Christmas in America!

My family and a few friends walked around the hospital singing carols on Christmas Eve. My mind drifted off to the last time I went caroling... In the back of a little truck in small town China singing in English to Chinese people who had no idea what we were singing and most likely did not even celebrate Christmas. ;) It was a good memory.

The best gift this year was hearing from a Chinese friend I made in Hong Kong on New Years Eve. An American Friend and I talked together and were able to share with her. We exchanged e-mails. I only talked to her a few times since then, I have been thinking of her and helping her learn more as much as I can in simple english. I was so blessed to hear from her this Christmas that she is now a sister! PTL! Even though we are no longer there, things are still happening. :)

I was really excited all the way back in the beginning of December about spending Christmas with my family this year. Right after Thanksgiving, we took our snowmobiles up into the snow to search for the non-existent "perfect tree" and after much deliberation we cut one and secured it to the sleds. At the top of this mountian I paused a moment to look in wonder at the awesome beauty of God's creation.

For Christmas, my entire family came together at my house, all 20 of us. :) On Christmas Eve, we all had mom's special "sleeping potion" made from the secret recipe (passed down from her dad). It is a tradition that everyone gives everyone a little gift, nothing expensive but we all enjoy finding something special for each person. The next morning we opened presents until we could no longer see the small children under the paper. ;)

In our family there is usually some sort of shooting involved at most holidays, this year we played Cival War style Paintball. :)

We all sat down together to eat cioppino (made mostly from our last catch of ocean fish).

The night ended late in it's usual fashion, a long game of Risk, each trying their hand at "taking over the world."

A special tradition, Daddy/Papa reads the Christmas story from the Bible by flashlight as the manger scene is put out. :) Then we all sang Silent Night and everyone goes to bed thinking about the meaning of Christmas; our savior Jesus coming to our earth to save the world from sin.

I hope you Christmas was wonderful! Happy New Year!

Welcome to my blog!

As most of you probably know, I am in China!
I have been here for over two months now.
These are a few pictures when I was in HK.
1. Me at the Harbor
2. Looking down a street of the most populated square mile in the world.
3. My partner, Moonbeam, and Me, in HK

I love it here, everything is beautiful and the people are amazing.

I arrived on my birthday to this "small town" I loved it at first sight.
On the way from the airport the bus had to stop to let some Water buffalo pass.

For the first month I studied Chinese. Our teacher lived with Chelsea and I at the teaching college in town. It took me about four lessons to really learn one lessons vocab.
It feels slow but people tell me I am learning fast. Now that I live at the farm, I have two one hour Chinese lessons a week.

I got to go to a Kids English School and help the kids practice the English they have learned.

I was given the job of buying turkeys for Thanksgiving here with our friends.
after four trips to town the task was finally accomplished, we now have three turkeys!
The next morning I woke up to them right outside my door, they had gotten out. Upon returning them to their pen, I found turkey eggs. They are full of surprises!

Yesterday, I made the first cheese for the farm. We bought the milk this time, but there will soon be dairy cows on the farm and they will be starting a business. I will be training the nationals to hand milk the cows.

On most days, I help teach the four Children of one family here.

Recently a little girl here named Hope, got stung by something. She had to go to TL and have IV antibiotics for over a week.

Yesterday was also the Chinese Autumn Festival, everyone gives Moon Cakes to each other and they have a big party. The moon was beautiful and I ended up even seeing fireworks right before I went to sleep.

I will post more pictures soon. I hope you enjoy my blog.