I wrecked my bike on Monday going to school. A van was turning out of a
tight alley at the same time I was turning into it! (I should have been more
careful – I was going too fast.) I have no memory of the impact. All I
remember afterwards is standing there wanting the driver to pull forward so that
I could get the bike wheel out from under the van. I got a bruise on my left
leg, a couple of scratches, and almost unnoticeable damage to my coat. However,
the front of the bike got twisted pretty good. (And it was new new from the
Giant store just a month ago!)

The driver – a middle aged Chinese man – jumped out. Of course I didn’t
understand anything he was saying. Another American stopped and was able to
translate. The driver was worried that I was hurt. He also wanted to fix my
bike. I replied in Chinese: ‘may wenti, may wenti’ (no problem – no problem).

I’m thankful for divine protection, I actually walked away from the accident
unharmed. And I’m thankful for a lesson learned — BE SAFER.

It was a pleasant weekend: we visited a remote village in our province —
rest, hiking, clean air, and sunshine.

On the two-hour van ride there, we drove past several makeshift corn cribs
(like the one pictured below). From this, I conclude that despite the fanfare
around the Beijing Olympics, China is still
under-developed.

By comparison, I go back 30 years ago when I played around my grandfather’s
corn cribs in South Dakota farm country. Each crib held at least 150 times more
grain (that’s 15000% more) than these roof-top piles of corn cobs in China.

In the same way China seems to be under-developed with respect to:
infrastructure, food quality, finance, education, social welfare, and yes, even
spiritual welfare.

But I get excited when I think about China’s God-given potential.

Think about how 200 years of US development has impacted the world in so many
great and positive ways (especially with respect to spreading the Gospel and
helping disadvantaged peoples all over the globe.)

What will happen when the peoples of China are reconciled to their Creator
and follow in His steps?

Today is our three month anniversary in China!

• Q: How is it?
• A: I don’t know yet!

It all seems like a blur. One thing has been different: as a family we are
spending a lot of time together adjusting and talking. Helping each other think
about the new classes, new teachers, new apartment, new friends, different
food… I’m so thankful that the entire family seems to be taking root in
China.

The kids actually like it a lot. They each have more than one close
friendship. And they enjoy new freedoms that they did not have back home (e.g.
shopping in markets & going out to eat on their own).

Susan misses having the older ones at home, but finding her schedule filling
up without them. She joined a weekly playgroup for Megan and goes to the market
more than once a week with friends.

As for myself; I’m only beginning to relax as I see the family is just now
getting into a pattern. I do think I will really enjoy my job at the school as
much or more than anything else I’ve done. But this is only a prediction…

This three month marker feels like a turning point — maybe we are finally
settling down?

Last week we went to Beijing on the National Day holiday week. I liken this
to our July 4th Independence Day because a new government was formally
established. On October 1, 1949, before an audience of 300,000 in Tian’anmen
Square, Chairman Mao declared the People’s Central Government the only legal
government representing the people of China.

This holiday lasts seven days so that people would have time to travel – so
what were we thinking when we decided to take our family to Tian’anmen Square
and the Forbidden City?! I will save the details for someone else to write.
I’ll just say that I had little comfort except for the two hours of peace at
Tuanjiehu Park.

On Saturday morning, I got up early while everyone else slumbered, and
decided to take a walk around the neighborhood where our hostel was located. A
few blocks down a side street I noticed garden walls with trees hanging over the
sidewalk then was suddenly at the gate of a park. Just five paces past the
gate, I felt like I left city and entered an oasis.

It was quiet – no street noise – except for birds singing. I hadn’t heard
the beautiful sound of birds for weeks it seems! And another sound – a Chinese
flute being played by a man on the shore of the lake. Weeping willow trees
gracefully lined the banks. There were several interesting bridges, traditional
buildings, and benches that seemed to invite to stay a while.

I was surprised by how well kept the grounds were – no trash to be seen, the
grass, shrubs and tress were well manicured – everything well taken care of. I
prayed for the people as I followed the path around the ring lake. It was
peaceful, yet there were people everywhere, mostly age 50s and up. (Knowing
their age, I wondered how many of them experienced trouble during the cultural
revolution, and how their lives had been impacted by the People’s Government.)
They strolled or jogged along the walkways, many working-out on stationary bars
and equipment, and many others involved in Tai Chi group exercises, sword
movements, traditional dances (with music), and there was even ballroom dancing
at the bandstand!

I’m wondering if this is different from a typical US-city-park, do American’s
interact as much with their neighbors at parks? At Tuanjiehu, these Chinese
people seemed to be involved in some sort of group activity or discussion.
Hmmm… a “cultural data point.”

Here is a picture of our pre-owned electric bike in front of the repair
shop. We bought this sight-unseen from a family that returned to the US before
we arrive in China. The previous owner parked it in a large bike garage under
our building (so it wouldn’t be stolen) and Susan went with our friend Tami to
find it yesterday. Unfortunately the battery was dead and the garage keeper
told Tami that we needed a new one. He offered to lead me to the repair shop
that you see in the picture.

By the way, the garage keeper and his wife live in the cramped office in the
bike garage underground. The room is about 10’x10′ and I noticed his wife
cooking vegetables over an electric hot plate with bikes parked all around.

The garage keeper and the repair man told me many things 98% of which I could
not understand, but I could understand that the batteries cost 450 RMB ($70) and
I should let them charge for at least 8hours. The repair man was very kind, and
tried out his english on me while I waited. He knew his numbers and how to ask
where I was from. (He was doing better than I was!)

Here is a picture of our pre-owned electric bike in front of the repair
shop. We bought this sight-unseen from a family that returned to the US before
we arrive in China. The previous owner parked it in a large bike garage under
our building (so it wouldn’t be stolen) and Susan went with our friend Tami to
find it yesterday. Unfortunately the battery was dead and the garage keeper
told Tami that we needed a new one. He offered to lead me to the repair shop
that you see in the picture.

By the way, the garage keeper and his wife live in the cramped office in the
bike garage underground. The room is about 10’x10′ and I noticed his wife
cooking vegetables over an electric hot plate with bikes parked all around.

The garage keeper and the repair man told me many things 98% of which I could
not understand, but I could understand that the batteries cost 450 RMB ($70) and
I should let them charge for at least 8hours. The repair man was very kind, and
tried out his english on me while I waited. He knew his numbers and how to ask
where I was from. (He was doing better than I was!)

Our friend Jim Dodd will be flying in today from Shanghai. I can’t wait to
hear what he says about the snack. Because I was just in Shanghai at a
conference (more on that later) and here is what they serve onboard:

• 1 small round bun (like a dinner roll at Luby’s Cafeteria — Texan’s would
  know about this), very soft, white, and sort of sweet
• 1 pkg of dried green olives that have been sweetened and sprinkled with
  cinnamon (yes, this tastes like it sounds)
• 1 pkg of some sort of crunchy baked round balls with a hint of peanut butter
  (pictured below)
• 1 pkg of gummy mint drops with eucalyptus (this would be good if you start
  coughing uncontrollably on the plane) — also pictured below in silver pkg
• 1 wet wipe

Now I’m not complaining because 1) on a US airline we don’t get anything and 2)
they ran the drink service three times on this short two hour flight. By the
way, it was a MD-80 aircraft.

I’ll let you know what Jim said!

Declaration #1

In trouble I run to God.

He is my first and only place of refuge.

Declaration #2

The Lord is everything to me.

Nothing else compares.

Nothing else usurps His place.

Declaration #3

I delight in other believers.

Extraordinary believers are my heroes.

Declaration #4

I have no other gods.

I will continually strive to remove the hight places.

Declaration #5

God is my portion, my inheritance.

I don’t care what anyone else gets as I have Him.

Declaration #6

I am pleased and delihted with where God has placed me.

Declaration #7

I embrace God’s discipline and instruction in my life.

Sleepless nights will be my night school.

Declaration #8

Absolutely nothing shalkes me

because the Lord is my constant companion.

Declaration #9

I live joyfully and at peace

because I have an intimate relationship with the Lord.

Declaration #10

I live without fear of calamity or death

because I live in the very presence of God.

This extends to my family.

Declaration #11

My fullest joy

my deepest pleasure

come from my relationship with Jesus Christ.