Oh Chiner

Today...
Woke up with a sore throat
Found the kitchen kinda flooded
Felt like crying
Did the dishes
Hung some laundry to dry
Tried to have some time with the Father
Landlord dropped by
Tried to speak Chinese
Plumber came... didn't bring any tools
Plumber left
Really had to "use it" but the water was off
Plumber came back and fixed the hot water heater
Couldn't take a shower till 4pm
Put away Laundry
The closet rod broke
Felt like swearing
Clothes everywhere
Tried to study Chinese - yeah right
Couldn't find a replacement rod at B &Q (currently using a broom handle)
Why is the bathroom perpetually smelly?
Just discovered that the water heater started leaking again.

Oh Chiner... why are you being so difficult today?
Still, we CHOOSE to be thankful and love our Father.

Extensive Bean Research

This week I have accomplished quite a few cooking feats and I have to say, that I'm pretty much amazing. You can tell me how humble I am later. This week started with tacos. You can't exactly go to the store get a taco packet so I made it myself. I was a little skeptical because I had to leave out a few ingredients, but after careful mixing I opened the bag... and it smelled like tacos. I was stoked. I made Mike smell it. Perhaps the fact that I was so excited about this shows how much I cooked in the states.

That afternoon - chili. In the states I might ask myself, "How can I make this chili taste really good?" but here I just ask "How can I make this taste stuff like chili?" This time I started with the beans. I was reading up on beans and apparently if you don't cook them all the way they release this stuff that's really bad for you. No pressure Em! You have to soak dried beans overnight then cook them for like an hour before you can even get to the chili part - I didn't even know that before my extensive bean research. At home my chili consists of opening cans and dumping in a pot, but here it takes a little more finesse. Then on to chili seasoning. I was a little worried that it would taste like tacos cause it's a lot of the same ingredients. Good news - I put it all together and voila - tasted like chili.

If you are student that has been to our house for a meal you know the only thing we can cook is spaghetti. Ok some things don't change. Last night I had two girls over for dinner and we made... wait for it... spaghetti. One thing that is awesome about this place is that it really doesn't take much to get positive feedback from friends. They raved about how delicious it was and how good a cook I was. I love it. They helped me throw some noodles in some water and dump the can of sauce in the pan - but apparently it was very impressive. I really hope I can adopt this attitude of gratitude and encouragement.

Then we headed back to the kitchen to bake some apple pie in honor of Thanksgiving. It was the first time my friends had ever baked anything, and the first time they had ever used an oven. It it was kinda like baking with middle schoolers - super cute, super messy, and of course about 30 photo opportunities. (unfortunately she didn't have any way to send me the pics - sorry guys). My friend was pretty excited. She called her mom to tell her all about it.

Food Service

This is for all you students out there who are feeling less and less excited about food service as the semester progresses. This is my most recent cafeteria meal. It could be worse...

Fyleaf

FYI the new Flyleaf album came out and we really like it. Along with the album comes a sweet story that is an allegory of The Message, which coincides with the songs. It's proabably not for everyone but we like it.


Another fun fact. In Chiner you can download just about any music for free legally. I guess Western artists figure they might as well get their music out and hope they make it big in Asia. I think there is probably something to this because The Backstreet Boys are still here. Anyway if you have any suggestions of secular bands for the Easton's to check out we'd love to hear them. It's amazing how our minds went blank when the we had the music world at our finger tips.

Chinese Health Tips

• Pepper and onions prevent the flu, according to our teacher.
• Drinking cold water is bad for your health, according to all of China.
• Smoking is apparently fine because tons of people do it.
• And to quote Mike's new buddy "Tomatoes are good for male. Don't tell your wife."

Whelmed

And now to quote a classic film.

"I know you can be overwhelmed and I know you can be underwhelmed, but are you ever just whelmed?"

- Ten Things I Hate About You (you know you've seen it at least 8 times - don't pretend like you haven't)

I am writing you all with the request that you would lift us up and ask that we would be whelmed. As time passes we are beginning to get a clearer picture of the needs that are here. There's lots of work to be done and we want to run the right pace. It certainly doesn't seem right to be overwhelmed. To be always in over your head and to never feel rest and peace. We also don't want to be lazy or timid and feel underwhelmed. So this is our request.

For all you Google Readers out there in blogland don't forget to periodically check out the actual blog site to see the "lift this up" section for this request as well as others.

Why Manu Ginobli is way more man than I am

Last night I was sitting at the computer and I hear a rustle in the curtain. I didn't really pay much attention to it till I heard the "ftftft" of some flying animal and saw the shadow out of the corner of my eye a bat (which is surprisingly like the Bat Signal). I yell out to Emily who comes rushing into the office with me while the bat flies around our living room... After 2-3 minutes (or 4-5) I finally go out with a badminton racquet, swinging at the curtains to find it till it came swooping by my head causing me to hit the deck (thankfully I was standing on my bed at that point). After a few more swings, I got him to fly out the open window.

A few minutes ago I came across this replay, which made me feel like slightly less of a man, but is so amazing that I had to share: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4618253

Bat 0

Mike 2

Xin Xiao Qu Campus

Our city has over 1/4 million university students. Spread out over a city of 6-8 million people (we never have gotten a solid answer on this) there are 4 main campus areas. Ke Ji Daxue (Science and Technology). Shihu Xiao Qu where some of our students went this summer. Bei (North), Benbu (Center), and Dong (East) Campus where we study, and Xin Qu.

Over the next few weeks, we'll show you some of the campus' that we are spending time at and some things you can specifically be lifting up for those campus.'

The first one we will focus on is New Campus. Some things you can lift up for this campus:

- A family that is likely going to partner with us at this campus to help out with the work. Ask the Father to give them grace in their preparation come.

- For possible semester students from TSC to have the logistics for them to work out to come and be used on this campus.

- That the brothers and sisters on this campus would come together in fellowship and would be bold in sharing.

Here are some of the places on the campus:

The Gate

The motto of Suzhou Daxue is "Unto a Full Grown Man." The campus was originally founded by American brothers and sisters, but has long since lost that influence. However, this motto is based on Lk 2:52 that speaks of the Son "growing in wisdom and favor and stature with both the Father and men." Ask that some of these roots would produce fruit that will be harvested.

The Library

One student told me there's hardly any books in there, but the university just wanted to build a cool building to show themselves off. A great reflection on the materialism that's invading this culture.

Some University Buildings

Basketball Courts

Student Hang Out Spot

One of the many canals that can be found in "the Venice of the East"