Easter Dinner in China. Don’t you love the lilies?
This is my first holiday away from the USA. I was feeling a bit lonesome for America and my home church. God is with me everywhere though and When I prayed to him this morning and read his word, I felt a sense of peace and his love washed over me. You are never alone when you have God’s love. However I still want a puppy!!! That would be very awesome.
I wish there were foreign teachers that were my age and singletons like me. I have to get out and explore Nanchang but I have no sense of direction and will probably get utterly lost. I guess I want a partner in crime, who knows maybe next years crop of foreign teachers will bring me a gal pal.
I have met some amazing people in China like Joel, Lulu, Ron, Bai Qing, Dawn, Sean, Keith,Jessica and Jonathan. They have become good friends as well as spiritual supporters for me.
i have met English professors Lily and Andy(Andy is really cute) that I hope we can become better friends. I would love to hang out with those two but I live in the boonies. Maybe one day I can suggest an outing. I just have to reach out to people more. On this day, I reflected on Jesus’ love for us and I realized that I have been hiding my glory, due to fear of rejection. My greatest gift is my love for others.
This Easter Sunday, I spent the more in fellowship with my new spiritual family. I have to say, I really love that God placed these people in my life to help me grow. I am the type of Christian who thrives on fellowship. I like to worship in a group setting, prayer is more powerful in numbers. I also like my time alone with God as well.
This Sunday Lulu spoke on love. She did a great job and spoke from her heart. I just love Lulu she was not a Christian all her life. This sermon made me realize how much Jesus loves us all. He gave the ultimate sacrifice for us on the cross.
After service, Dawn made a an Easter lunch. This was my first western meal since I came to China. I had ham, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, broccoli and bread, There were also baked beans. It was so good, I tried not to eat too much since I am losing weight in China. I didn’t take leftovers. Dawn and Sean have a rarity in China, they have an oven!!!. I should have taken a picture of their oven!
One thing that I really miss back home is my church. To me, my church was more than a church it was my spiritual family. Sunday were my favorite day of the week. When I was an atheist, I hated Sundays because it meant that I had to go to work the next day. I use to call it Sorrowful Sundays. Once I accepts Christ into my heart that all changed.
The White Van
Leaving Liquid Church and all my friends behind were so difficult. Liquid Church was God’s instrument to save my soul. I am so glad that I was lead to them. I can still look at sermons online but there was something lacking. It was fellowship. I am a social person and I love to communally praise and worship God. One thing that I was scared about is losing my way once I moved to China. China is not a Christian country, though there is an undercurrent of Christian faith developing in China. As a new Christain, is my faith strong enough not to be swayed?
I know that I needed to find another church to attend. My campus is a bit a ways out of town. Ok there are chickens and vineyards nearby. Yes I am one step above Green Acres. The campus is modern though. So going into downtown Nanchang can be a bit of a challenge for a non Chinese speaking lass. So I have no been to church since I left the states.
A few days ago, I had a strong inclination to phone Joel another foreign language teacher at my school and inquire about a local church. He just looks like a Christian. My hunch was correct he told me that he and some other teachers at various universities all formed an informal church. that sounds perfect, right up my alley. The one thing about Liquid Church that I loved was how informal it was.
Sunday morning Joel told me to meet him and his wife Lulu at the small gate of our school. Joel and Lulu will be my next door neighbors once my apartment is remodeled. I went to eat breakfast first, I had baoza and soymilk again. I love baoza. On my way I meet a student who wanted to converse with me in English. He wanted to practice his oral English with me. He has a n exam in a few months and he failed it prior. I even gave him my mobile number if he wanted to further communicate with him. If someone speaks to you in English in China it is a good thing to take notice of.
I then walked to the back gate also known as the small gate. A friend of Lulu and Joel were going to meet us at the back gate with his car. Lulu and Joel met me on their motorbike. Keith was the name of the guy with the car and he was originally from Glen Cove, Long Island. What a small world! I watched him maneuver around the highways of Nanchang and it reminded me the video game “Pole Position” All I have to say is driving in China is not for the faint of heart. I would be too scared with motorbikes, pedestrians and bicycles coming out of nowhere and from all directions. There are no traffic rules in China. It is just The Chinese Way.
Keith drove us to the university where we all would meet. It was in a coffeehouse! They call it ETC (English Training Center). On that campus they had a building where Chinese students can come hang out and speak English. That is pretty cool. I met Dawn her husband Sean and their adopted child Thomas. I also met Jessica who was a young intern and Jonathan who was also from New Jersey(Monmouth County). The group is small but immediately sensed the fellowship of the group and felt right at home. Everyone was so laid
Oh and there was coffee there. I have not had coffee since, I left America. Coffee is a rare treat. I was extremely excited about this! Dawn made me a cup. It was so yummy. I felt that for a brief moment that I was transported back to the US. There is Starbucks in China but remember I live in the chicken area of town so I don’t get into the city much. Starbuck will be a rare and expensive dream for me. I will just have my weekly cup of coffee at church.
Basically each week a different member of the congregation will sign up and preach a sermon based on the scriptures. We have worship music music in the beginning and following and ending in prayer. We have prayer requests as well. I signed up to be the last speaker. I will have to start to prepare a sermon. I don’t like to speak in public, even though, I am a teacher and that is what I do for a living. God will guide me to what I want to preach about when the time draws nearer, I have 6 weeks to plan for it.
After church we all headed in town for dumplings. We had three Chinese people that assisted us. Lulu helped me, she is Chinese. Oh Lulu is pregnant and is having a baby! Everyone knows how much I adore babies. I love dumpling. I ordered mushroom and chicken and plain mushroom dumplings. I also ordered a green ice tea. It came to about 15 yuan. That is equivalent to $2.41 in USD. I got 12 dumplings and a drink for $2.41. I love China!!! A woman came by and gave us soy sauce. We had a choice of either adding chili peppers, garlic or vinegar to the soy sauce. I chose garlic. Oh my gosh my dumpling tasted amazing! Having fresh garlic in the soy sauce really enhanced the flavor. I had some of Lulu’s pork dumplings and they were good too.
After dumplings we went to Aukman’s with is a grocery store that has a great foreign food selection. I have no kitchen yet so I was just observing everything. They have an extensive fruit and vegetable section. I liked it better than Walmart. Oh and a score I found Grape Mentos there. I have never seen Grape Mentos, so I bought them. Actually Sean bought them for me. they were only 2 yuan. After Walmart we parted ways. Lulu, Joel and I took the white vans that dropped us off at campus. I did not know about the white vans until today. For 3 yuan(48 cents) they drop you off at various college campuses The white vans also wait outside of the college gates. My campus is the first stop going into town, so i’ will always get a seat.. This is very convenient, now I won’t feel trapped on campus. There is a shopping mall a many small stores in that area of Nanchang and it is easy to get to from my campus! Another score!!!
Today was a very good China day for me. I found a new fellowship of Christ followers, made new friends, had coffee, ate dumplings and experienced the white van. I have off for most of the week. On Tuesday, I have my health exam. I have one class on Wednesday and another on Friday. Even weeks are my easy weeks. I have to say I appreciate teaching more here than in the states.
