Singin' in the sunshine!

Well here it is, my last night here in China. I am so excited to go home(but dreading the actual 30 hr. journey) as I miss my family. But this has been such an amazing experience that I am sad to leave as well. I am starting to understand some of the language and learning a few words and there is still so much to see and do. I am sure that if God wants me to come here again it will happen as he has shown me time and again that we are in this together!

This was my last week of working with teachers and so Maria and I had some time off for sightseeing and relaxing before we leave. So Saturday we decided to go back to Gulangyu to see the rest of the island as we only saw about half the first time we were there. The first adventure was the Rolex girl who followed me from the drop off point to halfway across the road...her price started at 200 RMB (about $30) and got down to 20 RMB (less than $3) and I couldn't get her to leave me alone! NO I DIDN'T BUY ONE! Then it was time to get on the ferry. The first time we went we didn't buy tickets as you pay on the return trip. This time, however, we were told to go get our tickets before boarding. We thought that was odd but we don't speak the language so we went ahead and bought them (15 RMB is about $2). We were on board the boat and the captain was making announcements (In Chinese of course) and people started renting binoculars. Definitely not like the first trip...Maria and I had to laugh - we had asked if this was the ferry to Gulangyu and were told yes...but this hadn't happened last time...what was going on? As it turned out it was a 40 min trip around the island...but luckily some of the narration was in English and we got some good pictures and then dropped off on the island anyway! Whew!
The National Hero(can't pronounce his name) that fought many battles for the country.View from the ferry.

We did some shopping and had a leisurely lunch. Then went to the aquarium. There were some things we hadn't seen before and we really enjoyed it.
Isn't this guy from "Finding Nemo"?

Sea Dragons

The highlight of the day came after the aquarium when we were sitting in the park and resting. An elderly woman came over and sat on the bench next to Maria and started fanning her. She then offerred Maria some peanuts. All we knew how to say to her in Chinese was thanks. Next the woman started singing "Jesus Loves Me" in Chinese so being the good music therapists that we are we joined in and sang in English. She then sang "Silent Night" and "Amazing Grace" We were pretty amazed as well! The next thing we knew there were 2 more elderly women in wheelchairs placed in front of the bench and another woman came and sat by me. They got out Chinese hymn books and started singing together. If we didn't know the tune, we listened but if we did than we sang in English or hummed along if we didn't know the words. It was an awesome experience to be sharing God's love with complete strangers in a country that we thought it was forbidden! After about an hour the daughter of one of the women showed up and told us that the 4 women that we were singing with were all in the nursing home on the island and had been friends for many years. They had sung in the church choir together!!! Two of the women had been school teachers, one a nurse and the first one that started it all was a singer! The nurses came over and were saying something to the mother and her daughter told me that they wanted her to practice walking but she didn't like to walk since her stroke. So I started singing with her and she walked the whole distance that they asked of her! Then I had to explain the healing powers of music and why it is so important for stroke survivors. Words cannot describe the feeling of that day. Another sign from God that I am right where HE wants me to be. And another blessing to carry heart. So amazing GOD!

Sharing peanuts!

Singin in the Sunshine!

Sunday was a very quiet and relaxed day hanging out by the university. And resting from the long day on Sat.

Monday's adventure will take an entire blog and I need to pack as we depart tomorrow (wed) for the journey home. Please pray for traveling mercies and good weather as we are experiencing the remnants of a typhoon.

It's a small world after all!

I have now been in China for 20 days - almost 3 full weeks. I am learning so much about myself...I like air conditioning and ice water and soft beds...I miss my family like crazy...but I love Chinese food...I love the work that I am doing here...and I love the feeling that I am in the right place at the right time!

God has shown me that time and again on this trip. There are other teachers coming in to this program to share ideas and learn from each other. This week I had the pleasure of meeting a friend of a friend. It seems that we were both mentored by our dear friend Steve Smyth. It was pure joy to talk to each other and share memories of Steve and the profound impact he had on each of our lives. And to think that we met each other half way around the world!!! It truly felt like the angels were at work here in Xiamen. This is me with my new friend Steve Hufford.

Friday night the city was hit by the remnants of a typhoon from Taiwan and it was fascinating to see the sheets of rain pouring down. Similar to a severe monsoon in the desert.

On Sat. Maria and I hung out in the main shopping district called Jongshanlu (I probably spelled that wrong) We shopped until we dropped, ate great food and even ran into some of our new friends. And of course, posed for pictures with the statues!

Sunday we visited the Nanpuoto Temple and were amazed by the intricacy of the buildings, the statues and artwork as well as the dedication of the people to leave their offerings of incense, money, fruit, flowers and candles.

I was a rude American and snapped one of the best pictures of the day of the inside of one of the Temples!

We enjoyed getting rained on as we walked around the Xiamen University campus and planned for our final week of working and then the sight seeing we will do next weekend!

Stay tuned for more pictures!

A week in Longyan

It was a very busy week in beautiful Longyan. It is on mainland China about 2 hours away from Xiamen in a valley surrounded by beautiful green mountains. I had the privalege to meet wonderful teachers that truly love the children that they work with and truly wanted to learn from me. They were inspiring for me and I learned a lot from them. It was very hot, humid and rainy so I got a bad cold. That made it very hard for me to think on my feet and I don't feel like I accomplished as much as I wanted. We did some sightseeing and ate excellent food. One of the teachers invited us to her home (in a village where her family has lived for about 200 years!) to make Jiaou Zu (JOW tzi) otherwise known as potstickers or dumplings. YUM!!! I am in Xiamen this week working with another group of teachers and Maria just left for Longyan for the week. I am missing my wonderful family and home (tho not the heat) and praying for good health this week!

1.The mountain top in Longyan - the locals loved looking at the foreigners!

2. Looking out over Longyan -- gorgeous!

3. Making Jiaou Zu

Back in Xiamen, Saturday, Maria and I had an adventure starting at the gorgeous 2000 stone park and botanical gardens and then shopping - fun attempting to bargain in a foreign language!

This is me "playing" an 18th century traditional instrument!

Good Morning from China,

It is 5am on Sunday (7/6/08), and I am wide awake - the traffic on the info superhighway is low at this hour so I wanted to tell you about my sightseeing adventures.

Maria and I braved the language barrier (Chinese is sooo hard to learn) and traveled to Gulangyu (goo-long-you) island yesterday - it is also called piano island. There are two piano museums filled with pianos from the 18th - 20th century --- unfortunately we couldn't take photos of them but it was hard to see so many beautiful instruments and not be able to play them!

We found an English speaking tour guide and saw most of the island until we were completely worn out! Here are a few of the pictures.

The Water Gardens here are amazingly beautiful - the pictures don't do justice to them but rest assured that every detail has been lovingly added! During High tide the water covers much of the garden.. thus the name.

There are many western style buildings on this island as well - it was home to many foreign consulates for many years and there is evidence of any different cultures existing together.This is a beautiful church built by the Spanish in the late 1800's

This is a view of Gulangyu from the bay toward sunlight rock (it was too hot to hike up there but we will try to get there again before we leave).

Maria and I treated ourselves to an amazing (and expensive )lunch. Fresh crab that melted in our mouths and the best jumbo tiger shrimp that I have ever had. We felt like we had died and gone to heaven!!!

All the food here has been absolutely delicious - so far no snakes or snails...LOL

We have a busy day today - we are meeting some other tourists that will be returning to the states and spend some time hearing about their adventures. Then this week I will travel with my friend's daughter (reminds me so much of my own girls - what a treat!) to another part of the province where I will get to meet some teachers and learn about their classes. Then I will see some mountain areas. Maria will be staying here with our friends.

There was a 4.0 earthquake here but Maria and I didn't feel it as we were on the ferry to the island. I did feel an aftershock last night - but all is well!

My Father has blessed me with an extended family that is taking excellent care of me during my adventure. And an extended family at home to remember to pray for safety and welcome me with open arms upon my return.

Time to go back to sleep! Thanks for visiting my site!

China Girl

Hello From China,

Just a quick note to let you all know that Maria and I arrived, safe and sound. So did our luggage.

It is very hot and humid here but very green and beautiful. Haven't had any time to sight see as we are going through orientation and trying to get over jet lag.

I can receive e-mail but for some reason cannot reply. I will try to figure it out and respond when I can.

Thanks to all of you for your interest and support for this adventure. I will write more as soon as I have time...

Happy 4th - enjoy the fireworks!