Continued Prayer Request

Hello, 

Last night our family had some unexpected visitors come to our home and we have asked for your prayers as we go today and get things dealt with. Then this morning we got word that Patrick's Grandfather has passed. This has been emotional for him and he desires to go back home as soon as possible. Our whole family cannot go because the soonest we can have Eternity's passport is 10 days. Fortunately, Patrick was able to talk to his grandfather last night. It was like the Lord waited to take him until Patrick talk to him. So, that was special. We ask that you pray for us in this as well. Maybe our time here in China has come to an end sooner than we originally intended. God is good and we are trusting in Him to provide wherever he may lead. He is either Lord of all or not Lord at all, and we are declaring the He is LORD!!! even with these curve balls that the devil is throwing at us. Please forgive us for our vagueness at this time, 

We will keep you posted...

Thanks for your prayers, 

Patrick, Kari, Amariah, and Eternity

A Cross Cultural Experience and Ministry

Recently, I went grocery shopping with the kids in the morning and on my way home a Chinese friend called and said that she was having a birthday party for her daughter and was wondering if I could come over right then. I was frazzled by the lack of noticed. Raced to a kids store, bought a gift and showed up at her apartment building, where she was waiting outside for us, with all my groceries. Besides a cousin, Amariah was the only other kid. So, it was significant that he was there. My friend had called me the week before and said, "Next weekend I will have a cake for my daughter, will you come?" I said, "Just let me know when and we will plan to be there." This is another story to show the cultural difference. Where we are from, "Just tell me when" implies that you give the person notice, and for a party, it is usually at least a day's notice, otherwise, we don't expect people to come. So, it was silly of me to think that the same expression would have the same implications here. My friend understood it as, "tell me the moment it is happening and I will come."

 

A prayer request, this same Chinese friend informed me, at the party, that she is thinking of divorcing her husband. Not having been there myself, and not being Chinese, I am not sure how to be there for her. But I know the G knows and will direct. 

Also, another Chinese person that Patrick has been talking with just lost their job and has no place to live. So, prayer about what we should do here as well. 

Loving the Light

I can't remember the last time that I posted on my blog. Sorry about that. 

I currently have 2 electricians in my home. One working on the intercom thing for letting people into the apartment building and the other working on the kitchen light. I believe that I have ranted about the unfortunate things wrong with this place before and I feel I should give a little update. We did finally get a new screen door for the patio. The screen door for our front door got fixed, and our washing machine no longer floods the deck. We had to withhold our rent to get the landlord to do these things. There are still so many things wrong but the landlord once says he shouldn't have to do anything else. Well, we have an electrical problem in the kitchen and as a result we have had no light in there for a week. But PTL that is getting fixed. You don't realize how much you appreciate the little things until they are gone. It has felt a bit like camping trying to do the dishes in the dark. I would bring them into the dining room to make sure they were clean. The light above the stove helped with the cooking, but all the prep work was done in the diningroom. As fun as that was, I am thinkful to now have light in the kitchen again, it was difficult to function without the light. Appreciate the light. This story could have some spiritual principles, hmmmmm.......