Breakthrough

It's now less than a week from Christmas and only two weeks left from being finished with my first semester.  This last Thursday was my final day of instruction and the upcoming two weeks are set aside for final exams so i can individually listen to and grade each of my 160 students by hearing them talk for a total time of 5.5 minutes.  It's gonna be awesome. Leading up to all of this, life in the classroom has been pretty good.  I am getting much closer to remembering all of my students names despite the fact that i see them once a week.  We just finished our accreditation process this last week, which by the way went quite well.  Thankfully no one observed my classes, making our image as a school look much better.  To be honest, my teaching is improving and i am becoming more and more comfortable creating lesson plans, managing the classroom, and stimulating those brains to think, however, i still don't think that teaching is my calling.  I know it's only my first semester and many things could happen, but the love i have in teaching is the interaction and influence i have with my kids.  I have many students who i look at as friends, little brothers, and little sisters.  They have been placed in my care and i see my job as much more than teaching them curriculum.  Just Thursday, i filled in during a partner-discussion while this student's classmate was off visiting the water closet (Chinese for 'bathroom').  This is a student who i have had interaction with outside of class, usually spent with some of his classmates at lunch or dinner.  He is the brunt of many jokes as they bash on his poor English speaking ability.  Because of this, he would remain quiet for the majority of the meal.  As he began talking i kept giving him suggestions and tips to help him prepare for the final exam.  At the end of the allotted time, i congratulated him and let him know his English has greatly improved from the beginning of the year and to continue working hard.  Soon, a huge smile crossed his face and he exclaimed "You can understand me?!"  There have been several other instances where encouragement has changed the whole demeanor of certain students and their effort and performance in the class has been greatly augmented, not to mention my relationship with them.

There have been so many other amazing things that have been going on as far as relationships with students and coworkers.  The Father has opened up so many doors that i honestly can't count or even remember everything that has happened.  There have been several days in a row, sometimes multiple times in the same day, where i have been able to share the Good News with those that He presents the opportunity to.  Students, coworkers, other students, and students from other campuses have heard the Message of hope and love proclaimed.  I want to make sure that i am not mistaken in reporting any of this.  It is not by my own power, self-righteousness, intelligence, or anything else that would place any emphasis or give any credit to myself.  The Spirit has been working mightily in my life as a direct answer to prayers from you, myself, and time spent seeking Him.  I have never in my entire life been used in this capacity before and i'm not content staying here!  I will continue to contend that He will use me and the rest of my team to be Love on this campus, in this city, and in this nation.  For the sake of brevity, i will share only a couple stories, but please know that the significance of these stories are the same as any of the others and that all praise is due to Him.

I have had the opportunity to share multiple meals with one of my students and have been blessed with multiple opportunities to talk about the Father's love and His purpose for our life.  He later sent me a couple text messages on Thanksgiving, one of which had the length of an email and was entirely in Chinese.  After remembering weeks later, i asked a Chinese teacher to translate it for me.  It was one of the sweetest, most humbling messages i have ever received and i know it was the love of my Savior that he saw in me.  Since then we have had a couple talks about the purpose of life and why i love him and the rest of my students.  I am contending for breakthrough in his life.  Over the last few weeks, i have had 2 teachers in my office ask me about Christmas.  "How much time do you have?" has been my first response.  After laying out the ten commandments, our guilt in sin, the penalty of sin, the love of God, old testament prophecies, sacrifices, and several other important explanations to set the stage, i explain that Christmas celebrates the Main Character, the Hero entering the scene.  Through all of that i was able to share the significance of this watered down holiday and His victory on the cross on Easter morning.  Just this week i sat down and talked with one of those teachers again and we discussed what it meant to become part of the Family.  There seems to be a lot of interest coupled with hesitation as well.  I will continue to contend for the salvation of her and the rest of the teachers on this campus.  Just tonight, i had dinner with my good friend who took care of me when i was injured initially.  He has been one of the few that i have singled out to 'lift up' and contend for the softening of his heart and the opening of his ears to hear the Truth.  He is the one who was taught that money should be his only god, and since he is leaving in a couple weeks for a job internship for his final semester, i have been trusting that He would somehow get a hold of him before he leaves.  I have had a few conversations with him about all of this, but the subject is quickly turned to something far less valuable.  Well tonight we went out to a buffet near our campus that we tend to frequent.  In the first couple minutes he tells me that he heard a philosopher say that the theory of evolution cannot be fully proven.  This is news to him, as evolution is the only thing that he was told could be proven.  So we begin to talk and he asks me my opinion on the whole matter!  I am completely humbled and wanting to let loose these tears due to the fact that God has heard my prayers regarding this hard-hearted friend of mine.  We began discussing historical/archaeological evidence and why He allows bad things to happen to good people and vice versa.  It was an amazing conversation that lasted a much longer time than i would have anticipated.  I told him that i had been pryng for him because i love him so much and that i would continue to do that, asking Him to show Himself to my friend.  He said he would really like that.  I then told him that one of the ways He talks to us is through the reading of the Word.  "I'll go buy one," he says.  Petition after petition is being answered here.  On the way back home, we talk a little bit more about it and he expresses his concern stating what would happen if his buddhist parents found out that their son had joined some 'wayward religion.'  I told him i'd lift them up too.  All of this is a testament of His faithfulness and answer to pryr.  Please, please, please continue to lift these students and colleagues up to Him.  He is jealous for them and desires that none would be lost.  Please petition that these lost ones would find Truth and that they would be plugged in and share their hope with others.

This has been one of the most amazing times in my spiritual walk as i have never been so close to Him.  I am seeing more and more that He is so much more than i could have ever imagined.  By spending time with Him and reading His Word and i am convinced more and more that there is so much more that the Holy Spirit has in store for us.  He has been convicting me and creating a desire to step out in faith, into what is uncomfortable and what doesn't make sense, to find Him.  The things that are happening are unbelievable and they are only creating more of a desire to seek Him out more.  I am not content with comfortable Christianity, but rather a lifestyle like that of my Jesus and an intimate communion with the Father.  I ask that you would continue to lift me and my team up as we continue to press into Him, contending for all that He has for us so we can be sent out in power and love as His Son was.


Though i will not spend much time addressing this, our team has undergone and experienced some serious attacks.  Although we rejoice in the redemptive power of our Lord and Savior, it has been a painful process that we will be continue to go through for some time.  It is a reminder to us that being on the front lines, we are a threat to the enemy's kingdom and his dominion over his captives.  Our job is to proclaim Truth and set these captives free, and his is to prevent this from happening at all costs.  Please continue to contend for His provision and protection as we continue to operate in unfriendly territory.

Before i forget, i'll give a quick update on my foot to those who have been wondering.  My foot, though slowly, is getting better and better.  I flew to Shanghai a month and a half ago for a checkup due to many problems here at the hospitals in Changchun.  2 weeks later, i had my cast removed here in Changchun, which was quite an experience.  Since the hospital did not have the right saw to remove this sort of cast, it took a doctor and the blade of a hacksaw 15 minutes to manually saw through my cast.  Several substitutions took his place as his apprentices gave it a whirl, nearly losing my toes in the process.  Finally, after sawing enough of my cast off 4 people exerted all their effort in trying to pry it off.  Oh, how i badly miss western medicine.  I ended up getting the cast off and was able to keep all my toes in the process.  I walked on crutches for 3 weeks after that, and have been walking on one for the past week.  Though i am quite thankful to be able to walk while texting or with one hand in my pocket to protect it from the -15 degree cold, i would still like it to heal faster.  I also would like to ask you to lift my foot up and that He would fully restore it and heal it.

Almost forgot to add this too.  This last weekend, i was able to go to Beijing and hear Francis Chan speak at two different fellowships there.  It was a great time and i was even able to talk with him after his second message.  I had a great time spending Saturday evening at the home of the gracious directors of our program and the rest of the Beijing team on Sunday before my train left that evening.  Since i traveled alone it was quite an experience.  I took an overnight sleeper train Sunday night and was supposed to arrive in Changchun at 4:30 am.  As i walk into the train i realize i am the only white English speaker as i bumble through the narrow walkway with my crutches.  Of course i'm on the 3rd bunk, so i'm sure it was pretty funny watching this 200 lb. cripple try and wiggle into a 2 foot crawl space.  It wasn't the most comfortable situation but it was an experience for sure.  I ended up getting back to the school at 6:30 giving me enough time for a shower and morning prayer before heading to the office.  Abram and i are planning on taking a trip around January 18 visiting different sites in China as we head down to Thailand for our Annual Thailand Conference (ATC).  Hopefully our Chinese will be better than it is now.  More on that to come.

The more i think about it, the more i realize how blessed i am to be teaching in China, being used by Him, and having an amazing group of supporters financially providing and covering me with prayer.  I am honored to be part of the Body and i thank you for your continued support of His ministry over here.  Hearts and lives are being changed as the eternal dwelling place of souls lies in the balance.  I wish you a merry Christmas and i ask that you would be blessed for your obedience and faithfulness.  I am so excited to finally be away from all the lights, noise, and advertisements that 'commercial-Christmas' brings.  I have been able to focus on the true meaning of Christmas and i hope you and your families can experience the same.  May He be our joy now and for eternity.  Merry Christmas!



"For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."
-Isaiah 9:6-7


 Just in case you forgot what i look like...  I'll try and add some pictures i've taken with students when i know what the policy is with posting them online

yours truly...

merry Christmas

A Brief Summary of the Past Month

I hope this post finds you well this Christmas season.  Things have been pretty crazy over here in this part of China.  We are now beginning our week of review, preparing our students for the upcoming two weeks of finals.  This week is also accreditation week as 'experts' form the Ministry of Education come to check out our campus and observe our classes.  Things around here for the past couple months have been fairly hectic as the school has been scrambling to make sure EVERYTHING is in good order.  There have also been some major changes around here.  I ask that you pray for our team as it is undergoing some joyful yet painful transitions at this time.  There has been a lot that has happened, as usual, but i fell that this is the most important thing to address at this time.  Again, i apologize for the lack of updates and newsletters recently.  I will do my best to correct my poor use of time.  Thank you for continually being my support and lifting me up in prayer.  Please don't stop!  I wish you a very merry Christmas and, though an ocean and 15 time zones separate us, i join with you in celebrating the greatest and most selfless Gift to ever be given.  May Jesus Christ, the precious Son of God, be our focus and contagious joy this Christmas season. 


-jo

A New Season

In the past few weeks, Hua Qiao and the city of Changchun have experienced several changes.  Two weeks ago, we experienced the first snow in our new home.  While sitting in the window sill of my 6th floor apartment having a good heart to heart talk, Abram and i sat and watched as drifts of tiny white specks quietly blotted out the landscape below us.  It was a beautiful and tranquil scene as we sat and watched the face of our campus change during the midnight hours.  We had just come from fellowship with our team and a sobering conversation with some other teammates.  Many topics were brought up in that conversation, and the desire to see the change of the spiritual face of this campus was part of that.

I can't explain to you how exciting this month has been so far.  Less than two weeks ago, a student who was earnestly seeking Him by reading the Word and engaging in many amazing conversations with myself and the rest of the team made the commitment that would change the dwelling place of his soul for eternity.  A couple individuals had spent much time pouring out into his life and sharing the power and amazing love of His Son.  After being given the proper 'resources,' this student (i'll call him Phil for reference sake) devoured the book reading for at least an hour a day, chapter by chapter.  We would meet with him in the dining hall to answer the many brilliant questions he would ask.  I can't express the joy it brought me to be able to share with someone who was so hungry.  After several weeks of earnestly seeking, he finally gave up control and committed his life to the only One who could really control it.  It was amazing.  "This is the happiest time in my life.  I won't let anybody go to hell.  I will tell everybody about Jesus."  A couple of days later, he had come across the Great Commission and had it written down and stored in his pocket as well as memorized.  In Chinese society, money and success is everything.  One of my friends here shared with me how his father had raised him teaching him that money is his god.  Phil now doesn't really see the significance of money anymore, rather that it should be given away.  It is completely encouraging and exciting to see the growth and Spirit's work in this new brother.  I look forward to introducing you to him someday.

This last Monday i was supposed to meet this new member of the family at the dining hall again.  Phil had just finished Matthew and was beginning to read Luke and Joshua.  As i was going up to meet him i was greeted by a student i had never met before.  He opened the door for this unfamiliar cripple on crutches and introduced himself.  After we had talked for a short while he asked if i had plans to eat with anyone.  I explained that i was meeting a friend and he politely said goodbye.  After meeting up with Phil we walked over to the line to order food.  Suddenly the new friend i had met (let's call him "Ted") was back.  He somehow knew Phil and wanted to know if he could eat with us.  As we were sitting down at our table i took out my 'Book' from my back pocket and set it on the table so i could sit comfortably.  Before we even have time to bless the food he picks up the Book, "is this a Bible?!"  He explains that he has been wanting to know much more about this Book and the faith it talks about.  All of a sudden i find i'm not so hungry and i begin to just share what seems like "fire shut up in my bones."  As i begin going through His redemptive story Ted repeats much of it back to me; some from what i said, and some from a Chinese book on the history of Christianity.  He shares how he has been discontent and realizing that the pleasures he had been seeking were only temporary and stated that he had been searching for something more meaningful, his purpose in life.  As i share more and more i feel like i can't contain it anymore and that tears are ready to start flowing.  "[Ted], i think i have your answer."  As i try to write this i realize that words simply can't convey the deep joy that i found that night.  It was simply a miracle how it all worked out.  And that's not the end.  As we were getting up to leave after talking for an hour and a half, a sister and a friend walk up and asked if they could answer some of his questions in Chinese.  They talked for another hour and a half.  Two days later i run into Ted again.  Phil is there with him.  They decide to join Abram and i for dinner and another wonderful conversation ensues.  It kills me to not be able to share each word spoken, but for sake of brevity and a poor memory, i will say that it was nothing short of another miracle, and Ted was the one that pointed it out.  Today we were able to put in his hands the resources he needs to be able to find out for himself how much he is loved.  I received this text shortly thereafter: "Yes, let there be light when we lose faith and fall into darkness, hope i would have the feeling of everlasting joy as i read the holy bible.  God bless us."

Ted has been on my heart and mind as have many of my other students and friends.  Please continue to lift them up and ask that His Spirit would move through here and radically rock the lives of students, teachers, administration, and staff on this campus.  I also ask that that you would lift up our teams as well.   That we would unconditionally love in the capacity that He loves us and that He would impart wisdom and protection on us.  I gave a lesson this week on "purpose."  I was honestly a little scared about the whole thing, but i want the fear of God to determine my behavior, not man.  The souls of these kids could depend on it.

I heard a message by Francis Chan last week that greatly convicted me.  He began talking about the pain that Paul had for his fellow Jews that they would know their Savior.  How i want to ache for this lost world as he did.  That not only my eyes, but that the eyes of the entire Body would be opened to see what is really at stake.  I'm tired of taking things lightly.  I'm tired of thinking only of myself.  Am i gonna be caught off guard when Jesus comes back?  Or is he going to find me working hard and running this race as it was meant to be run?  He paid too great a price for me to give anything less...

"I have great sorrow and unceasing grief in my heart, for i could wish that i myself were accursed, separated from Christ for the sake of my brethren, my kinsmen according to my flesh..." 
Romans 9: 2-3

Hua Qiao, as seen from my apartment window

Updates:

1. New link added.  My teammate Abram updates a blog as well.  If you would like to view his blog click on the link on the right hand side that says "abram's blog."
2. I am hoping to upload some of the photos from my Hong Kong trip as well as some more pictures taking from my apartment window.  I hope this does not qualify me as a peeping tom.
3. I am trying to send out another newsletter, but i do not think it will make it before the holidays.  Please forgive me if this is an issue.

Sour Milk

After 3+ weeks I'm finally back and trying to think of everything that has happened during that time and even where to begin.  I am sorry for not doing my part on keeping regular updates.  There has been a lot going on, but it really doesn't excuse the fact that i haven't updated those who made great sacrifices to send me here.  The following is a very condensed version of what has happened since waking up in that hospital bed to over 3 weeks post op.

After waking up that Thursday afternoon in Canossa Hospital in Hong Kong, I felt kind of different.  Obviously the effect of the anesthetic was part of that, but i had a sense of carelessness with everything going on.  The doctor said it was a complete rupture or avulsion and that it would take about 8 months until i could start playing sports again.  Since he wanted to see me a week after the surgery i found a place to stay with another foreign teacher who was working in Hong Kong.  The room was in a shared building in a village in a much more rural part of Hong Kong known as the New Territories.  As i walked into that place i could feel the humidity and heat begin to have its effect on my already warm body.  And it was there that i would spend the next 5 nights not once leaving the building, save for taking the garbage out on the last night.   My computer had no access to internet and my room contained an A/C and a bed.  It was there that everything hit me.  I was alone in a foreign place, with a an injury i had not yet adjusted to,  unfamiliar with the kind stranger who was allowing me to live there, and having to depend on everybody else.  My pride was at an all time low and i had no idea how i was going to make it through one day much less a week.  The only one i had to turn to was Him, and though i tried to be good and read the Word and other stuff, i was really quite apathetic to everything going on.

I don't share these things so that you would pity me or feel bad, but that you can see the raw me.  My purpose before all of this was to shift the focus to Him and that this would be a totally different way to handle a new injury.  However, i think some of that was really my pride.  A self-righteousness that i prided myself in.  I will talk more about this later on.   Thankfully i was not alone in Hong Kong.  I had a great team leader who travelled with me until after my surgery and then the wonderful women of the organization's Hong Kong office who helped me greatly and gave so much of themselves.  Also, the gentleman i stayed with was very generous and i enjoyed the time that i was able to spend with him.

As if it couldn't come soon enough the time did pass and it wasn't as bad as i initially thought it was.  I saw the doctor, boarded the plane and took off for my much missed home in Changchun.  I was picked up at the airport by some much missed faces and i was finally in my own rock hard bed that i missed all too much.

The next night i spent time physically on my knees, which was a first since i had been injured.  As if my eyes had been opened, i suddenly realized that i had missed something.  Somehow in everything i lost sight of my Rock and my Redeemer.  I had been so caught up in myself that i had neglected the One who was there for me the whole time.  There was a humbling experience when i came back where i couldn't even share with a student about a simple passage he had been reading.  After that i felt completely and utterly stripped of everything i had labeled myself as.  Not just the pride in taking care of myself, but even the pride i had in my own walk.  I felt as if he stripped me bare before Him and i was forced to lean on Him for support and guidance.  One of my buddies that i greatly respect here said, "i used to feed people food, but i am now being fed milk." I couldn't agree more.  I felt as if that was exactly where i was.  I came to feed and to give of myself, but now i am the one requiring help.  To be honest, i don't think i have ever gone through anything more painful and challenging in my life.  It is not the physical pain, but the pain of my pride being reduced to next to nothing.  It hurts and there really is no other way around it.  He has been teaching me so much through it all and though i stumble and fall often, He is there to pick me up.  I love the verse in 2 Timothy 2:13 where Paul says "It is a trustworthy statement: for if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we deny Him, He also will deny us; if we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself."  I am so thankful for Jesus and for His great love for me.  I know i have so much more to lose, and He may decide to take it, but whatever the case, may the name of the Lord be praised!

I wish i could just stop there, but there are a lot of other things that have been happening.  Six days after coming back i began teaching my classes again and seeing the students that i missed so much.  While i was away my beloved friends and teammates covered my classes for me and gave of themselves so selflessly.  I am so thankful for their help and patience in all of this.  Most of those classes i had seen only once because of holidays and my untimely injury.  But i covered 6 of my 8 classes that week and then finished my first full week this past week.  I also decided to make the move up to the 6th floor.  There are no leaks (yet), it is much much warmer, and i have a beautiful view of the campus.  I also figured it would help condition my arms and right leg so i could make up for what was lacking in my left.  I have had the opportunity to eat with many of my students both in the dining hall and off campus.  I am so thankful to finally begin creating those relationships and do what i planned on coming here to do (He seemed to have other plans).  The need is great here, but i am so humbled, blessed, and thankful i can be a part of it.  Please continue to lift up Hua Qiao and our teams.  He is moving and going before us.  He has a heart for His people here in China and i want to do everything i can to make sure they know it!

Thank you for those who have kept in contact with me and encouraged me through all of this.  Thank you to those who have remembered me in their quiet times and petitioned that He would move mightily.  Thank you to those who have been faithful in giving of themselves financially and providing me a way to get here.  I ask that He would shower you with blessings for your faithfulness and support.  I am thankful to be part of the Body and i hope that you can share in this joy as well.

View From a Taxi Cab

Being an English teacher, I thought it would be hypocritical to not use what i learned in my high school English classes.  So, i've spent the last 45 minutes off and on trying to think of an opening sentence to "capture the reader's attention."  It's now close to 2 AM and i'm ready to go to bed.  I hope your attention is captured.

I have now been in Hong Kong for 3 days and have enjoyed my time in the city.  Although the view from the taxi's window is about as much as i can see of the city, i can assure you that the food is good and the hospital's are much better than in Changchun.  Other than the clinic and the hostel we are staying at, there isn't much else i have seen.  The city is much cleaner when comparing the trash on the streets and the streaks on the windows, but it is pretty overwhelming as well.  Billboards and advertisements mar the sides of buildings, buses, and anything else that can be seen by the human eye.  Overpriced watches, designer clothing, and body toning companies are all using sex to sell their products.  Pictures of near naked models with products that have nothing in common seem to be on everything.  I'm sure there is much, much more but again, this is my view from the taxi.  It's disgusting to think how much 'image' is emphasized.  That people would be so concerned with the few years they have here on this earth with watches and clothes and nice fancy things that eventually lose their shine and rust and rot away.

Thankfully not everything in this city is as discouraging.  It seems there are quite a few people who have set their priorities straight and are unafraid to show it.  Please lift up Hong Kong that He would use this city to be a beacon of light in China and the rest of Asia.

The real reason i am writing this blog is to update everyone on my medical condition.  As stated before, i have sustained an injury to my left foot from long jumping in a sports meet at my school.  After 2 Dr. appointments and 2 MRI's the verdict is that i have a complete rupture of my achilles tendon.  The tendon has torn away from the bone completely and surgery is necessary.  At 11 pm on Thursday (9 hours from now) i will be in surgery.

I would be lying if i said i wasn't completely worried or completely unafraid of the procedure.  I don't want to hide that i am nervous about this and don't know what the future has in store.  I know that the next few weeks and few months are going to be difficult with everything going on, but, i am completely confident that His grace is sufficient.  That He won't give me anything i can't handle.  I have been completely blessed and humbled by those who have committed to praying for me.  I am proud to be part of the body of Christ and to have the support that i do.  I am sharing this because i feel it necessary and part of my duty to share what is going on with my friends, family, and supporters.  I don't want to share this so i can evoke a certain emotion or a pity from the reader.  This is not some unfathomable tragedy or anything of the sort, but part of the path that He has laid before me.  Things happen that we can't explain.  I hope i can react to it with a joy that the world can't explain.


The uncertainty in how to start this post was the same as my uncertainty in how to end it.  But as i began writing i could see a sort of symbolism in it.  As cliche as it may sound, i feel that the picture of the taxi is quite accurate in my current spiritual life.  From where i sit right now, all i can see is what is outside my window.  I don't know where i am going or what route the Driver will take, but i do know my Driver, and i trust Him with my life.  It's a ride filled with uncertainty, discomfort, and sometimes pain, but i know the final destination and from what i've been told, it's worth it all...



Count it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of various kinds, knowing that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  And let perseverance have its perfect effect that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.        -James 1:2-4

Picture of the Post

Unfortunately its a poor quality picture taken out of a cab, but it is a sign of hope here in Hong Kong.

-jo

The Familiar Unfamiliar

Things had been going really well here at Hua Qiao.  I was finally able to run after 8 months, i had been building relationships with some Chinese students, and i was finally going to see my freshmen right before i had a week of vacation.  But there were some difficult things that began to occur.  My foot began to become increasingly painful, and i began identifying that i was easily angered, a sign of culture shock (thank you Abram for making that known to me).  I also had a difficult schedule crammed into two days before the big sports meet for our school.

There was a lot of stress going into this past week, but one of the things i was most worried about was this sports meet.  This event is a school wide competition where students and teachers are encouraged to participate and represent their departments.  It begins with a parade at 7:30 in the morning and ends around 4 in the afternoon.  The stadium surrounding the track is packed with 5,000 students and faculty watching the day's events.  Many of these events are the same as in track and field, but there are some that are relays like the 12 legged race.  All foreigners are expected to play a big part in these events and bring face to their department.  Since i love competition, i jumped at the opportunity to compete.  However, i began to experience more and more pain in my foot as the competition neared and i wrestled with other issues.  Would i be doing this for His glory, or would i quickly revert back to my own self-seeking desires?  These questions compounded the stress of the week, but i continued on and hoped that He would be magnified in my efforts.


The day of the competition finally came and we paraded around the track with students cheering and yelling for their teachers' attention.  The events soon followed and i found a seat next to some fellow office mates and students.  My first event was the long jump and i left the stands with ample time to warm up and relive those glory days of high school track.  After a decent warm up i headed to the long jump pit and began taking practice jumps, some of which i was quite pleased with.  It was finally time to start and i was the first competitor.  I began accelerating down the runway hoping to get a good mark.  Right before i planted with my right foot (my jumping foot) i planted my left (my bad foot).  As i was pushing off i felt a snap in my left foot and plowed into the sand.  I checked my Achilles and it seemed that the other major structures were accounted for, but my foot began to quickly swell.  A teammate and Chinese friend helped carry me off the field in an overly dramatic situation and into the nurse's station. 

Though painful, slightly discouraging, and frustrating, i was at peace knowing that He was in control of this situation.  I began to see that He could still be glorified, if not more, in this circumstance.  My Chinese friend who i had been cultivating a relationship with and even attended his birthday the night before was right by my side the whole time.  Since seeing my foot at the gym, he always asked how i was and kept saying how he was worried for me.  He was there to carry me out of the pit, wait by my side in the nurse's station, apply ice and medicine to my foot, and even hold up my leg so that i could elevate it.  It opened up opportunities to share.  I told him about the history of my foot and how i shouldn't even be doing what i'm doing.  "You're a miracle then."  "Yes, God has been gracious to me.  But even if i can't run or walk again, i'm ok with that because i'm only on this earth for 70 more years.  I won't be taking this injury with me." "You're very positive."  "Well Tim, He never gives us more than we can't handle.  I know i can walk through this with Him by my side."  From a past conversation he told me that his dad taught him money was his god because it provides security.  He later texted me and told me "God be with you," and even told one of my teammates that he was praying for me.  I do not say this in arrogance or to exaggerate a conversation, but rather to show how He works.  Since then he has texted me multiple times a day checking on me, bringing me food, movies to watch, and even coming across campus to walk me to the dining hall and hold his umbrella for me in the rain.  He has been a huge blessing and i am so excited to see where God takes this relationship.


On my way to the hospital scriptures began filling my head.  "His ways are not our ways..." Isaiah 55:8.  How could i put God in a box and expect Him to be magnified according to my own expectations? "Naked I came from the womb, naked I will return.  The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.  May the name of the Lord be praised!"  Job 1:21.  Who am i to call athleticism or health my own?  It should not and cannot be my identity because none of it even belongs to me.  And finally 2 Timothy 2:9, "And because I preach this Good News, I am suffering and have been chained like a criminal. But the Word of God cannot be chained."  Even though i am a broken vessel, His word is not broken yet can still be used through me.

These were all things going through my head and were of great comfort to me knowing that this is how i am to glorify Him during this time.  We made a frustrating trip to a Dr. at a hospital of which i will not elaborate on except for the fact that i miss western medicine.  Days passed and the swelling increased.  After a long and arduous process of flipping back and forth between locations, both my organization and insurance agree that it is best that i fly to Hong Kong to see an expert.  I leave Monday morning at 8 AM, exactly 6.5 hours from now.  I have been prayed for and seen Him improve my condition before my eyes.  Please continue to keep me in your prayers and believe that He will complete the work He started in me.  Also, please lift up my attitude so that my focus may remain on Him as well as for the hearts of those who are searching and that opportunities would be presented.


I am sorry for the incredibly long post, but i feel it is necessary to update those who have sacrificed so greatly to send me here.  I am so appreciative of your prayers and support and look forward to keeping you updated throughout this amazing trip here.  I plan on taking my camera with me to Hong Kong and will take pictures of the halls of the hospital if nothing else.  Not the way i had imagined i'd spend my holiday, but this reoccurring, unfamiliar setting is becoming more and more familiar.  I'm getting the hint that God likes to take us out of our comfort zones...




"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."       -2 Corinthians 12:9-10




-jo

Star Performers

It's 11:30 on this Sunday night in my apartment and I am trying to think of how I am going to summarize everything that has happened between now and my last post.  I apologize in advance for the length of this post, but I just want to be able to share everything that has been going on.  To make it easier, I will break it up into 2 separate posts.

After Mid-Autumn Festival our group was preparing to put together a performance for the Federation of the Women of Changchun, or something of that nature.  As foreigners, we were of course asked (and basically expected) to put together a performance by our Foreign Affairs Office at Hua Qiao (our school).  They committed to helping us and even picked out the songs we were to perform, one of which was "Jambalaya" with lyrics like "settle down far from town to get a pirogue, and he'll catch all the fish in the bayou, swap his mom to buy yvonne what she need-o, son of a gun we'll have big fun on the bayou."  It's scary what some people's perceptions of Americans are.  As bad as we wanted to sing that old American favorite, we decided to switch it for another Billboard buster "A Whole New World" from Aladdin.

The day finally came when we were to perform.  As we entered through the backdoor of the theatre, we found many other performers in costumes, rehearsing and applying make up in the dressing rooms.  As we peered out from behind the stage we were surprised to find that this was actually an event to be taken seriously.  It was too late to change anything but i was sure we were going to make fools of ourselves, representing the U.S. in the process.

The event finally began and we took our seats in the audience and watched the other performers until it was our turn.  There were a few performances that were... well, interesting to say the least, but i can attest that i did find it enjoyable.  There were a couple of performances that were very well put together and executed.  Soon it was our turn to take the stage and in my mind i had already placed us in last.  After all the stellar performances were finished 9 Amerian teachers took the stage and began to sing "A Whole New World."  I will note, however that we did sing it quite convincingly and with an 'above average' level of charisma.  The second and final song was "Auld Lang Syne," chosen by our FAO's.  We sang the verse twice in English and then to everybody's surprise, the American's began singing in Chinese.  I didn't spot any tears from where i was on the stage, but we did get the crowd clapping.  To top it off, we unfurled a banner with Chinese characters on it that translated "We love China, We love Changchun."  Had we not dropped it mid-song we may have added a point to our total, but what we lacked in professionalism we made up for in... i guess just being tall and white.  We earned the loudest applause and gained much 'face' for the school we were representing.  Of course there were others that were more deserving of this, everybody else in fact, but we embraced the praise and were thankful for it to finally be over.

Afterwards, we were taken to a delicious lunch with nearly everything on the table being edible, courtesy of our appreciative FAO's.  They thanked us for our performance and said that we could expect more of these in the future.... goodie.  Well, at least we had that behind us and could now focus on school the next day and the upcoming sports meet before National Holiday.  It's days like these that seem to fit the appropriate acronym "WIC," "When in China..."


-jo

Mid-Autumn Festival

I will throw out a disclaimer right now and apologize for my awkward writing style.  I have spent the whole day with students and have been talking to them in a way that is easy to understand, thus making me sound like a 4th grader.  I may sound slightly ridiculous, but most of you know that is fairly normal.  I just find it a little ironic though: I come to China to teach Chinese students to speak better English and my English, consequently, gets worse.

Anyways, I would love to share everything that has happened, but because there is so much I will focus on what has happened most recently.  This week the school has Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday off for Mid-Autumn Festival.  It is a Chinese traditional holiday centered around looking at the moon on Wednesday night and eating moon cakes knowing that everyone else in China is looking at the same moon.  Now, these moon cakes are given to, or at least eaten by,  everyone.  Even the teachers get a bag of moon cakes from the school.  You can find many interesting things when you bite into a moon cake like red bean paste, nuts and meat, and even egg yolks.  Yummm!  Well, not really, but it's very interesting to see how important they are here.  They are somewhat the equivalent to a Twinkie because of its long shelf life due mainly to the large amount of fat in each pastry as well as the preservation packets similar to those you would find in a new pair of shoes :).

So, this holiday is a big deal here and everyone celebrates and takes it seriously.  The actual holiday was last night and many of the freshmen throw a party in the lobby of their dorms.  Since I teach freshmen I thought it would be a great idea to show some support and participate.  Since Abram, my teammate, was already at one of these parties, I decided to meet up with him.  As I walk up and into the dorm I begin texting him to find out where he is.  As I look up mid-text I see half the room is looking at this random white guy who seems to be lost.  10 seconds into this relatively awkward situation I am asked by the event's emcee if I would perform a song for the group.  I try to explain that I don't know any songs.  An excuse which he does not buy.  I try to throw out many more excuse but persistence seems to be a 'virtue' every Chinese person is gifted with.  I finally consent and ask if they have any English songs on their computer.  Of course there weren't any, but not to worry.... I could sing without music..... and I was next up.  In short, I had 3 minutes to decide what song I was going to sing acapella to in front of 50 students.  It was then my turn, and Jordan took the stage.  The song of choice was my 'fall back' song"I Want It That Way" by none other than the American and Chinese sensations, "The Backstreet Boys."  As I am singing I see cell phones begin popping up taking pictures and recording the stellar performance I was putting on.  A few missed notes and a couple forgotten lines later, the performance was finished and I was given a seat of honor in front to watch the rest of the show.  The funny thing was that there were freshmen parties in multiple dormitories and my friend was in another one.  So I ended up walking into the wrong event looking for a friend who was not there, performing a song I was not prepared for, and doing all of this without knowing anybody.  I ended up making friends with the emcee and a couple other students.  In fact, they even called me today to go sing karaoke with them (a favorite Chinese pastime).  It was an unforgettable experience that I am sure will repeat itself all too soon.

Other than that, I spent my holiday looking for and buying a guitar, going to a gym off campus, and eating at an amazing "all you can eat meat" buffet.  I have had the privilege of spending a lot of time with students and have had some interesting talks with them.  Thankfully, these talks have been quite common among our teams with both students and coworkers.  I can't emphasize enough the power of pryr and the doors He is opening.  Thank you for your continued support and I hope to keep these updates coming. I will try to keep all future posts shorter and my English in a more presentable manner :).  Blessings from China!

Picture of the Post:

Ronald McDonald and his contagious personality in central Changchun

 

 

-jo

Email Update # 2 (Sent 9/4/2010)

It's hard to believe that it has been nearly a month since I left the states for this country 9 time zones away.  Time has felt quite different over here, almost like it runs on a different kind of clock.  Whatever the case, much has happened during my first month here.  3 weeks were spent at a hotel in Beijing where our team underwent training, training, and more training.  The preparation was long and arduous, but it was well put together and I believe prepared us as best as it possibly could for what lay ahead.  I can't pretend like there wasn't any fun involved either.  We all had the amazing privilege to visit the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square.  It was simply incredible to stand in so many places full of history, nearly 4,000 years to be exact.  Anyways, we have had great opportunities to visit these amazing places as well as eat very cheap in many Chinese restaurants and even have a night out on the town singing karaoke with the team.  If you would like to see any of these pictures, many are posted on my facebook and should be available to those who do not have an account.  I am looking into posting more photos onto a photo blog, but I have not got around to it yet.

There was a lot to do Beijing and many friendships were made, but at the end of it all we had to say goodbye to the other teams and head our own ways.  After a 6 hour train ride from Beijing to Changchun, we finally arrived at our school on Sunday and began unpacking and settling in to prepare for our first day of teaching on Wednesday.  It turns out that the school wanted us to begin on Monday, so after some scrambling and throwing things together we were 'ready' for Monday.  I didn't feel to nervous about it until I walked some of my friends to their classes and watched as they helplessly were led to the 'point of no return.'  My first class was in an hour and a half and I had that much time to begin planning my escape.  The time finally came for me to step into the classroom and after a couple of minutes, I realized they really weren't bloodthirsty and I began to settle into teaching mode.  I taught a total of 3 classes this week and will teach more this next week.  I made many mistakes and I will continue to do so, but I am confident He will continue to mold me into a man and teacher after His own heart.  It turns out I am teaching freshmen and will not begin teaching my official classes for another 3 weeks until my students get back from mandatory military training, but I will continue substituting for teachers and teaching my afternoon English Corners during this time.

During our time here at Hua Qiao, we have already had a lot of fun.  We went out to eat at a Korean restaurant last night with some students and then went to a coffee shop of "like-minded" people.  At lunch, we played full court basketball for an hour with some other teachers and ended up losing at the end due to poor fitness.  It won't happen again!  Supposedly we are supposed to perform some kind of song on Thursday in front of all the teachers so please remember us during that time.  I look forward to the stories that will come from that.

There is so much more I want to share, but I will have to send it out in my next email.  Please continue to 'lift up' both myself and my team in your daily conversations.  He has been so amazingly faithful and I cannot tell you how excited I am to see what He has planned for this year.  We have already had the opportunity to meet a few students and I know many more will be coming into our lives soon.  Please ask that we would love as He loves, and that He would be our priority and our focus above all else.  That we would shine so brightly that those around could not help but notice something different about us.


'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'  This is the first and greatest commandment.
Matthew 22:37-38


-jo

Email Update #1 (8/25/2010)

Hey everyone!  It's most likely been a few weeks since I have talked to you, but I wanted to fill you in a little on what has been transpiring during that time.  I have been in Beijing since August 10 going through training with the rest of the China Teaching Fellowship teachers.  It has been a difficult couple weeks due to the full schedule and demanding curriculum, but I feel much more prepared.  Thankfully, it has not been all business.  We have had the privilege to visit the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, Tienanmen Square, and eat some pretty amazing food.  Unfortunately, not all the food has been amazing and has done things to me that I would prefer to not repeat again.  I am enjoying getting to know all of the teachers, but I am especially grateful growing closer with the guys on my team.  We had a meeting with the president of the organization yesterday and went to dinner with him last night.  He spoke to us for a good amount of time sharing in detail what the organization is, what it stands for, and the amazing things He has done through them.  I can't tell you how refreshing it was to hear his words.  I am so encouraged and that much more ready to impact the the campus for Him.  I don't want to say much more because I have to keep it interesting in my upcoming newsletter, but I just wanted to keep you informed and thank you for your support.  Thank you again for keeping me in your conversations with Him and please continue to do so.  It is vital to His work here in China.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
-Ephesians 6:12


-jo