Hangzhou Day 3: A visit to the lake, church, and more fireworks!

Here is the next video in our "Spring Festival 2010 Celebration Series." We will probably have another 2 that we put up in the next week or so. I hope you like it!


Hangzhou Day 3:



Also, I want to say that the common theme that we have seen run throughout this trip is one of hospitality. The Chinese culture in general is unbelievably hospitable and the people take great joy in spoiling their guests in many ways, but always by providing more food than they could ever eat! Yet, as you know, this should not only a cultural thing because it is also very biblical to be hospitable. Therefore, in light of this and in light of the zeal and passion you saw our "Chinese father" Timothy preach with, I was reminded of the verse below, and encourage you to reflect on it:

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. 
                                                                                                 Romans 12:9-13

Hangzhou Day 2 - New Years Eve in China!

Below is the video from our first full and eventful day down here in Hangzhou celebrating the Lunar New Year with Melody and her family. I'd suggest you read the blog post below and watch the video in that post (if you haven't already), and then watch this second video.

There should be another 1-2 videos in the next few days also. My hope is that they will give you a taste of what Chinese Spring Festival is all about, and a look at the amazing experience we are having. Geoff and I are both so thankful that God has provided us with such a priceless and extraordinary adventure - especially one that we did not plan and embarked on 48 hours after the thought popped into Geoff's head. Praise Him!

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.

Psalm 34:8-10

Mandarin TIP and a Spring Festival Adventure!

Happy Chinese New Year!

I am currently sitting on a bed at a Youth Hostel in the city of Hangzhou (close to Shanghai) where my buddy Geoff and I are visiting  one of his students from a TIP summer session. We are in the middle of the Chinese Spring Festival (by far the most important holiday in China) where literally almost everyone goes home to their families regardless of the distance to celebrate Chinese New Year. The student's English name we are visiting is Melody, and both of her parents are Christian pastors! Her father chose the English name Timothy (very fitting!) and her mother's English name is Rose. Although this is only our first night here, we have already experienced incredible hospitality as all three of them came and picked us up from the airport in a 11 passenger church van (Quite funny to think about such a thing in China!). Then, they took us to this hostel where they insisted on paying for our 4 night stay here. After that they took us to their cozy apartment where Rose had already prepared some fresh honey dew melon to eat, Timothy cooked us some wantons for a late second dinner, and they shared Korean candy with us that some of their Korean church members gave them as a New Year's present.  They even gave Geoff and I a brand new toothbrush, bottle of toothpaste, and small hand towels to take to our hostel. Unbelievable!

The funny thing about this trip, is that it’s one of the most spontaneous things I've ever done. Geoff posed the idea of traveling here for Spring Festival literally two days ago! We bought plane tickets that were 60% off last night since they were so last minute, and paid about USD$165 roundtrip!

As for an update regarding TIP, I spent all of January developing curriculum for our Mandarin TIP program as well as doing some facilitating with our students. And, ironically, not being in the classroom with 35+ students allowed me to develop some closer relationships with students. I even had time to spend 4 nights (about 2 hours per night) chatting with 5-6 of my favorite male students in their dorm room. One night I brought my computer and showed them some of my pictures from the States, and the next day one of the students said, "Kyle,  after you left, we  were all very excited and stayed up for a long time talking about your pictures! We did not get much sleep and I'm now very tired!" Overall it was a successful session.

Then, after a short three day break, we started our Mandarin TIP program! It's much different than English TIP in a number of ways. For one, we are all low, low, low speakers, and therefore it's obviously not a full immersion program (yet… the last 4 days we will attempt to have it be full immersion). We also have a pretty great ratio going for us. We have 11 Chinese facilitators/teachers who taught 15 of us. And, while it’s not quite as regimented as our English TIP we do have a packed schedule from 8:30am - 7:30pm with a 2 hour lunch and rest time in the middle of the day. Needless to say, my Chinese is improving and I've already been able to use it with Melody and her family especially since her Mom knows very little English. It's awesome… :)

Finally, we've also decided to Vlog (Video Log) some of this trip, and the first installment can be accessed here at the link below. I'll post again in the next few days! I hope you like it!

Kyle

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or could imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:20-21