We are getting ready to come home I took my last Chinese final at the school. After class the teachers ask all of the foreign students out for dinner at a nearby chicken and potatoes hot pot place. Jesse and I got to share a table with our three teachers. I was surprised by how much of the conversation we could understand. This was the last time we could hang out with our teachers, so we exchanged emails. One of the, teachers that is not part of the family emailed me the other day about Christmas and I sent her the story of Christmas. I hope it speaks to her heart and that she will ask questions about it to some of our family members. After the meal Jesse and I went to a Christmas party at the school. They told the real Christmas story and also sang some songs about Father and the birth of His son in both English and Chinese. I got to talk to one of my friends about Christmas and some of the Chinese traditions with the holiday. He told me that usually Chinese people give each other apples, because they represent peace.
The next day was Christmas Eve and I wanted to give my friends something that is at the heart of Christmas so I wrapped up some words and films for them. That night I went to and English corner, one of my friends was hosting it. The students sang some Christmas songs and played some games. At the end I pulled some of my friends a side, and tell them why we celebrate Christmas. They all enjoined their gifts I hope to see them again before we leave. Keep these students in your thoughts.
Monday, December 21, 2009
future me says Nimen Yao Dongxi
This week the grandmother of the people’s house we stayed at the first month died. She was in her late eighties and had a large family with great and great-great grand kids. We decided to visit and bring the family some flowers a few days after her death. We forgot that three to five days after the family has a funeral serves of sorts. People will gather, eat, and pay their respects to the dead. We happen to come on the day that they were having this party in preparation to move the body to the mountain. We came in to the court yard and laid the flowers in front of the body. Then we were asked to bow before the body and we respectfully declined. On this day it would be very rare to see the family, so we decided to leave. Before we could take two steps out people were telling us to stay and eat. The food was pretty good. The local people’s funerals are very interesting the first few days after the person dies the family will clean the body and put rice and a coin in the mouth. Then the body will either be burned or put in a casket like box. Then the family will have a feast for the village and carry the body to the mountain to be buried. This mother to so many children a few weeks earlier heard the entire message. I hope that she received father’s message. Please keep this family in your thoughts to Dad.
This week I also took some of my Chinese finals. During our time here Jesse and I have been enrolled in three Chinese courses Speaking, Writing, and Chinese Made Easier. We have both been working very hard to learn the language, so it is a relief to be ending school for a while. My major concern is that as we are preparing to return to the United States we will lose sight of propose. This is an important time for us and a great opportunity to share with our friends more openly than normal. Sometime this next week we will through a Christmas party for our friends. Please talk to dad about this party and that we will have ample opportunities to share.
This week I also took some of my Chinese finals. During our time here Jesse and I have been enrolled in three Chinese courses Speaking, Writing, and Chinese Made Easier. We have both been working very hard to learn the language, so it is a relief to be ending school for a while. My major concern is that as we are preparing to return to the United States we will lose sight of propose. This is an important time for us and a great opportunity to share with our friends more openly than normal. Sometime this next week we will through a Christmas party for our friends. Please talk to dad about this party and that we will have ample opportunities to share.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
future me says Ni Hao Pengyou
Hey Everyone
During this time of year the people hold a big dinner for their families and friends and they will kill and cook a pig. This is a big event for the people everyone arrives early in the morning to help kill and prepare the meet. We left our city about seven in the morning and made our way through the mountains to a brother’s house by the time we got there we were all a little car sick and it was time for lunch. The meal consisted of fish, assorted parts of the pig, noodles, green vegetables, and other stuff. The meal was pretty good I was not expecting that liver and intestines would be as good as it was. After the first meal we went to the mountain side to help pick olives. When we returned the family was busy preparing blood sausage. Its prepared by taking the blood of the pig and mixing it in with rice and stuffed into the intestines and boiled. While the people are preparing the food for dinner the guest will play majiong and drink some beers. Most of the time I don’t play majiong because it is an easy way to lose a lot of money, but I got to play the last two games because no one else wanted to play and the guy said we could play without gambling. I ended up winning the last hand. By the time we finished playing it was time for dinner many of the dishes we had for lunch with the addition of the fresh blood sausage. Sadly or luckily enough I did not have any.
A few days later I was hanging out at the school and I ran in to a freshmen English student. As we were talking and I found out that he is part the local people group. This is great news not especially for me but for some of the other people here that will be here longer doing DAD’s work. I hope that I can pass this new friend to some of my other foreign friends. Father might have big plans for this student. Please keep him in your thoughts.
During this time of year the people hold a big dinner for their families and friends and they will kill and cook a pig. This is a big event for the people everyone arrives early in the morning to help kill and prepare the meet. We left our city about seven in the morning and made our way through the mountains to a brother’s house by the time we got there we were all a little car sick and it was time for lunch. The meal consisted of fish, assorted parts of the pig, noodles, green vegetables, and other stuff. The meal was pretty good I was not expecting that liver and intestines would be as good as it was. After the first meal we went to the mountain side to help pick olives. When we returned the family was busy preparing blood sausage. Its prepared by taking the blood of the pig and mixing it in with rice and stuffed into the intestines and boiled. While the people are preparing the food for dinner the guest will play majiong and drink some beers. Most of the time I don’t play majiong because it is an easy way to lose a lot of money, but I got to play the last two games because no one else wanted to play and the guy said we could play without gambling. I ended up winning the last hand. By the time we finished playing it was time for dinner many of the dishes we had for lunch with the addition of the fresh blood sausage. Sadly or luckily enough I did not have any.
A few days later I was hanging out at the school and I ran in to a freshmen English student. As we were talking and I found out that he is part the local people group. This is great news not especially for me but for some of the other people here that will be here longer doing DAD’s work. I hope that I can pass this new friend to some of my other foreign friends. Father might have big plans for this student. Please keep him in your thoughts.
Monday, November 16, 2009
This is what’s up
I have been putting in a lot of my time with some of my friends at the school. We have been getting together to eat, play pool, and watch some movies. Sometime this week I hope to start sharing some of the stories I have been working on. I need all the help I can get to put them to memory, can you please talk to dad about helping me with everything. Just this week I went out with them to eat at a place close to the school. After we got done eating they wanted to play Majong so I went along with them. For some reason they did not gamble, so I got to sit in on some of the games. I know that these guys usually gamble during the game. These guys know that I don’t gamble and I hope they did not gamble this time so I could play with them, but I can’t be sure.
About once a week I meet with a local tour guide and we talk about father and climb a nearby hill. This tour guide is not in the family yet, but he has heard most of the book. I hope that father will lead him to the family. He is in my thoughts constantly. It is sad because so many people have put time in teaching him about father, and he does not see the need.
Funny story, on Friday we did not have class because of an athletic day. I thought that I would show up and run a few events. The day’s activities started in the morning about 9. That is when I realized that this was not just like a casual event it was like a full scale track and field competition. Let’s not forget that I was one of two white people that would be competing, and the other person was a girl and would not compete against the men. I signed up for the 100m and 800m races, and because of my late registration the only open division was the teacher division. I won the 100m and got 2nd in the 800m, so that got me on the local television here. I could not think of a single sentence to say.
Keeping you in my thoughts
Your brother Justin
I have been putting in a lot of my time with some of my friends at the school. We have been getting together to eat, play pool, and watch some movies. Sometime this week I hope to start sharing some of the stories I have been working on. I need all the help I can get to put them to memory, can you please talk to dad about helping me with everything. Just this week I went out with them to eat at a place close to the school. After we got done eating they wanted to play Majong so I went along with them. For some reason they did not gamble, so I got to sit in on some of the games. I know that these guys usually gamble during the game. These guys know that I don’t gamble and I hope they did not gamble this time so I could play with them, but I can’t be sure.
About once a week I meet with a local tour guide and we talk about father and climb a nearby hill. This tour guide is not in the family yet, but he has heard most of the book. I hope that father will lead him to the family. He is in my thoughts constantly. It is sad because so many people have put time in teaching him about father, and he does not see the need.
Funny story, on Friday we did not have class because of an athletic day. I thought that I would show up and run a few events. The day’s activities started in the morning about 9. That is when I realized that this was not just like a casual event it was like a full scale track and field competition. Let’s not forget that I was one of two white people that would be competing, and the other person was a girl and would not compete against the men. I signed up for the 100m and 800m races, and because of my late registration the only open division was the teacher division. I won the 100m and got 2nd in the 800m, so that got me on the local television here. I could not think of a single sentence to say.
Keeping you in my thoughts
Your brother Justin
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Hey everyone,
Where to start, the past week has been one of the busiest weeks we have had. It started with the celebration of national day we were let out of class for a little more than a week. I got a call from some friend the night of the celebration. They wanted me to eat dinner with them and play some pool. For the rest of the holiday they wanted me to go with them on a two day hike with them. I told them I would go with them. The next morning at six I got a call from someone in my class asking me if I wanted to climb the mountain with some locals. I thought this would be a great time to meet some students that I could communicate with a little better than normal. I met a student that told me about the culture as we walked up the mountain. After the short hike we went and had lunch at a place close by. We went back to his house to rest and talk some more. I noticed a copy of the book on his floor. He said he had been reading it and talking to some people about it but he was not a brother yet. I got to talk to him we he had not joined the family yet and explain some things he did not understand.
The next day me and the students I met on national day left for our two day hike. There were five national students, two foreign students me included, and one teacher. I could not be as open as I wanted to be because of some of the group. From that morning till night we hiked, and we barely made it to the first rest stop. The next morning we got up and started again we hiked till night fall again. We reached our destination just to find out the ferry to cross the river was closed. We all decided to go to a town a little north of where we were this town has been influenced heavily by Tibet. We spent two days there and then returned. Even though I did not get to share with my words I was able to share with my actions. All the people that went on the trip know that I am part of the family and that it is very important to me. I hope to share with them verbally very soon.
When I got back we had some new people move to the city that are very interested in the people that I am studying. I helped them move in and got to know them a little. I also met up with another student I met through English corner to help him with a speech that he was going to give in a bigger city south of here. Through our discussion I got to tell him a little about our beliefs. He says he believes in a god, but he does not know who he is. I hope to talk to him more about father.
On a more frustrating note my bike has had the same pedal fall off three times this week I have replaced it twice the arm once so far. Right now it is sitting in my room waiting to be put back on. On top of the bike fiasco I have not been able to keep my computer on for more than a few minutes. This is why it has taken me three weeks to get this post up. I am not sure what is wrong but I am taking it by a computer store sometime this week.
This weekend we had a medical clinic in two villages on the out skirts of town we saw about 150 people. Along with having blood pressure checked many were taught proper dental care, had their teeth cleaned, taught different exercises to help with mobility, and heard the message. The next two days we did follow up with those that wanted us to visit their homes. We have three new brothers and sisters because of this. We are in the process of getting them some of the necessary equipment and information.
Keep talking to DAD for us your brother Justin
Where to start, the past week has been one of the busiest weeks we have had. It started with the celebration of national day we were let out of class for a little more than a week. I got a call from some friend the night of the celebration. They wanted me to eat dinner with them and play some pool. For the rest of the holiday they wanted me to go with them on a two day hike with them. I told them I would go with them. The next morning at six I got a call from someone in my class asking me if I wanted to climb the mountain with some locals. I thought this would be a great time to meet some students that I could communicate with a little better than normal. I met a student that told me about the culture as we walked up the mountain. After the short hike we went and had lunch at a place close by. We went back to his house to rest and talk some more. I noticed a copy of the book on his floor. He said he had been reading it and talking to some people about it but he was not a brother yet. I got to talk to him we he had not joined the family yet and explain some things he did not understand.
The next day me and the students I met on national day left for our two day hike. There were five national students, two foreign students me included, and one teacher. I could not be as open as I wanted to be because of some of the group. From that morning till night we hiked, and we barely made it to the first rest stop. The next morning we got up and started again we hiked till night fall again. We reached our destination just to find out the ferry to cross the river was closed. We all decided to go to a town a little north of where we were this town has been influenced heavily by Tibet. We spent two days there and then returned. Even though I did not get to share with my words I was able to share with my actions. All the people that went on the trip know that I am part of the family and that it is very important to me. I hope to share with them verbally very soon.
When I got back we had some new people move to the city that are very interested in the people that I am studying. I helped them move in and got to know them a little. I also met up with another student I met through English corner to help him with a speech that he was going to give in a bigger city south of here. Through our discussion I got to tell him a little about our beliefs. He says he believes in a god, but he does not know who he is. I hope to talk to him more about father.
On a more frustrating note my bike has had the same pedal fall off three times this week I have replaced it twice the arm once so far. Right now it is sitting in my room waiting to be put back on. On top of the bike fiasco I have not been able to keep my computer on for more than a few minutes. This is why it has taken me three weeks to get this post up. I am not sure what is wrong but I am taking it by a computer store sometime this week.
This weekend we had a medical clinic in two villages on the out skirts of town we saw about 150 people. Along with having blood pressure checked many were taught proper dental care, had their teeth cleaned, taught different exercises to help with mobility, and heard the message. The next two days we did follow up with those that wanted us to visit their homes. We have three new brothers and sisters because of this. We are in the process of getting them some of the necessary equipment and information.
Keep talking to DAD for us your brother Justin
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Hey everybody
Thanks for talking to dad, this past week I met six guys and got their numbers. I really hope to be able to pour into these guys. They are all second year English students at the college I have been going to English corners every week, but the problem is for every 10 girls for class there is only one boy. There are about 30 to 40 per class, so I am pretty excited to meet some guys. Be talking to dad about these guys and how I can spend more time with them.
These upcoming weeks we have a lot going on. We have a medical clinic in the works with a physical therapists and a dental hygienist coming out to help us in a few of the villages on the outside of town. We have gotten approval from one of the village heads so far and still need approval from the other. This clinic will look at mobility, dental hygiene, and blood pressure. We will be getting names and numbers from the people so Jesse and I can follow up with some of the people. We have a friend in the villages that we are most focused on he claims to be like minded, and we hope that because of this clinic we will have more of an opportunity to mentor him. He seems excited about hanging out with us more and I hope dad will lead him to fullness.
As we are trying to meet more and more guys I am becoming more and more aware of the hold the darkness has over the men of the community. Gambling is a major problem here the men will sit around all day and play mahjong as the women work in the fields and homes. There is also the problem of alcohol and smoking. About 90% of the male population smokes and drinks. The most hidden sin in the city is prostitution. The prospect of giving up gambling, smoking, drinking, and prostitution to join to join us as brothers is not very appealing to the male population. Another problem with joining us is the possibility that their families might disown them. Family is probably the most important thing to these people.
Love your brother
Justin
Thanks for talking to dad, this past week I met six guys and got their numbers. I really hope to be able to pour into these guys. They are all second year English students at the college I have been going to English corners every week, but the problem is for every 10 girls for class there is only one boy. There are about 30 to 40 per class, so I am pretty excited to meet some guys. Be talking to dad about these guys and how I can spend more time with them.
These upcoming weeks we have a lot going on. We have a medical clinic in the works with a physical therapists and a dental hygienist coming out to help us in a few of the villages on the outside of town. We have gotten approval from one of the village heads so far and still need approval from the other. This clinic will look at mobility, dental hygiene, and blood pressure. We will be getting names and numbers from the people so Jesse and I can follow up with some of the people. We have a friend in the villages that we are most focused on he claims to be like minded, and we hope that because of this clinic we will have more of an opportunity to mentor him. He seems excited about hanging out with us more and I hope dad will lead him to fullness.
As we are trying to meet more and more guys I am becoming more and more aware of the hold the darkness has over the men of the community. Gambling is a major problem here the men will sit around all day and play mahjong as the women work in the fields and homes. There is also the problem of alcohol and smoking. About 90% of the male population smokes and drinks. The most hidden sin in the city is prostitution. The prospect of giving up gambling, smoking, drinking, and prostitution to join to join us as brothers is not very appealing to the male population. Another problem with joining us is the possibility that their families might disown them. Family is probably the most important thing to these people.
Love your brother
Justin
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Hey everyone,
School has started here and we are working very hard on language. It has really helped having a language tutor the first two months, but we have also lost a valuable friend. Please, keep talking to Dad about what we were able to share with him, and that he will work in his heart. Now we are looking for new people to hang out with. Jesse and I have been going to English corners and wondering around town looking for people to start over in investing our lives in. We need desperately to find male friend that we can build a deep relationship with.
Our language is coming along pretty good, but I just don’t feel it is fast enough to communicate everything that is need to be said. I so desperately want to be able to communicate to the people, but I find myself fumbling through conversation. The good part about my desperation to communicate with the people is I find myself always willing to speak to people and talk to them it is awkward, but I love even the simplest of conversations. I love talking to the guards in our complex, to random people on the street, and to the begging and crippled. Anyway I can practice my language is looked for. One of my favorite things about trying to speak to the people is when you greet the people in their heart language and not the national language the laughs and smiles you get. I love these people and all I want to do is share Dad’s love with them.
We got some of the best new since being here this last week some of our likeminded friends introduces some of the students to dad and they decided to be adopted into the family. They will be talking to them soon about going swimming; the weather right now is pretty nice for that. Another national sister has also asked to go swimming as well. It is very exciting.
I also got some bad news this last week from back home. One of my friends is being shipped out to Afghanistan about a week before I get home for his second tour, and another one of my friends mothers committed suicide this last week. I understand that there is nothing I can do besides talk to father. Will you also talk to dad for them?
Thank you and love your brother
Justin
School has started here and we are working very hard on language. It has really helped having a language tutor the first two months, but we have also lost a valuable friend. Please, keep talking to Dad about what we were able to share with him, and that he will work in his heart. Now we are looking for new people to hang out with. Jesse and I have been going to English corners and wondering around town looking for people to start over in investing our lives in. We need desperately to find male friend that we can build a deep relationship with.
Our language is coming along pretty good, but I just don’t feel it is fast enough to communicate everything that is need to be said. I so desperately want to be able to communicate to the people, but I find myself fumbling through conversation. The good part about my desperation to communicate with the people is I find myself always willing to speak to people and talk to them it is awkward, but I love even the simplest of conversations. I love talking to the guards in our complex, to random people on the street, and to the begging and crippled. Anyway I can practice my language is looked for. One of my favorite things about trying to speak to the people is when you greet the people in their heart language and not the national language the laughs and smiles you get. I love these people and all I want to do is share Dad’s love with them.
We got some of the best new since being here this last week some of our likeminded friends introduces some of the students to dad and they decided to be adopted into the family. They will be talking to them soon about going swimming; the weather right now is pretty nice for that. Another national sister has also asked to go swimming as well. It is very exciting.
I also got some bad news this last week from back home. One of my friends is being shipped out to Afghanistan about a week before I get home for his second tour, and another one of my friends mothers committed suicide this last week. I understand that there is nothing I can do besides talk to father. Will you also talk to dad for them?
Thank you and love your brother
Justin
Monday, August 24, 2009
Hey Everyone
Jesse and I have been busy out of our minds. It’s not a bad thing but it has kept us from some of our school work. We have been finishing up with our tutor he had to go back to school on the other side of the country. Thank Dad for all the times we manage to share with him and the book we were able to leave him with. Hopefully the book can answer some of his questions. Please continue to talk to Dad about him. A funny story about our tutor is that we took him to a more tourist spot in the city where we can get some western food if we are crazing it. Our tutor is kind of skinny, but that did not keep him from eating a monster of a burger. The funny part is I did not even finish all off mine.
We have also been preparing to switch our visas from tourist to students, so we can go to school here. Dad has really blessed me in particular, because the student visas get here the day we start classes and my tourist visa expires two days after that. I am very thankful about Fathers timing. In preparing for the application to go to the school we had to get tested for HIV and needed our livers checked. Each person was responsible for making sure the nurse used a clean needle, and writing your name on the tube of your blood. Of course I got a little light headed after having my blood drawn and needed to have a seat for a while. We were told to return on Monday to get the results. When we went back they only gave us the liver test, so tomorrow we are going back again to try to find the results to our HIV test.
My parents came to visit me and Jesse this week. We took them all over town to the area that we do the majority of our work, to the village where we did our home stay, and had them climb the small mountain close to where we live. One day Jesse left my parents and me to do some home work, as I showed them around town. We came by the apartment to pick Jesse up for dinner. Apparently he had been locked out. I realized I had left my key inside as well. No one has a key besides us, there are no locksmiths, and the whole door is one big metal lock. We had to call someone to break our window and then replace it the next day. Oh yeah we live on the fifth floor of the building. Dad was defiantly watching that guys back. We made sure to give a key to our land lady and SV.
On the weird food topic the only thing I have had recently that most westerners don’t like is stinky tofu. I was out with our tutor for lunch. He wanted to take me to a place close to a park to eat. We got a variety of fried foods potatoes, mushrooms, ect. The tofu came out and he was explaining what the meaning of the name was. It literally translates “smelly tofu, because the smell is not so great”. I had heard that this was one of the worst foods hear from some of the other westerners, but to be honest it was not that bad.
In the part of town where we do most of our work we are working hard to build relationships with the people. One day we went out there with our SV to talk to some of the teacher at a elementary school about teaching English, and to talk to the local government about doing a health clinic in the area. They gave us permission to do whatever we needed to help the people. The clinic will be the center of our work here. Please talk to Dad about us meeting people that will be excepting of our message.
Your Brother, Justin
Jesse and I have been busy out of our minds. It’s not a bad thing but it has kept us from some of our school work. We have been finishing up with our tutor he had to go back to school on the other side of the country. Thank Dad for all the times we manage to share with him and the book we were able to leave him with. Hopefully the book can answer some of his questions. Please continue to talk to Dad about him. A funny story about our tutor is that we took him to a more tourist spot in the city where we can get some western food if we are crazing it. Our tutor is kind of skinny, but that did not keep him from eating a monster of a burger. The funny part is I did not even finish all off mine.
We have also been preparing to switch our visas from tourist to students, so we can go to school here. Dad has really blessed me in particular, because the student visas get here the day we start classes and my tourist visa expires two days after that. I am very thankful about Fathers timing. In preparing for the application to go to the school we had to get tested for HIV and needed our livers checked. Each person was responsible for making sure the nurse used a clean needle, and writing your name on the tube of your blood. Of course I got a little light headed after having my blood drawn and needed to have a seat for a while. We were told to return on Monday to get the results. When we went back they only gave us the liver test, so tomorrow we are going back again to try to find the results to our HIV test.
My parents came to visit me and Jesse this week. We took them all over town to the area that we do the majority of our work, to the village where we did our home stay, and had them climb the small mountain close to where we live. One day Jesse left my parents and me to do some home work, as I showed them around town. We came by the apartment to pick Jesse up for dinner. Apparently he had been locked out. I realized I had left my key inside as well. No one has a key besides us, there are no locksmiths, and the whole door is one big metal lock. We had to call someone to break our window and then replace it the next day. Oh yeah we live on the fifth floor of the building. Dad was defiantly watching that guys back. We made sure to give a key to our land lady and SV.
On the weird food topic the only thing I have had recently that most westerners don’t like is stinky tofu. I was out with our tutor for lunch. He wanted to take me to a place close to a park to eat. We got a variety of fried foods potatoes, mushrooms, ect. The tofu came out and he was explaining what the meaning of the name was. It literally translates “smelly tofu, because the smell is not so great”. I had heard that this was one of the worst foods hear from some of the other westerners, but to be honest it was not that bad.
In the part of town where we do most of our work we are working hard to build relationships with the people. One day we went out there with our SV to talk to some of the teacher at a elementary school about teaching English, and to talk to the local government about doing a health clinic in the area. They gave us permission to do whatever we needed to help the people. The clinic will be the center of our work here. Please talk to Dad about us meeting people that will be excepting of our message.
Your Brother, Justin
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Ni hao, we have been here about a month and are starting to learn how to put together sentences. We are still eating some weird things. The funny part is that the things that Jesse does not like I can handle pretty well and vice versa. Jesse ate about half a plate of small dried fish, some unidentified raw meat, and all the loa jiao (hot peppers) he can handle. I drank almost two cups of yak butter tea at a meal, most of the fried tofu, and tree fungus. We thank DAD because we have gotten through all of our meals, and we have split the grosses plates between us.
I was sitting with our host family and some of their friends. They were teaching me some vocabulary, and asking me some simple questions. The question about what I believe came up, and I told them I was a C. The conversation continue and I was not able to keep up, but the man who ask me the question seemed to be interested in what talking to DAD was about. I told that when we talk to DAD we are thanking him for the people around us. I hope my language was clear enough for the people to understand. We try to meet almost every day with our language teacher. Last week Jesse and I got to talk to our language tutor about what we believe. He had some misconceptions about what Cs believed that we could clarify it better. After that we watched the Chronicles of Narnia and were able to explain some of the meanings.
The thing that is bothering the most at this point is that for the past two days my bike has been locked up to another bike, so I can’t use it. I have to remind myself that I am hear the represent Father; He might be using the situation for His good. Not having a bike for awhile might lead me to new people that I would not have got to talk to. It is frustrating, but I know that it is Father that is in control and it is His purpose that I’m here. The situation just reminds me that I need to praise DAD for everything not just the good.
One of the greatest things has happened since we have been here is our host family got to hear the entire message. A lot of times our family would call our supervisor for interpretations, and to find out what we were doing. One night they invited him over to eat dinner with us. He brought over a film and a track in the language. They listen to the whole thing, and were able to answer questions about the message. Jesse and I were just excited that Father allowed us to be involved.
Dad is testing us in many different ways. Please keep us in mind when you talk to Dad. We need all the help we can get when it comes to the language, and meet new people that we can make connections with. Will you also talk to DAD about opening more doors with our tutor?
Love your brother
Justin
I was sitting with our host family and some of their friends. They were teaching me some vocabulary, and asking me some simple questions. The question about what I believe came up, and I told them I was a C. The conversation continue and I was not able to keep up, but the man who ask me the question seemed to be interested in what talking to DAD was about. I told that when we talk to DAD we are thanking him for the people around us. I hope my language was clear enough for the people to understand. We try to meet almost every day with our language teacher. Last week Jesse and I got to talk to our language tutor about what we believe. He had some misconceptions about what Cs believed that we could clarify it better. After that we watched the Chronicles of Narnia and were able to explain some of the meanings.
The thing that is bothering the most at this point is that for the past two days my bike has been locked up to another bike, so I can’t use it. I have to remind myself that I am hear the represent Father; He might be using the situation for His good. Not having a bike for awhile might lead me to new people that I would not have got to talk to. It is frustrating, but I know that it is Father that is in control and it is His purpose that I’m here. The situation just reminds me that I need to praise DAD for everything not just the good.
One of the greatest things has happened since we have been here is our host family got to hear the entire message. A lot of times our family would call our supervisor for interpretations, and to find out what we were doing. One night they invited him over to eat dinner with us. He brought over a film and a track in the language. They listen to the whole thing, and were able to answer questions about the message. Jesse and I were just excited that Father allowed us to be involved.
Dad is testing us in many different ways. Please keep us in mind when you talk to Dad. We need all the help we can get when it comes to the language, and meet new people that we can make connections with. Will you also talk to DAD about opening more doors with our tutor?
Love your brother
Justin
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Whats Up
Jesse and I are having a good time, every morning we wake up and eat breakfast with our host family. They proceed to teach us the names for everything around and on the table, as we try to repeat with mouthfuls of food. Then after or before breakfast we wash out of a bowl of hot water, and brush our teeth. Then we meet with a local minority man that is helping us with the language. Then we spend the day biking or walking around town trying to understand the area. We are very grateful for that Da Ma, and Da Bai (big mama and big uncle) for giving us a place to stay. We have already eaten some weird things to us like pig heart and chicken feet, chicken feet not so bad but the pig heart was not the greatest thing in the world.
A likeminded friend took us up to a village the other day to pr walk and talk to some of the locals. Our friend is learning the heart language of the people so he was practicing with them. As we were talking to DAD one of the men came up out of his field, and asked if we wanted to sit with him by his fish pond. This man told us about his two kids in college, and then he told us that his wife had just died. We got to talk to him through our friend. He had nothing to say about what we told him, but some brothers and sisters of ours will be in that village soon. Will you talk to DAD about this man and our brothers and sisters that will be there?
Some of the weird things you might see on the streets here are little colored chickens. These are little baby chicks that have been died neon colors. The other day after dinner Jesse and I had just walked out of a restaurant, and was carelessly looking in stores when we saw a dog being prepared to be eaten. Jesse said he would not mind to try it. Apparently the dogs that they eat are raised on farms much like cows or chickens. Many of the people have pet dogs, most of which are small. Since they are raised in home the dogs are off limits as food. A food that many of the locals like is this grey goop made of mashed chick peas. It is pretty good to be honest.
The first week we were here I bought a bike and someone loaned Jesse one. This was when everything started to fall apart. First simple seat adjustments to both bikes pretty normal Jesse and I are larger than most people here. Then it happened- my chain locked up, then my seat fell off and then the pedal in the matter of a hundred yards. I stopped at three bike shops one after the other, but that is not the end. Jesse back tire lost alignment, his camera can’t be charged, the zipper on his pants fell off, and his Chacos lost their soles (Chacos are a type of shoes).
Keep talking to DAD for us
Love your Brother Justin
A likeminded friend took us up to a village the other day to pr walk and talk to some of the locals. Our friend is learning the heart language of the people so he was practicing with them. As we were talking to DAD one of the men came up out of his field, and asked if we wanted to sit with him by his fish pond. This man told us about his two kids in college, and then he told us that his wife had just died. We got to talk to him through our friend. He had nothing to say about what we told him, but some brothers and sisters of ours will be in that village soon. Will you talk to DAD about this man and our brothers and sisters that will be there?
Some of the weird things you might see on the streets here are little colored chickens. These are little baby chicks that have been died neon colors. The other day after dinner Jesse and I had just walked out of a restaurant, and was carelessly looking in stores when we saw a dog being prepared to be eaten. Jesse said he would not mind to try it. Apparently the dogs that they eat are raised on farms much like cows or chickens. Many of the people have pet dogs, most of which are small. Since they are raised in home the dogs are off limits as food. A food that many of the locals like is this grey goop made of mashed chick peas. It is pretty good to be honest.
The first week we were here I bought a bike and someone loaned Jesse one. This was when everything started to fall apart. First simple seat adjustments to both bikes pretty normal Jesse and I are larger than most people here. Then it happened- my chain locked up, then my seat fell off and then the pedal in the matter of a hundred yards. I stopped at three bike shops one after the other, but that is not the end. Jesse back tire lost alignment, his camera can’t be charged, the zipper on his pants fell off, and his Chacos lost their soles (Chacos are a type of shoes).
Keep talking to DAD for us
Love your Brother Justin
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