college classes - yes, yes, yes

action and conversations

Our first two weeks of college classes have been meaningful and fun - albeit a bit tiring as we aren't used to standing on our feet for four or five hours each day. In the next couple of weeks, we are sure that our bodies will adjust.

Of course, the first week students brought a lot of enthusiasm as well as some anxiety to the classroom. They were active and enthused and confused. A few minutes into  the class, they figured out they could actually participate.
During the second week, they all were crashing, as they aren't sleeping 12 hours everyday or eating their folks' home cooking.

They say they are "so tired." We know that it's hard to adjust after an eight-week break! And it's still winter here - so no-one is getting enough vitamin D (either from their food intake or outside activities). But they managed to do it... and with a few activities that got them up and moving, they again found the needed energy to think and use English. We are thankful for the creativity and grace that God continues to send our way.

our life is full of snow still :)

Krista came down with a bad head cold this week, which
meant that Pres had to do a lot more work by himself, in the classroom and out. Fortunately, God has given him enough strength to do the things that he can do and not worry about the things that he can't! We are also grateful that Krista's body waited until we were home to be sick... we had eight weeks on the road of traveling and visiting with no major health issues. Yay! And we are in MDJ for about 1 month before Krista has to travel again - so time to rest and recover. It seems like perfect timing to feel terrible. :P

buying and selling - the students practiced negotiation in English

Thanks for praying for endurance and strength as we handle the classroom projects and teacher training activities that will take us again to Qinghai in a couple weeks, God willing.

we ended the fall term before we talked about Christmas
with our sophomore classes; we incorporated the fun
into the beginning of this term. 

We've also been busy with visa paper work and registration with the police. It's taken Pres and our colleagues several aborted attempts EACH week to the police and exit and entry bureau to accomplish almost nothing. But hey, at least they are learning. And the police have been very gracious.

We (meaning our colleagues) haven't been fined yet... and of course, only the foreigners (that's us) have to sign the paperwork saying that we didn't register on time or submit our paperwork on time. We are thankful for God's grace and mercy in the midst of all the confusion. Thanks for praying that Pres can get his visa paperwork submitted very soon, which is dependent on our landlord actually coming back to MDJ someday.

pretty alley - but slippery!

Besides all of the classroom activities, we continue to connect with our kids and friends and teachers in BJ and other cities. We are grateful that we can talk with them on the internet via chats or video. God continues to provide opportunity and growth even as the economy here is slower - vegetable prices have almost doubled and our friends will not get salaries that they are owed from last year. We all try to be content with what we have been provided.

Here is a response from one of our teachers from our 2013-2015 TIP Attributes program after we sent the group some motivational words. It is encouraging: "Thank u. It is the best words that I heard at the beginning of the new term. Because I am terrified of new term. It is you that help me keep stress away. As you said, we should enjoy the new term! We will work happily and hard!"

Please keep lifting them up!

snowplows off and plowing

restaurant fun - every new restaurant that we try means more friends
and more conversation (the cooks and wait staff)