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"?
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 DragonsThe 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment