Soldiers and Snowstorms

Contrary to the title of this post, the weather has been rather pleasant lately. Although Nanchang is famous for not having a spring, it sure has felt like spring for the past few days. It has been raining off and on for a good 3 weeks, although it seems to let up every Friday, just in time for playing frisbee.

Yesterday, I ate my usual Friday lunch with my friend Reborn. We ate noodles in the small "minority nationalities" (i.e. Muslim) canteen. I was a little disappointed not to see any exotic minority nationalities. On television and in the newspapers in China, all the minority nationalities are shown wearing extremely flashy costumes, covered in fur/sparkles/feathers. Everyone looked very normal in the cafeteria. Only the workers wore little white hats indicating that they were Muslim. And it took them approximately 3 minutes to notice that I was sitting in their canteen. About 10 of them stopped cleaning the tables they were cleaning, stretching out the uncooked noodles they were stretching, and scooping rice they were scooping. All motion ceased and they stopped to stare. "Finally," they were probably thinking, "a minority has come to our canteen."

Anyways, after lunch, Reborn and I wandered around new campus, which is totally opposite from old campus (where I live). There is actually a lot of greenery. We sat by the small lake and pagoda under the most beautiful tree, which was busting with pale pink flowers that looked like tissue paper. It smelled and looked like heaven.

New campus was actually just farmland a few years ago. Now the area surrounding it is turning into China's version of the suburbs. There are wide, open roads, and there is a frenzy of building activity as new projects and middle-class apartment high rises are being thrown up. They are even building a gigantic stadium nearby to host some sports event. Some of the huge lake in the area has been drained as they prepare to build a bridge to cut the drive around the lake from maybe 30 seconds to 15 seconds... It is a little overwhelming.

And finally we have arrived on the topic of soldiers and snowstorms. Jodi, Rachel, and I had the privilege to help my old students (Jodi's current students) rehearse an English drama that they will perform in a city-wide competition. I'm glad I had drama experience from high school (yes, I was in the Advanced Theater Ensemble). :) But, high school never had any dramas like these students'.

Chinese plays are primarily propaganda, which is not a bad word in China like it is in America. Usually plays or performances are based on one of five topics: 1.) The communist party 2.) Natural disasters and overcoming them 3.) The People's Liberation Army 4.) The previously mentioned minority nationalities who are so happy to be included in China 5.) Diligent students being good citizens. This particular drama fell in categories 2 and 3.

These dear students are great actors and actresses, especially because they performed with such heart-felt emotion. The drama was so... dramatic. The drama is supposedly based on the true story of a soldier who saved the life of a little girl during the 2008 "snow disaster" that caused chaos across China.

The soldier was visiting the girl's house. Only the little girl was home, but she let him in and gave him a drink of water. The the house collapsed under the weight of all the snow. The valiant soldier protected the girl and kept her alive while they waited to be rescued. The little girl's grandfather and mother went to the house and saw that it was destroyed. The grandfather died of grief right then. The mother collapsed and was carried away by a neighbor.

But, not to worry! All is not lost! The glorious People's Liberation Army appears on the scene and digs the girl and soldier out. The girl survives (thanks to the soldier), but the soldier unfortunately does not. However, no one ever tells the girl that he died. This whole story is called the "Lie of Love."

Then at the end, the whole cast comes out to sing "Edelweiss" with candles. Rachel was actually crying. I felt heartless. It was very sad, but I still have yet to shed my analytical, rational skin. Why does a 10 year old girl let a man into her house? Why are buildings built so poorly that they collapse under a foot of snow? Why don't they tell the girl that the soldier gave his life saving her? But I suppose it is China, and I will probably never understand these things.

I'm sorry I couldn't upload any videos from this heart-wrenching performance. They did a great job!


(My old students as the grandfather and little girl in their English drama).


(The People's Liberation Army saves the day).


(The soldiers and doctor find the little girl).

April Showers

April showers bring... flooded streets and soggy students. And they actually have brought beautiful flowers, which is a welcome reminder of the new life we have in Him, even if we are literally surrounded by trash and downpours.

Thanks especially for your thoughts of late! The Easter gathering on Monday went well--we ate together, colored Easter eggs, and watched The Passion. I had lunch today with one of the special students who came to the little party. It was cold, rainy, and windy, so we ate bowls of beef noodles from the canteen in the office. We had great conversations, although I was extremely tired. Of course, He always does incredible things when I'm at my weakest and tiredest.

We talked together about many things--especially how she wants something to believe in, since life is so empty. You can tell she is not satisfied with the status quo, even though she is at the top of her class. Her parents are from neighboring Jiangsu province. They are poor, and are farmers in the countryside. They are entirely uneducated. They live surrounded by squalor, especially as factories are taking over the farms, and destroying the environment.

At one point, I didn't know what else to talk about. I was hoping He would continue to provide us with meaningful conversation. So I asked her, "What do you want to talk about?" Without hesitating, she said, "The [Word]." I was amazed. The Father has really been moving in her heart, especially since the Easter lesson. I'm sure He has been moving in her heart long before that, but this is the first I've noticed. So we talked a little bit about that, and how I'm not anxious, because the Father has also provided for me throughout my life. I told her how He is living and true. Now she will be joining our study of the Word with other interested students on Sundays. Amazing!

That's all I know for now. Oh, yesterday was the 24th birthday of my old elementary school friend, Sara. She moved away from Kansas when we were both 12, but we have been faithfully writing letters to each other for the past 12 years. It hasn't mattered where in the world we are, or how much the post office has raised stamp prices. Happy birthday, Sara!


(Random patches of gorgeous spring flowers around the city).


(Spring washing).


(Some of our favorite neighborhood kids playing in a box).


(Coloring Easter eggs with our students and friends).