a day of rest

we enjoyed a relaxing day visiting with friends at our apartment. everyone arrived at about 10 when we had some time to sing, share and break bread. it was a sweet time of fellowship followed by a pot luck. we were in charge of the main course which we prepared as much ahead of time as possible since we have no oven and it would have to be made once our fellowship time was over. we all had a hand in putting it together. . . from shopping at the market (see yesterday) to slicing and dicing the ingredients. . . it was a true group effort. . . and it wasn't bad, either!

we lingered over drinks (we introduced our chinese friends to petro's tea. . . sweet just for a southern flair!) until 3, believe it or not, then decided it was about time to get out and see the olympic exhibit that rebecca, molly, bethany and i heard about on friday. we hopped a bus across town (is it me or is it just crazy that seven of us can ride a bus for $1!?? not each, but TOTAL) just in time to discover that the exhibit had already left to go to the next city. grrrr. we were told on friday that the exhibit would begin on saturday and last three days. oh well, at least we got to see the sign about the exhibit! and the wonderful "chinglish" sign in the mall. . . 

off to the mall to see really expensive chinese stuff. very beautiful mall, but not much that our team would consider buying. let's just say chinese fashion is an oxymoron. we are much more suited to buying stuff from random sidewalk vendors. puppies, rabbits, turtles, tshirts, dvds, watches, phone cards, watermelon, cell phones. . . just about anything can be bought on the side of the road. . . why there was even a rather disinterested lady demonstrating her pipe cleaner--not like you think of pipe cleaner, but a pipe with a wire and a hunk of rag on the end. when you twist the wire, voila, clean pipe! i know, not very exciting. perhaps that was why she seemed disinterested. she just sat there and twisted. so think about the sidewalk vendors. it's amazing to think that these people can make any kind of living, and it seems like such a lonely existence. 

we stopped for coffee at an american coffeehouse. the man who owns it is from indiana and he has lived in china for over five years and enjoys a brisk business of providing tasty coffee and ice cream treats. we can vouch for the tastiness. it was dee-lish!

john took dan and his two youngest children to another city to go pick up a car that he has purchased (after 11 years in china, this is his first car) leaving his two oldest girls with amy and alfreda, his teammates. we spent the day with the girls and marveled at their stamina. they never stopped all day! we ate dinner with a friend who will be going back to the US in the next few weeks. it was neat to visit with her. she was here for the past two years teaching english at the university, but is returning home to help care for her ailing father. . . but not before she attends the olympics. interestingly, the gov't held a ticket lottery for anyone living in the country for more than one year. her number was chosen, but not for the opening ceremonies like she hoped. she'll have a chance to watch the gymnastics. . . for less than $10. for real! she assured me that the foreigners would be paying much more.

being a foreigner in china, while not all that advantageous for getting cheap olympic tickets, is pretty cool when it comes to walking around town. we stopped to watch some servers outside of a restaurant who were dancing to attract business (apparently this is a common practice). we stopped to watch, and WE attracted a crowd! it seems all we have to do is say ni hao, and they'll either begin talking to us in chinese or will try their hand at english. it's amazing how open and friendly everyone is.

so if you're interested, think about the workers. . . the street people. . . the people who are infirm and must sit on the streets and beg. think about the street sweepers (not machines, mind you) and the bus drivers and the people who sit in their streetside shops and wait for business. may their day to day life go from mundane to excited as perhaps they would greet each new day with a newfound purpose. thanks for interceding on their behalf! 

till next time!

so even though we return home each day completely exhausted, there always seems time to pile on my bed and begin the procession of emails and facebooking. they are patient to wait their turn, will shower while they're "in line" and while they wait, laugh and share about the day's exeriences. it's a great way to unwind, and it makes me thankful for a computer. without it our link to home would be nonexistant, and it gives us good team debriefing time while we wait. we even practiced our chinese. our new favorite expression: mama huhu (mamma hoo hoo) which means so-so. it is usually used (by us) out of context, just because we enjoy saying it. and it makes us laugh, but then again, what doesn't? our favorite english expression said by a chinese is: oh my world!! if laughter is good medicine, that we pretty much have the cure for cancer.

thanks for journeying with us. and if you would rather leave a comment by email. . . send one to kimberwidmer@gmail.com. comments are like a waterfall in the desert. highly replenishing and so encouraging! all we ask is that you be mindful of your content when it comes to "higher" issues.