only one week left huh?

Welcome.


Hey all! Here's a picture that T-Burk took of us at one of the persistent Chinese people's "hotels." I managed to post a pic (though it's quality may stuggle) to prove that I'm actually in China... see the Chinese people??

I do apologize for not posting sooner, but my desire to be on the internet has diminished a good bit over the past 5 weeks. Don't be fooled though, I'm sure I'll find the desire somewhere between Arlington and College Station... or maybe between China and Alaska. Who knows?

Well the trip has way less days left than it used to have, and most of the work that we've come to do has been done. I say most... really all the work we knowingly came to do is done, so whatever else happens is stuff that the Father is surprising us with, which He's more than welcome to do.

Twas a good week for us. We went to a nearby site (not that close, 8 hours both ways on a Chinese bus, which if you've never had the chance to experience... it's insanity) to encourage some bro's and sis's, and I believe what ended up happening was quite the opposite. We played around at another school. In the classrooms we conversed with introductions and "how are you doing's", and then we busted out the pictures. Chinese people love photos. They tried to steal a few of them, but none were so quick as to be successful against yours truly. A compliment to all the females in my picture album (most of you don't know who you are, but if you think you're in it, you are... maybe): all the girls, and boys, said that every girl in my little album was beautiful, one girl even received the comment of "very beautiful and lovely". After classes we went outside where everyone played basketball, save one. I was saved from the public humiliation of having to play ball by a cheap guitar which some with the help of some of the students beckoned me away from the court, and I got to play P&W songs on the playground of a Chinese school... pretty sweet.

Later this week, we went to the University here in town and played basketball. Well, I didn't play, I'd say I was the main cheerleader for the foriegners. To make this long story short, it was China vs USA (and one New Zealander); and China brought out their big guns. Don't be fooled into thinking that the people in this country are short. All of them actually are, except for the 5 who found their way to the basketball court that fateful Friday afternoon. The United States looked sported a pretty good bench as well, with quite a few ballers of their own. Overview of the game is as follows: China dominated the first half, and at one point the US's score was 18 while China's was twice that. The momentum never seemed to shift dispite the high hopes of America's head cheerleader. At the half, as the Chinese practiced shooting, the whitey's huddled up, drew some plays with chalk on the court, gathered their thoughts and water bottles, and when the whistle blew for the second half to begin, they certainly had their work cut out for them, but everyone was lead to believe they were ready. The strategy discussed in the "locker room" must have been to set up the 3-2 defense quickly every time the Chinese had the ball, for that is exactly what the foreigners did. After countless turnovers and capitalizations on these defensive stops, the Americans tied the game up, and eventually dominated the Chinese with their endurance and beauty with a final score of US: 82; China: 68. It was quite the game indeed, and the audience turnout confirmed the fact. By the second period the crowd attendance numbered 250 to 300 students and faculty who came out to watch their home team get defeated. It was pretty sexy.

SHOUT-OUT CITY

Ma and Pops - when I got your comment about how you just finished watching Spanglish, I laughed because I just left the other room where the credits for said movie were playing. It was good, though not that tight, in my opinion... don't get me wrong, it's above average. It's Sunday here, and that means I'll be seeing you humans in a week. Now that wasn't such a long 6 weeks not was it? love you guys, see you soon, make reservations at Taco Bueno.

L.O. - your comments make me laugh. I'm very grateful to receive them. I'll see you in a week too... you can make reservations at Wendy's. I can't decide on the shoe thing, so we'll see what I come home with for you. It may be way cooler than shoes. It'll be something though, fear not.

BRAD - man, I remember all that stuff. We used to be awesomer than most people can even wrap their minds around. What happened? oh, that's right... nothing happened, we're still tight. Dude, I was thinking about you the other night and how you're going to be married, and that you asked me to be in your wedding, and I think that's really sweet. Both of those things. If I ever get married, you can be in my wedding. You can sing a song and play drums or something (if Winegeart isn't free).

Pilgrim (Rouse) - say girl! Man, make sure you call my Chinese phone number when you and your awesome campers get to China... I want to give each of them high fives. and chopsticks. Keep being tight at camp, and we'll see you soon!

Brooke, Schmale, and the rest of the 6 chicks - you girls are too sweet to be people. Way sweeter than anything here in China, where they don't like sweet things. I am truly honored to call y'all friends, and I do look forward to seeing y'all "in the days to come" *Butch* and talking about how cool you are to everyone I know. Thanks so much for the pr's, I don't deserve them, but I'll take them with lots of thankfulness.

Nutterd - you better believe you'll be listening to stories from the Orient, complete with way more pictures than you'd ever wish to see. You, too, are too sweet to be a person. I forget what compliment Jon and I gave you the other day, but it was really nice, and I thought it fit well. So there's that. Oh, and you like Emery (new album August 2nd!), so that's even more points to you.

K Nall - it's getting to be that time. Pack a rain jacket or an umbrella. You're gonna have a rad time man, and I'll be thinking about you for sure. These schools are a crazy place to be... a real good place to be also.

Becky - thanks again for the pr's, and I've been talking to Pappy a lot about the youth group... how's all that going? I trust He's giving everyone guidance that we so desparately need.

Tommy and BCA folks - Dude, I'm so excited about going to your wedding for real. I love you (singular) and you (plural) so much. Keep seeking Father and what He's got for you, cause I bet it's way different that what you may think, and probably better too.

People I forgot - you are cool though apparently not cool enough for me to remember you.

Alright, now for the lifting requests:

- that I wouldn't miss anything Father has for me in these last few days here
- that Father would help me debrief and figure out some of the things He's taught me
- that He'll graciously help me (and you) hear his voice

that's it for now. If you leave a comment (which seriously blesses my heart more than you can shake a bamboo stick at), you are welcome to let me know if my posts are too long, because honestly, I don't know if I'd want to read a post as long as mine tend to be. Kinda late to ask that, but hey, it got asked! I love you guys, every last one of you, though probably not as well as I should. lata.