Consistent movement and stillness

So as was told in my previous blogs, and most of you know by talking to me in some form or fashion.. my holiday was slow moving and full of watching a lot of TV online. However I did travel to Linfen to visit Hai li and Rui Rui's families. That was a good trip! Their families are so kind and welcoming. Their homes are both in small villages on opposite sides of this large city. It was a completely different side of Chinese culture I had yet to see. A wonderful experience all around. I traveled by bus and I was so tired when I got back. I was really busy the weekend following my trip and on monday we celebrated the lantern festival, which is the ending to the spring festival. In the morning I met Jackie, and another teacher here who is also named Wendy (lucky girl) and we went to Ba yi square to watch the parade. We saw men dressed like tigers dancing and all sorts of wonderful things. Alice met up with us there too and after that I took Alice and Sweetie out for Hot Pot. Then I was even more tired than before. I was suppose to meet up with sweetie at her home and spend the day there but I had no energy for that. I went home and took a long nap. I love nap time in China. Then that evening I met up with Wendy and Jackie again and we "roamed the street" to see all the beautiful lanterns. There were hundreds of thousands of people in the street. Fire crackers started at 6 am and went all through the night. Needless to say all the noise scared away the demons (which is the purpose of this day).  

I had a week left of winter holiday after this. I found out the Russian's were leaving which meant Sue (from Kenya) and I were going to have to teach their classes. So now I teach 10 classes a week all freshman and sophomore oral english. So far it's going really well. My sophomore students are very active and we've had good discussions. I think I'm going to enjoy this term. That being said, My days are very busy lately. I went from doing nothing for weeks to not resting. It's ok though, I like it better this way. 

On another note my wonderful BAFF Sarah Holmes got engaged this week to her love and that brings me joy! If all my plans work out I'll be home visiting during the time of her wedding so I'll be blessed to see that! It's all up in the air right now but I pray it all works out. I have to drag Emily back out here somehow don't I? 

I've decided for Lent, which begins tomorrow in China, I'm going to devote more time to prayer and reading scripture. I was doing really well with this before the holiday began then my routine changed and I became stagnant. No good. So instead of giving something up I'm adding. I did tell Emily I was going to give up cheeseburgers though... so far so good. I've had about three cheeseburgers since I've come to China.. all from Mcdonalds so those don't really count. 

Ok picture time!

Hai Li and her niece at the harvest festival

Traditional drums used for the harvest festival

Rui Rui's niece

Buddha.

Outdoor Opera

Lanterns

My boss Dean Wei

Chun jie' kuai le!

"Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare... I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." 

- Psalms 40: 5, 8