First Impressions

All right, because it has been about two months since I left for China, I think it’s clear that internet in China wasn’t *quite as readily available as I had hoped it would be.  Let’s just say that the internet cafés were dark and smoky (even though there was a “no smoking” sign on the wall.  I knew because it had a red cross over a cigarette.  Come on people, you don’t even need to be able to read in order to see that there’s not supposed to be smoking!), and absolutely FILLED with people playing League of Legends.  Obviously high speed internet was not in short supply—unless of course you were trying to log onto an English website for email.  Anyway, long story short(er), I couldn’t get the blogs typed up and sent to my mom throughout my time in China, so you’ll get them all now!  It’s not so bad though, instead of having to wait a week or more for the next update on my China adventures, you only have to wait a day or two!! SCORE! Haha I hope it turns out to be worth the wait :)

Special shout out to all my donors: YOU GUYS ROCK!  I learned so much from God while I was in China, and I can honestly say that I came back changed, with absolutely no intention of going back to the way I was “living out my faith” before.  God showed me how to be real and available for the work he wants to do—the work he’s ALREADY doing, and now I have a little experience with jumping into that…usually without a clue how it will play out, but having faith that God knows what he’s doing and is more than capable of using my blunders for his glory and our good.  He is able, and his power is all sufficient!  So, thank you so much for choosing to be a part of God’s vision for me and for his children in China.  Your financial gifts and your prayers allowed me to experience God this summer and like I said before, it was positively life changing.  I’m so excited to share what I have learned with you!  So you guys especially, keep reading :D

I kept a journal while I was in China, just like Bekah did when she went to China six years ago. (Who knows, maybe it will have the same effect on you guys and some of you will be inspired to go to China in the future!)  The first entry is from May 28.

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I love being in Beijing!  It still hasn’t sunk in that I’m in China right now—even though my roommate Rebecca and I have Chinese cartoons playing for background noise…. Something about a submarine and a seal.  J It’s pretty cool because I can read the characters at the bottom of the screen, but they go by so quickly that most of the meaning is totally lost on me!  It’s cool to know that my vocabulary is roughly at the same level as first or second grader.  I mean, they’ve been learning the language for about 8 years at this point, and I’ve only been studying for two years!  When you look at it like that it’s totally exciting!  Haha

Exciting as it is to be able to decipher cartoons, it’s even more “thrilling” to walk out the door and know that any conversations I have with people will be in Chinese.  Rebecca, Kerrianne, and I went out to the fruit vendor to buy breakfast today, and I have to laugh at myself when I remember how proud I was when I successfully asked the vendor how much the apples were “苹果多小钱？” Haha I left with three large apples, and an equally large smile on my face.  I think that was the moment when I felt confident that I could thrive in this context. 

However, there is one context that I don’t think I’ll ever exactly “thrive” in.  Two words: public transportation.  There’s a really good reason why I’m not familiar with bus and subway systems in the States.  Basically, I’m absolutely TERRIBLE when it comes to directions!  I can get lost anywhere.  Seriously.  I once got “lost” in an elevator…. Ask my sisters about that one, they’ll never let it go.  ;)

Even so, I really enjoy taking public transportation in China!  Besides the fact that I feel more like a sardine than a human, I think it’s really interesting to watch everyone just grin and bare it.  There is absolutely no such thing as “bubble space” here in China, so people just cram on it!  I think it’s fabulous.  Don’t get me wrong, there are definitely times where I just want to stand in my own space…without six other people in that same space with me, but there’s something about seeing humanity so up close and personal, so real, you know?  It’s humbling to see how many people there are and contemplate how God knows each and every one of us intimately.  He loves us and doesn’t freak out at all the people vying for his attention at any given moment.  In fact, he is actively pursuing each of us!  Whew, I’ve got to give mad props to God for that.  I know that I get so stressed out when I feel like there’s an endless list of people who need me for this or for that.  Bottom line: God is awesome, and he lavishes us with his attention :) Doesn’t that make you feel so special and loved?!!!

All that to say that I’ve really enjoyed taking the subway all over Beijing!  It also helps that we’ve gotten to see some pretty amazing places.  We did this scavenger hunt all over the city, so we got to see the Beijing Olympic Stadium, the Forbidden City, the Temple of Heaven, and Tiananmen Square. It was cool to see in person all the places that I'm used to either reading about in books or seeing on TV.  Additionally, going anywhere where you stand out so dramatically is quite the experience!  People were always wanting to take pictures with us, and I was like, you guys are nuts.  But hey, yolo right?  

My favorite part of sightseeing wasn't taking cool pictures, or even getting to be IN those cool pictures.  My favorite part was interacting with the people who lived there and were going about their daily lives.  They were so cool!  For example, at the Temple of Heaven there were a lot of people who just spent the day there like we would spend a day at a park or something.  They were playing cards, board games, hacky sac, ect.  Hacky sac was my personal favorite!  The people playing weren't teenagers or young adults; they were retired men and women!  They were so agile!  It was cool, I mean, I couldn't kick my leg that high if my life depended on it, but these old ladies were kicking behind them, in front of them, and even running and sliding (slightly) to kick the hacky sac!  My mind was blown.  Kerrianne, Zach and I were watching them play while we waited for the rest of our group to join us and after a while, the women decided to get Zach in the game with them.  It was awesome!  Haha Zach totally held his own, but the women were just a tad better.  I mean seriously, they were fearless!   Meeting the people in China was most definitely the coolest part about being there.

Life in China isn't all fun and games though (if anyone had that assumption for some reason).  Among other things, there’s this crazy contrast everywhere between the rich and the poor.  It’s like, walk down one street and see glamorous people shopping at huge stores advertising “low” prices, but then walk down another street a few blocks over and you’re confronted with devastating poverty.  People with crippled or absent limbs stretch out their bodies so that people passing by see them and have pity on them and give them spare change.  

At first, I was shocked by how people walked by without seeming to see those in need.  I just wanted to hug the people and tell them about how much God loves them, except I couldn’t speak their language.  I only mourned this for about two seconds before I was confronted with the fact that this division between the rich and the poor exists in America as well, and I am one of the people who has been conditioned to simply walk on by.  I think “Oh, well I volunteer at a rescue mission several times a week, so it’s ok.”  But you know, Jesus didn’t say, “I ate with the tax collectors yesterday, so I’m just going to keep walking today.”  The Bible says over and over that He had compassion for them.  So I know there are little things I can do to show that love to people who are in need here in the States. 

As you can see, I’m already being convicted here in China.  This will be a long, but very rich six weeks for me and for my walk with God.  I’m ready!  At least, I’m ready to try :)

More later,

Rebekah

               Me and my suitcase ready to board the flight to Pittsburg to meet the rest of the group!

 You know the Water Cube where Michael Phelps won all of his gold medals?? Kerrianne and I were feeling stronger by just standing outside that place!

                   Playing hacky sac with the locals??  Yeah, this was the coolest scavenger hunt ever!

                               Our team at the Forbidden City!  We're a pretty special group ;)

         Last but not least, here's Zach wowing the ladies with his awesome hacky sac playing abilities ;)