Guangzhou, Guangdong captitol.

Before I left for the US for Chinese New Year, I had a week of vacation time. Traveling is very expensive in China during that time, so Jimmy and I decided head to Guangzhou, the capitol city of Guangdong, our province. It's a very big, bustling, busy, progressive city, yet very old and full of history.

This was the street our hostel was located on.
rad, huh?

lanterns!

Crossing the river to another part of the city, by ferry, at night.

a famous shopping street...

A man dressed as a Chicken, playing some sort of instrument,
that yes, even sounded like a chicken.

My little taste of Guangzhou.

I hope to go back because there is still MUCH to see there (including a contemporary museum of art!!!)

Next time!

Thinking...

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare composed poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, Here lived a great street sweeper, who did his job well. "

- Dr. Martin Luther King

Thinking about my life.

Thinking about my gifts, my dreams, my passions, my "call."

Wondering what is missing.

Wondering where I truly belong.

Longing for home... I think, my true home.

Come.

Come all who are weary
Battle worn and weak
Come all of us broken, tired and in need
I for one am weary loney and afraid
So let us run for shelter
In the Saviour's warm embrace

Come one and all
Let us fall into the
Everlasting Arms
I'm running into the everlasting arms
I'm falling into eternity's embrace
Where I'm safe
Here my heart has found it's resting place

Here we find our healing
Here we find our peace
Wrapped in you unfailing love
Surrounded by your peace
So I for one am letting
All my walls fall down
In this place of safety
This child is finally found
So come one and all

And I am finally home
No longer alone
You surround me
All around me
With your love

Here in your everlasting arms
I'm running into your
Everlasting arms
I'm falling into
Eternity's embrace
Where I'm safe
Here my heart has found it's resting place
Here my heart is found it's resting place

- Vicky Beeching "Everylasting Arms"

Oh, the joys of teaching...

I have 22 classes a week this semester, including Saturdays, which has left me officially beat. I know, I'm teaching nothing compared to most full time teachers, but hey, I DO have at least 40 kids per class.

Amongst the joy of being covered in chalk, planning lessons, and trying to successfully communicate my mother language (ha), I get to browse the internet and stumble across little things like this:

A poem.

Oh, how I laughed!

Also, I'm rediscovering my love for books. I have always enjoyed reading, though I've never been an avid reader. But in going through our donated books and organizing them onto our new book shelves, I have so enjoyed reading through a lot of them. I found an unabridged copy of "Peter Pan" and stole it. I just started reading it. :)

Oh, the joys of teaching...

Henry Pool Is Here.

I watched a really interesting movie tonight called "Henry Poole Is Here." It's a bit arsty, a bit psycological, a bit emotional, a bit spiritual. I'm really not sure what to make of it...

Heretical?
Truthful?
Overdone?
Thought provoking?

Check it out:



I recommend seeing it.

...

Thoughts?

Random odds & ends.

I'm feeling a bit random and emotive as I am now back in China, my head swiming in elementary English teaching, dusting cobwebs from the Chinese knowledge closet, and readjusting to China time (16 hours ahead of San Diego). So here I ramble with some thoughts:

1. Comfort Foods...

My comfort foods here in China consist of nothing of nutritional value.
Sorry, Mom.

Ritz crackers and fake peanut butter from the imported section
at the supermarket. yes.


I brought these back from the States.
I forgot how good (or should I say bad?) they are. Mmm.


chocolate. Dove. because Hershey's doesn't exist in China.

2. My new baby...

This is my new baby, the new Macbook Pro. And she is, indeed, beautiful and wonderful and FAST. RIP 5-year-old Powerbook.

3. Music Goodness...

I know I'm late on the boat, but I think the new Coldplay cd is quite good.


This series of cds is also rather great, Jon Foreman's Album Project,
and the album cover drawings are rather earthy and quirky as well.


fall.

winter.

spring.

summer.

3. My vacation...

back to the States to see family and friends was absolutely beautiful.

4. My life right now...

is pretty much summed up in these words:

Amen. Let it be done.

Your love is strong.

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons

- Jon Foreman
"Your Love Is Strong"

I'm back in China after a beautiful vacation in the US. But after spending time there for a few weeks, I daily fear more and more for my home country. I fear for the hearts of man, for this world.

At the end of the day however, I must rest in His promises, in all things:

Your love is strong, and You are in control.
Your will be done.