Woes of the Chinese Post Office

4 weeks ago, my parents mailed 2 packages filled with fun things I had ordered online--children's books, Jim's birthday presents, etc... I kept a sharp lookout for the package slip... I hadn't figured out yet how things worked with the post office, but it seemed that IF you get a slip, then your package has been "flagged". Why? Nan shuo... (Hard to say) They explanation I was offered was that maybe it had something forbidden in it (like something we'd like to make copies of first), or maybe the package had fallen apart in transit. Uhuh.

So the fated day arrived. I got a (one, not two) slip. "Well, at least one made it here", I thought. So I went to the post office to get it, and...

When you bring your 4 and 2 year old to the post office on the day their daddy left town to pick up a package from Nana, you had better deliver. Great expectations and jubilations are counted on. So you can imagine the disappointment when they said--
"No, it's not here. It is at another post office."
"But this slip says that it is at this post office."
"Yes, but it is not here."
"Where is that post office?"
"Oh, it's quite far"
"Could they deliver it?" "Oh, no...well, maybe, no, no...you can ask, but probably not."
We boo hooed for awhile, and then went back home.

My helper happened to be there that day. (Yes, I have a helper. A dear lady who I am so grateful for, as without a car, she helps me run errands without needing to take the girls.) She immediately offered to go get it for me the next day. I gave her a copy of my residence permit, and she left.

She lives 1 1/2 hrs. away by bus. The post office is on the way from her house to mine. So she stopped by the next morning on the way to my house. But, as all sagas must be drawn out and complicated, they would not give her my package. It was a copy of my residence permit I gave her-- not the original.
"But this copy clearly states her name, address, and visa number."
"Yes, but it is not clear." This one can be forged. It must be original."

So that day, my sweet helper came back to my house (1 hr), took my original residence permit, and then set out AGAIN to get the package (3 hr round trip). I was a bit nervous about giving her the original-- It is irreplaceable. But I wanted that package! I was hoping that that one had Jim's gifts in it in time for his bday (Sept. 20th)

When she returned the second time, she asked them,
"Why was this package sent here exactly?"
"You should not send such bao gui de (precious/expensive) things. You should only send pu tong de (normal everyday) things. It is not here. Wait for the package notice at your local post office." (Is this an admission of guilt, I wondered?)
But they DID give her the first package. Glorious!

It arrived full of many wonderful fall and winter children's books. Without English libraries, I try to stock our books as plentifully as we can afford! And yet, we still hoped for the second package...

A week passed, and so with it the hope that we would ever see #2. Jim's birthday presents, (I was so excited to think of something for his birthday other than books, coffee, or guitar paraphanalia this year.), Kathryn's home school materials, a new Miss Patty Cake DVD (Ellie's favorite!), some guitar DVD's from my parent's for Jim's bday...I was certain it was stolen (especially due to the DVD's) , and imagined that anytime I could go downstairs to my local video store and find Miss Patty Cake on display in the children's section. (How else do you think they acquire such a plentiful stock??) But I decided to try our local post office one more time, just to bury the hatchet.

To my very great surprise, although no package notice had been delivered, he handed me another slip. My brief moment of joy over the discovery that our package was in fact NOT lost for good was matched my consternation when he told me that in fact, this package was not here either. Yes, the very same "quite far away" post office. It is hard to be angry in a foreign language, but I think I succeeded.

"But this slip says it is here! I already went to the other post office, and they swore they didn't have it, and they told me it would surely be here!", I pleaded.

To no avail. In China you might occasionally even find a well-informed and compassionate clerk staring back at you from behind the window, (a bit of negative cultural aggression coming out here I admit) but even the nice ones often cannot help you. "Zenme ban" (There is nothing we can do.) So I rushed home...yes my helper was here today too! On the eve of a major Chinese holiday (Oct. 1st is Guo Qing Jie-- a week of celebrations), today is the last day that the post office will be open for the next 10 days! Off she rushed with my original residence permit to fetch the package.

Here I digress. In this drama, I was reminded of a funny story of our earlier years in China, when a teammate-- upon hearing that although his package WAS right there in his plain sight, he could NOT have it because it must be sent elsewhere first to be "checked"--blew his top, recruited an fellow accomplice, and used a "pick and roll" diversion tactic to steal his own package and escape with lightening speed. Yes, now you are beginning to feel why life abroad is the squeezed toothpaste tube of all your own little "personality qwerks", i.e, sin.

You are dying by this point, aren't you, to hear about the fate of package #2?

ME TOO! She still hasn't returned.

To Molly Piper

This morning I received in my inbox my usual article from Desiring God ministries. I find Piper's writings to be full of Christ-centered thoughts that draw my heart to worship. Today, the article was entitled "What I said at my granddaughter's funeral". (You can click on this link for the article: www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/TasteAndSee/ByDate/2007/2406_What_I_Said_at_My_Granddaughters_Funeral) My heart sank, but I was drawn to read it like a magnet. Piper's son and daughter-in-law Abraham and Molly just lost their second child, Felicity, born still-born September 22 full term.

I had only made it one paragraph into the article when Kathryn came over and asked,
"Mommy, why are you crying?"
"I just read something sad, sweety."
"What was it mommy?"
"Mommy just read about another mommy who lost her baby, like your sister Hannah."
"Mommy, do you know her name so we could meet her?"
"Kathryn, if we met her, what would you want to say?"
"We should give her a hug and tell her that Jesus will take care of her."

This morning, Molly Piper, my 4 year old Kathryn sends this message to you. And with her comes the hope that God will bless you with more children, and they will bear the beautiful fruit of your loss.

Zhong Qiu Jie -- Mid Autumn Festival

Last night we celebrated the "Mid Autumn Festival", which is the first full moon of the fall. The tradition holds that as you go outside at night and look at the moon, though you are far away from your loved ones, you are both looking at the same moon. In addition to looking at the moon, "moon cakes" are a big part of the celebrations. From what I can tell, they are pretty akin to the Christmas fruit cake-- a dense and calorie filled brickish sort of fruit-filled treat. (Doesn't it sound yummy?) No, I'm not making fun of it-- most of our Chinese friends only give them away but don't like to eat them that much (See-- Just like a fruit cake!) But last night I tried a coconut filled one, and it was pretty darn good.












In addition to the moon cakes, we feasted on a variety of fruit and nuts, which are symbols of the ingathering of the fall harvest.

















But as far as the kids were concerned, the festival is really all about the lanterns. These are brightly-colored paper lanterns with candles inside-- which of course is like forbidden fruit to a child. And to get to stay up late, play outside, and carry around a flammable object-- this is the best! And yes, that is a "Hello Kitty" lantern next to the red one. East and West colliding worlds!















Like kids in a candy store!
















Of course if you read last Spring's entry about Kathryn's fear of fire, then you understand her expression. She was not convinced this was a good idea, and her fears were not completely unfounded...




















...because if you look carefully at our little friend Nathaniel's lantern, you can tell why it caught on fire! It is thin paper, so it quickly went ablaze, and just as quickly died out. We didn't even have to call the fire department. :) After this though, the mommies grew all the wiser, and decided that 2 years old was a bit too young to swing around a flaming torch. All morning long today, Ellie kept asking me "Mommy, what happened to didi's lantern? (little brother) What happened to didi's? Over and over. So over and over again, I retold the story of the great fire of the Mid Autumn Festival of 2007.



















Gotta love the shoes.



















Don't we have fun new little friends?

My New Life in China: Kathryn's Photo Journal Entry 4: MY NEW SCHOOL

I want to tell you about my new school. Here is the front door. At my school, my teachers speak Chinese. My teacher is very nice, but I don't understand her very well yet. Mommy says to keep trying, and after awhile, I will.
















Here I am at school! I have a pretty Hello Kitty backpack.














Here is my teacher, Hu laoshi. She gives me a hug every morning!



















Here is the back of my school. That is the flag of China, because my school is in China.














Every morning after we come to school, we go outside for morning exercises. Our teachers stand in front and we dance to silly songs. It is fun!















We all dance and jump around!















I have been for 3 weeks now, and I'm not sure if I like it. It is hard to speak Chinese, and I don't know if I want to keep going. So mommy says I can ask you to pray for me, that I can learn Chinese and make some fun friends too!

Love, Kathryn

Just For the Grandmas

It's time to pull out the long sleeve pajamas!
Matching pink princesses :)

Enough for Today

A young teenage girl sits in a hospital waiting room, softly crying. She just heard the news she was dreading--she is pregnant. Her mother and grandmother chide her, "You can't keep this baby; you know this, don't you? There is no way." She has a difficult choice to make. One little life, so precious to God, so unwanted in this life. Why did this happen? How can I bare this? She sits there pondering, grieving this life, wishing she could go back a few weeks and make a different choice.

A woman sits in a hospital waiting room, softy crying. She has just heard the news she was dreading--her husband isn't going to make it. He is being kept alive on life support, but has no brain activity. She has a difficult choice to make. One life, so precious to God, so mourned to be gone. Why did this happen? How can I bare this? She sits there pondering, grieving his life, wishing she could go back a few weeks and see him one more time.

Today, my life has intersected both of these scenarios. They are so similar, and yet so different. Both grieving, both full of sorrow and tragedy. Yet such contrast and irony. One wishes for just one more moment with a dear loved one; Another wishes for any possible way to undo this "mistake". How can a heart and mind hold both of these together, even in a single day?

"All things have been created through Him and for Him. He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:16-17)

These words don't offer an answer. (Truly they raise more questions.) Yet still, they point to one who does. And for today, that is enough.

P-P-P Popcorn!

Have you read the recent news reports about the hazards of microwave popcorn? Perfect motivation to put down that expensive microwave stuff and go natural. (As natural as you can be with butter and salt!) And it's so much cheaper too!

Kathryn reminded me that we told you we would share our new secret, and she imagines you are daily awaiting this entry. So as promised, here is our new popcorn method, as taught by veteran stove popper, Todd Gross.

1. Chose larger deep, non-stick pan for stove.
2. Put enough cooking/veg oil in the bottom to get kernals wet but not soaking; add kernals
3. Turn stove burner on med-high, trying to keep your cool waiting for the first pop.
4. When kernals begin popping, shake every 10 secs or so to keep kernals from burning bottom.
5. If little ones are watching, a pan with a clear top is fun to watch!
6. When the popping slows down, empty popcorn into large bowl and turn off the fire.
7. In hot pan, drop desired amt of butter and melt. REAL butter is best!
8. While waiting for butter to melt, add desired salt.
9. This is the complicated part: Adding the butter evenly so as not to drown some and neglect others. You could have a stirer and a pourer, or if you are on your own, then stir with a spoon while pouring butter evenly.
10. Pop in a good flick and enjoy!

Qiu Tian Lai Le! (Fall is Here)!

I couldn't believe it when I stepped outside today-- It felt like....almost....chilly! Like about 60 degrees! You could only appreciate my excitement if you took into account that we moved here from the equator, and thus have not experienced fall since 2004. But further, being from Texas, I have NEVER lived in a place that got cool in SEPTEMBER!! We had to rush back inside to get Kathryn's coat before I took her to school. She zipped it up and pulled up the hood with a shiver like it was winter! :)

Joy Looks Like...

Thought #4 about Joy: Joy looks like...

Ps. 98:4-8: Shouting, breaking forth, singing, playing instruments; the roaring of the sea; the surging of the river; the singing of the mountains (can you hear it?)

Ps. 84:2- The hungering of a heart for God-- a physical & emotional yearning (do you feel it?)

Ps. 149- Bubbling over, singing, dancing... (are your feet light?)

So many verses beyond the Psalms...

I'm so struck that joy is so...physical! Loud, unashamed, breaking loose, bubbling over, shouting out... When is the last time you danced for joy to the Lord? No, my conservative tradition doesn't usually encourage this expression. And I'm not usually the shouting out, dancing , jumping up and down kind. (Though I do practice this some with my children!) But these verses indicate He delights in this...

Let's ask Him to give our hearts affections that find expressions commensurate with His majesty as we seek to rejoice in Him!

Here is Ellie's commentary on these verses:

My New Life in China: Kathryn's Photo Journal Entry 2--

Here's my house!
Here's the living room looking south.












And here's the living room facing north.
Here you can see into the office in the back.
Taking pictures was fun at first, but now it's getting pretty boring.















OK this is better now: I took this one!
This is my room!















That first picture sort of looked like my room is clean, but normally it looks like this. I built this great tower to show you!


















Here's the office with all the books! And that big cabinet on the right has all the FUN MESSY stuff like paint and glue. But it's locked; bummer.















Here's mom and dad's room. Mom had some really ugly curtains (even daddy said so), and she finally changed them. She said she thinks these look romantic, but I told her it takes more than curtains to make romance.















This is the only part of the kitchen mom said we could show.
We're making STOVE popcorn. We tried this after a friend showed us how, and we'll NEVER go back to microwave popcorn again!
Do you like my smile? Mom said the popcorn would burn if I didn't smile, (since she was determined to get the picture first), so I smiled really big. Maybe next time we can share our popcorn secret!