Final sprint

Where, oh, where has my life gone? Gone...gone...gone!! But not in vain. Two years have passed since I first settled into the China life, and I haven't regretted it, unless I was sick or something. Some days I feel like living here is so tedious, but I think it's in the daily living when we grow the most and when the Father also refines us the most. It's not really the big, crazy events that end up defining us or the legacy we have on others.

This past weekend was packed full, but really blessed as we say goodbyes and gallop through our final days in Nanchang. Some of the activities included going downtown with friends, and having our usual sister study of the Word. My favorite part was the farewell dinner and party Jodi and I held for about 10 of our closest friends. We cooked them dinner, which they devoured, and then we chatted and played card games. We also had some spiritual conversations, which I am always eager to engage in.

Some of my friends/students told me about jobs they have had or will have. I don't know if I'll ever be able to buy anything in America again, knowing that my baby students labored under crazy conditions for these items we buy. Here are two examples:

My student Talent told me about a summer job he had two years ago at a factory which manufactures clothes for export to America. His job all summer, every day, was to push around a clothes cart with small and medium sized shirts. He would put the small shirts in the "small" bin, and the "medium" shirts in the medium bin. He had to work for 16 hours a day (yes, 16!), 6 days a week, for 2 kuai an hour (about 30 cents).

My former student Karen will be working this summer in slightly better conditions at a factory which manufactures doors for export to America. Her job will be to place peepholes in doors, all day, every day. She will be working for 11 hours a day, 6 days a week for 7 kuai an hour (about $1).

I just hope that my extremely hard-working and intelligent friends can have better futures than that! And I hope that they all can one day trust in the Father, who fulfills all their needs.


Family picture with our friends and students.


Playing Nertz with our friends.


Got a picture with my favorite trash scavenger friend!


An alley picture with Nicl and Reborn.


Zongzi for sale on the street in time for Dragon Boat Festival next week.