train rides and road trips

I have gotten my train travel fix in for the year. Those of you who have traveled with me know that I love train travel. And even though 25 hours is a long time to be on a train, I certainly enjoyed it more than I would I have a flight. But more than that, riding on a train with a group of brothers and sisters in China, is a whole different experience than just riding on a train. Two weeks ago, a group from the Beijing church made the trip to Chengdu in Sichuan to put on a little camp for some of the children who were injured during the 2008 earthquake. I had the honor of joining them and helping out. The train ride for one was a growing experience for myself. There is something special about being on a journey that creates a candid environment where people are honest and conversations are real. Our group was divided between two cars but both on the way to Sichuan and on the way back conversations with open Bibles and curious hearts were taking place. When we were packing, I asked my dad why we needed to take an entire little suitcase of Bibles, He said that we would likely give a few away on the train and the plan was that we would not return with any. So many were given away on the train that we had to buy some more when we got to Chengdu so that there were enough for the camp. On the ride home, as I walked through one of the cars where some of our group were, I passed three different compartments where ministry was happening. In two of them Bible discussions were taking place, in the third one of the brothers was teaching a group of kids some of the church songs, and they were loving it. On that same train ride one of the attendants from our car saw a Bible sitting out and asked whose it was. Later he returned to tell us the story of his conversion and how God was leading his life. We prayed together with him, and encouraged him in the work he had been given to do. The Lord’s presence could be felt on that train.
The camp itself was uplifting. Many of the kids there have only scars as reminders of the earthquake, but some of the ones that joined us for part of the camp, have much more serious injuries that have altered their way of life. No matter, all of them came with joyful spirits and big smiles. One activity that kept us amused throughout the week was trying to communicate. The girls enjoyed building on the little English that they knew and I tried very had to learn the Chinese that they were teaching me. Using it daily helped, and I learned a thing or two, but despite the language barrier, we communicated, and enjoyed one another’s company. One of the funniest interactions we had was about 5 minutes of trying to figure out the English word for “zero”. Ping Ping and HuNa used all of the English they could think of, the limited Chinese that they knew I understood, pointing, hand motions, and even writing, before I finally figured out what they were asking. So for anyone that is wondering the Chinese word for “zero” is “ling”.

It has been a week since we’ve been back from the camp and my schedule filled up very quickly. I did a short presentation on the accent modification course in a friend’s business English class which proved to be a profitable move. Thanks to him, I met with 6 students this week and I anticipate following up with them when I return from traveling. Today, we are off again for more gallivanting around the country, and out of the country. We are riding down to Nigbo with some friends of ours - a Chinese road trip, something I’ve never done. After spending a few days with them we will go to Shanghai and depart from there for the Philippines for the Asian Missions Forum. Our friends have told us that we need to be on the lookout for incorrectly translated signs on our drive, there are a lot and although he is fluent in English, he says the poor translations confuse him to the point that he’s not sure what a correct translation would be! There are so many hilariously translated signs, even new signs that have been put up in the last two years. For some reason they don’t take the time to have a native speaker double check...or maybe they do and the translator just has a good sense of humor. Either way, it provides a lot of entertainment.

Is it July already?

I’m not sure when the last time was that I heard nothing but silence. As I sit alone in my parent’s small apartment on the 18th floor, I hear a constant murmur from the crowds below. Every evening families gather in the neighborhood center with their children and neighbors. There is also the constant honking from the traffic and then there are neighbors above, below and next door - who aren’t loud, but you can hear them. I don’t mind it, this is more like the environment that I was raised in. I don’t really notice it either except for times like this when the apartment is silent and all I hear is the noise from outside. My dad and I were having a discussion the other day on the importance of having times of silence. Having been in places where peaceful silence is attainable I can appreciate that, but for someone who has always lived in this environment it must be incredibly uncomfortable, as my dad had observed in some of his Chinese friends. I have seen it too in our busy, technology-driven environment --and even felt it myself-- where silence is uncomfortable and it is hard to sit still. But how valuable it is to sit in silence before the Lord, with nothing else pulling at your attention. That is always more of a challenge for me in times like this when I don’t have a routine.

I have been here for just over a week now. This is my 6th trip to China, so from the minute I got here, I felt pretty much at home with the sites, sounds and going everywhere by bike... except for one small factor. Every time I come to China, I regret not knowing Chinese. I can understand a little and say a few phrases; with these small skills I kid myself into thinking I know more than I do, but just when I start to feel proud of myself someone asks me a question and, “uhh...” I smile and shake my head, “...ting bu dong [I don’t understand]” I say shyly and I’m sure incorrectly. I’ve blown my cover! It is humbling, and maybe one of these days I will actually take the time to learn something. I am proud of my parents though, Dad is practically fluent and Mom continues to impress me. This week was the first time I have heard her pray in Chinese, which for those of you who are praying people, know that is a very personal thing and a hard thing to do in another language. I know many fluent speakers of English who still pray in their native language even if no one around understands.

As far as my work is going, I think I’ve done alright for one week. I gave two lectures/sample classes on foreign accent reduction and I felt that it went pretty well. One lecture lasted about and hour plus Q&A for a group of about 25 Motorola employees. Afterwards, the head of the Women’s Business Counsel said she would be interested in helping me advance my career in Beijing if I were staying longer. I was honored, and glad to know I always have that option if I’m ever in need of a job. At this point I only have one client signed up and we had our first session this week, but I expect a few more from the lectures. The research is going a little slower. I am continuing to make contact with orphanages and organizations and have some promising leads. The group that my parents work with go every Friday to an orphanage to play with the kids. Right now they have four children with cleft palate, one girl who is hearing impaired and one girl who hasn’t been diagnosed, but seems to have some developmental issues. They have several others, and not all of their children are special needs, but those are the ones who were brought to my attention last week. I enjoyed working with the cleft palate kids last week. I showed one of the older teenage girls there a few things she could continue to do with the kids throughout the week. They are all 3 or 4 years old and need to have the palate repair surgery, but funding and resources are limited. It is hard to help them with their speech when they have a hole in the roof of their mouth, but I will do what I can. We are going again tomorrow, and I have been in contact with some SLP’s from the States who have much more experience and have shared some great ideas with me for things I can do. I hope that I can actually make a difference for these kids as this is a visit I will be making almost every week.

On Saturday we are leaving for Chengdu in Sichuan province to put on a little camp for 9 kids and their families who were hit hard by the earthquake in 2008 and who the family here supports and encourages. I am looking forward to our 25 hour train ride and to being pushed out of my comfort zone as somehow I got put in charge of crafts and part of the daily English class...at least I will stay busy : ) One week has gone and I already feel like my time here might not be long enough for all that I was hoping to accomplish. Pray for me to use my time and resources effectively.