Peanut Butter

As I packed my bags to come to China my mom told me to throw a jar of peanut butter in. Little did I know that would be the best piece of advice my mother as ever given me....well maybe not best, but pretty darn close. Peanut butter has once again become a staple in my diet. I can remember as a child wanting it all the time, but now it seems to be the best thing to eat. I have enjoyed trying new foods, things like dragon eyes, which is a fruit that resembles an eyeball, to noodles cooked many different ways. However, my tummy is saying no more new foods Lisa. I came into this wanting to experience Beijing and it's culture just as I would if I lived here, but someone forgot to tell my tummy that it hasn't lived here all it's life. I'm not sure if it's the spicy potatoes, the eggplant or the beef noodles, but I am pretty sure that I have to slow down on the food experience.
That is why peanut butter has become so important to me. Did you know that you can eat peanut butter right out of a jar and call it supper? That's what I did tonight. I am really thankful for the little convenience of peanut butter and that I listened to my mom for once.
We took the kids to a restaurant at lunch today and they experienced how to order and what to expect at a restaurant. A few of them wondered if they had peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on the menu. I don't think I saw that picture. They were great. They all tried the food that they ordered and no one left hungry. Tomorrow we will take them to the Wu Mart and get the introduced to a grocery store. They continue to do really well and I am so impressed with each of them.
Continue to keep us in your thoughts. I miss you all and I am so thankful for each of you. We press on toward the goal and it is because of the thoughts of each of you.
Lisa

Families

The teachers have arrived and we have begun our daily routine. We met this morning for time with dad. It was refreshing. We met the teachers and their children today. We have 12 kids that are in our care and with 7 of us that makes for a good ratio. The kids are amazing. Many of them came in yesterday on a plane at 5:00 pm and they were ready to go today. I cannot believe how well they have already transitioned. I think I am more jet-lagged than they are and I arrived 3 days ago. The parents went on a scavenger hunt this afternoon along with all the other teachers, so we had an entire day with the kids. It was fun to hear the types of things the parents did around the city. They had to ride, in a taxi, on the subway and on the bus. Along with that they had to try a new type of food and drink. They had student guides from the university with them to help them if they needed an interpreter.
The student guides are amazing. We just returned from having dinner with 3 of them and the conversation was excellent. They are asking some great questions and we have really been able to connect with them. They seem to enjoy our company because they continue to come back each night to "hang out". They will be back on Saturday night to play games. They told us they wanted to teach us to play "Chinese Poker". Should be fun! I wish you all could meet them. You would fall in love with them as much as I have. I told one of them tonight at dinner that I wanted to bring her home with me. She told me that it would be "much to expensive".
Continue to think about us and all the work we have here. We continue to do the task that has been set before us. It has been a joy to teach and to love on the kids of the families that are here to teach.
Lisa

Beijing Subway and Silk Market

Today was the final day of preparation before the ELIC teachers and their families arrive. We met with the director here and finalized all our plans for the next few weeks of serving. I cannot believe the amount of preparation that goes into training the new teachers and getting them accustomed to Chinese culture. I have a whole new respect for the work that ELIC does over here in Asia.
After meeting this morning we took off to experience the Silk Market. It is a building that is about 7 stories tall and houses way too many little shops. It was unbelievable. I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I heard, "Hey Lady..You want to buy?". My dad says he imagines that this is what hell might be like with little demons grabbing at you saying "Hey Lady....you want?" The people selling things grab at you and pull you into their little domain. I learned to barter and even made one of them mad when I wouldn't pay the price that she wanted. She told me I was not a nice American and I was trying to rob her...funny thing is she sold me the item for the price I wanted it for.
Once we had found all the items we were looking for we headed over for a Starbucks...that's right I said Starbucks. I thought after being in what some might call hell for awhile I should be able to experience a little bit of heaven. It was great to have an iced tea with ice in it. I took a picture of GG and I enjoying our iced tea.
Starbucks was great and just the break we needed before we headed down into the pits of the subway to return back to the hotel. Our ride to the Silk Market was not too bad, but the ride home was interesting. We hit the subway about the time people were getting of work. I realized that the other night I ate what was similar to sardines, but today I experienced what it's like to be a sardine. It was unbelievable how many people they can shove on one car. I realized that if I have any issues with not having personal space I was soon going to have to give that up. It was packed, but what I loved was watching the people give up their seats for the elderly. My dad soon realized that he was one of the elderly. He wasn't too sure about that.
Everyday I grow to love this place and it's people more and more. I can see why so many of the teachers for ELIC are here. They truly have a heart for this nation. I am excited to hear the stories of the families and people that are here to teach and how they made the decision to come to China. We begin our program tomorrow.

Candy Land, Children and the Chinese Market

Yesterday we met our student guides from BTU.  There were four of them, Raul, Angela, Prosper and Becki and then later Sophie joined us.  All are great kids, which were really helpful and fun to have around.  We started with lunch together and then we were off to the Temple of Heaven.  It was beautiful, but not at all what I imagined heaven to be like.   Once again I was stared at because of my red hair.  I had a young girl come up to me, in English ask me my name and then ask to take a picture with me.  She was so excited when I told her yes.  I guess I really am royalty here.  The student guides then came back to the hotel with us and played games with us.  The funny thing is that they wanted to play games like Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land.  They loved it.
Beijing is filled with unique people, smells and sounds.  It has taken some time to get used to the smells here.  I go from smelling something really good (food) to smelling the garbage that lines the street. I feel like I am in sensory overload sometimes.  The people are amazing and I have begun to fall in love with their genuine hearts and compassion for one another.  They treat each other with such respect here.  Mom and I took a walk yesterday morning and found a quiet little park filled with grandparents taking care of their grandchildren.  It is so different to see only one child per family.  I am so used to seeing larger families in the United States.  The love their children well here and I think that the parents in the US could learn so much about the privilege it is to have children.
Dad is working in His wisdom here.  The Student Guides have asked great questions about the US and it's culture.  Dad continues to give wisdom and care.  It has been fun to see.
That's it for today.  We are off to a Chinese market to experience shopping in China.  Love you all!  Continue to keep us in your thoughts.
Lisa

Safe arrival and a fish story

Greetings from China.  We arrived yesterday after an uneventful flight.  We were one of the lucky planes when we landed because they did not have health officials come on the plane before we could get off.  We did go through checkpoints where they checked our temperatures and then again to make a statement of health.  All went smoothly.  The team that is here met us at the airport and soon we were on our way to the hotel.  It has been really interesting to see the vast difference in our cultures.  The Asian people are polite and very helpful.  Everywhere we go we definitely draw a crowd.  It is apparent that not many red-heads are in Beijing.  Yesterday I told my mom I feel a bit like a freak show because I get stared at whereever we go.  We have a young gal on our team that is blond and blue-eyed and they love her too.  Many of them come up and want pictures and to touch our hair.  I found it a bit awkward at first but I am beginning to see it as a way of getting to better know the people of china.
Yesterday after arriving, meeting the team here and showering my parents and I decided to venture out and have lunch.  We took no one with us which turned out to make for an interesting lunch.  We have team members here that speak fluent Chinese and also studentguides that help us with translation, but none were around at the time.  We went to a noodle house that was known for it's great food.  It was really fun walking in and being the only Americans in the place, I felt a bit like royality.  When we entered the workers at the entrance started shouting toward the back of the restaurant to the workers in the back.  It was really funny to hear them yelling back and forth at each other.   We sat at the table and were given our menu.  This is where it got interesting because we had no idea what we were ordering other than what looked good in the pictures.  We decided on two items and waited eagerly with our tummys growling.  As the food came out and they set it down, it smelled delicious.  We dove into it and soon realized that the entree we had ordered was minnows, thats right, little tiny fish.  They came with the heads on and complete bodies. My parents were laughing at me because the only eating utinsel I had was chopsticks.  A little tough when I am trying to pull the meat off of a tiny little fish.  I finally just used my fingers because I knew I would starve if I didn't.  Believe it or not the minnows were not too bad.  Of course you had to eat about 10 of them to fill up, but a least I can say I tried something new.
We meet our student guides later this morning and will travel to the shops to pick up supplies this afternoon.  We have definitely felt the thoughts off all you and appreciate the good thoughts you have sent our way.  I am excited to meet the kids and families tomorrow and continue the work that has been set before us.
Love and miss you all!
Lisa

3 days until take off

My departure for China is in just 2 days and I am getting more excited each day. I must first pack my bags and I haven't even begun that process. Leave it to me to wait until the day before to pack. I have always been a bit of a procrastinator. I have mixed feelings about my departure. I am really looking forward to experiencing a new culture and seeing how people across the world live, but I know I will miss my family terribly.
Hopefully this blog will be a great way for you all to stay in contact with me and learn a little about my adventures in China. Look for pictures of GG, our Grace Group Penguin that has just arrived from her journey to England. Keep me in your thoughts!