with and understand someone in Chinese was instantly humbled….and I just had to laugh. Sometimes when you live in another culture, there are many differences. And yet, in the midst of all of these differences, I’m discovering that some core principles remain…like never give your phone numbers out to strangers…especially when they are men. :)

Beside this realization, I don’t know if there’s any big sp*r*tual truth to this story. Its just embarrassing…and I thought it might make you smile today. :)

Happy Monday, friends! :) 

Why Monday is my new favorite day of the week...

I’ve never been one to absolutely loathe Mondays…but they have never been my favorite either.

Until now.

And I wish I could say that I love Mondays because I look forward to teaching 107 loud and lively children after a quiet and restful weekend…but that’s not the main reason (haha, I wish!).

I love Mondays because of Monday night.

The past few weeks, on Monday night, I’ve gone to a gathering for Chinese nationals. Most of the people who come are young Chinese ladies. (In fact, the leader and I are the only native-English speakers….love it). Some of these ladies are my sisters, some are not. But all of them are striving to learn English. We get together and sing songs to Him and study the B*ble (in English) and another person translates. It has been such a precious time.

The other day, I was explaining this gathering to a friend of mine and expressed my desire to get to know the ladies in this gathering. I asked her to ask Him to grant me more opportunities to get to know them…

And I just love how He answers the simplest prayers and fulfills the desires He has placed within my heart.

This past Sunday, the leader of the study approached me about teaching a short English lesson to these ladies before the gathering begins. (Yes, please!)

This past Monday was my first lesson. Although it was a little rough, it was so fun. I love their desire and dedication to learn English. (If only I could be so dedicated to learn Chinese! :)  I am looking forward to teaching more of these lessons in the future and getting to know these girls more.

If you think about it, ask Him to be working within and preparing the hearts of these ladies…that they would come to know Him in a more intimate way through this time on Monday nights. Thank you!

Visitors!!

Documentation of my rather unsuccessful attempt to introduce my visitors to the "ease" of the public bus system.....we may or may not have accidentally taken the bus in the wrong direction (Oops :). One hour later, after riding the bus for pretty much its entire route, we finally made it to our final destination....but good news, they got a pretty nice tour of the city! :)

Sometimes it just hits me….I am so incredibly blessed.

This past week, my parents were able to come visit. My Dad had some business here and so he and my Mom were able to make the long trek to China. And during the course of their stay, I was able to see and hang out with them a little bit. Even though this trip was in the works before I even left, I know the sovereign One knew that I would need the encouragement that they would bring this exact week.

It has been a great blessing to be able to see them and share my life here with them….with out censor. :)

And speaking of my life here, He has been doing some amazing things. I have enjoyed getting to know different people and joining in some different “gatherings” here. I’ll have to tell you all about them soon. :)

Until, then, know that I am thinking of you and lifting you all up. Thank you for your continued faithfulness to bring me before the throne!

A door of utterance...

“Withal pr*ying also for us, that G*d would open to us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Chr*st…” - Col.4:3

“I’m not a Chr*st*an…” Taozi confessed in her broken English.

But then, she added the exact word that instantly came to my mind… “yet.”

In addition to being my Chinese teacher and the music teacher, Taozi is also our librarian. Over our lunch break, I had stopped by her room/library (it neighbors mine) and inquired about an Easter book. Easter is coming up, and I want to take full advantage of sharing with my kiddos about the true roots of the “American holiday” of Easter.

If I would have been thinking ahead, I might have thought about how finding a book about Easter may lead to a conversation about J*s*s. But to be honest (and to my chagrin), I wasn’t. I wasn’t mindfully thinking about looking for an open door…I was thinking about looking for a library book. That being said, I’m so thankful that – in His grace – He provides (and leads us) through open doors whether we’re ready for them or not.

Thankfully, my simple quest to find a children’s book led in a much different direction than I might have envisioned. It opened a door for me to have a conversation with Taozi about J*s*s, the res*rrection, and what it means to be a “Chr*st*an.”

“Chr*st*an? What is “Chr*st*an?” Taozi inquired.

I explained that a Chr*st*an is someone who knows and follows J*s*s, (Ye*su). As I do with most unfamiliar terms, Taozi insisted that I write the word “Chr*st*an” down on a piece of scrap paper.

“Oh yes, I know.” She exclaimed. “Ye*su,” she nodded in understanding.

“What do you think about J*s*s?” I just couldn’t resist asking.

She shrugged. “I don’t know. My husband reads the B*bl*, but I don’t like it.”

“Why?” I hesitantly asked. “Because it is hard to understand?”

She nodded….and then inquired, “Are you a Chr*st*an?”

“Yes,” I smiled. “Yes, I am.”

This little conversation did not end in some dramatic fashion. Taozi did not find J*s*s – yet! (although she did help me find a few library books. :) But I do believe this conversation was an answered prayer. It was a door of utterance…an opportunity for me to lift up the name of my S*v*or.

It is little conversations like these that just excite my heart so much. No, they might not seem super significant, but they confirm to me that He is at work.

To be utterly honest, there are moments when I wonder what on earth I am doing…teaching 107 foreign language learners under the age of 5…and then He grants “doors of utterance” like this…and it causes me to realize that He is at work here. He is stirring hearts and drawing people to Himself. He is opening doors…and opening hearts.

And He is at work here. In my classroom…and right next door in Taozi’s heart.

(And I must confess, I am looking forward to that day when He transforms Taozi’s statement from “I’m not a Chr*st*an yet.” to “I am a Chr*st*an now.” :)

Ps. Taozi recently invited me to join her and her family on a upcoming visit to her hometown during our holiday weekend. And I’m planning to go. I know it will be a cultural experience to say the least (Her family lives out in a country village), but I know He will give grace and hopefully, more conversations like this one. :) Thank you for your continued prayers, friends.

I see myself in my students

“Sure, the children are naughty, but Gladys says that G*d loves wicked and naughty children and so we must do the same.” – quote by Chang, Gladys Alward’s cook

“Bu yao!” I don’t want to!
The little boy yelled at my face. His eyes were full of defiance.
“Sit down.” My voice rose with more authority and a little less compassion.
He glared at me again. “Bu yao!” He screamed.
I motioned to the chair and lowered myself to his eye level. I spoke calmly, but firmly. “You were not listening to Teacher.” I gestured with dramatic hand motions to make sure this student understood me. I “helped” this defiant young child sit in the chair and then returned to teach.
As I made my way back to the front of the classroom, he rose out of his chair once again in rebellion. “Sit down,” I motioned. I held his gaze and waited until he sat. Finally, I resumed teaching.
His defiance and lack of respect appalled me. Most of the time, my students are pure bundles of joy. They supply an endless supply of smiles and hugs. But this one student….he was something else. He delighted in seeing how far he could push me.
Tomorrow is a new day. I told myself after his class. He will be better tomorrow.
But I was wrong. The next day ensued another battle.
“Bu yao!” He yelled again and shook his head vehemently.
As I lowed myself to his eye level in order to calmly “correct” him once again, my heart was pricked….because this time when I looked into his eyes full of anger and blind defiance, I didn’t see a young, naughty child.
I saw myself.
I saw my wicked and rebellious heart before it met the cross. I saw my pre-converted soul yelling at the S*vior, “Bu yao! I don’t want to!….I don’t want to surrender. I don’t want to yield myself to Your Authority.” And yet – in the midst of my outright defiance – He loved me.
He gave His life for me.
And He has called me to do the same each day for this child.
Truth be told, this past week has been rather challenging, to say the least. As my students have become more comfortable with me, they have also begun to “test the waters” a bit (or a lot, in some cases :). And when these times of testing come, I have two responses: frustration or love. I am prone to respond in fleshly exasperation. But then I must daily remember the g*spel. He did not respond in anger to me. He loved me.
When I yelled in His face, and fully deserved His just wrath, He gave His love.
In fact, He gave His life.
And when my children yell in my face, I must give His life to them.
Yes, they can be quite naughty.
But when I remember the g*spel, I remember that G*d loves wicked and naughty children.
And so, I must do the same.

For Such is the Kingdom

A little piece of my world....and a few pieces of my heart.

I have officially been teaching in China for two weeks. Although I’ve been teaching, I think I’ve been the one who has been learning the most. I’ve discovered a lot through these past few weeks…like how to say “potty” in Chinese. And how to keep the attention of 107 foreign language learners under the age of 5. And I discovered last Friday that I had been calling a student by the wrong name for two weeks. (Oops. But to my credit, he did respond to that name. :)

On a more serious note, though, I think that teaching these past few weeks has revealed to me more about what J*s*s meant when He said, “For such is the kingdom…”

In fact, this phrase has just been ringing through my head the last few days. Each day, when I look into the faces of my little ones, I see a metaphor of the kingdom.

These children are so impressionable. They are so dependent. They are so trusting. They are needy….very needy. And yet, even in the midst of their utter dependence, they are joyful. True, they are naughty sometimes. And yet, they are quick to make up and try to “be good.” And I just love that. 

In short, these children reflect the kingdom. They are a motley crew…but they are loved by Him. And although they may not know Him, they reflect His truth.

My Chinese Saturday

Although I live in China, I realized today that I don’t really live like a Chinese person. Today I went and spent the day with my friend and Chinese teacher, Taozi and her son (and my student), Thomas. It was a very relaxing and fun day. We cooked together, played piano together, and practiced our English/Chinese.

Nevertheless, throughout my time at their apartment, I discovered that I do not really live like a Chinese person. I thoroughly enjoy the simple, yet western-style apartment that I live in. I have a shower that is partitioned off from the rest of my bathroom. I have hot water in the entire house – not just my shower. I have a western toilet, sink, etc…. I even have a small toaster oven and cupboards. I speak English (and all its slang) with my roommates. I sleep on a soft bed, not a hard, Chinese-style bed. I eat chicken breasts – not baby chick hearts (um yes, we did have these for lunch…and yes, I ate a lot of them… and no, they were not super delicious, but they were a real treat for them, and thus, I guess for me too?!?… :).

Needless to say, I am more removed from the culture in which I live than I would like…. (although, I must confesss…I might draw the line at the baby chick hearts…)

But nonetheless, I also realized today that despite all the cultural differences, there is a lot which unites us…like smiles and laughter and love and music. Taozi doesn’t know Jesus yet, but I’m hoping that someday soon she will and that He will be the main cord that binds us together.

If you think about it, bring Taozi and her son, Thomas before the throne today. Ask that He would grant “doors of utterance” with her and that her heart would be drawn to the King. Thank you!

Taozi's son, Thomas, thoroughly enjoying some baby chick hearts. :)