In the midst of my typing and pondering and praying and asking and observing and wondering...
I think about Ephesians 1:3,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ..."
1st Peter 1:3-5,
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
This is coupled with that Chris Tomlin song, "Jesus Messiah." My sight will be made whole.
...And I am concluding that I will be shamed because I will not have walked as a faithful servant.
I have KNOWN about my heavenly treasure. I have acknowledged and been filled with JOY about my heavenly treasure.
But do I live it out?
Do I walk in the knowledge of what He HAS (presently) given to me?
Do you KNOW what He has given to me?!
"EVERY spiritual blessing in the heavenly places."
EVERY!!!!!!
And yet, I don't believe it.
(Because then I would live differently. I would not live the same as this world.)
Do I live in faith?
Do I depend on Him for any thing?
Do I depend on Him for all things?
Do I live out the reality that I have heavenly treasure?
To some degree, sure.
The Holy Spirit lives in my heart and He works in me.
But, I don't want, "to some degree."
I want FULLY.
I want ALL THE WAY.
I want to love Him and live for Him FAITHFULLY FULLY!!!!!
How?
I don't know.
I don't understand.
LORD! Increase my faith.
Let China change me more. Not only in perspective of thinking, but in reality of my life actions.
(Maybe this is why the Lord did not let me go to Africa first...I would have been crushed.)
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wealth: The Questions (Part 4)
The way I am presently living (attitude, actions, thoughts, etc,) is that a good stewardship of my possessions?
Am I walking rightly?
If not, aren't I sinning?
So, what do I do?
How am I sinning?
How do I budget?
Do I budget? (Why or why not?)
How can I live more like Hudson Taylor and George Mueller? (Can I? Should I?)
How do I live more like Jesus? More like Paul?
Jesus didn’t have anywhere to put His head.
Should I be so concerned about my living conditions?
Why? Why not?
God did give me this identity as a “middle class (rich) American.”
The comfort of being taken care of monetarily is a BLESSING.
I must also praise the Lord.
Any thoughts or insight would be helpful, but I am not sure how many of you rich Americans I will trust…
(hahahaha That is sarcasm.)
Wealth: Lack of Praise-filled Stewarding (Part 3)
Some of you who read my other blog, (www.perambulatedramblings.blogpot.com) know that I have been thinking through books such as “Radical”, “Crazy Love”, and Shane Claiborne’s “Irresistible Revolution.”
It seems like the Lord is bringing them all together with this unveiling of my identity because….
I will say it again…
Now I am in China and I don’t have the ability to hide behind my American standards of “unwealth.”
For example, “Well, I am not rich. My family lives in an apartment.” Or, “look at my car and you’ll know I am not rich.”
But, I have a place to live…and did you see the HOME my family used to live in?!
I have a car.
Luxury.
Maybe that’s it.
I live and have lived a luxurious life and I never knew it.
I thought it was just regular and comfortable and the “country ideal.”
I thought it was homey.
I have always known that I am richer than the poor people, but I have also known that I am not rich like the rich people.
We are poorer than those people.
In my house we even use the phrase, “We are poor.”
I must repent from saying or thinking those words.
Sure, our budget is TIGHT.
Sure, we don’t have the fine things of other “middle class Americans,” (and that IS the culture they are living in,) but will God’s judgment for us be based on our “poor state”?
Does God view our life’s station as “poor”?
Are we thinking in and from a GODLY perspective?
A couple nights ago I was jogging around my apartment community, listening to Chris Tomlin’s “Jesus Messiah” song. The words talk about our eyes being opened and us understanding.
I finished my jog, stretched, and sat down on a bench to look at the windows high above my head.
My eyes will be opened. I will understand what I have been foolish to not accept.
How will I be judged according to how I used what was entrusted to my care?
How have I praised Him for the riches He has given to me to provide for my needs and for the needs of others?
(Have I wasted my opportunities to praise Him because I have been calling myself poor?!!)
How will I be judged for my sinful and wrong perspective of my possessions?
(“Oh, I am not rich. I don’t have very much. What can I do with my few possessions?”)
This can also be (as it was for me that night,) transferred over to our heavenly riches.
Do I walk as if I am presently blessed with all the riches in the heavenly places? (Ephesians 1)
Is that how I live NOW?
Why not?
How does that affect my stewardship?
Weath and the Realization (Part 2)
in America we always hear, “You are in the top tiny percent of people with all the money in the world and everyone else is poor because you are so greedy.”
And I listened.
I tried going for cheaper clothes, gave up the luxury of yogurt to set aside money for other people, tried buying the cheaper spices, tried to buy cheaper petrol, thought about the poor people, prayed for the poor people, gave my lunch to the people on the street, have been giving money because we should give to those who ask….
So what’s happened in this week?
Until now, I never realized my true wealth.
I never realized my need to praise Him for it and to change my perspective on who I am.
I never realized the disparity between me and them.
Between me and the POOR.
Between me and the middle class of China.
I am above the middle class in China!!!
I am not an African.
I am not a Chinese.
I am not an Indian (eastern).
(And yes, these countries, my country, do have their own VERY wealthy people, but that's beside the point. That is shluffing off the conviction.)
The point of conviction:
I never realized I am different.
And now pieces of my heart are crushed and broken.
I am convicted.
Wealth
My wealth is staring me in the face and I don’t know what to do with it.
Now I am in China and I don’t have the ability to hide behind my American standards of “unwealth”.
What do you do when the Chinese friend you met at English Corner comes to your home and unveils the fact that you have an ayi? (Chinese housekeeper)
How do you get rid of the awkward silence?
How do you remove her feelings of shock and being distanced?
I feel as if a blockade has risen between us.
(Could be temporary. Could be my imagination.)
Up until this point I have looked out my window at the Chinese riding their bikes, catching the bus, and walking on the street, and have seen them as my equals. I was seeking to identify with them. Now, it would seem, we are not equal, monetarily speaking.
The Lord is pounding me with this realization: I am monetarily RICH.
I don’t feel rich.
I don’t live rich.
I don’t like to do that.
But these “don’ts” and “aren’ts” are my American (“middle class,”) viewpoint.
I have never been the “top dog” in a group. It has suddenly struck me that I AM in China.
(American culture prefers to be the “struggling underdog”. I have always thought my station in life was one that could relate to most all and others.)
When my Chinese friend found out that Bethany and I have an ayi, there was such an awkward silence. She was processing it. I blabbed it out as a confession after she found a paper telling our ayi what to cook. (I have been trying to keep it a secret for a while now.)
Does a chasm now lie between us?
Rich American…Who always asks how much things are, is always talking about the “budget” of things, who never stops asking whether or not something is expensive…
What am I saving up to buy?
Saving up to try to go back to America. Saving up to give my sisters some money for college. Saving up to pay off my college debt, saving up so I can travel around the world and China…
But none of these are bad things.
Most of these are luxurious things.
It is not the world's normal.
My wealth in itself is not a bad thing.
Wealth is not evil.
I am just shocked that I am the wealthy one.
I am shocked at finding out about this piece of my identity.
(It is a piece of who I am on this earth. It is a piece of how the Lord will judge me. It is a part of my stewardship. Have I been PRAISING Him for it? –Another part of my conviction.)
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Reality of Our Privilege
I grew up with:
--a mom
--a dad
--3 sisters
--dogs
--cats
--hamster
--rabbits
--fish
--goats
--mice
--rat
--loving neighbors
--friends
--woods
--acreage
--clean water
--a car
--clean air
--clothes
--toiletries
--multiples of bathrooms
--nature all around me
--deer, eagles, birds, bears, horses, cows
--chance to attain dreams
--imagination
--laughter
--Gd's word
--love
--sharing
--kindness
--food
--health
--doctors
--money
--jobs
--ability to think and process (yes...)
--bleach
--orthodontist
--dentist
--vacuums
--dryer
--washer
--plumbing
--dirt to play in
--weeds to pull
--flowers to smell
--grandparents
--uncles, aunt, cousins, great aunt
--chrch family
--sunsets
--sunrises
--mountains
--ocean
--diversity
--care
--kindness
--compassion
--family time
--games
--peace
--salvation
--identity
--security
--direction
--guidance
--discipline
--instruction
--music
--art
--exercise
--sports
--a dad
--3 sisters
--dogs
--cats
--hamster
--rabbits
--fish
--goats
--mice
--rat
--loving neighbors
--friends
--woods
--acreage
--clean water
--a car
--clean air
--clothes
--toiletries
--multiples of bathrooms
--nature all around me
--deer, eagles, birds, bears, horses, cows
--chance to attain dreams
--imagination
--laughter
--Gd's word
--love
--sharing
--kindness
--food
--health
--doctors
--money
--jobs
--ability to think and process (yes...)
--bleach
--orthodontist
--dentist
--vacuums
--dryer
--washer
--plumbing
--dirt to play in
--weeds to pull
--flowers to smell
--grandparents
--uncles, aunt, cousins, great aunt
--chrch family
--sunsets
--sunrises
--mountains
--ocean
--diversity
--care
--kindness
--compassion
--family time
--games
--peace
--salvation
--identity
--security
--direction
--guidance
--discipline
--instruction
--music
--art
--exercise
--sports
I am realizing the reality of me as a minority in this world to a greater depth day by day.
What will I do with this stewardship?
Adopt More
I went to an orphanage for the first time last Saturday.
I plan to go back every Saturday.
It's one of the best orphanages in China, if not the world.
That's a scary statement.
(Though I have never seen any others in the world -- I have only heard other people's stories. I know it's better than the ones in Romania.)
And yet, that's not good enough, my friends.
On our tour, the bright paint on the walls, the fun looking cartoon characters, smiling children's faces, toys, nannies -- they all looked nice. On the tour I didn't notice the smell, or the lack of mobility of the children who should have no physical disabilities.
Then, I went for my first "duty".
As we said goodbye to the children we had been holding and loving, I wanted to weep.
Even now, seeing one boy's face as I gently "massage-tickled" under his chin, I just want to cry.
They just want to be touched. They just want to be loved.
Some of the babies' bodies are stiff because they haven't been touched and moved enough. Their joints are not right and don't move properly. I picked up one boy whose body was so thin... He would cry out every few minutes. He may have been hungry.
On the tour I went into a room where many older children (7-10) with cerebral palsy are kept. To prevent themselves from getting hurt, their arms and legs are tied to the beds.
One girl had such beautiful eyes. I made faces, sounds, and tickled her. She laughed and soon a little boy was watching as we played. I started interacting with him and he soon began giggling up a storm.
When I turned, I noticed another little girl watching, but silently. Her fingers are so long and delicate. So beautiful! So precious.
Such an existence.
I think the Lrd has been revealing to me that I have always loved orphans.
I have always loved the unloved. (Through Him.)
Don't forget them.
At this orphanage most of the children have disabilities because their parents dropped them off once they realized they were not perfect.
(If you can only have one kid, what are you going to do? Your kid is the one who has to take care of you when you're old. How can they if they have a disability?)
One girl is an albino with some other mental disabilities.
The nannies are harsher with her.
They are harsher with the cleft-pallet babies.
They shove food down the babies' throats to feed them quickly.
Some babies need more to eat and drink, but there's no time to attend to such needs.
The smell of the children reminded me of my hamster's cage when I would neglect to clean it for days.
They all get changed at particular times; no exceptions.
OH Lrd!
Won't You look down and hear their cries?
Will You bring the families?
Will You protect their hearts and minds from bitterness and hatred?
Will You be the Father of the fatherless?
Will You defend their cause?
But...will You wait until after they are dead?
Does judgment only come at the end?
Hear the call to defend the poor and needy!
We know, but what will we DO?
Don't limit your faithfulness to what you feel YOU can do, what will He empower you to do? What has He given you the ability to dream of doing in His strength?
He has reminded me, yet again, that I cannot save the world.
Even if I could help all the babies in China, what about the ones in Uganda? What about the ones in India? What about the ones longing to be lovingly touched in Romania?
What about the ladies forced into the sex trade?
What about those who are starving?
What about those who have been chased off their land and out of their families?
Pry...and ACT.
Indeed, James 1:27 comes to mind and it is backed up by the rest of the Word. (Habakkuk, Amos, Isaiah, etc.)
If ever I am married, (and maybe the Lrd will work out a different way to make this possible?) a seed has been planted in my mind: India, Uganda, China, Romania, US -- all coming to my house. (As the Lrd would will and provide.)
We'll see what the future actually holds.
Pry fervently...What will He have you do???
I plan to go back every Saturday.
It's one of the best orphanages in China, if not the world.
That's a scary statement.
(Though I have never seen any others in the world -- I have only heard other people's stories. I know it's better than the ones in Romania.)
And yet, that's not good enough, my friends.
On our tour, the bright paint on the walls, the fun looking cartoon characters, smiling children's faces, toys, nannies -- they all looked nice. On the tour I didn't notice the smell, or the lack of mobility of the children who should have no physical disabilities.
Then, I went for my first "duty".
As we said goodbye to the children we had been holding and loving, I wanted to weep.
Even now, seeing one boy's face as I gently "massage-tickled" under his chin, I just want to cry.
They just want to be touched. They just want to be loved.
Some of the babies' bodies are stiff because they haven't been touched and moved enough. Their joints are not right and don't move properly. I picked up one boy whose body was so thin... He would cry out every few minutes. He may have been hungry.
On the tour I went into a room where many older children (7-10) with cerebral palsy are kept. To prevent themselves from getting hurt, their arms and legs are tied to the beds.
One girl had such beautiful eyes. I made faces, sounds, and tickled her. She laughed and soon a little boy was watching as we played. I started interacting with him and he soon began giggling up a storm.
When I turned, I noticed another little girl watching, but silently. Her fingers are so long and delicate. So beautiful! So precious.
Such an existence.
I think the Lrd has been revealing to me that I have always loved orphans.
I have always loved the unloved. (Through Him.)
Don't forget them.
At this orphanage most of the children have disabilities because their parents dropped them off once they realized they were not perfect.
(If you can only have one kid, what are you going to do? Your kid is the one who has to take care of you when you're old. How can they if they have a disability?)
One girl is an albino with some other mental disabilities.
The nannies are harsher with her.
They are harsher with the cleft-pallet babies.
They shove food down the babies' throats to feed them quickly.
Some babies need more to eat and drink, but there's no time to attend to such needs.
The smell of the children reminded me of my hamster's cage when I would neglect to clean it for days.
They all get changed at particular times; no exceptions.
OH Lrd!
Won't You look down and hear their cries?
Will You bring the families?
Will You protect their hearts and minds from bitterness and hatred?
Will You be the Father of the fatherless?
Will You defend their cause?
But...will You wait until after they are dead?
Does judgment only come at the end?
Hear the call to defend the poor and needy!
We know, but what will we DO?
Don't limit your faithfulness to what you feel YOU can do, what will He empower you to do? What has He given you the ability to dream of doing in His strength?
He has reminded me, yet again, that I cannot save the world.
Even if I could help all the babies in China, what about the ones in Uganda? What about the ones in India? What about the ones longing to be lovingly touched in Romania?
What about the ladies forced into the sex trade?
What about those who are starving?
What about those who have been chased off their land and out of their families?
Pry...and ACT.
Indeed, James 1:27 comes to mind and it is backed up by the rest of the Word. (Habakkuk, Amos, Isaiah, etc.)
If ever I am married, (and maybe the Lrd will work out a different way to make this possible?) a seed has been planted in my mind: India, Uganda, China, Romania, US -- all coming to my house. (As the Lrd would will and provide.)
We'll see what the future actually holds.
Pry fervently...What will He have you do???
Funny Accident (in the classroom)
We were talking about Babel.
I asked them why this was a bad thing the people had chosen to do.
"Sin."
Why did they sin?
I thought the answer, "Satn" was going to pop out of their mouths, but another was given according to what I had been teaching.
But, "Satn" was still in my mind.
I have a student whose name is "Santino."
The child raised his hand to answer my question. (All the while I have these thoughts running around in my head.)
As I opened my mouth to call on him, I was horrified to hear, "Yes, Satan?" flow from my lips.
I tried to pretend like nothing had happened.
But, all the other students stopped and stared.
I couldn't keep it in any longer and burst out laughing.
They all started laughing...except poor, Santino.
I asked his forgiveness. I tried to make a good explanation as to why I would call him Satan.
Pretty soon the whole classroom was realizing how closely "Santino" and "Satan" sound.
"Satan -- Santino. hahaha Hi Satan! Hi Santino!"
Oh, dear, dear.
Somehow, with my language skills as they are, I distracted the students from my faux pas and moved us on to conclude our discussion on people's sin in building the tower of Babel.
Oh my!
Almost tops my slip of the tongue when, after accidently hitting a student's owie/boo-boo, I exclaimed, "OH! I am sorry, I just hit your boobie!"
Got a shocked stare from that slip-up too.
"No, no! I was thinking 'boo-boo' and 'owie' at the same time!!"
I need to get my brain in check. It's misdirecting my tongue.
I asked them why this was a bad thing the people had chosen to do.
"Sin."
Why did they sin?
I thought the answer, "Satn" was going to pop out of their mouths, but another was given according to what I had been teaching.
But, "Satn" was still in my mind.
I have a student whose name is "Santino."
The child raised his hand to answer my question. (All the while I have these thoughts running around in my head.)
As I opened my mouth to call on him, I was horrified to hear, "Yes, Satan?" flow from my lips.
I tried to pretend like nothing had happened.
But, all the other students stopped and stared.
I couldn't keep it in any longer and burst out laughing.
They all started laughing...except poor, Santino.
I asked his forgiveness. I tried to make a good explanation as to why I would call him Satan.
Pretty soon the whole classroom was realizing how closely "Santino" and "Satan" sound.
"Satan -- Santino. hahaha Hi Satan! Hi Santino!"
Oh, dear, dear.
Somehow, with my language skills as they are, I distracted the students from my faux pas and moved us on to conclude our discussion on people's sin in building the tower of Babel.
Oh my!
Almost tops my slip of the tongue when, after accidently hitting a student's owie/boo-boo, I exclaimed, "OH! I am sorry, I just hit your boobie!"
Got a shocked stare from that slip-up too.
"No, no! I was thinking 'boo-boo' and 'owie' at the same time!!"
I need to get my brain in check. It's misdirecting my tongue.
Kindergarteners
Frankly, I don't know that kindergarten is the grade for me, but I know that these particular students ARE for me and the Lrd has placed me with them for that reason.
I praise the Lrd that I have a TA (Chinese national named Nancy,) who knows all the school's systems, is a hard worker, organized, stays on task, is often self-motivated, and is like-minded. (Her job as my TA is to do many of the mundane tasks that I do not like about teaching -- INCLUDING grading, submitting attendance, and submitting the lunch count.)
I also praise the Lrd for the other kindergarten teacher. This is her 6th (7th?) year teaching kindergarten and it is her second year teaching at this school in China. She is willing to share all that she has. That is SO wonderful. I am thankful. (But I don't want to take advantage of her and "slack off".)
My students are unique. I have some characters.
Whenever I tell Chinese people that I teach kindergarten, their first response is, "AHH! They are naughty."
From this comment I have made the assumption that in China 5/6 year olds (and below,) are not made to obey.
This could be true for Asian culture.
(But I don't know enough to be entirely sure.)
I have noticed this:
--English learners know how to pretend they don't know that you are saying their English name.
--American children do not touch/hug as much as (stereotyping,) Asian children. (I say "Asian" because I have very touchy Chinese, Korean, and Japanese students.)
One Chinese boy likes to hit my booty, and wrap his leg around my leg while he calls me his mommy or "Miss Partin". (He is actually one of the smartest kids in my class and knows English very well. He is very good to consistently remind me that he was born in Boston.)
One Chinese girl likes to ferociously grab my arm and kiss it multiples of times. (She was born in Australia. She is a lower level English speaker, but she is understanding more and more each day.)
One Korean girl likes to sit close and cling to my arm.
One Japanese boy (the only one in my class,) likes to stand SO close and likes to HUG and likes to HOLD my arm.
My American students, (there are two of them): I initiate the hugs. The girl has hugged me of her own accord...maybe twice.
"Whoa! Whoa!" I have wanted to exclaim a few times, "I enjoy hugs, but I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all this loving."
I have had to institute the expression, "One kiss and you are done." "One hug, and you go change your shoes." "Right action at the right time."
(Most all equipped with body language signs and cues.)
Bin has had to move his bee for swatting my booty.
It's not okay in the States and it's not okay in my Chinese classroom either, little buddy.
The curriculum is interesting.
Math is first grade Saxon. (Whoa! Language can be an issue.)
I teach social studies and the other kindergarten teacher teaches science. (Sad day!)
I am trying to make social studies as exciting as possible. My lessons have been on (according to their pre-written schedule/curriculum,) rules (snoozer-oony!!) and maps.
Maps was only supposed to be one lesson, but I extended it to two. We need to learn the terms north, south, east, and west. It takes longer than one 45 minute lesson to cover maps adequately.
(Remember, they are kindergarteners and require movement and singing and change of pace.)
Language arts is interesting and can be slightly frustrating. The school has a good system in place, but I am not mentally there yet. From my "still newcomer" perspective, I don't agree with all that the system does. I feel like I need more decodable books. And, it also seems like they are chugging along a bit too quickly for kindergarten, especially for English learners. I need to focus my mind, remind myself of what teachers do, and use some reading groups to teach how to blend sounds together.
(The curriculum already wants them reading and soon we'll be going into long vowel sounds, digraphs and consonant blends! Oh my!!)
In "the book" we just finished creation, fall, briefly went over the flood, this last week we discussed Babel, and this next week we will be look at Samuel's life and how we must hide Gd's word in our hearts.
Last weeks' theme has been "Gd sees my sn." I tried to emphasize that nothing we do on our own can make us good.
Perhaps I need to edit my teaching a bit because we did a fun "VIP" poster for a student to express our love for him, etc and one of the kids (without malice,) suggested that we write, "Kevin is not good." On his poster. HAHAHA!!!
The consistent question of late has been, "Why did Gd put the tree in the garden?" "Why did Gd make Satn?"
I have taken them to Romans 9 and encouraged them to learn how to read, to continue to ask questions, and to study His word.
The resources at this school are INCREDIBLE. Wow! Far above my expectations.
The guards at our school are great.
Our maintenance man is FUNNY. He speaks no English, though I am sure he understands quite a bit, and he likes to speak to the English speaking teachers in Chinese even if we have no idea what he is saying.
The other day my TA said that he called me "healthy" looking...I do wonder if she translated correctly...
Overall:
The principal is wonderful and very supportive.
Open house went well. I used an interpreter for my non-English speaking Korean moms. (Interesting experience. Nice to have time to think things through between statements.)
Parent interaction is much less than what I experienced at Grace Academy. (I do miss that aspect some times!)
It is "hard" to get used to ALWAYS having people around: TAs, ayi's, guards, etc. I was telling my TA, "I can never just close my door and take a nap, or close my door turn up the music, and dance to exude energy." There's always the chance of someone entering at an awkward moment.
I'll get over that.
Soon enough, I'll sleep when my students are watching me! (Just kidding.)
I praise the Lrd that I have a TA (Chinese national named Nancy,) who knows all the school's systems, is a hard worker, organized, stays on task, is often self-motivated, and is like-minded. (Her job as my TA is to do many of the mundane tasks that I do not like about teaching -- INCLUDING grading, submitting attendance, and submitting the lunch count.)
I also praise the Lrd for the other kindergarten teacher. This is her 6th (7th?) year teaching kindergarten and it is her second year teaching at this school in China. She is willing to share all that she has. That is SO wonderful. I am thankful. (But I don't want to take advantage of her and "slack off".)
My students are unique. I have some characters.
Whenever I tell Chinese people that I teach kindergarten, their first response is, "AHH! They are naughty."
From this comment I have made the assumption that in China 5/6 year olds (and below,) are not made to obey.
This could be true for Asian culture.
(But I don't know enough to be entirely sure.)
I have noticed this:
--English learners know how to pretend they don't know that you are saying their English name.
--American children do not touch/hug as much as (stereotyping,) Asian children. (I say "Asian" because I have very touchy Chinese, Korean, and Japanese students.)
One Chinese boy likes to hit my booty, and wrap his leg around my leg while he calls me his mommy or "Miss Partin". (He is actually one of the smartest kids in my class and knows English very well. He is very good to consistently remind me that he was born in Boston.)
One Chinese girl likes to ferociously grab my arm and kiss it multiples of times. (She was born in Australia. She is a lower level English speaker, but she is understanding more and more each day.)
One Korean girl likes to sit close and cling to my arm.
One Japanese boy (the only one in my class,) likes to stand SO close and likes to HUG and likes to HOLD my arm.
My American students, (there are two of them): I initiate the hugs. The girl has hugged me of her own accord...maybe twice.
"Whoa! Whoa!" I have wanted to exclaim a few times, "I enjoy hugs, but I am feeling a bit overwhelmed with all this loving."
I have had to institute the expression, "One kiss and you are done." "One hug, and you go change your shoes." "Right action at the right time."
(Most all equipped with body language signs and cues.)
Bin has had to move his bee for swatting my booty.
It's not okay in the States and it's not okay in my Chinese classroom either, little buddy.
The curriculum is interesting.
Math is first grade Saxon. (Whoa! Language can be an issue.)
I teach social studies and the other kindergarten teacher teaches science. (Sad day!)
I am trying to make social studies as exciting as possible. My lessons have been on (according to their pre-written schedule/curriculum,) rules (snoozer-oony!!) and maps.
Maps was only supposed to be one lesson, but I extended it to two. We need to learn the terms north, south, east, and west. It takes longer than one 45 minute lesson to cover maps adequately.
(Remember, they are kindergarteners and require movement and singing and change of pace.)
Language arts is interesting and can be slightly frustrating. The school has a good system in place, but I am not mentally there yet. From my "still newcomer" perspective, I don't agree with all that the system does. I feel like I need more decodable books. And, it also seems like they are chugging along a bit too quickly for kindergarten, especially for English learners. I need to focus my mind, remind myself of what teachers do, and use some reading groups to teach how to blend sounds together.
(The curriculum already wants them reading and soon we'll be going into long vowel sounds, digraphs and consonant blends! Oh my!!)
In "the book" we just finished creation, fall, briefly went over the flood, this last week we discussed Babel, and this next week we will be look at Samuel's life and how we must hide Gd's word in our hearts.
Last weeks' theme has been "Gd sees my sn." I tried to emphasize that nothing we do on our own can make us good.
Perhaps I need to edit my teaching a bit because we did a fun "VIP" poster for a student to express our love for him, etc and one of the kids (without malice,) suggested that we write, "Kevin is not good." On his poster. HAHAHA!!!
The consistent question of late has been, "Why did Gd put the tree in the garden?" "Why did Gd make Satn?"
I have taken them to Romans 9 and encouraged them to learn how to read, to continue to ask questions, and to study His word.
The resources at this school are INCREDIBLE. Wow! Far above my expectations.
The guards at our school are great.
Our maintenance man is FUNNY. He speaks no English, though I am sure he understands quite a bit, and he likes to speak to the English speaking teachers in Chinese even if we have no idea what he is saying.
The other day my TA said that he called me "healthy" looking...I do wonder if she translated correctly...
Overall:
The principal is wonderful and very supportive.
Open house went well. I used an interpreter for my non-English speaking Korean moms. (Interesting experience. Nice to have time to think things through between statements.)
Parent interaction is much less than what I experienced at Grace Academy. (I do miss that aspect some times!)
It is "hard" to get used to ALWAYS having people around: TAs, ayi's, guards, etc. I was telling my TA, "I can never just close my door and take a nap, or close my door turn up the music, and dance to exude energy." There's always the chance of someone entering at an awkward moment.
I'll get over that.
Soon enough, I'll sleep when my students are watching me! (Just kidding.)
Beijing Mountain "Adventure"
LOVED IT!
Adventurous?
No, not really.
Excellent opportunity to interact in Chinese culture and see GREEN trees and CLEAR skies and (fairly) TALL mountains?!
Yes. (!!!)
As we were driving from Tianjin to Beijing, I looked out my window and thought, "Have I returned to Washington State?! Am I driving through Snohomish on my way to Marysville?!"
It was a nice surprise.
A guy and girl from English Corner invited another teacher from my school and me to join them on a road trip to the mountains in Beijing. (We went "camping" in cabins.)
Fifteen people ended up going on the road trip. We took four cars. (They are richer Chinese people.) Melinda and I were the only foreigners. The rest were nationals. Melinda was the oldest (50's). Our trip organizer is 30. (He has a wife and a son, but they did not come with us on the trip.) Most of us seemed to be in our 20's to early 30's.
It was so great!
(Fun-loving, just out to have a good time, people my age. YES!)
We also had a great variety of English speaking abilities. (YAY!!!)
At first, few wanted to try their English, then we started getting used to each other. I smiled, laughed, tried my Chinese sentence, and by the second day a girl who knew (practically) no English invited me out on a walk before we returned to Tianjin.
(It was a great walk! Loved it.)
Driving to the city center of Beijing (I hear,) takes about 3 hours.
We stopped 2 or 3 times for people to get out and take potty breaks!
At one tollbooth, (there are MANY on the "expressways,") most of the guys got out of the cars and walked over to the ditch to pee.
hah
One rest stop was at a hospital. (I guess a normal place for rest stops in China?)
We couldn't go IN to use the bathroom, but the guards let us use their "house" toilet...it was a squatty potty.
I wasn't quite sure how to use it. (I had almost used one once before, but then I found a Western style toilet and used that instead.)
I decided to fake that I used the bathroom and held it until we got to our cabin in the mountains. (haha -- Western toilet!)
[I later asked Melinda for "squatty-potty" tips. On our journey home, I bravely used the squatty-potty twice. They are not as intimidating as I had supposed. (If only I had come from a camping family.)]
The food on the trip was also a delightful experience. (No sarcasm.)
Melinda and I drove in a car with the two non-smoking guys: Andy (the organizer of the trip) and Tony.
(OBVIOUSLY, these are their English names NOT their given names.)
They both work for the same company -- cellphone technology, etc.
When we started our journey (first rest stop,) Tony bought Melinda and I breakfast from a street vendor. [Two eggs, some spices, an "oil stick" (similar to a long doughnut), all wrapped up together and you eat it like a burrito.]
Its name has the word "bing" (Chinese bread,) in it, but that's all I remember.
Tony was trying to teach me, but I couldn't remember all the words. (I need to start carrying around a Chinese language notebook so I can improve and remember quickly.)
We stopped right outside of our ultimate destination to have lunch: Chinese BBQ. YUMMY!
Their BBQ is a long, thin shape. Fire comes from coals. You put your food on wooden skewers, cook the item for awhile, and consume.
We ate tofu, various types of chicken, whole wheat bing, and some hot dogs.
In order to get the food crispy they put oil and curry-like spices on the food. Good. (It smelled delicious too!)
The nationals kept offering Melinda and I more and more food. They wouldn't accept "no thank you" (bu xie xie) until the end of our experience. (They also taught me how to say, "I am full!")
We had other great dining experiences. (YUM!) I will post pictures.
The landscape was BEAUTIFUL. (I will post pictures.) The view from our cabin was -- tranquil. So different from the city. So calming and peaceful.
I forget that I am in the city when I am here in Tianjin. But, going to the mountains reminded me. (My "inner-being" really began to relax and feel...calm when I started seeing green trees, mountains, and space. So weird. All "sub"conscious.)
It was so wonderful to BREATHE and see GREEN and take WALKS and see the RAIN and HEAR the raindrops fall on the leaves.
We didn't do much, but for the above mentioned reasons it was WONDERFUL.
I was so sad to leave my new friends.
I enjoyed trying to exchange languages.
I want to spend more time with them.
I would like to be with more people like them -- going out to enjoy life and experience fun things.
PTL for the gifts He provides.
More souls to think about.
Adventurous?
No, not really.
Excellent opportunity to interact in Chinese culture and see GREEN trees and CLEAR skies and (fairly) TALL mountains?!
Yes. (!!!)
As we were driving from Tianjin to Beijing, I looked out my window and thought, "Have I returned to Washington State?! Am I driving through Snohomish on my way to Marysville?!"
It was a nice surprise.
A guy and girl from English Corner invited another teacher from my school and me to join them on a road trip to the mountains in Beijing. (We went "camping" in cabins.)
Fifteen people ended up going on the road trip. We took four cars. (They are richer Chinese people.) Melinda and I were the only foreigners. The rest were nationals. Melinda was the oldest (50's). Our trip organizer is 30. (He has a wife and a son, but they did not come with us on the trip.) Most of us seemed to be in our 20's to early 30's.
It was so great!
(Fun-loving, just out to have a good time, people my age. YES!)
We also had a great variety of English speaking abilities. (YAY!!!)
At first, few wanted to try their English, then we started getting used to each other. I smiled, laughed, tried my Chinese sentence, and by the second day a girl who knew (practically) no English invited me out on a walk before we returned to Tianjin.
(It was a great walk! Loved it.)
Driving to the city center of Beijing (I hear,) takes about 3 hours.
We stopped 2 or 3 times for people to get out and take potty breaks!
At one tollbooth, (there are MANY on the "expressways,") most of the guys got out of the cars and walked over to the ditch to pee.
hah
One rest stop was at a hospital. (I guess a normal place for rest stops in China?)
We couldn't go IN to use the bathroom, but the guards let us use their "house" toilet...it was a squatty potty.
I wasn't quite sure how to use it. (I had almost used one once before, but then I found a Western style toilet and used that instead.)
I decided to fake that I used the bathroom and held it until we got to our cabin in the mountains. (haha -- Western toilet!)
[I later asked Melinda for "squatty-potty" tips. On our journey home, I bravely used the squatty-potty twice. They are not as intimidating as I had supposed. (If only I had come from a camping family.)]
The food on the trip was also a delightful experience. (No sarcasm.)
Melinda and I drove in a car with the two non-smoking guys: Andy (the organizer of the trip) and Tony.
(OBVIOUSLY, these are their English names NOT their given names.)
They both work for the same company -- cellphone technology, etc.
When we started our journey (first rest stop,) Tony bought Melinda and I breakfast from a street vendor. [Two eggs, some spices, an "oil stick" (similar to a long doughnut), all wrapped up together and you eat it like a burrito.]
Its name has the word "bing" (Chinese bread,) in it, but that's all I remember.
Tony was trying to teach me, but I couldn't remember all the words. (I need to start carrying around a Chinese language notebook so I can improve and remember quickly.)
We stopped right outside of our ultimate destination to have lunch: Chinese BBQ. YUMMY!
Their BBQ is a long, thin shape. Fire comes from coals. You put your food on wooden skewers, cook the item for awhile, and consume.
We ate tofu, various types of chicken, whole wheat bing, and some hot dogs.
In order to get the food crispy they put oil and curry-like spices on the food. Good. (It smelled delicious too!)
The nationals kept offering Melinda and I more and more food. They wouldn't accept "no thank you" (bu xie xie) until the end of our experience. (They also taught me how to say, "I am full!")
We had other great dining experiences. (YUM!) I will post pictures.
The landscape was BEAUTIFUL. (I will post pictures.) The view from our cabin was -- tranquil. So different from the city. So calming and peaceful.
I forget that I am in the city when I am here in Tianjin. But, going to the mountains reminded me. (My "inner-being" really began to relax and feel...calm when I started seeing green trees, mountains, and space. So weird. All "sub"conscious.)
It was so wonderful to BREATHE and see GREEN and take WALKS and see the RAIN and HEAR the raindrops fall on the leaves.
We didn't do much, but for the above mentioned reasons it was WONDERFUL.
I was so sad to leave my new friends.
I enjoyed trying to exchange languages.
I want to spend more time with them.
I would like to be with more people like them -- going out to enjoy life and experience fun things.
PTL for the gifts He provides.
More souls to think about.
Call to Him
I haven't written for awhile. I am not entirely sure where to begin.
I suppose, then, I will begin where I am now and work my way backward.
(That may prove to be awkward for the layout of the blog, but I am not going to be controlled by technology's ways!!)
Note: I am currently listening to requiems, alone in my apartment, a kitten mewing around me, (claws flying out every other moment,) while the sound of Tianjin's traffic continues honking, chugging, and moving.
My heart sorrows for the souls of China.
For the souls in Tianjin.
(HALLELUJAH!!)
Why won't the Father bring all of them under His arms?
Why won't He quickly open their eyes?
I want this sorrow.
This is good.
We SHOULD sorrow for all souls in all parts of the earth that do not turn and seek His face. (That do not turn and glorify His name.)
I am reminded of the book, "Words to Winners of Souls." If you know Him, read it.
It speaks of not being content and not resigning yourself to His "sovereignty" in the matter of lost souls.
Though we know that He is sovereign and chooses those He will save, "Words" exhorts us (His followers,) to press on for souls all the more.
(I wish I had the book with me so I could elaborate further!!!)
I have prayed that would be true of my life -- that I would SORROW for souls.
I sorrowed for souls in the US.
I was concerned that I was not so sorrowful for these souls in China.
He is changing my heart attitude.
I hope that you will be thinking of those souls here.
I am only getting acquainted with Tianjin. I don't know Tianjin yet.
I do not know the rest of China.
I do not (and will not) know China as a whole.
But, from what I have seen of some of the people in Tianjin, (people my age,) is that they have reached a level of comfort that makes them forget their need for dependence.
The desire for things and riches is strong.
(This does not come only with the influence of the West, it is promoted in the family structure so that the child will be able to take care of the parents when they are old and because success brings honor to the family.) Why not reach and chase after the best?
They speak of philosophers, they speak of luck, and fortune. They want to have a good time.
Ecclesiastes.
Man is the "same" (yes, yes) in every country and in every century...
Nothing new is under the sun.
Enjoy your youth, young man! Let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things Gd will bring you into judgment.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before [...] "the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to Gd who gave it."
Judgment.
Babel.
Lostness.
Hope.
Restoration.
Unity.
Worldwide worship.
Western way to see these: against each other; contrary; disjointed
Eastern way to see these: reflection; two parts in the whole; joined
This living stone within the gatherings of Asia greet you.
May many more living stones [soon] be quarried.
I suppose, then, I will begin where I am now and work my way backward.
(That may prove to be awkward for the layout of the blog, but I am not going to be controlled by technology's ways!!)
Note: I am currently listening to requiems, alone in my apartment, a kitten mewing around me, (claws flying out every other moment,) while the sound of Tianjin's traffic continues honking, chugging, and moving.
My heart sorrows for the souls of China.
For the souls in Tianjin.
(HALLELUJAH!!)
Why won't the Father bring all of them under His arms?
Why won't He quickly open their eyes?
I want this sorrow.
This is good.
We SHOULD sorrow for all souls in all parts of the earth that do not turn and seek His face. (That do not turn and glorify His name.)
I am reminded of the book, "Words to Winners of Souls." If you know Him, read it.
It speaks of not being content and not resigning yourself to His "sovereignty" in the matter of lost souls.
Though we know that He is sovereign and chooses those He will save, "Words" exhorts us (His followers,) to press on for souls all the more.
(I wish I had the book with me so I could elaborate further!!!)
I have prayed that would be true of my life -- that I would SORROW for souls.
I sorrowed for souls in the US.
I was concerned that I was not so sorrowful for these souls in China.
He is changing my heart attitude.
I hope that you will be thinking of those souls here.
I am only getting acquainted with Tianjin. I don't know Tianjin yet.
I do not know the rest of China.
I do not (and will not) know China as a whole.
But, from what I have seen of some of the people in Tianjin, (people my age,) is that they have reached a level of comfort that makes them forget their need for dependence.
The desire for things and riches is strong.
(This does not come only with the influence of the West, it is promoted in the family structure so that the child will be able to take care of the parents when they are old and because success brings honor to the family.) Why not reach and chase after the best?
They speak of philosophers, they speak of luck, and fortune. They want to have a good time.
Ecclesiastes.
Man is the "same" (yes, yes) in every country and in every century...
Nothing new is under the sun.
Enjoy your youth, young man! Let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things Gd will bring you into judgment.
Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before [...] "the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is shattered at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to Gd who gave it."
Judgment.
Babel.
Lostness.
Hope.
Restoration.
Unity.
Worldwide worship.
Western way to see these: against each other; contrary; disjointed
Eastern way to see these: reflection; two parts in the whole; joined
This living stone within the gatherings of Asia greet you.
May many more living stones [soon] be quarried.
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