To say China is my favorite place on earth would be the lie of the century. Squatty potties, cold weather that freezes you to the bone, no hot water to thaw out, no internet, and absolutely no communication with Chinese people because of the language barrier or the ability to read signs.
After traveling all day on the bumpiest road due to construction, crammed pack in a bus with about 50 other Chinese people, after getting dropped off in the wrong town, and overpaying for a taxi to take us to the right town, we finally make it to City X, where we are staying in the dumpiest place I’ve ever seen.
“Please Lord, help me find Joy here.”
We’ve been heartily praying for ANYONE who can speak English. How can we do any kind of ministry when we can’t even speak to these people?! Please Lord, help us.
After 3 miserable days wearing me down because of frustration and misery and lack of American comforts, my teammate asking me ‘whats up with you?’ finally calling me out. Then the tears start flowing. Every anger and frustration and ‘I’m so over it’ moment comes out. A slightly shocked yet understand 5 faces of my teammates let me vent my frustration and encourage me to speak more. My loving teammates who are learning my ways, surprise me with chocolate covered peanuts and these pancake bread things after I come out from my sponge bath. To say my spirits were lifted in that moment would be an understatement.
By this time Brit is on day 3 of her fasting, sticking to liquid diet, she heard God asking her to fast, the longest she’s ever fasted yet, and He’d provide what we’re looking for at sometime.
I don’t think it’s ironic that the day after I finally tell my team what’s up, finally openly pray to God about my hurt and anger, and at the conclusion of Britni’s faithful fast, that the next day is the best day we’ve had here yet.
We leave the hotel in 2 groups, our mission: to find a school, and ask for an English teacher. Any English, anywhere PUH-LEAZE!
Literally the second we come out of the hotel a construction worker comes up to us. Speaking English. He only knows How are you? And My name is, but nonetheless he speaks English! After delish lunch, head to the school, it happens to be ‘recess’ so all the kids are anxious and curious about the 3 huge white Americans that just walked in asking for Ying-Yee-Lou-Shee (English teacher). They point us directly to the teacher’s office. After an hour speaking English its time for him to go back to class. He invites us to say hello and see his classroom, so fun. We promised we’d be back.
We get a cab back to our town and pick up some snacks by this time the sun is out and it’s bearable to be outside. 3 of us want to walk down the street to see if this building at the end of the road is a school or not, char and I go back to the hotel.
About an hour and a half later Kevin comes to get us saying they just spent the last hour playing basketball and talking to the 2 English teachers! And they want to have dinner with us! Thank you LORD! We talk and laugh and ask questions about the culture and their lives. The teachers invite us to go back to their classrooms after dinner (they have night classes, 7-9). We split up and go into two classrooms. She wants us to teach the kids an American song….so we picked Row Row Row Your Boat.
Its 8oclock and we’re teaching Chinese students Row Row Row Your Boat?! Weren't we having a pity party about this time last night?! Yes.
What I’ve learned so far in China: when you come to a place with no comforts, no communication, no plan, all you have to rely on is God.
I saw God today.
