Friday the 13th

In America, Friday the 13th, has always been considered a day for bad luck. I have never really taken much stock in this. In fact, 13, is one of my favorite numbers along with 9 and 21. Today is Friday the 13th. I definitely no longer think that Friday the 13th is a bad day. In fact, this Friday the 13th has been one of the best days I have had in China. I have had many great days, so for this to be the best, you can imagine it was a very wonderful day. I don't even know if I can put it into words, so that you can feel what I felt, but I will try.

I was able to sleep in this morning until the hour of 7. I am usually up between 5:30 and 6:30 during the week, so I feel lucky when I can sleep until 7. Had a lazy morning until 9:30. Then I went with my friend, Shelly, to a store called "Metro". It is like a Costco. There I found cheese (real cheese from Ireland) in a big package. Normally I pay about $6 for 8 oz of cheddar cheese here. I have had to buy it in these small amounts because I could not find bigger packages. Today I found a 2.5 kg package. I splurged and bought it. Cheese for a while now. Yeah!! I was also able to finally find me some bread pans, so that I can make an actual loaf of bread in my new apartment. I was so excited and happy.

After I got back from shopping with my friend, Gary and I went to meet another friend, Abner. We went to see the new James Bond movie, Spectre. It was a great movie; lots of action with a good story; not a lot of swearing; the Bond girl actually wore pretty modest clothing. A good time spent with Abner. He is our Chinese son.

Then the day just got better and better. Gary and I took a walk to get some dinner before he went to do his tutoring. We had delicious Korean barbecue. Yummy. We parted ways after dinner. I headed in the direction of the school. It was a nice night, only a little rainy, so I decided to walk. Gary headed to the bus to get class. I have always loved the rain and I love to walk in it.

On the way back to school, I passed a couple of cute little girls playing in the rain. They said hi to me and were so excited when I asked if I could take their picture.

They made me smile! I was feeling so happy and so grateful to be in China at that point and it got even better. 

There are so many times when I just do not have any idea of what the Lord has in store for me each and every day. I cannot comprehend how much he knows each one of us and how we can all be instruments in the Lord's hands.

I was continuing my walk back to campus, when I saw this lady pulling a dolly with a big box, a little box and a suitcase on it. It looked heavy from where I was. I got this feeling that I should ask if I could help her. Unfortunately, I did not immediately react. It took a couple of more times for the Holy Ghost to prompt me before I went over to the woman and asked her if I could help her. I should also note that she had a backpack on, too.

I was right the boxes were heavy. I cannot even imagine how she got that far from the long term bus station to where she was walking. It was heavy for the both of us to pull. As we walked, we started a conversation. A little conversation that is. She speaks only a little English and I speak only a little Chinese. She asked where I was from and if I was teaching English. I said yes, I teach English at Qingdao Da Xue. She said she had a 16 year old son. She told me the bigger box was filled with Yantai apples.

We walked for about 6 blocks. Then I helped her pull the dolly up to her apartment. It was on the 6th floor. It was very difficult. I don't know how she would have done it by herself. She may have called her son to help. I was happy to help her. It made me feel so good inside to do it. Her name is Zhong Yan and her son's name is Liu Haining.

Of course, as is Chinese culture, she invited me into her home to meet her son. She had me come in and sit for a bit. She opened her boxes and gave me some Yantai grapes and Yantai apples. It turns out that she works in Yantai while her son lives here in Qingdao. She comes home every Friday and goes back to Yantai every Monday. Her husband is a sailor. He is in Europe right now. Sometimes Haining's grandmother comes to check on him. Zhong Yan is a doctor. It always amazes me how many families have to go to another city for work.

I forgot to tell you. The box filled with apples weighed 25 kg. It had about 150 apples in it. No wonder, the packages weighed so much.

We took pictures and then they asked if I had eaten dinner. This is the Chinese way to ask you to eat with them. I had already eaten, but she was so excited to have me come with them that I said no. I told her I would be happy to go with them to dinner. Haining wanted to go to McDonald's, so that's where we went. I had a Big Mac. Tastes just like at home.

It was wonderful to listen to them speak in Chinese. I was so content and happy just to be with them. We went home together on the bus, a very crowded bus. They sent me home with a bag of grapes and a big bag of apples.

 

I just couldn't help but marvel at the blessings of the Lord. If I had decided to take the bus back I would have never had met them. I would have not been able to do some service and help. I would not be feeling so blessed, happy and at peace if I had not listened to the Spirit and helped her. What a great day to be alive and what a great day to be in China!!! I am truly blessed!!