CHINA

Arrived safely in China more than a week ago. Gabe hadn't been feeling well and had the flu for the days before and after we arrived in China, so I took him to the hospital. There we were taken to an abandoned building in the hospital grounds that they use for prisoners when they get ill. It was pretty much what I was expecting, rusty bed, hard mattress, old school medical instruments. We thought it would pretty routine and we would be in and out. We were wrong. They quarantined Gabe and also myself because I was with him. 18 hours later we are released from the hospital. That is a bad way to start out an update, so, for that I apologize.
I actually really like it here, a lot. Xining, located in the Qinghai province is a city of approximately 2 million with heavy influence from the Hui Muslim and the Tibetan people groups. The climate is so mild here which is a really nice change from hot Taiwan. The people are friendly and put up with my lack of Chinese well. It is a fun place to be and there is always something happening, whether it be Tibetan dancing in the mornings and at nights, to Xi Men ( a sqaure where people of all ages gather) where you can hang out and meet new friends, to the open mike night at the coffee shop next Wednesday.
I've been making friends in the coffee shop across from the apartment we are staying in and it has been a real good time. I have also been doing lots of teaching English at a school, and an orphanage, and recently a little bit in the coffee shop.
Next week we start working in a American style restaurant that has recently opened up. We will be in charge of quality control and supervising the staff (even though we are newer than they are!) while the owner is gone for several weeks.

July 12, 2009

Hi everyone! Just got back from a amazing village near Hualien working with the tribal children there. It was great being able to teach and play with these kids for an entire week. Many come from broken, alchoholic homes and this this summer programme is a place of refuge where they can learn about their Turuku culture. We made it back to Duanshui today though so we will be able to make our flight to China early tomorrow morning.

On our way to Hualien we were waiting for the train at on side of the station with about 20 or so other people. The train station guy went up to one of the people waiting with us then almost imediatly begain screaming in his face, then at all of us. By then we could hear a bell ringing, signeling the train was ready to leave, however, the train was on the other side of the station. So we ran as fast as we could to the other side adn caught the train. KAtie was laughing histarically the entire time we were running. It was a good time.
The kids of the village gave me the tribal name Bunga (boon-ya) which means sweet potatoe. I love sweet potatoes.
So I'm looking really cool right now with my taped up glasses. I broke them in December and have been gluing them, but I have no super glue here so tape will have to do for the moment. Have no fear though, I have contacts with me as well so I can look stylish everywhere I go in China.
The food has still been amazing. We had lots of pumpkin in the village and that was really great. Oh and by the way, squid pizza. Try it, love it.
Thats about it for now!

Taiwan

Hi everyone! It's almost been one week in Tawain and we have already done so much! We have worked at so many childrens camps and have been running programmes. It has been a lot of fun. One of the coolest things run here is The Rock coffee shop, which is a free coffee shop where university students can come to talk, have english classes, Bible studies, guitar lessons. It is a very good outreach that sees a lot of fruit in the Donshui area. I wish we could stay longer, but we are off to east Taiwan tomorrow to run a aboriginal childrens camp for a week.
Taiwan has been so amazing so far! I got asked the other day if I dye my hair blonde because they thought I was Asian. I guess I get that from my father. However in the same day I got asked if I was Scandinavian, a bit opposite. The food here has been the best Chinese food you could ever think of on a daily basis. I love it. I have had a cold the past couple days but I think I am getting better now. That's all I think to update you on for the moment! Thanks you for all your prayers for myself and the entire team!