Feeding Five Thousand

First I am remembering 33 years ago today, when my first niece arrived, the precious only girl in the family for the next 16 years.  Kristy's life was unusually traumatic, and I am sorry that for years I was hindered from visiting her.  The last time I arrived in the States, she exulted, "Now nothing can keep us from seeing each other!"  A couple of months later I made the trip to Denver to see her.....in her coffin.  A four-wheel accident in her driveway had orphaned her little Elly, (who is Kristy all over again.)   Right there is a daily prayer burden.

Yesterday we arose early and traveled across the river to a BIG meeting that was just thrilling to see.  From eight in the morning till nine at night we were seated in in the Church of God Tubusha meeting house, except for ten minute meals!  And how efficiently they  worked it out to be able to feed the approximately 5000 saints there!l  Small tables bearing a pan of rice and five dishes, eight bowls and eight pairs of chopsticks were placed as close together as possible and still stand eight people around each table.  Wall- to -wall people everywhere!   Everyone was so friendly and eager to speak to us.  But most wonderful of all was the preaching.  The first brother near the close of his message showed lots of missionary's pictures along with a quote from each.  Some that I recall are David Brainered, W. Carey, Amy Carmichael, Mary Slessor, Malla Moe, Gladys Aylward (he dwelt on her story),  John G. Paton, Hudson Taylor, and many more, ending with Borden of Yale (deeply moving!)  Here I will insert that in the evening one speaker challenged, with tears : "So many missionaries have spilled their blood in China--- do we need more to come spill theirs, or will we ourselves rise to the call to publish the Gospel?"

The preaching of the cross was with power!  Seldom have I heard so clear a call to deny self, take up the cross and follow!  Numerous passages about the cross were illuminated and portrayed so plainly.  Especially notable was the preaching by Bro. Canaan on Christ's call to lose our soul life that we might find it, and the preaching on taking the ku bei (bitter cup) ("can ye drink the cup.... ?") both of which are themes heard too seldom.  What most  spoke to me in the message on prayer was :  "The more Jesus prayed, the more He understood His Father's will."   (I felt my prayer focus changing, even as I realized the need to spend more time therein.)  Two aspects of the cross dealing with us were expounded upon (and I'm sorry English can't put it as succinctly):  Nailed to the cross, and Bearing the cross.  Even as the pain of the way of the cross was manifested, this word was stressed: "The Way of the Cross = The Way of LOVE."   The vast crowd sang "The cross is not greater than His grace....."  Frank was struck with the quote about the lost axe head :"Alas for it was borrowed!" being applied to "borrowed" messages which when preached, only land one in the water in a fix!  As we listened to the truth, I seemed to see Jesus feeding the five thousand......

In the afternoon a group of 55  arrived back from a mission to the Sichuan earthquake area, and benches were somehow squeezed in to accomodate them at the front.  In the evening four of them spoke, including a young millionaire who issued the challenge I mentioned above, and who showed many pictures from the trip.  After a full day of enrichment, we got home to bed by eleven, very grateful for such a treat, and ready for more tests!

Below Zero

This morning we rose to the challenge of frozen water pipes. That makes you appreciate running water more....and also spring, which should have a firm foothold in a couple of weeks.

I was reminded that my countrymen are living in an obamanation, when a man approached as I walked, and commented, "Obama has got in." Responding, I was trying to both nod and shake my head. "Obama hao (good)!" he told me. Moments later as his figure retreated I could hear, "Obama, chuckle-chuckle! Obama!"

We are hiding out in the company hotel from the disruptive din of the Lunar New Year Celebration. Yes, they've banned firecrackers in Hangzhou this year..... but enforcing the ban is a whole different story. Last night a deafening round of detonations disturbed our domestic tranquility. The fireworks are fine, of course, -- pretty, and interesting to count how many different spots are setting them off simultaneously......often more than a dozen. But millions of firecrackers turn the city into a horrible battlefield scene. I don't care if I never hear another (and I'm hearing some as I speak.) Well, they 're having a blast.....

We had a sumptious supper with Scarlett's family. Her dad, 66, has recovered nicely from the skiing trip, (which I am sure was his first), and listened more openly to the Gospel than ever before. We just finished looking at the video of Christian's and Annelisa's baptism, and Scarlett told Tony that when he gets baptized, she will film it. Christian is talking to Scarlett's brother, a prodigal who was transformed a few years ago, but has fallen away.

Family news has been scarce for some time, except we heard Annelisa's beloved puppy in Idaho was eaten of coyotes :o and Frank's niece got married minus a wedding (unusual for middle class....we were surprised.) There are a number of family members I'm very concerned about, and praying to hear good reports from. Good news from a far country is always refreshing (well, good news is harder to come by than just news, true; yet faith sees GOOD NEWS opportunities in dark circumstances.)

Two Little Piggies Came Home

"To market, to market to buy a fat pig, Home again, home again, jig-a-jig- jig, " goes one nursery rhyme, and then we all know about the five little piggies....well, three  went to market and brought two home yesterday, and they've been crying "wee wee wee" ever since.    Baby talk translated, this means we bargained for and acquired two lovely guinea pigs who are vocal artists, (plus a "pig sty" to keep them in.)  Piggin is a beautiful tri-color who enjoys piggin' out on cilantro, also a favorite with Hogla, who looks like a (chocolate) panda.

A mystery that has had us guessing ever since we arrived in the country was solved today.  What was that  incessant ROLLING sound that resembles a noisy old washing machine in the apartment above us.........turns out my hypothesis was correct :  a cradle rocking a baby!  Hmmm, should be a lullaby to sleep to, I guess.

Near one "hypermarket", we contributed to a beggar set: a frowsy old lady of 91 who was said to be the sole caretaker of the little sleeping girl just 90 years younger.

In my Bible is a precious card given me by a dear lady at the West Coast Christian Conference last summer, and what is written thereon could be life-changing.  Let me share with you as I did with the family this morning:

                                PRAISE

     Aim to praise at all times--over all your mistakes and over all other's mistakes, over all disappointments, and people's blunders.  As the feeling of disappointment comes upon you, you should be watchful--at once rise up against it, and keep clear of it, stop it, commit it to the Lord, let it alone, think away from it, speak happily, keep bright in countenace, never mind what happens, rest, and let it be in God's hands.  Large trouble, small trouble, keen disappointment, light one, keep in praise and faith, and look away from it and yourself, to Jesus.

     You do not know what would happen to you if you would from day to day, hour to hour, moment to moment praise the Lord.  It would eclipse all that you have ever seen.  You would always see Him. There would really come into your being a marvelous change--delights in His own way, and His desires, instead of the desires of the natural man, reveling in His presence, blessing and praising and magnifying His holy Name.

     These are the ones who are overcoming and conquering.

                                      --Martha W. Robinson

                                      !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I read this morning, "I, even I will sing unto the Lord.............awake, awake, Deborah, awake, awake, utter a song;" (Judges 5 : 3, 12 )  "I will praise thee, O Lord with my whole heart," Psalm 9:1

Boys will be Boyish

We had a visitor  from THP (who once was our computer thief).  He enjoyed eating out with us, and marveling at the scrapbook the Athol church made us (I have a feeling scrapbooking is going to make a big debut in this country judging by this one's reception !)  Next day found him at West Lake with another friend from THP, John, plus Andy,  Gene, and a couple of others.   A "junior moment" is pictured,  in case you wonder what went on besides little Gene losing his bus card with a thousand yuan in it.

We've been enjoying a huge box of yacon, given by a brother.  This fruit is grown underground, and reminds one a bit of sugarcane!

On my mind has been the great choice of every life: between serving self and serving God, between self-centeredness and God-centeredness.  Ostensibly serving God may mean self-deception, but the good news is we can have "Truth in the inward parts".  I was reading from an old writer, "Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you."  We overcome through the Overcoming Lamb, and dare not give in and give up in these days of intense conflict.

Holiday Ski Trip

The big holiday time of year has arrived in China (hence those impossible-to-buy tickets), and the day for Frank's company's celebration arrived yesterday. We were transported through THP up the gorgeously bamboo-clad mountains, up, up to the ski resort on top. The first activity of the day was running around the reservoir, which we skipped to procede directly to skiing. Naturally we were bundled up very warmly---as it turned out too warmly ! It wasn't very cold, and there was very little natural snow. The snowmakers had their work cut out, and I especially appreciated the beautiful snowbows their sprying snow made in the sunlight. The cloudless sky was deep blue, as we either skimmed over, or clumsily plodded through the white stuff (as the case might be). Thank God the only casualty of the day was Scarlett's father, who got a little laceration above his eye. My muscles were sufficiently inured to stress that none hurt except those in my chest wall, as I relentlessly plied my poles to propel me over the "not-so -slopes". The afternoon flew on wings, (even if we didn't feel we were flying as the ad suggested) and too soon we were summoned to prepare for the New Year's Banquet in the dining room of Jinjiang Sky Lake Holiday Resort Hotel. As we ate (and yes, the chicken and fish were served complete with head per usual), different company officials came to each table with greetings and new year's wishes. Many of the those at the banquet were former English students of ours, including some of the managers, whom we taught over 13 years ago.  I couldn't help reflecting on what abiding fruit there might be from the few hundred taught, only a few of which responded to the Good News at the time (all of which are far away and out of touch with us).  Awards were given and a number of people who could not sing, made the attempt anyway. We retired to our lovely room in the hotel for the night, thankful for the restful surroundings. Frank told us he had sighted a wolf a little earlier, and that is extra special in China where wildlife is seldom seen! The morning brought a bracing hike a ways down the mountain through the bamboo growing thick as the hair on a dog's back. I loved the sound of the wind sighing and whistling lightly through the leaves, reminding me of Frank's quote a few minutes earlier: "In the whistling grass, I hear Him pass..."

Great Wall and Bus Station Puppy

The bus station manager was short and officious, and possessed of an adorable puppy.  He charged us an extra 60 yuan for luggage saying it was for   "G__A__S, you know, G  A  S,  gus?"

At the Great Wall, we enjoyed looking at souveniers labeled  "HANA PAINTED CHINA".  The shop keeper tried to sell Rachel a suitcase marked 208 yuan.  She showed off her English, saying "Two hunner-eight pennies."  "Pennies or dollars?" asked Rachel.  "NO DOLLAS !  PENNIES!" was the amusing reply.

Yunnan Pictures

During our travels in Yunnan we encountered beggars wherever we went, somewhat to our annoyance, but they were always very interesting in appearance. And they often were accompanied by adorable children, which made them very hard to resist...even though we knew the money wasn't going to the children. Our Quartet sang in Chinese, almost everywhere we went, including a hotel lobby. In Xishuangbanna, very close to Thailand, we were intrigued with the amount of elephant sculptures wherever we went, giving the effects of a jungle. (Xishuangbanna has been declared a tropical rainforest.) The bridge at the top is made purely of bamboo,not the most sturdy wood, and look at how it's strung together. (It is considerably higher than appears in the photo!) Believe me, crossing the thing took a little courage!

---posted by Annelisa