Mario Kart and Rain

I couldn't resist another post after a great day at school. Today was wet and rainy in Wuhan. That means the masses now bring out their umbrellas. Not only did I dodge the raindrops, I also dodged the umbrellas which were often lower than my head. If you know Mario Kart, you know that at the beginning of the race all of the players line up for the start. Each has a different color/character and they all anxiously wait for the green light. A similar scene took place at a busy intersection this morning. Rain does not discourage people from riding their mopeds/bikes/motorcycles through traffic. To help keep them dry, each has a big rain poncho. When they are all stacked up waiting for a light in their various colors and shapes it reminded me of Mario Kart. They sit, anxious for the green so they can hurry off in 50 different directions. Who knows where they are going. The rain definitely doesn't stop them.

As wet and cold as it was today, the rain brought me encouragement because I remembered the words of a choir song. The college choir sang it at the end of my time at MLC. It prepared me to serve here, and it continues to remind me of the power and grace of G-d. Here are the words I remembered: "As the rains bring renewal and the tender buds begin to come alive, so is my W-rd. Giving seed to the sower, and bread to the hungry 'til they thrive, so is my W-rd. And the W-rd of my mouth, it shall not return empty; it will bless the earth wherever it is heard. This is my W-rd." How great is the love and grace of our Shepherd! Amazing!

Big Kid at the Corner

How cool is it not only to have your very own name, but to also have a Chinese name and a nickname given by a random Chinaman? It is pretty awesome to be loved all across the world. After a few weeks a Chinese friend gave me the name DaLi (sounds like dollie). She said it kind of sounds like my English name and the meaning behind it is great and strong. This also is somehow connected to the meaning behind my English name, go figure. She said I looked big and strong too. Did I mention how many compliments they give you here? It doesn't hurt to be called beautiful, handsome, strong, and great. Now for the nickname which serves as the title for this post: I went to an English corner one evening and I left with the nickname, Big Kid. An English corner is a gathering held at a university. Foreigners come to the corner and students flock around you to practice their english speaking skills. After telling them my Chinese name and my teaching job at a primary school teaching small children, one clever man dubbed me, "Big Kid." His words were, "So your Chinese name means big and yet you teach little children. Maybe I can call you Big Kid?" O yea, you can call me Big Kid. The next post might be a while, not sure. Next week I go to Beijing. I also hope to get the scoop on uploading pictures from some veteran bloggers in that city. You will finally see the murse and the Beijing recap. Until then, continue to walk with Him. He goes with you wherever you go.

Autumn in Wuhan

This week of weather has been a bit unpredictable. Sunday night brought colder temperatures and, lacking heat, blankets, well-insulated windows, and money to purchase warmth, the cold got the best of my night's sleep. I woke up very early Monday morning scrambling for more clothes to solve the problem. I did not think the cold would be that bad since I was inside, but I failed to account for the window which let in quite a bit of outside air. The Monday morning walk to school reminded me of a crisp, cool fall day at home. The chill lingered on the tip of my nose. My frigid fingers vulnerable to the wind and chill. I was ready to see a football game or take a stroll through the falling leaves. I love fall.

On the 12th we celebrated the Mid-Autumn festival here. I guess it is similar to Thanksgiving. Once a year vendors and shops make mooncakes. These interesting trinkets are passed from one to another for a week. Check out Micah's blog (On the left) if you want a full summary of the mooncake. The temperatures soared into the 80s to almost 90 that week. It sure didn't feel like Mid-Autumn. Now the weather is beginning to settle into 60s at night and upper 70s during the day. Nice fall weather. The usual fall colors aren't here and I doubt I will see many, but I am keeping a look-out. We have one more week of school before a break for the National holiday. The first week in October I will be in Beijing. I am excited to travel and see more of this riveting country. Take care all.

2 or 3

Welcome to a new week! A fresh start, a time to return to work refreshed with the W-rd and His h-ly meal. How comforting to know that when 2 or 3 gather together in his name, there he is with us. This morning our Ch-n-se service had almost 30 in attendance. This number includes the 12 foreigners teaching english here. We had many new faces come to w-rsh-p with us. What a joy to sing In Chr-st Alone with them in their native tongue. His love knows no bounds. Language barriers cannot stop the H.S. from doing his work. I give thanks that He is able to use me in some way to bring the good news to these people. It is all His doing. I am but an instrament in His hands. Give thanks for the work being done here. Give thanks for the construction being done to His ch-rch on earth. He builds it up until that day when we will join in the never ending song of praise to the one who can do immeasureably more than all we ask or imagine.

P.S. I am still working out the pictures to post on the blog. I have a murse...more on that in the next issue.

Teaching

I didn't forget about the murse, I hope to pick up one tomorrow. Pictures will definitely be posted. Let me tell you a little bit about my teaching career which has 7 days under its belt. I teach 1st grade children. I have 5 different sections with about 45 kids in each section. That comes to about 225 students. I see them 4 times a week and average 4 class periods a day. It isn't a bad gig because they love me. I am still settling in to teaching English as a foreign language to kids who know almost none of it. Luckily, I have 3 co-teachers to help keep order in the classroom, discuss class ideas, and translate when needed. They are spread out amongst the 5 different sections.

 The real teaching begins this week. We have three different classes in my area of town. I will be helping with two of them. Our area of town had a get-together as a chance for the new teachers to meet friends and announce class times. Some of my conversations with the friends here turned to deep things and my eyes were opened to see the hunger and anticipation to learn more. These are exciting times in Wuhan. Keep sending up conversations with the father. All of us here thank you for your thoughts and words. May He continue to be with you also.

The Bus For Us

 I have to apologize about the lack of posts thus far. Internet problems here prevented me from sharing my stories with you. Now that they are fixed I hope to post one or two times a week (time permitting). Traveling throughout the city of Wuhan reminded me of a children's book my mother often read to me when I was still cute and adorable with bleach blonde hair. The Bus For Us was my favorite book as a child. In the book, a child waits anxiously for the bus to school. Meanwhile, other buses going to different places come by and the child asks repeatedly, "Is this the bus, is this the bus for us?" The less cute, less adorable, fading blonde version of me is now stuck waiting for the correct buses when I travel here. As I wait, sometimes I think, "Is this the bus, is this the bus for us?" When the right one comes, the pushing and squishing begins. Don't think about waiting in lines here. First come, first on the bus. When a full bus comes, those are the fun rides. A comfort zone does not exist either here. Buses have maybe 30 seats and room in the middle to stand. With correct calculations you can easily fit 75 people in the buses at max capacity. I will post some pictures later that show just how full the buses get here. It is always an adventure traveling around here.

One benefit I've noticed about bus travel is that it provides opportunities for people to talk with foreigners and hopefully exchange phone numbers. This has happened twice since I've been here so far. When someone begins a conversation I talk with the father to allow doors to open. Perhaps we are the start of this persons journey from darkness to light. What a privilege to be an instrament. This happens on buses of all places. You never know what will be used to bring others into the light of life. Even the buses of Wuhan.