Leprosy Clinic!

Today, the 22 of Feb, I traveled with some of my teammates to the Leprosy Clinic. It was the first time I have been back out there since my vision trip in 2007. It was really great. I was asked not to take any pictures but the time was really precious. We were able to sit and spend some time with the patients who were there for dressing changes. Then we traipsed up to the farm (future training farm for leprosy affected men) to measure for additional buildings and check on the walnut trees. After that we went to one of the doctor's home for tea and to hear the Miao choir. The Miao choir is a famous choir in China comprised of the singers of the Miao people group. 70% of the Miao people are believers in Father's only Son. The choir does a beautiful rendition of Handel's Messiah. The trip was really encouraging to me. I listened to people speaking Chinese all day and on my own understood some of it and was reminded that there is so much more to learn. So my brain got exercise and I was spurred on to study more diligently.

School Begins Again!!

Please Please Please ask Father for a good strong beginning at a new semester of Language learning!! For me to be self controlled and disciplined. Thank you all for your continual support and love. :)

Picnic on the Great Wall.

While I was in Beijing the first week of Feb I was able to go to a secluded part of the Great Wall. I went with Teammates of mine. One family and one other single woman. We had a blast. The best part was that due to the time of year and the place we only saw 5 other people the whole time we were on the wall. So fabulous!!! We ate lunch in the middle of the Great Wall. Wow!

The small hostel/hotel at the base of the Great Wall. We paid the owners 2 kuai ( 40cents) per adult to traipse through their back yard to get to the Wall.

The small river and dam below the Wall.

The view from the hike up to get on the Wall.



Right next to the Wall.

Self taken photos are so tricky.

These are our Senior Pictures on the Great Wall!!

Goodbye Wall!! So good to see you again!!

2011 Year of the Rabbit!

This Feb 3 began the Year of the Rabbit. The year of the rabbit includes people born in these years: 1905, 1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, and 1999. "People born in the Year of the Rabbit are articulate, talented, and ambitious. They are virtuous, reserved, and have excellent taste. Rabbit people are admired, trusted, and are often financially lucky. They are fond of gossip but are tactful and generally kind. Rabbit people seldom lose their temper. They are clever at business and being conscientious, never back out of a contract. They would make good gamblers for they have the uncanny gift of choosing the right thing. However, they seldom gamble, as they are conservative and wise. They are most compatible with those born in the years of the Sheep, Pig, and Dog."

The new thing that I have recently learned about having a year that belongs to you is that when it is your animal year the custom is to wear red every day of the year. Sometimes this custom is only associated with certain age groups depending on what part of China you live in. This custom could be very difficult for some people. Although most people may not have enough red articles of clothing to wear something red everyday of the year, I know that for Nebraskans it shouldn't be hard at all!!! For those of you who are not from or live in Nebraska the Chinese have come up with the perfect solution. RED UNDERWEAR!!

In December and January the streets and shops were filled with them. To an extreme level that I asked someone about it and discovered that they sell so many red underwears (both men and women) so that those who are supposed to wear red everyday can. My favorite part of this story is that the packages of the red underwear actually had pictures of bunnies on them just to make everyone aware that it was for the year of the rabbit!!!

One of the things I find most interesting about the Chinese Zodiac Calendar is that when someone asks me what animal I am and I tell them I am a monkey, they just know that I will get along with someone who is a dragon or a rat. For example: My friend asked me what year I was and I told her monkey and her arms flew up into the air in surprise and excitement as she exclaimed "That is why we get along so well!! I am a Rat!!" I on the other hand still have no idea who goes with who or even what my personality is supposed to be like according to the Monkey. Sigh. Somethings are just over our heads.





Sources: http://www.c-c-c.org/chineseculture/zodiac/Rabbit.html, http://gochina.about.com/od/chinesenewyear/qt/RedUnderwear.htm