For months we have been blocked by the Chinese government, but now......we are back
4:41 AM
It was great to be back in the countryside to teach our lively English class. This time we stayed on fifth floor for the best view of the village and surrounding mountains we've had. The class paid remarkably close attention to the story of Joshua with visual aids.
Our family divided to attend two different meetings last night. Annelisa and I found ourselves in a very modest home in the neighboring village. I was struck both while walking there and while in service by the timelessness and simplicity that marks the countryside. Beside the road a white-haired old man in peasant blue, clutches with one hand the kind of plow his ancestors have used from time immemorial as the plodding water buffalo demonstrates his skill at cultivating the field. In the meeting, the ladies in their drab clothing, simple hairstyles, and weather worn faces might be peasants of another age, another land, I thought--- nothing unique to distinguish them. Not that there was nothing special about them: there was the earnestness and the glow of the Divine, enhancing the plain faces. The speaker was announced as the service progressed and one was startled to have no time to prepare... just as well, for short and sweet was the result, as we shared on God's love in suffering: how we are privileged to help bear His Cross.
12:12 AM
Here are some pictures taken while we were in THP , one today of an embedded taxi, and two (also today) showing our newest mother with Baby Rachel, who has to be the best behaved infant I've met.
It was a first, celebrating Mothers' Day with our church group, and now they are eager for Father's Day! My most wonderful surprise was a hand-made card tastefully displaying the following poem which the parents of the author found deeply moving:
GOD KNEW
God knew that sometimes along life's way
people could get quite trying
'Twould be hard to make it through the day
without breaking down and crying.
AND SO GOD GAVE YOU PATIENCE.
God knew it was hard to understand,
when things weren't done just right;
When people shunned your every command,
then bemoaned their own sad plight.
AND SO GOD GAVE YOU WISDOM.
God knew it'd be all too easy
to walk away in despair,
While others lay sick and needy
demanding your constant care.
AND SO GOD GAVE YOU COMPASSION.
God knew it would often be tempting
to simply just give it up,
When in spite of your faithful teachings,
people remained so corrupt.
AND SO GOD GAVE YOU TENACITY.
God knew how difficult it would be
to stay so cheerful and nice,
When people wronged you so carelessly,
much more than once or twice.
AND SO GOD GAVE YOU FORGIVENESS.
God knew that every single day,
others needed your acceptance,
Though it would be easy to turn away,
Because of their defiance.
AND SO GOD GAVE YOU UNCONDITIONAL LOVE.
God knew after these traits He did choose,
that what He had done was good;
And these virtues must be put to use,
like every talent should.
AND SO GOD GAVE YOU ME.
LOVINGLY, YOUR DAUGHTER
That made my day....a day partly spent in talking with some whose homes are falling apart. Recently so many homes are under intense attack, that it underlines the importance of home life according to God's pattern and by His infinite grace.
2:37 AM
Children, I'm sorry to say this quiz is probably too hard for you, but maybe not too challenging for your parents...and it's SHORT. We have all read the Bible for years and yet some interesting details escape us. But are we all ready to check up on a few of those details? Let's see if anyone can get all the answers by the time I figure out what first prize will be! (Rub hands together) Let's go!
FAMILIES OF THE BIBLE
1. When Obededom allowed the ark to stay in his home, the Lord blessed him; what exactly was included in his blessing?
2. Who named his daughter after Sarah?
3. Who was Rahab's husband? Her son?
4. What seer had seventeen children for song?
5. To which baby did Nathan give a special name "because of the Lord"?
6. Which brother of Caleb was a posthumous baby?
7. Please name five of David's nephews.......and you're finished! PTL!
9:03 PM
It was wondrously refreshing to be in the splendid bamboo-clad mountains of Anji County again. It was both pleasant and strange staying in the comfortable THP hotel beside Ground Zero....where not long ago stood our home of thirteen years. As I strolled along by the stream, the stream of memories came-- of walks with little children skipping beside me, or a pet at my heels; but more than that, my heart was melted with memories of gracious touches of God's love that repeatedly made a way for me where there was none. My heart was made to sing, indeed.
Our interesting English class consists of twenty-two engineers, nearly all from a company on the border with North Korea. The questionnaire about their interest in learning English yielded replies like: "Of course I am interesting" "I am very interesting." "It takes many amused memory..." "I like learning English but the results have been bad." "I revolt learning to write English." Exams? "No, very not." "Exam is insipid." Why do you want to learn English? "I wonder to be more handsome." One student in his oral introduction wished me a happy Mother's Day, quite to my surprise. The holiday is catching on in China!
Our purchasing of a fifth floor apartment with a fantastic view of Romantic Valley took some dramatic twists as competition moved in, we held back, and then the Lord gave us what had seemed lost. The quiet of the mountains away from the big city should be relaxing, when we finally get the place finished and furnished. So now you know some of what has been occupying our time during this period of silence! And yes, there was another little foundling, a baby sparrow who was very cute, but unwilling to live in our cage till his wing healed. He worried himself to death trying to get out of the cage that was his protection from hungry cats and other menaces. Like "Twete", don't I sometimes chafe at the very cage that is protecting unsuspecting me? I resolve to be more thankful for restrictions God uses!
5:29 AM
The great privilege of hearing anointed messages From "America's Oswald Chambers" was a gift of my youth. One of his wonderful messages-- on Psalm 23-- waits to speak to your heart, as it has to mine:
DELIVERED FROM DISCONTENT
The "wanting" nature of the carnal heart is never satisfied, for it is the very substance of discontent. Its desires are deceitful. The more it is humored, the more drastic and driving are its demands. Finally the physical body is consumed in the flame of dissatisfaction. The competition which causes one person to exceed another comes from some inner distress.
The contented sheep depends on the shepherd to supply his needs; and whether the sheep knows it or not, he should be worth his care. Does it change the thought to say, "I am the Lord's sheep"? A person might feel as if all the responsibility rested on the Lord when he says, "The Lord is my Shepherd." But if I am the Lord's sheep, I am not my own; therefore it is not for me to plan for my own comforts or to seek to evade hardships.
To lie down in green pastures is the opposite of that nature which feels that it never has enough. It would be strange for a person to say in the midst of great opportunities: "I have enough. I shall let some other person find his share." The still waters reveal the undisturbed peace of the Lord's heart. "If any man thirst let him come unto me, and drink."
Man was led to seek his own glory when he took the path of unrighteousness, and he lost his soul. Now the Lord restores our soul and leads us in the paths of righteousness which reveal the power of His name. All that is worthwhile is what He has done for us. The Apostle Paul said, "By the grace of God I am what I am."
Divine contentment never fears what is included in the path of righteousness. The contented sheep would as quickly die for the Lord as to express abounding life in worship and praise. It may seen as if we had missed the way; but the Shepherd comes in due season, even if, as in Job's case, it appears that He has forgotten us. When He says, "Here I am," the trusting heart relaxes in His care.
To find soul food where the enemy expected that you would perish, proves that you took the right way through the valley when death threatened to lay claim on you. The Shepherd knows that our poor old heads need a fresh anointing from time to time to enable us to think clearly. Those touches of His power cause the heart to run over in gratitude for His care.
I goodness and mercy are following us, we are following the Lord; for we appreciate what He has meant to us only as we learn to depend fully on Him. If all that He has been to us is increasing within us, we are on our way to fine the fullness of Redemption which shall last forever. ---E. A. Gafford
1:38 AM
Childhood is lacking something without animals. Yesterday's topic brought back memories from the long-ago. A tiny tot with a big imagination, I was playing in the orchard with my brothers when the family cat came toward us, her voice raised emphatically. The boys were all for getting on with the game, but as the cat persisted and insisted, I finally followed her. She would go a few steps, look back and mew at me and then repeat the sequence. Thinking she had something important on her mind, I trotted after her until we came to the cellar. She went inside, climbed the wall, and entered a hole in it. Excitedly I checked the hole....nothing there! Mystified, I went out and climbed into the sandbox where my untamed mind scurried into sand castles-- but not before noting that the cat had followed me out and was resting in the sun nearby. I wondered whether the cat was disappointed or satisfied; I was both. When the sun began to dip behind the mountain, I glanced up and blinked my eyes in disbelief. A damp little creature bobbed its head beside the cat. I jumped up for closer inspection of the youngest creature I had met. As I pranced along, the mother cat took her kitten in her mouth and carried it to the cellar. Eyes round with wonder, I saw her climb the wall and take her kitten inside the hole she had for her nest. To this day I cannot explain why that cat wanted to share such a special time with such a small child; but it made a deep impression. From then on, cats were my friends.
It also set the stage for another occasion, another cat, another year. Up early bouncing along in the dewy grass, I met our yowling cat, who looked like the lease on her ninth life was running out. When I spoke to her, she ran a short way and looked back and called to me. This time, it didn't take long for me to figure out that I should follow. The cat made a beeline for the neighbors' barn, where I hung back, reluctant to trespass. The cat insisted that this was urgent, so I braved up and followed her in amongst the hay bales. She descended into a crevasse and I heard a chorus of newborn voices demanding her attention. I was eager to report my news to the family, and point out the hideout. But as the day advanced, I realized something was very wrong: the mother cat was gone! It took till nightfall to persuade my mother of this, and get permission to bring the kittens home, but at last I succeeded. Much to our delight, there were four kittens, one for each of us children; (mine was Little Boy Blue)....but the care of all them was all mine! A doll bottle was just right to feed them, accompanied by songs for lullabies; but as fun as that was,I felt guilty that my childish forgetfulness, and frequent inability to awake for night feedings made for inadequate mothering. Happily, the kittens didn't seem to mind. Soon they could be seen riding around in toy trucks, or toddling stiff-legged with tails straight up. Best of all was the moment when I went to get the kittens for a feeding and would find the wide baby eyes of Little Boy Blue gazing up with the adoring look reserved only for a mother. Responsibility and all, I loved every minute. After a month away, the thin mother cat amazed us by reappearing, when, with lavish purring, she thanked me for rescuing her babies. I still needed to give bottles after that, and she did the rest. Then, like Little Boy Blue in the poem, "angels came to awaken" the little fellows--actually it was a rude awakening by DOGS,-- and a heartbreaking ending to my baby-fostering adventure.
2:20 AM
Balaam's donkey, Jonah's whale, Peter's rooster, David's sheep,Daniel's lions, Noah's dove....just a few instances of how God wove an animal into the theme of someone's life. I've had on my mind lately the special way God uses animals to accomplish His purposes in a life, and considering that this may not have ceased with Bible times.In fact, I was able to discover an interesting motif in my own case of a tiny kitten! Yes, a helpless baby kitten was used in my saddest of days and my gladdest of days: with a death and with a birth. Want to hear how?
The saddest day began with shocking news of sweet little Susana's death. Years before when she and her older sister were star pupils in the Sunday School we started, she had led in broken-hearted prayer for her family, as her mentally- unstable parents often quarreled. Just entering her teens now, she found no way out but suicide. Stunned by the news, we asked ourselves why we had not reached out to her, and were overwhelmed with the reality that it was too late to do anything. At that moment kitten cries had me rushing outside-- only to find three-week old Mimi had fallen from the fourth floor balcony! You see, Mimi was the offspring of an abandoned cat, who in turn abandoned her soon after birth. Hearing her desperate cries one night I had climbed out of bed trekked out in the dark in search of the little orphan, and tended, fed, bundled, and soothed her extreme distress....and not slept all night. Since we were soon leaving for America, a few days later I taught a friend of Christian's to feed Mimi with a syringe, and he adopted her. Now she was mortally wounded, and being able to minister to this severely hurting creature, so fittingly similar to the painful case we were grappling with, was used to help handle our feelings of helpless grief. After Mimi's life ceased, we went to Susana's funeral, an ordeal for everyone. I helped transfer Susana into the coffin, which was so narrow, her hands shot up, spilling the toys she was holding, reminding that it is not possible to take anything with us out of this world. The parents made frantic dashes toward the coffin periodically, only to be restrained; the sister fainted, and Frank carried her out. In the midst of the wild grief, the dear godly grandmother was upheld. And so was I, scarcely realizing how God had used the sad accident of a dying kitten to prepare for this agonizing hour.
The gladdest day was preceded by an incident four weeks earlier, in which we had gone to pray with a seriously injured man. I was called away from the prayer session to the living room to help with the birth of a kitten. The mother cat was tied in a pan so that her placentas could be harvested for medicine for the injured man; but the second kitten was breech, and all efforts to extract its head had failed. After prolonged effort, I had a dead kitten in my hands. Thinking how valuable would be the experience, I put everything into resuscitation, and was rewarded a few minutes later with a gasp that was followed eventually by normal breathing of a healthy kitten. Fast forward four weeks into May, and I am sitting on a train bunk, with my Bible beside me, dwelling on (and in) Galations 5: "walking in the Spirit". Just then there came over the loudspeaker the first of three calls for a doctor in the next car. On the third call, it was specified that a birth was imminent....and that's all I needed to hear. A minute later I was entering the curtained- off end of the sleeper car where indeed a birth sounded imminent, though I had a hard time believing it could be that quick, with the givens of a Chinese first child ( that it was an "illegal" second I did not learn till later.) The mother said the baby was a few weeks early, but it felt big enough; yet something about the position puzzled me. I put it from my mind as I realized it was time to welcome the baby NOW! I was in for a big surprise, for this little one literally put her best foot forward! A footling breech, and no back up! There was no panic, just Galatians 5 to stand on. Before the second foot was located, in came the dad from a hard seat (cheaper) car. He sighed and silently paced, until I asked him to lift his wife into an upright position. It appeared that the baby girl had her hands up praising the Lord...then, after those were out, came the perilous part: the head! Clear in my memory was the experience with the breech kitten, which I now saw the value of. Calling aloud on the Name of the Lord, I then marveled at how He undertook for us. Joy spread all through the train as the news was relayed that the baby had arrived safely. The parents asked me to name her, and almost at once I chose "Meiyi" for the "Beautiful Will of God". Honoring the event, and connecting it with the most wonderful of all births, the sweet strains of "Silent Night" wafted through the train as I cuddled the freshly- dressed, sweet Meiyi.
Reflect: what animal has God used in your life? Would you share?
11:09 PM
Shall I start with the mystery/detective story, or save that for last? Oh, all right, then.......here goes: Emerging from the mountain area in this morning's light drizzle, I met a young, agitated woman hurrying along with a towel-wrapped bundle cradled against her heart. My attention arrested, I looked after her, and saw her peeking furtively into one end of the treasured bundle, and my curiosity was piqued. Was it alive? I lurked where I could watch her go up the steps, but she didn't. Instead she veered off into the bushes, where she crouched down, but seeming aware that she was being watched, she moved farther away and was next sighted (from my new vantage point on the mountain), under some trees, bent down with her back to me. I watched and prayed, and suddenly, as though she sensed eyes on her, she turned and shot a glare straight up at where I stood. After that, I was more discrete; occasional glimpses showed her bowed as though in despairing grief. Then she simply vanished. Descending rapidly, I located the mystery site, where I was sure the mystery bundle could be found; but a careful search revealed nothing at all. Rudimentary detective skills (no use playing Sherlock Holmes!) turned up no treasure, nothing, not a twig out of place. I hated to leave, in case something had been buried alive.... So I picked up a stick, and looked for a place to excavate. I promptly chose one, and as I dug I imagined the site formed an ever-so- slight mound. Shortly the excavation yielded something brownish, which at first I did not recognize as The Towel. THE TOWEL...this was it!! Then as I shakily unearthed the finding, a horror of discovering something sinister gripped me, only to be superceded by the need to proceed. In an instant the mystery was solved, and there in The Towel lay exposed.....the body..... of a large dark bird of the talking variety, and with it all the feeding and watering equipment for the bird to eat, drink, and be merry in its after-life! Aiya! Only this and nothing more! Abrupt end of story.
An intriguing custom of this culture is for older men to carry around their birds in cages (a strictly masculine pastime.) On a nice morning, the woods near where the beloved bird lies buried are full of the delightful music of birds caroling from a multiplicity of cages hung here and there in the trees.
The last couple of days were full. Annelisa baked banana cut-out cookies with her little boy pupils, (who had a great time judging by the looks of the floor), we went to two mountain areas to look at apartments, Christian and Annelisa took their Chinese exam at the university, and we had a feast with friends. At the exam, Christian was seated between a man from South Korea and one from North Korea, the latter bending a look of disapproval on his American passport. The children reported that they were the only English speakers, and that some marveled that "Americans speak Chinese so well" ;). The feast we were invited to was designed to allow us to see a sister we have been prevented from seeing, (though we know her well), who is leaving after being in the city for months. Mysteriously (and if I get to the bottom of this mystery, don't think I'll be telling you).... she was not at the feast, which featured huge spicy drumsticks (goat...with the flavor of Muslim shish kabobs, mmm!). There was opportunity to counsel the daughter, who has fallen away and now attends the official church (not to mention being mixed up in the mystery.) One brother told her about his grandparents going to prison rather than joining the approved church, the grandfather enduring torture during his 25 years of incarceration. There was a special sense of God giving words.
Among our neighbors, there was a wedding and a funeral over the weekend. The former meant that our eardrums and nerves were nearly shattered by the roar of hundreds of firecrackers right below us, while the latter meant that we were awakened at exactly 2:37 this morning by the cacaphony of gongs, cymbals, and a dirge based seemingly on a three-note scale. Wedding decorations are not about a church, but rather a car (or two) which are beautifully adorned with flowers in patterns like a heart. And what the heathen funeral processions are really about, I have never understood-- and Frank declines to enlarge on anything so "demonic". Oh, the hopeless darkness, without our Light and eternal Hope! We are so little aware of the magnitude of our precious blessings.
7:22 PM
Perched upon the porch of a tomb on the mountain with my Bible this morning, I was surprised by a skinny, golden civet approaching (resembled the smaller unidentified creature I saw here in Asian village). The mountains are dotted with ancient tombs (Christian saw one dated earlier than the American revolution) but soon all are to be removed....and then I wonder where people will take their food offerings for the dead? Right after Resurrection Day I found myself seated on the stone of an empty tomb, recalling the song from the day before: "An empty tomb is there to prove my Saviour lives..."
As I returned home, a man scurried toward me waving a hand to detain me, until he could pronounce me a rich foreigner. "A WHAT?" "You have lots of money," he explained as he sped away. I looked after him with the feeling of a lost opportunity. Gone was my chance to explain that as a child of the resurrection, my riches were not of this world, that the American Dream is self-realization by Mammon inevitably morphing into the American Nightmare. On the other hand, the Heavenly Vision is Christ-realization by the Cross leading, just as surely, to Glory.
2:34 AM
Way-out-of-it as we are, even we (not to mention the locals) didn't know it was Fuhou Jie (Resurrection Festival)-- until an e-mail this morning alerted us! That is really what you call "behind the times" ! China has not yet taken up with celebrating Easter ( a pagan word better replaced by the Chinese name, wouldn't you say?). I already had my Sunday School lesson on Joshua planned, but I did add a little on the resurrection, teaching a chorus to go with it, nobly assisted by Annelisa. I think eventually "Easter" will catch on here, but it is likely to be as pagan as Christmas, which is all about the jolly fat red elf. We were at the official church bookstore yesterday, and "Father Christmas" (as they call Santa) was as well represented as Jesus, even there. I've gathered from students in the past that the general vague impression is that the "Christmas Baby's" parents were "Father Christmas" and "Merry Christmas". We are surely better off skipping a pagan Easter! On the other hand, one year we had an international worship service where we greeted each other after the old custom with "He is risen!" answered by "He is risen indeed!" That and singing about the resurrection with people from all over the globe (heavy to Africans, and who can sing like they can!) was thrilling.
Annelisa's cookie baking class did cut out crosses yesterday---they surely enjoyed their first baking lesson, as few Chinese have an oven, or know how to bake. The mothers of the girls joined in as enthusiastically as the girls, practicing English right along with them.
I could mention that we hiked a couple of miles to the service through the
forest...of high-rises. Some new faces were in the service, including the driver from Christian's trip last Monday--he had listened with interest to the Gospel then, and promised to come to church. And he did, entering right in. After the service we enjoyed a meal together, different ones having brought some unique dishes including a kind of root from Yunnan. By the way, to those of you who have read Isobel Kuhn's books, or "MOUNTAIN RAIN" ( a must-read about what God did through J. O. Fraser) will be quite interested to know that our group is planning to hand-carry an offering to the Lisu tribe in Yunnan to help with the printing of their new songbook. (Out of the abundance of their poverty, the Lisu Christians generously contributed to earthquake relief last year.) After the dinner, many of us could be found sitting in the grass fellowshiping ,the sun beating upon us, while trickles of rain doused us from little spouts in the heavens, and myriad clusters of wisteria delighted us with their heady fragrance. The center of God's will is the place to be, even when you're missing out on favorite traditions! REJOICE... HE IS RISEN INDEED!
1:12 AM
Muslims call them "laqeet" : "a baby picked up from death", and finding and nurturing such is as high as privilege gets (and what could be sweeter, evoking as it does God picking us up from the trash heap!) Our privilege has been high, but not quite that high, for we have welcomed a number of foundlings since coming to this province; alas, all of them were furry or feathered! Our rewarding work with the "orphelins" always inspired hope of greater things, yet our small-creature opportunites have left a parade of memories.
The morning after we arrived in Taizhou to teach kindergarten in each of the tri-cities, I came upon a tiny tri-colored kitten in a trash heap. I picked her up and carried her home, where, hiding her in my cupped hands, I said, "Surprise!" and presented her to the children. "Surprise" became a bottle baby, barely surviving her bad case of fleas, but growing so lively she was mistaken for a monkey. She led a merry life with us, but outside it was different. A man kicked her into the pond, and when I chided him with the words "Don't you know cats can't swim?" he laconically pointed at Surprise who was swimming for shore! Not long after, she came home with a bleeding head and compound fracture that left her somewhat lame in spite of our best care.
Caromel was a desperate abandoned kitten I found by the roadside, and Licorice, Frank rescued near the same spot a week later. Licorice, who was the scrawniest, most pathetic specimin of kitten we ever saw, pulled through to be our longevity pet, escaping for years the clutches of neighbors fond of "Kentucky fried kitty". Then there was the cat I found run over on the street, and brought home thinking she was ours. Our little daughter's tears dried fast, when our cat showed up to sympathize with her mortally-wounded twin. We nursed another mortally-wounded cat that our son went down into a dry pool to rescue after it had been abused. These last two cats finished their ninth life in "hospice" care, with budding doctors in attendance.
An Asian sparrow hit by a bus, and rescued , (remarkably, by the driver!) joined our family for a slow recovery (slowed more by our spiteful parakeet!)and was released to soar again.
A heart-wrenching scene in the middle of the street met my gaze one morning: two
puppies, one inside-out after being run over, and the other standing desperately-determined guard over its sibling, unaware that to stay meant death from the next car. That traumatized puppy came home only needing comfort, as it was healthy. But another pup I found near that same place used her last dregs of energy to lick my foot and wag her tail once as she looked up pleadingly. She was dying of starvation and a loathsome skin disease. For days she lay motionless in a basket on our balcony, while I honed my nursing skills. To our satisfaction, Dogged made a complete recovery and was an attractive, faithful pet.
Another foundling was a discarded dead chick on the sidewalk. I peered at it, and put it inside my clothes, where it began gasping and then cheeping, and slowly revived for a short and sweet life.
Most dramatic was the saga of Serendipity...... We stopped at the animal market, and shortly heard cries coming from a garbage can. Investigation revealed puppy bodies in various stages of death, but the tiniest and filthiest was dancing desperately on top, screaming for help. Our beholding this shameful tableau brought down wrath upon our heads from the sellers, who ordered us off in no uncertain terms. We moved on. But it didn't take long for me to realize I couldn't live with myself if I, too, abandoned that desperate little life. Scooping a piece of plastic from the ground, I marched swiftly to the can, swept off the lid and in one fell swoop, grabbed the little foundling in the plastic and was out the gate climbing into a taxi with my accomplices before the stunned sellers could lift a finger or find their voices to prevent the heist. After a bath, Serendipity (Pity for short) turned out to be snow-white, and the most devoted little darling until death.
What will we find next....? Your guess is better than mine.
12:36 AM
Clear Light Festival is a holiday for ancestor worship, but we had no trouble finding much better things to do. It turned out to be the nicest outing yet for the group that went to Heron Hill and Bamboo Valley. On the mountain hike we harvested wild "vegetables": mainly budding ferns (very nutritious!). I had been wanting to see the wild blossoms, and there they were in reds, and violets, and pinks, decorating the slopes that are home to forty bird species, (though we mainly saw snakes). Earlier we'd toured the Fangs' new home, all gorgeously done in light wood just full of knots---it was really something to see! Bro. Fang is especially talented in interior decoration. Later, our picnic by the water finished, we were rejuvenated enough to perform all kinds of exercises on the wide variety of unusual play equipment, and I have to say, much of that you would have had to have seen to believe, (though some of us would surely have been embarrassed to be seen swinging like monkeys if you had been there.) In the fresh, fragrant mountain air, amid Nature's splendors, we were invigorated and renewed remarkably. I recommend the nature cure.
Christian went with his student HaoHao's family to Thousand Islands and is not yet back, but was boating when last heard from.
1:36 AM
(Guest blogger Annelisa)
Here are some pictures of my little "nephew" ,or well,the closest thing to a nephew that I have at the present. His Mom,Rachel,has lived with us for extended periods of time off and on for as long as I can remember,so I've always thought of her as kind of a "big sister". For that matter,his Dad Jacob,lived with us for several months while he and Rachel were dating,so all and all we know the family quite well. And don't you think their names are cute? Jacob,Rachel,and Joseph:)
Now,on to bragging on Joseph. I must say that what he lacks in size he's made up for in brains...at 20 months old he can count to 30,identify the basic colors,speak fluent toddler Chinese(which includes getting the tones correctly),point to any body part when asked to in either English or Chinese,and the list goes on. It's amazing how he promptly names anything you point at,or at least what he thinks it resembles! He also understands adult conversations with amazing accuracy. Like the other day we were marching up the stairs to our apt. when his mom mentioned something about how treacherous the steep stairs seemed in the dim light. Joseph immediately pointed to the light bulb dangling over our heads and announced,all in Chinese of course," IT'S BROKEN!" Then after a moment of consideration he concluded,"Fix it,Grandpa Wu will fix it!" Imagine that,he'd only been to our place once before,yet he knew that my dad lived there as soon as we entered the building;and obviously he knew that light bulbs generated light,and if light was lacking, a light bulb somewhere needed to be fixed. Maybe his parents gave him the wrong name after all: he should have been called Edison!
11:31 PM
As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even forever. (Psalm 125:2)
11:49 PM
The blossoms of early spring have taken their loveliness from our view, and though I miss them, the nice thing here in Hangzhou is there is always something in bloom the year around. We lose one set of blossoms, to gain another, and some of the most exquisite like the crepe myrtle are still to be anticipated. On our trip yesterday into the mountains west of the city, I noted that they had managed to hold onto their March blossoms longer in the cooler air. We looked at several apartments in the new housing development called Green Field Spring, but didn't feel clear to order one . The Lord may have something closer in for us. The mountain scenery was striking with the closest mountains ringed with tea bushes, and higher ranges rising behind. We felt sorry for the farmers, though--- having their property taken for all those high rises.
The poet exclaimed, "Oh to be in England
Now that April's there....." but I think every place I have ever been has been charming in April, my favorite month. My heart sings praises with the delightful music of the morning bird choir. Actually it strikes me that "The birds make music all the day." We don't quite...but there is more music since the keyboard got moved over to Light House.
Against the pleasant backdrop of spring's joys, seven different courageous voices have been raised in warning of God's swift-falling judgment on our nation, speaking of "A collapse that will set into motion a series of cataclysmic events that will humble a spiritually impoverished people to the deepest depth of their souls.. ..We are at an alarming point in time, a time when combinations of perverse elements have come together to deliver this nation unto total annihilation. " (Jim Schwiesow) And another: "Our nation has already been seized upon, and it is being pillaged by international elitists who care only about their antichrist agenda. ...Our leaders know full well what would happen if the masses of people would ever come fully awake to the reality of what is going on." (David Meyer) He went on to speak of the Lord being gracious to His own, staying with us to the end. Our only safety is to "be hid with Christ in God"!
Every morning for at least a year I sang from the flyleaf of my Bible in my quiet time:
"Within the veil": be this, Beloved, thy portion,
Within the secret of thy Lord to dwell,
Beholding Him, until thy face His glory
Thy life His love, thy lips His praise shall tell.
"Within the veil", for only as thou gazest
Upon the matchless beauty of His face,
Canst thou become a living revelation
Of His great heart of love, His untold grace.
Within the veil", His fragrance poured upon thee,
Without the veil, that fragrance shed abroad.
"Within the veil" His hand shall tune
That sounds on earth the praises of thy Lord.
Within the veil", thy spirit deeply anchored,
Thou walkest calm above a world of strife.
Within the veil, thy soul with Him united,
Shall live on earth His resurrection life.
Freda Allen
10:51 PM
Something tells me that you, like me, may have been facing into an "east wind" recently. I did learn something, that when the suggestion comes, "Life is too hard", the response "To live is Christ and to die is gain," clears the field marvelously. "It is written" is still victorious strategy.
We are looking into purchasing an apartment in a beautiful mountain area in the suburbs.... an area we drove through for the first time yesterday. Prayer appreciated!
I hope all of you have read about John and Betty Stam, who were martyred not so far from here on December 8, 1934. The story of how their baby girl miraculously survived has always thrilled me; and I admit I am partial to Betty's poetry. The inspiration of their lives and death was a legacy from my youth, which is worth sharing .... maybe through this song Will Houghton wrote "in loving memory of John and Betty Stam": (Sorry, regardless of how I arrange lines, they are always thrown on the page willy-nilly. I am helpless before machines.... Any ideas?)
BY LIFE OR BY DEATH
So this is life, this world with all its pleasures,
Struggles and tear, a smile, a frown, a sigh,
Friendship so true, and love of kin and neighbor?
Sometimes 'tis hard to live--always to die!
The world moves on, so rapidly the living
The forms of those who disappear replace,
And each one dreams that he will be enduring--
How soon that one becomes the missing face!
In life or death--and life is surely flying,
The crib and coffin carved from the self-same tree.
In life or death--and death so soon is coming--
Escape I cannot, there's no place to flee--
But Thou , O God, hast life that is eternal;
That life is mine, a gift through Thy dear Son.
Help me to feel its flush and pulse supernal,
Assurance of the morn when life is done.
Help me to know the value of these hours,
Help me the folly of all waste to see;
Help me to trust the Christ who bore my sorrows,
And thus to yield for life or death to Thee.
In all my days be glorified, Lord Jesus,
In all my ways guide me with Thine own eye;
Just when and as Thou wilt, use me, Lord Jesus,
And then for me 'tis Christ to live or die. W. H. Houghton
3:43 AM
This afternoon (don't believe the date/time labels....this is China!) I finished reading Vanya by Myrna Grant. The first (of how many times?) I read it was long ago in a remote mountain village in Mexico, and an indelible mark was made on my life. Today I realized that the summer preceding my mother's death in the fall of 1972, saw the promotion from the cross to the crown of life for China's illustrious Watchman Nee, and 45 days later, Russia's illustrious "Vanya". Watchman Nee was "in chains" the entire life span of young Vanya; but what struck me was the great suffering and great joy these two fifty years apart in age had in common, in their uncommon love of Christ. Both have left us a tremendous impetus to strive for the high calling of God, taking the bitter cup willingly. Vanya wrote :
Fearsome waves over us roll
Joy and courage fills our soul.
Having seen with his eyes the glory of the New Jerusalem, and experienced miracle after miracle, he faced his martyrdom with this verse he put at the end of his last letter: "Be faithful unto death and I will give you the crown of life." His goal is expressed in his own words:
Let Christ's love
In our hearts burn
As the lighthouse beacon glows
That friends and foes
May always learn
How great is Christ Jesus' love. I.M.
The last message I heard here was striking in that the theme was the four faces of the living creatures in Ezekiel and the four creatures in Rev. 4:7 (same creatures in both ) and how these illustrated aspects of Christ that applied to our lives as well. The first was a man and that illustrated "The Son of man"; the second a lion which illustrated the King (Matthew's emphasis), the third was an ox showing servanthood, and I was so sorry to leave before I found out what the eagle represents. All this was so aptly illustrated as to be enthralling.
A heart-warming incident for our children as they were walking down the street was hearing strangely familiar music and turning to see a blind man boldly playing the great hymns of our faith on his erhu! Touched, they approached him, enjoying the rare moment of Christian music on the street.
1:28 AM
Who am I? That is something hard to define, (as one realizes when trying to do a profile!). Who I am should be defined in the light of the love of God, and in the same light I should see everyone else on earth. Furthermore, it is easy to talk about things like faith, grace, and love, but aren't they hard to define? I have collected what I deem some of the best definitions, gleaned from favorite authors, and will gladly share them with you hoping you will be blessed, but would like to ask that you do me a favor and contribute any excellent definitions you can come up with to add to the list. Will you do that?
DEFINITIONS
LOVE
(1) The passion of self-giving
(2) The overflowing result of one person in fellowship with another.
FAITH
(1) Taking God at His word
(2) The open hand receiving Christ
(3) The faculty of realizing the unseen
(4) Saying "amen" when God says something
GRACE
(1) The other word for love, speaking of the initiative of God
THE GLORY OF GOD
(1) His love; perfected love
FORGIVENESS
(1) The fragrance a flower leaves on the heel that crushes it
PATIENCE
(1) The principle of delayed gratification
(2) Staying in God's crucible until His purification is finished
MEEKNESS
(1) The inwrought nature of Christ which qualifies him that possesses it to share the throne of the Lamb
HUMILITY
(1) The natural response of being in the Presence of God
JOY
(1) Not the absence of trouble, but the Presence of Christ
(2) The sign that we are really living in God's wonderful love, and that love satisfies us
12:59 AM
Here is a quote I ran across: "America, you have aborted your children, now your children will abort you." That's clear enough, and I wonder..... what of China with the cry of its abandoned unborn?
On a different note, I've been researching a little on some heroes of the past, and want to ask if any of you have, or have read, a book about Ernest George Fenton Hall, a WW1 fighter pilot turned missionary to the Amazon Indians of Brazil...a "corn of wheat" that early " fell into the ground and died". I would like to read his journals.
All I have been able to find was one quote, which indicates something about his character: I have sometimes a sort of fear,"Well, if I surrender everything I know to him, I won't have anything left to surrender!" (Speaking, of course, about things spiritual, points in which we find ourselves not surrendered.) But somehow there always seems to be something new to give Him, and when you get into the habit of it, there's nothing so joyful as hauling out some skulking Agag and hewing him in pieces before the Lord (it sounds a bit bloodthirsty, but I'm sure Samuel enjoyed it--even if Agag didn't!) Well, anyhow, these " Agags" have nothing to be said for them. They are a bad old crew. Many of them are very moral and respectable Agags. Some of them are very laudable and pious Agags. But all of them are kings of Amalek--Amalek, the flesh, the first enemy that attacks God's people when they escape from Egypt!"
Highly interesting is the account I have just read of William Threfall (Born 6-6-1799), a Methodist missionary martyr. I must give his testimony as a 17 year old: I verily found that I was altogether unlike God; and that it was impossible for me to live or die happy except my sins were pardoned, and my soul converted from a love of sin to a love of God. I thought if any were reprobated to that place "where their worm dieth not and the fire is not quenched" I was surely one of them. I was often led to wish I had never been born or had died in infancy. I frequently strove to stifle my sensibility of danger by associating with the gay and careless, or by reading plays and novels. This had the effect of hardening my heart and darkening my mind. It was the way to endless ruin; it led me farther and farther away from God and from happiness. But still I knew there was a day fast approaching, a day of trial which I could not escape; and this was a sting to all my sinful pleasures and foolish diversions, even when my companions thought me the most jovial of the party. But the Lord called a relative at a few minutes' notice into the invisible world to give account to his Maker. This awful providence had a powerful effect upon my mind. I thought, "If the Lord were to call me to account suddenly, I am sure to perish for ever and ever. my feelings were aroused and I began to pray..."if I am not indeed out of the reach of Thy mercy, look down upon me and save me, for if you call me hence I shall be lost to all eternity. If Thou canst, soften my heart, break down my pride, subdue my stubborn will, and make me a new creature..." I was much tempted to give up praying, but I thought again "I cannot but hope there may still be mercy; therefore I will never cease praying and if I perish, I perish." My heart still hard, I heard a sermon on the Prodigal Son. I thought his prayer would just suit me. When the preacher came to speak of the compassion of the Father, I could hold out no more for weeping, my hardness gave way, and my soul was dissolved in penitential tenderness. While he spoke of the love of God to poor sinners, my soul was set at liberty. I felt and saw God was reconciled....He was my Friend; neither was I afraid for the Lord was my Refuge and Strength.
The next year he wrote in his journal :"I dedicate myself afresh to the great I Am this solemn moment for Thee to live and for thee to die. William Threfall age 18 years and 18 days." In Africa near the end of his short, adversity-packed life, he wrote: "As I have rejoiced in past perils, I go triumphant to meet my future foes. My way is clear, my victory is sure. Like the Hebrew children, I cannot be burned." With what courage he faced martyrdom! There is much in this account of blessing for youth (and the rest of us). Do you identify with any of this? God has not changed; The God of Elijah (who answers by fire!), of the three Hebrew children and of William Threfall (and countless other victors) still lives!
7:28 PM
Lizzie and Justin:
May your wedding day be all roses; (Song of Sol. 2:1-4)
Mem'ry pictures all sweet poses; (Eccl. 11:7)
Your love be all Christ discloses; (1 Cor. 13)
Your blessing be Asher's from Moses. (Deut. 33: 24, 25, 27)
Grace and peace from God the Father,
Grace and peace be thine.
May His image, glorious radiance
Ever in thee shine.
Love and joy of Christ the Saviour,
Love and joy be thine;
Manifesting to a lost world
Love better than wine.
Faith and hope grow through the Spirit,
Faith and hope be thine,
Savoring Christ's invitation,
"Dear ones, come and dine."
In reading this morning in the Bible of a wedding, I sensed that God waits to be gracious and turn our water into wine! We can't hope to "live happily ever after" in this world, "for whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth", nor will all our dreams come true---still He gives what is better in fulfilling His will, fulfilling His joy!
On home life, the periodicals that are tops are Above Rubies, Keepers at Home, and An Encouraging Word. Above Rubies Website is great too. Enjoy!
1:33 AM
My verse of late has been "Until the day break and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh and to the hill of frankincense. " (Song of Songs 4 : 6) Right there is so much to meditate on .....
Finally.... we introduce you to our apartment in Light House. The fifth photo above shows the entrance way, while another shot shows Annelisa holding my prized flowers in front of the two hidden rooms ( they remind me of The Hiding Place and I sometimes wonder if we will have occasion to hide anyone in them). The rest show the exterior of the building and a couple shots of our little park (which, typically, takes the place of a yard for most of us in Asian Village). In the park by the pond where goldfish were busy, I saw an old woman looking frail, painfully thin, and deeply despondent. I smiled and nodded in passing. Twenty minutes later I had forgotten her as I crossed on the stepping stones through the water to where she still sat. She raised a bony finger and described circles with it (not sure what that meant) so I struck up a conversation as she arose eagerly, face lighting as we exchanged pleasantries. I had a curious sense of God laying foundations for a bridge to this pathetic soul.....most rewarding! I reflected on the danger of being so preoccupied with my own issues that I fail to see the pain and need of others. Publish Post
PRAYER
Give me an undivided heart,
An undistracted mind,
To ever choose the better part,
Thy matchless Presence find.
12:47 AM
Apparently pictures of "Light House" upload invisibly.....we're back to that. A picture-free pause..... Well,though nothing momentous seems to be occurring, I want to note the tiny blessings of life. (1.) My "blue" (looks more purple to me) hyacinth is in full bloom and smells heavenly. (2.) Out by the exercise equipment I got a little surprise when an unidentified wild creature scampered by, then turned and came toward me before vanishing. Wild-creature sightings are rare enough to be pretty note-worthy here, but this was unique in that it was a little yellow fellow the size of a thin squirrel.... a new species?
(3.) Next some cute little boys caught my eye. "Are they twins?" I asked Annelisa. "Yes- -no! Triplets!" They were identical and dressed identically, and I was impressed that the mother, with whom I spoke, managed the little trio so well. Onlookers coping with their tots were amazed, remarking that one is all they could ever expect to manage, and that was hard enough. "The little Emperor" syndrome caused by the one child policy bears much evil fruit; it is always refreshing to see a "large" family (meaning more than one!)
(4.) This last one is not classed as a small blessing.....it's BIG! I've been reading a couple of marvelous books : Living Water by Heavenly Man (every page seems to flow with grace abundant) and Rowland Bingham : Into Africa's Interior (my special love for missionary biographies aside, this account portrays the absolutely amazing potential in one life lived for God.)
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