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).