Tuesday, December 31, 2013

新年快乐 Xīnnián Kuàilè Happy New Year

A psalm for 2014

Life is like a vapor. One year is gone, another comes. Lord, teach us to number our days that we might get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90

English Standard Version (ESV)

90 
90 Lord, you have been our dwelling place
    in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
    or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
    from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
You return man to dust
    and say, “Return, O children of man!”
For a thousand years in your sight
    are but as yesterday when it is past,
    or as a watch in the night.
You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,
    like grass that is renewed in the morning:
in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;
    in the evening it fades and withers.
For we are brought to an end by your anger;
    by your wrath we are dismayed.
You have set our iniquities before you,
    our secret sins in the light of your presence.
For all our days pass away under your wrath;
    we bring our years to an end like a sigh.
10 The years of our life are seventy,
    or even by reason of strength eighty;
yet their span[c] is but toil and trouble;
    they are soon gone, and we fly away.
11 Who considers the power of your anger,
    and your wrath according to the fear of you?
12 So teach us to number our days
    that we may get a heart of wisdom.
13 Return, O LordHow long?
    Have pity on your servants!
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
    that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    and for as many years as we have seen evil.
16 Let your work be shown to your servants,
    and your glorious power to their children.
17 Let the favor[d] of the Lord our God be upon us,
    and establish the work of our hands upon us;
    yes, establish the work of our hands!

Christmas in China - Dec. 13-25

December 13 - BBC Christmas Party 
Joel & Mark decorating for the Christmas Party

Jen & the kids decorating Christmas cookies
The kids' creation - cookie tree






December 22 - picking up the kids from the Beijing Airport



Monday lunch December 23 - Eating Beijing Duck with the Lees
first Chinese meal for the kids






Visiting the 798 Art District after lunch







Tuesday, December 23 - Walking Wangfujing Street & Tiananmen 



Kids in a candy store - always an attraction





Christmas Day lunch in the Pettit's Apartment


 Christmas afternoon playing Ticket to Ride

 Christmas Day Supper at a local Chinese restaurant




Chilling after a full day

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Photos of Friends

How many people does it take to fix the gas water heater? One American man who speaks some Chinese. One Chinese lady who speaks some English. One worker who only speaks Chinese.


Our first Guys'  Dinner & Discipleship

Our language school classmates minus our German friend. L to R: Mark, Landon, Brigt (husband to classmate Birgit in front), Allison, Lance, and Gary.  A fun bunch.
Learning numbers and 4 colors: Hóng, Huáng, Lǜ, Lán

Ahhhh...

A clean house. Sparkling floors. Hot water. Heat. Drippy pipe solved. Listening to Christmas music. Ahhh...... almost heaven. :)

After a week of fixing water issues, our home is back in order. Amazing what getting a home back in order does for our spirits. Now to get ready for our guys' night tomorrow, Christmas party Friday, kids coming, and final exams on the 23rd.

Psalm 34:1-3, 8-10
I will bless the Lord at all times;
    his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord;
    let the humble hear and be glad.
Oh, magnify the Lord with me,
    and let us exalt his name together!


Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
    Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
    for those who fear him have no lack!
10 The young lions suffer want and hunger;
    but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Water - making progress

Today the repairman came to fix the pipes under the sink so we have a working kitchen sink again.  Yeah! And we have intermittent hot water. Tomorrow another repairman (or two) plus a bilingual Chinese are supposed to come fix the gas water heater so we can have heat in the apt and consistent hot water, and hopefully fix the pipe that is unattached.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Water Part 3

The saga continues.  Today as I washed dishes about 1:15, the water pipe burst under the sink so we ended up with a flooded kitchen. After trying two valves in the hallway closet, we were finally able to shut off the water. Rodney, XiaoLi, Mark, and three maintenance guys have worked to get the parts and pipes back in order, with no success. Now we have no hot water, a leak in the laundry area, and a broken pipe under the sink. The maintenance guy is supposed to come back tomorrow to finish the job.


The sanctification process continues.

Friday, December 6, 2013

Water Part 2

The maintenance man came yesterday to look at the water leak. When he left, we discovered that we had no hot water again. Now we have a leak AND cold water. He comes again late this morning. Hopefully, we can get this issue solved soon.

Water, Water

We got our hot water fixed yesterday after three days. Boy, it sure was nice to take a hot shower again.  However, upon entering the laundry area, where the water pipes are, we discovered water all over the floor. It turns out that the fix-it man unhooked a water pipe but didn't hook it back up.  We were suspicious when we saw the turn valve sitting on the washer, wondering where that came from. Now the fix-it people want to charge us again to fix the pipe, saying that there is no way to prove that it wasn't leaking before the guy came the first time. Well, the floor was dry before he came and wet after he 'fixed' it. How do you prove it without pictures? Who would have thought to take pictures? Please remember us, that we won't have to pay twice.

Thank you to all who remember us. We know you care and remember. It is obvious to us that G hears and answers.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

The Proverbial Wall

So what do you do when you hit the proverbial wall? 

Three months. That’s often when people overseas hit a wall. The language is hard. We miss the kids, our home, and our friends. Getting the hot water fixed takes days. HBI business is not booming. The culture seems backwards. The streets are dirty. But people are friendly and helpful. And God is good.

Here are some things we remember:
·        God is on His throne.
·        Our worth as a person and our salvation do not depend on what we do or how we perform on a test.
·        I am thankful Mark and I don’t hit the wall on the same day.
·        Life is about God’s glory, His faithfulness, His steadfast love – not our feelings or work.

Psalm 36:7-9
How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.