Hello again All,
I know it has been a long time since many of you have heard from me. I have been well, but from mid-January until mid-February I was on vacation and did a lot of traveling all over China. For me, it was both an enjoyable time and a time of learning. I understand more about Chinese culture now which is really good. So, let me jump right in and start sharing with yall what all happenened.
First, I left for left Hong Kong. I spent four days there. It was a very busy time, but in some ways it was also enjoyable and definitely encouraging. I learned a lot there and got to see many friends. For those of you that had been agreeing with me in pr about what to do after China, thank you! Daddy heard your prs and has given me more knowledge of what my life after China is to be like. I am very excited about getting this answer and about all that it means for the future. Already, that vision that he gave me in Hong Kong is being put into place here as my time here and my future go hand in hand. Daddy was also able to show me some very useful places with wonderful resources to be used here.
Next, I came back to Meizhou just in time to finish up my first term as a teacher. Grades were a killer to do but with Dad's help they were finally finished up just in time for a lovely dinner with the whole staff of the school. This was both a hoorah dinner as well as Chinese New Year's celebration dinner. (Our school had a one month holiday so everyone was on break on the actual New Year's Day.) This dinner was very revealing in terms of Chinese culture. To be very honest, it made me very sad because most people got drunk and I felt weird being surrounded by lots of drunk people who all justified their stupor saying it was fun. There were two children there, and seeing thier faces and level of uncomfortableness reminded me of the importance of family and purity.
After making a necessary stop back home, I headed up north to Beijing for a week. Going to Beijing from Meizhou takes a whole day over a period of two actual days. The train ride up there gave me some time to practice my Chinese, relax, and see many beautiful sites and snow! Seeing snow again was really precious as I don't get to see it often because I'm from Florida. My trip to Beijing wasn't a tourist trip, but for me it was a time to deepen friendships with those who live in Beijing; I was so pleased to see all my friends (except one who was in America for an extended Christmas holiday) including a friend I have been keeping in touch via email but had never personally met. I really enjoyed playing in the snow, relaxing, eating American food again, and spending time with or helping out friends. My trip to Beijing was also a good time to see Dad's power as He provided in major ways both there and back and helped defend me from constant sp attacks. I almost didn't go (because of pre-trip sp attacks), but I am so glad that I was obedient to Jah and went. And, because I traveled during the height of Spring Festival traveling I got to see China (especially southern China) become really orderly which is a change from the usual chaos especially when it comes to traveling and transportation.
After returning home, I then headed off to Dapu to visit one of my students. My visit came on the eve of the Chinese New Year. I had a really good time aside from being stared at like a freak show. (Dapu is a really country place; for some, I was the first non-Asian person they've ever seen. Some people actually came to my student's home just to look at me.) I liked going to Dapu (I had been once before) and was able to have some good talks with my student. Personally one of the highlights was getting to see a water buffalo up and close. Everyone there thought I was the weirdest person due to my request to go see the local water buffalo, but you know only in China can a person do some things. As it turned out I didn't just see one student, but I ended up visting two other students and visiting a fourth person (and their homes) in just a day and a half. That's a lot of meals and tea for anyone who's never been to China. It was like all I did was eat really good meals (because of the holidy) and drink tea.
After some difficulty finding a way home (because of the holiday), I finally made it home and was amazed by what I saw. People work non-stop here usually and until late at night. Yet, I returned to deserted streets at only 5 pm. I really was astounded! If I hadn't have seen it with my own eyes I probably wouldn't have believed it if you'd have told me. That night (the Chinese New Year's Eve) I took in soooooo many wonderful fireworks shows. I love fireworks and the Chinese know how to really put on good shows --- many times super gaudy shows. I was literally surrounded by 15 shows going on at the same time in every direction; they continued until 3 am the next morning. Every night for two weeks they would have fireworks shows; it was really beautiful! On New Year's, I went to a big flower show and spent some time with friends. We had a good time. And for the first time ever in Meizhou, I couldn't find any beggars anywhere! I was amazed at how all the Chinese people came together to spend time with their family even if just for these few days. (The Chinese New Year celebrations last for three days and are really important.)
My time home was very short-lived as I headed out the next morning for some more Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) traveling. I journeyed via a packed bus to Xing Ning for the first time. (My bus was an 18 passenger van with 39 people inside!) Never having been to Xing Ning I really didn't know what to expect, but I was looking forward to it because my visit would be to two sisters and a friend I've shared with often. Xing Ning totally amazed me! I went from village, to rustic country, to big city all in a matter of days in the same place. My visit there for almost a week was a real teaching experience. I stayed during two of the biggest days (Day 2 and 3 of Spring Festival), so that let me see Chinese people interacting with most of their family in a sorta family reunion setting. I got to see many of the famous Xing Ning sites and spend some quiet time with Jah too; He taught me a lot about myself and my walk then.
Well, after Xing Ning I came back to Meizhou. I was very happy to return home, but my time home became a bit frustrating. I came home to supervise some repair work at my apartment, but it didn't go as planned to say the least. Basically I was given the run around and lied to for a while, but as Dad says even the bad is really for my good. This was shown true to me when both my tv and phone finally were fixed. (This is no simple matter for around here and involves some not so cool decisions on the part of my workplace. I'll save the details for later cause they're long and ugly!) Aside from being more or less culturally frustrated, I had a wonderful week with my two best friends here. It was a time of fellowship and embracing the goodness of Daddy. It was also a time of more intimacy and opening up to reveal deep darkness which was much needed.
That brings you up to mid-February, and since then I've been teaching. My teaching has been keeping me super busy! My classes all got totally switched which means I'm teaching Grade 1 now. Grade 1 students at my school have a really basic level of understanding of English despite years of previous study. Only like three or four of my students can carry on even very basic conversations with me. They don't understand a lot right now, and I'm still trying to figure out their level of English. Most of my students are basically afraid of speaking and me. Since they had another teacher last term, they are simply uncomfortable with me, so rather than make a mistake they just don't speak. I am basically teaching a lot more than before and more than expected (because they understand less than I thought they should). Thus, before my classes were fun and relaxing; now they seem like a chore.
On top of all this, my school has been making some changes to English Corners. (EC's let students practice their English orally.) Now, I must say that for my school to accept change is a huge step if not monumental; China is extremely traditional so getting people to accept new ways of doing things is next to impossible. Although I support the changes, all of the work to put the changes into place has fallen on myself and the other foreign teacher. So, teaching more classes (14 a week plus an extra two-hour EC) and all the EC changes has basically meant all my free time has been spent at the school getting things all ready for either class or EC. It has become almost a daily struggle for me to come home and say, "I'm not going to work now. Yeah ... I have a lot more work to do, but I need to stop and spend time with Jah. I can't put work before Him." Until now, I have never had this problem, and to be very honest I don't like that I have this problem. I tell you all this not just to complain or make excuses for why you haven't heard for me in like two months, but I want you to understand things here and yarp for me.
Let me continue that thought a little more so that you will see why all this has become a battle for me. Since January, Jah has really been putting a deep passion in me to understand Him better and to not just read but to study His book. A few friends and I have shared lots of our darkness and pasts with one another; we are keeping each other accountable on some very personal issues. We are all being cleansed and growing in purity. From the end of January until the beginning of March, Jah led me through a season --- sometimes more willing than others --- of just me and Him. I gave up something very important to me during that season, and it was hard but fruitful. Part of that fruit has been a burning passion within me to spend hours with Jah forging greater intimacy. I am not the same person you knew in America because He is changing me and has changed me. I long for these changes and to be a cleaner, brighter light for Daddy, but that requires me giving up some things and time; thus, I don't want work to be a battleground used against me.
Well, that sums up all of what has gone on here for the past two months. Now, let me share with you the most important part of this email --- my requests:
(1) My job --- Ask Jah to give me the wisdom to know what how I need to teach. I have felt like a failure at work lately because everything I'm trying doesn't seem to be effective. I also don't work to come before Jah. Ask Him to give me the time I need to prepare for both my classes and EC too.
(2) Growth in Jah --- I so desperately want this. I am determined that there is no turning back but a continual pressing forward to become more of His likeness. Ask Him to help me continue sharing darkness with others so that my life becomes cleaner and purer.
(3) Work relations --- Some ties at work are increasingly becoming more strained. I called a meeting with my boss for tomorrow (Thurs) so that we can work out some things. There are also some problems with the computer teacher. I probably didn't say some things with the love that I should've and am to blame. I can accept that, but I don't want problems to continue between myself and others. Ask Dad to smooth out these things and to coat my words with gaerc, love, and also truth.
(4) My studies --- Since the holidays, my Book studies with others have basically all ceased. Only one original study remains presently. All of us are busy and need the time to come together. Ask Daddy to give us the time to have fellowship again. I really want this work to continue. For me, it is some of the most important work I do here.
(5) Chinese culture frustrations --- In some ways, I am still adjusting to the culture here. There are some things that I simply cannot and will not tolerate or justify here that are culturally acceptable (ie. lying, illegal copies of nearly everything). Lately, I have been really angry and aggravated with Chinese culture to the point that I just wanted to go home so I wouldn't have to deal with the frustrations and anger. Going home is not the answer (although it is a struggle sometimes to keep believing that), but I REALLY don't want to be this bitter, angry, and frustrated any longer. I definitely need to be changed some more!
(6) Summer Plans --- I will be teaching until July 4 after which time I'll be on vacation. There are many things I could do this summer. I would like to do many things, but I need the wisdom to know what Yah wants me to do. Ask for that wisdom to be given to me.
(7) More in the family --- PRZ the Father for adopting one more sis into the family just last week! One of the sisters only eight months old shared with her and she was adopted. It is really exciting! On a sadder note, one girl who had claimed to be in the family has abandoned her claim because she lost hope and didn't want to disappoint her family. (Her family is entirely Buds.) Please, keep ask Dad for more in the family at my school.
Thank you all for thinking of me and going to Dad on my behalf. Thanks for reading all this too!
Until next time,
your sis, Amanda =)
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