New Language

When we moved to Beijing, we expected to learn a new language. Somehow we didn't expect it to sound like this:

What's the AQI today?
That's a lot of mafan.
Queue up behind the yellow line.
We need more helpers in the crèche.
Meet me at the subway.
Do you need a bag?
Amy needs a nappie.
Don't forget the bathers.
Can I bring a pushchair?
I'll be there to fetch you.
What line is that?
Do you need to shoo-shoo?
He made a visa run.
Please stand firm and hold the handrail.
Let's have a braai this weekend.
I'll send the wuye to your flat.

Where’s your flat?

Who are your flatmates?

Although friends spoke these sentences in English, they still needed some translation.

People Stories - W

This past Tuesday, our normal day off, we planned to hang out at a coffee shop to kill some time before meeting a friend to move a piano. This particular coffee shop is always full so we chose a two-person table next to a man who sat by himself. I had hoped to enjoy a nice cup of tea and just be with Mark, but the guy initiated conversation. Naturally we talked about the normal topics - life, work, family, our ages, etc. In the conversation he mentioned his age of 38. He understood most people live to about 80 so he was almost half-way there and wondering about his purpose in life. He reflected the ancient  philosophy of paying debt to society or what we might refer to as paying kindness forward. Mark used that opportunity to proclaim the message of Jesus coming to pay our debt to God so we don’t have to. We expected never to see this man again so Mark spoke boldly and directly.

It turns out that he works at a nearby restaurant so he invited us to be his guests at the restaurant. Though we had walked by it many times, we had never eaten there so we accepted his offer and went last night. It seemed the staff expected us because they deferred to him and were especially gracious.

He not only hosted us but also sat down and joined us for dinner. He indeed picked up the tab for us. But more importantly, we had conversation during the evening about life, work, and family. We brought the conversation back to his looking for purpose in life and paying back debt. I had brought along Ultimate Questions as a gift for him and told him that this little booklet addressed many of those questions about life and its purpose. Mark explained the Good News more fully by drawing the bridge illustration with the cross of Jesus as the bridge between man and God. I pray that God will use Ultimate Questions for his good and His glory. May He bring salvation to a searching man.

The food, by the way, was delicious. 

Family Time

We have the privilege of spending a few weeks at Christmas and New Year's with our families. God has given us great times of conversations, fellowship, food, and football. We even invited several of Alicia's close friends for a Friends' Dinner one night. We love the joys, laughter, and future of young people. May God bless the next generation with His grace and mercy.

Cheryl's family (minus James & Amy)
celebrating her parents' 60th wedding anniversary

Friends' Dinner
Even at home we serve internationals. As I look over this crowd, two of these young people grew up on the Amazon River in Brazil, one is a first generation American from Soviet Union immigrants, one from Germany spent 3 months working at BMW in Greer. Two others grew up in Indiana (well, that's foreign to SC, isn't it?)

Playing Taboo. They worked through half a box of cards. So much fun!!

Clemson vs Ohio State

Fiesta Bowl

Final - Saturday, December 31, 7:00 PM

University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

2Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2) 0 3Clemson Tigers (13-1) 31

Now for the National Championship Football Game
Monday, January 9, 2017 8pm.
GO TIGERS!!!

	2Ohio State Buckeyes (11-2)	0
	3Clemson Tigers (13-1)	31

2Ohio State

Buckeyes

(11-2)

0

3Clemson

Tigers

(13-1)

31

2016 BBC Christmas Party

Rupert graciously arranged to have our food catered by Schindler's.
MMMM delicious!

Russel led a devotional.

Readings from OT prophecies and NT fulfillment.

Jake's baptism

Christmas sing-a-long

Philippino group-sing

Noel from India sang us a Indian song.

Alex from Ukraine sang a Russian Christmas song.

Teshome from Ethiopia sang a traditional Christmas song.

IT IS DONE REV16:17

We had an interesting experience one day last week on the subway. While we sat down, a young lady came to stand in front of us. The pockets of her coat had the words IT IS DONE REV 16:17 so we used it to ask a question which led to further conversation. I think maybe I started off by pointing out the words to Mark. Mark then asked her straight up in Chinese “Are you a Xn?” She stated “no” then he proceeded to point out the words. In the conversation we tried to explain that those words came from a book in the Bible called Revelations. On her phone dictionary she typed in revelation. I said yes, though I knew that wasn’t the correct explanation. I briefly explained that Revelations is a book in the Bible and many books make up the Bible with chapters and verses. I explained about the idea of the Bible being like a big story that has many stories that grow into a climax of Jesus, then has a resolution - much like the plot of a novel.  She told us that some American teachers had  taught her Bible stories and she likes the Bible stories but that she didn't want to be a Xn. She thought the words IT IS DONE meant that the Bible is finished, no one can add to it. Although that fact is true and the words IT IS DONE in Revelation 16:17 refer to God’s seven bowls of judgment poured out on the earth, I tried to point her to the idea of IT IS FINISHED - Jesus’ completed work on the cross for salvation. I had a hard time explaining that concept. She also didn’t understand the 16:17, thinking that it meant 4:17pm.  In the end, I encouraged her to read the Bible, especially since she already knows some of its stories.  Interestingly, the whole time Mark and I had this conversation in English, I noticed some people across the aisle listening intently. We learned that she uses the English name of Crane – like the bird. I pray that God will use curiosity to open her eyes to his word and that she will be free like a real bird.

Battlefield

One day recently at the gym I took my Kindle and read all of Ephesians while using the treadmill. It took about 15 minutes. I gained a new perspective on Ephesians by reading the whole thing straight through. Paul begins by gloriously recounting our spiritual blessings in Christ – our election, our adoption, Jesus’ grace, our redemption, our forgiveness, God’s eternal purpose, our salvation, our inheritance. So many RICH blessings. Paul goes on to say how he prays for the saints in Ephesus. He gloriously expounds our salvation through faith by grace, which thus joins the Gentiles and Jews together through that faith in Christ. He then explains how we live that faith in our daily lives – how our lives change (putting off the old, putting on the new), how our character changes, how our relationships change. He ends his letter to the Ephesians with the armor of God. And this is what struck me most – this life, this new life in Christ, is a battle. From Ephesians 6¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. ¹³ Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. ¹⁴ Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; ¹⁷ and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, ¹⁸ praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints.. Yes, I’ve read this section thousands of times before, but somehow in reading it all at once, I ‘got it’. The whole progression of God’s blessings in Christ leads to the battle with evil and we must stand firm in the Lord. I think so many times we read smaller portions of Scripture and we lose the whole. When God gives blessings and He works, Satan is right there attempting to devour like a lion. Satan doesn’t want us to enjoy God’s blessings, change our character, or have a new life. The spiritual battle isn’t out there; it’s here, it’s near, and it’s real.

First Visit to Seoul

This week we took a brief trip to Seoul for a day of Rest & Relaxation. The green space (below) provided a sense of relaxation, and the American-style hotel bed provided rest. 

Gyeongbokgung Palace - after visiting the Palace Museum for two hours we decided to skip walking through the Palace proper. It reminded us of Beijing's Forbidden City.

 

Instead we walked along the Gwanghwamun Square, which happened to host a food festival featuring displays of Korean food and beautifully carved gourds.

How about this for the next pumpkin carving contest?

This particular street reminded us of Hong Kong because of its angles.  We found all of Seoul's street extremely clean, gridded, well marked, and not too crowded.

We decided to ride the cable car up to North Seoul Tower instead of visiting the ancient palace. From the top we could view 360 degrees of Seoul. 

We marveled at the list prices of the Korean currency. I had a hard time getting used to such large numbers but 1 Korean won = .087 US cents so our ticket price in USD was $5.24 each.

N Seoul Tower is one of the top ten places in the world that people can lock down their love. "Inspired by ancient Chinese custom, two lovers seal a padlock to a gate, chain,[ or fence] and throw away the key. This locks down their love for eternity"
(http://geekandsundry.com/10-places-to-keep-your-love-locked-down-across-the-world/) 

We also stumbled upon this fun demonstration at the tower courtyard.

We entered the cable car area to the singing of "Monster Mash."

Overlooking Seoul. I love green space, but here the leaves at the Namsan Park looked like autumn.

We ended our stay in Seoul by choosing our own cut of beef and taking it upstairs to a Korean BBQ restaurant where we cooked the meat at our table. The hot wood ash grill reminded us of Argentinian asado.

The restaurant provided the side dishes - for a fee of course. A pleasant way to end our stay.