eggs and rockband

Sharon and Tom Rich. I have always wanted to have a house like theirs. I don't suppose there's anything particularly special about this house. Sure it's comfortable and well decorated but it's just a regular one story tan house with a big basement located on the outskirts of Clermont Iowa. (Then again, I guess when you live in a town that's only like three square blocks, most of the houses are located on the outskirts of town.) What makes the Rich house special is that it's doors are always open. It's the kind of place where you feel at home the minute you walk through the doors, and everyone belongs. Parents can feel good about sending their teenagers to a place like that. The soda fridge in the garage is always stalked, and it's the kind of place where you can stay up late talking with friends and you don't feel like and imposition.

My parents also did a great job modeling this concept for me. They always welcomed our friends warmly. So when my brother's tall friend decided to do a handstand and put his foot through our basement ceiling they chose to laugh because they knew that the relationships that were build under their roof (and through it apparently) were way more important than the cost of repairs.

So what made me think of all this? Tonight a couple of friends came to my house for spaghetti, sugar cookie making, Easter egg decorating, and rock band. It was pretty much the awesomest party ever. I am pretty close with one of the girls I went to her house during Spring Festival. In China it is common to refer to a close friend as your sister or brother, so her father told me that she can be my little sister. When she came my house tonight she told me that she feels really comfortable in our home because she is like my little sister.

Mike and I have always wanted to have a house with open doors. We want to make visitors feel like family. We want our house to be the kind of place where you can help yourself to the fridge or invite yourself over without feeling awkward or intrusive. I Thes. 2:8 talks about being delighted to share not only the Good News, but our lives as well. It seems like inviting people into your home is a part of that.

March

Hmmm... March started off nice and calm. No classes, plenty of time, and then the students came back and everything hit the fan - but not in a bad way. Many of the students that we got connected with during Christmas left to go home for spring festival shortly after we met them, which means that our last few weeks we've had our hands full reconnecting. Also we've been planning some events and making some goals for this semester. I feel like we're on the verge of a lot of good things we just have to wait and see how the father is going to put it all together.

Our vision for this city is to start a group in each college, trade school and university in this city. We want every student in this city to hear the good news and to face the decision of weather or not they will follow The Truth. Please remember us in pr@yer as we kick off the new term.

Magical Bamboo Forest

Past the swirly twirly bamboo forest and through the Lincoln tunnel

We Miss you Salt Co.

We recently did some cleaning in apartments where Salt students once resided. It was fun to find traces of their time here. We found a 3-D paper model of a bridge with a heartfelt message to Christine, it was touching and very random. Mike found some materials he'd made that students had with them. And we also found this...


Keeyon's head taped on that guy's body. Chinese people can be funny but not in the same creative way as all our Salt students back home. It makes us miss you guys. Can't wait to see some Salters this summer and semester.

P.S. If any of you are ever interested in spending some time in China, feel free to email us any questions you might have. We'd love to have you!

Chinese 201

Day One. Today we started our second term of Chinese language learning. It's kinda like being in kindergarten, except it's like the hardest kindergarten ever. We learn words like "winter" and "play", we watch cartoons, and the teacher shhhh's you if you talk in class. Our teacher is pretty good, but when she bangs on the chalkboard to get our attention she kinda reminds me of one of those mean nun-teachers in the movies.

Our language skills are improving daily to be sure, but sometimes it's a battle. When you remember us please pr. that we would be amazing at Chinese so that we can effectively share what's on our hearts. Many students can speak English, but sometimes that just doesn't work. Here's a recent text message conversation with one of my "English-speaking" sisters to illustrate our need to speak the language.

Em: What time should we meet?

Her: I will meet you by bus

Em: What time?

Her: after one hour because i have class on morning

Em: Do you want me to meet you at your campus by the bus?

Her: I confusion, or i take taxi, please don't angry

Em: No problem I am not angry :) will you come to my campus or will I come to your campus?

Her: I want to go to your campus but I can't stand the gas smell

Em: That's ok I will come to your campus

Her: But I really want to come to your campus

Em: Ok what time is convenient?

Her: oh emily, i think just you can come here! I would like to go but I can't! will you blame?

Em: No I will not blame I am happy to come to your campus. I will call you when I arrive.

Random

RANDOM ROLLS anyone?

Belated Febuary 14th

For many of you this day was filled with chocolate and flowers or possibly the acute awareness of the lack of chocolate and flowers. For us, Febuary 14th - yes I know it's March already, yes, I know this is a little late - was filled with fireworks and car alarms. Also known as Chinese New Year.

As we ride our bikes through our neighborhood we are greeted with the sights and sounds of children playing...with matches and neighbors' greeting one another.. as they shoot fireworks off of their balconies. It starts that afternoon and slowly but surely gains momentum throughout the evening. At about 11:30 the real fun begins when the entire country explodes. Millions and millions of people gather outside their houses (which are very close together) to make their fiery contribution to this grandiose event. We ran through the snowy streets, looking for a good view, dodging cars and people setting up their fireworks, and finally set off our own. We headed home ready to hit the hay after an eventful evening only find our neighbors still celebrating. The fireworks they were shooting off from below were exploding right outside our fourth floor window.

About four days later the whole thing happened all over again when the Chinese people welcomed the god of wealth. We were getting ready for bed when China exploded again. We didn't even see it comin. It would have been funny if it weren't for the 8am meeting the next day.