Weeks 2 and 3

Hello!

Our time in China is flying by.  We are experiencing technical difficulties and cannot get many of our pictures to upload on the blog.  So here are the few that would cooperate!  I am also working on this in the evenings and don't do my best work when I'm tired!

Day 6

We met Sam's coworker, Thomas, at the Hengshan Temple.　 It was located about 1.5 hours from the hotel in the mountains.　 Very green and peaceful - little wonder that the Buddhists would want to put a monastery and temple in that location!　 It was very interesting to watch the Buddhist monks and visitors.　 Thomas told us it is mainly the older generation that still comes to the Temples to pray and meditate.　 We saw several temples housing many beautiful idols.　 We were not allowed to take photographs inside the temples.　 My understanding is that all the temples, monastery and everything inside were newly rebuilt.　 The previous temples, etc. had been demolished in World War II by the Japanese.　 　Many offerings in the form of food and money were placed in front of the idols.　 This was especially so in front of the idol for women and childbirth.　 Many young women were praying in front of that idol and a great deal of money and offerings were placed in front of it.　 My heart broke watching those women praying to something that could do nothing for them.　 Please join us in praying for the Chinese to know God and His son Jesus Christ.　 That the Truth would be illuminated brightly to these beautiful people.

Afterwards we went to a vegetarian buffet that was located near the temple (Buddhists do not eat meat.　 We were also told not to harm any bugs while we were at the Temple).　 It was very packed and had many interesting foods!

Thomas mentioned that over the last 20 years, the number of cars on the roads in China has exploded.　 Cars used to be very expensive and very few people could purchase them.　 But now with the rise of income (the average Chinese person still only makes $6000 per year; the average new college graduate makes only $3500USD per year!) and the cheap cost of cars (a new car can be purchased for $30,000 RMB or about $4,400) many people are purchasing them.　 And traffic is terrible!　 Very congested and stressful!　 The road fatalities in China is very high. 


We have observed that the Chinese are very hard workers!  We often see hotel staff early in the mornings and still working late into the evenings 7 days a week!!  Several skyscrapers are being constructed in front of our hotel - and we see the crew working 7 days a week, from early morning to late at night, even when it rains!  My heart breaks for these individuals and their families.  The grandparents raise the children and the parents rarely get to see their kids or spouses.  One Chinese professional told me that the Chinese are very stressed out about money, their children's future, and healthcare.  The healthcare is not very good here.  Many go to Beijing or Hong Kong or other countries.


During some Bible reading this week I came across a sobering reminder in Psalms 127: 1-2


"Unless the Lord builds the house, the work of the builders is wasted.  Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.  It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones." 


Please pray that we would have opportunities to comfort people with His Word.

By request, here is a picture of the Chinese squat toilets. (You're welcome haha). Supposedly more sanitary!  Better strengthen those leg muscles before your next trip lol.

　

　

　

Day 7

We met another of Sam's coworkers, Daniel and his family at the Bangchuidao Beach.　 This week is still part of the Chinese week long holiday celebrating their current government - so the beach was very busy!!　 But very beautiful!　 Daniel's wife is an English professor at a local university, so we were able to speak to their family very easily.　 Their oldest daughter, Lucy also speaks English well!　 In China, they are required to learn English throughout Primary school, and it is popular to put preschoolers in an English teaching preschool.

After the beach, we ate at a seafood restaurant.　 It was an interesting experience and we tried some good things like pumpkin fries and fried sweet potato, along with several seafood dishes.

It is always interesting when we hear American music sung in Chinese!　 The other day our driver, Di, was listening to the Hamilton Broadway Musical in Chinese! And it was beautiful!　 A concert was playing outside our hotel and they were singing American rock songs in Chinese.

　

Day 8

　

Sam went to work and the girls and I had school!　 Nice to rest after 3 days of touring the city.　 Following work, Sam went to a grocery store that carries a lot of western items.　 There aren't many items that we see at our local Food Lion, but they did have some Johnsonville Bratwursts, Mission Tortillas, JIF peanut butter, and Heinz ketchup.　 We did get several items like milk, yogurt and pickles from Germany, frozen pizzas and spaghetti sauce from Australia, and pasta and cheese from Italy.  Seaweed Cheetos from Taiwan (contains no cheese).  The fruit, vegetables, meats and sliced bread were grown/produced in China.　 That night we made our first dinner!  Wonderful spaghetti!  I've never enjoyed spaghetti and peas so much!

Couple of interesting food items - a popular fruit is called JuJube and are like small apples (they are actually red dates).  A popular frozen treat is made with red beans!

Day 9

Sam went to work, the girls and I had school!　 Kids played in an indoor kid area in the hotel and then we took a walk around the hotel.　 Another nice day of taking it easy and eating at home!

Day 10

Today we met with Sam's coworker, Alice, and her husband.　 They picked us up in their large SUV (There are actually many minivans and SUV's on the roads here.　 Commercial trucks are always much smaller than what we find in America.　 The largest vehicles on the road are the public buses- they are the same size as the ones in America).  However on the interstates there are commercial trucks larger than in America.　 We went to a new area called Little Venice and rode on a gondola and then checked out a Dumpling Museum (which was really interesting).　 Afterwards we got to try a bunch of dumplings - one of my favorite meals so far!

Day 11

It's my birthday! (Not actually excited because I would prefer not to age after 25, but what can you do. haha)　Sam and the girls let me get in a run and afterwards presented me with some gifts, including a surprise cake!　 Sam's coworker helped him order it.

Time for church!　 We met with a fellowship again and a potluck afterwards (which was full of fall American goodies, like chili, cornbread and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies!).　 So thankful for this time to socialize and get refreshed spiritually.　 God has really taken care of us on this trip, but I (and the girls!) are really starting to miss home and all things familiar!　

After the fellowship, we met up with Sam's coworker, Daniel and his family for Mandarin lessons!　 Daniel's wife, Kathy, and I have arranged a swap - she will teach the girls and Sam Mandarin in exchange for me teaching her oldest daughter English!　 Today was our initial lessons and they went pretty well.　 My daughter Lucy was really interested and I listened to their daughter (whose name is also Lucy!) read from a book in English (she has already been learning English for several years but wants to build up her confidence when speaking English).　

We have found public parks, but no public playgrounds.　 But today the kids got to play on two!

For dinner, Sam and the girls took me to a restaurant.　 We ordered Peking duck! Delicious!　 When we got back to the hotel, the hotel surprised me with another cake!　 I wasn't expecting to get any cake, let alone 2. (I can't get all the photos to upload)　 It was a very pleasant day!

Days 12-13

Sam went to work and the kids and I had school.　 We do have a driver to take us places, but I feel guilty calling him!　 Missing our car and the ability to jump in and drive anywhere we want!　 Missing home!　 It would be really difficult living in a large city like this - almost no one has a house.　 Nearly everyone lives in skyscraper apartment buildings.　 I sometimes feel claustrophobic and anxious staying in a high riser hotel building.　 I am learning you just have to get creative on finding places to take the kids for some exercise.　Crazy streets with traffic surround the hotel.　 　Living here long term would be an adjustment!


A word about our driver, Di - he is an interesting fellow and blessing!  He spends most of his time as a seaman on large container ships.  He has sailed all over the world and now stays close to home on ships around China/Asia.  He next sets sail in January.  He speaks English and is very helpful - he will even come inside and help us with grocery shopping.  Yet another way that God has taken care of us on this trip!

Day 14

Wednesday Sam was under the weather, so after school with the kids, I headed out to the Metro grocery store (a German owned grocery chain in China).　 It's huge - comparable to a Costco.　 It was interesting to see some of the different produce.　 This chain is also popular with westerners because it carries a lot of western food.

The girls have discovered the Super Mario Brothers video games (Sam brought The Switch so he could still get in his game playing in China), and the girls love it!　 The girls have had to adjust to no Netflix (1st World Problems!).　 The Chinese television stations are all run by the government.　 They do have an animal/science channel and a kid channel that the kids enjoy (its all in Mandarin but the girls don't mind it anymore).　 There are also a few American channels, a Korean channel, a German channel, and a French channel.  Here are a few pictures from the grocery store - giant white carrots and I'm not sure what the orange fruit is.　

　

Day 15

Thursday night we got our first date night!!!　 The hotel has a babysitting service (provided by housekeeping).　 They did a great job!　 The lady did not speak English, but we made it work.　 When we left, she was teaching the girls Mandarin! Sam and I ate at a French bistro owned by a Frenchman.　 It was one of the best meals we have had in China.　 The man was so excited to come across fellow westerners.　 He invited us back to his kitchen (I'm not sure thats allowed in America!), showed us what he was cooking (which looking incredible!), and had to show us his wine cellar and homemade rum concoctions.　 　We also got to meet his Chinese wife and children (the kids hang out in a back room in the evenings).　 It was really neat to come across someone who had so much passion for their job.　 It was a fun evening!　 We have set it up with the hotel to have a date night every Thursday night while we are here - I'm already counting down the days for the next one!

I keep forgetting to mention what the Chinese use instead of facebook - WeChat!　 It is so interesting how people I have barely met want to be friends on WeChat.　 WeChat is used for messaging and also for paying for things.　 The goal here in China is to be a cashless country within the next 2 years.　 Some places do not accept cash - they only accept payment from WeChat.　 Since we are only here for a few months, we could not get a bank card, which you typically need to add funds to your WeChat account.　 However we have been able to work around it - one of Sam's coworkers will "gift" us funds on WeChat and we just give him cash in exchange.　

　

Day 16

Sam went to work, the girls and I had school.　 Around lunchtime, we got to meet Kellie and Rachel Webster!  They took a fast train from a town in Northern China.  Kellie is from Durham and we had been given their contact info back in NC, and been emailing Kellie for about 4 months prior to the trip.　 She gave us lots of good info in preparation for the trip.  Kellie and her family have been in China for many years.　 After lunch, Kellie showed us how to use the subway (which was really inexpensive and clean- the girls were free - it was 2 RMB (about $.29) for me each way).　 We checked out a park and boardwalk and came back.　The city is full of wild sunflowers!  Later that evening they gave us some pointers on how to eat noodles and order food!　 Our time with the Websters was very informative!

Day 17

After breakfast, we met back up with the Websters at Xinghai Square.　 It is the largest square in China and has a lot to offer.　 In addition to the beautiful park (yay the kids can run!), we also admired the many beautiful statues of athletes outlining the square.　 There was a large book that kids could slide or run down (or roll down as Annie found haha).　 Next to the giant book was a nice amusement park with rides (and yes the kids rode a few rides).　 Afterwards we ate at a German restaurant on the waterfront.　 On the way back we crossed several beautiful bridges (away from the amusement park haha).　 And no one got run over at the many crosswalks! lol

That evening we met some new friends from the fellowship for dinner.　 We are tired but thankful for all the new friendships!

Day 18

It's Sunday! We had another nice morning with the fellowship, followed by lunch (at McDonald's!) with a family from the fellowship.  Interesting to learn about their life with kids in Dalian. Then we had Mandarin/English lessons with Daniel's family!  Good day!