Running toward the Light

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.

I came to China and went a little crazy...why you may be asking? Every weekday morning I wake to the sound of my clock chirruping at the around the hour of 6 am. I pull on my UNCW hoodie and my sweatpants, do a little stretching, go downstairs and wake the lady at the front of my building in order to unlock the door and head out to into the dark morning. As I walk to the track (or the playground as the students here call it) I always think, "It is so cold. What am I doing?" And then I round the corner and see a huge smile waiting for me. "Hello, Amelia!" Nancy says as I greet her in the morning. We are "taking exercise" in the morning by running around the track. Trust me, I am not a runner or a morning person, and this is where the belief that I have gone a little crazy comes in.
"Okay, let's go," Nancy says as we walk towards the track and wait just a few seconds for the myraids of kong fu kids to go speeding by. Then we trudge around the track four times (and yes, we did work up to that number) and when Nancy say "Okay, that's enough" we stop and walk two more times. In in craziness, I've come to learn more and more that the morning is an unique time. It is a blessing every morning to see the sun rise and watch the sky change before my eyes and go from darkness to light. It is a blessing to spend time every morning with Nancy and run with her and many mornings follow with breakfast. The morning has a peace to it like no other time of the day (especially in China!). My hope is to not only see experience these things in the morning, but see it in my students' lives as well. This is a great reminder for me each morning as well.

Nancy and I out for a Birthday dinner for her!!

For awhile, I was afraid I might start a new student organization with my running. Many students have asked to join me as I run in the morning. Some came and some didn't and now there are a few consistent people. Most mornings it is Nancy, Virgo, and Cynthia who come out to run with me (or more like I come out to run with them). They are always gracious as I run a step behind them and have a nose pouring with snot! I don't know how the girls' never have a runny nose running in 30 degree weather, but they don't. Each morning, there is a something in our conversation which reminds me to keep running for the ultimate prize. So, I will continue this crazienss! (Although, when it gets colder I think we will have to take a winter break).

China Idol

A Stage for the Big Night

Chinese people love to sing. At KTV (a karaoke place) if there are a group of Americans and Chinese people there, the Americans will always goof-off and sing out of key. While the Chinese sing as though they are really performing for millions of people each time. They take it seriously and almost always have a good voice. I don't understand how all of them can sing so well! Earlier this week, after my Monday afternoon class one my girls appraoched me, "Amelia, do you want to come and be a judge for the foreign-song singing contest?" How could I resist such an offer? As the week went by some of my students learned of my new position of importance (at least for the moment). "Amelia, are you a judge on Thursday night for the contest?" Rita asked me before she proceeded to ask me to help one of her friends make it to the final round. "Rita, if he is a good singer then I will vote for him, but if not...kerrr" I said as I dragged my finger across my throat to let her know jokingly I'd give him the cut. Of course, in reality, her friend is also my student and I was delighted to know one of my students was going to be in the contest.
On Thursday evening, Emily and I headed over to New Campus to take-in all we could of the big event and be a judge... or at least try to be a judge. Can't the students tell I have no talent for singing or music from me "singing" so often in class? Meagan met us at the front gate and led us to a large room with hundreds of students waving around glow-sticks as a band played in front of a chalk board covered in writing and drawings. The whole room was decorated with ballons, and paintings of pictures. The Little Mermaid even graced us with her presence, though I must say her nose has grown alittle since the last time I saw her...the Chinese sometimes call Westerns "big nose."

The annoncers for the evening...so dressed up!

Three or four rows up was a line of empty seats, with a water bottle and papers on the desk in front of the seats, our seats. I felt a little nervous at this point. "Crap, I have no idea who can really sing," I thought. As Emily and I scooted into our seats though a familiar face came up right behind us. Nic, who is our boss on the New Campus was also a judge. He helped us figure out all the papers, translated some of the Chinese for us, and even entertained us as he passionately sang along to most of the songs for the night.
There were two rounds for the night. the first had two people, or a group go head to head against one another. The judges chose which one they liked better and whoever had the most votes made it into the next round. Jack and Creasy are both in my classes and were in the second of these rounds. They had one matching white coats and sang a Westlife song. After singing, while they were standing waiting for the judges to hold up our numbers, they kept glancing my way with a look which said, "Please Amelia, please vote for us! You are our teacher!" I voted for them.

Jack, Me and Creasy after the performance

Some of the performers that night were really funny, I had to stop myself from laughing a few times. But most were really good. Emily also had one of her students in the competition, Manson. He was very serious the whole time he performed and totally had the look of a young Elvis, competely with a leather jacket, jeans, and full hair in the front. It was great.
Both of our students made it into the second round, and even placed! Jack and Creasy got second place and Manson got third. The girl who won was awesome with a throaty voice and an easy stage presence. Emily and I had a great time at the contest, and we didn't even have to sing or anything! Below are videos of some of the perfomers and a Chinese teachers....so check it out for yourself.

Creasy and Jack singing Linkin' Park


The Winner for the evening...she is awesome.


A talented teacher

A Different Perspective

Mouth watering I reached for the wrapper that promised sweetness inside. The box showed a chocolate covered vanilla (or probably yogurt here) cake with a middle layer of hazelnut! It was an alluring sight for this coffee-loving girl who finds the perfect match for coffee in little sweet things. As the cake whirled and twirled around in my mouth though, my face couldn't hold back the disappointment in the cake. It was almost like eating slightly flavored air, with a hit of some kind of nut and a chemical tasting chocolate outside. This was no Little Debbie!! How deceiving it was! Everything looked right on the outside, but the inside of cake didn't have the fullness or satisfaction I so craved.

These are the little cakes-they are called Qute cakes

After I quit eating the little cake and threw the rest away, I couldn't help but think about how the world is like this often as well. We see things in it that look so attractive and appealing. On the outside it looks like it will satisfy, but then it never seems to fill that craving you so desire. It is empty on the inside. Sometimes, we try to consume more in hopes it we were wrong the first time or just plain out didn't get enough. I must admit, I tried the cake again with the same result the second time. I realize more and more each day though we can only have the fullness of life from our Father. He is the true satisfaction. It is easier for me to say this because I know what this feels like and know the truth. Although, I sometimes am led astray and have to reminded. But what about those of have never had a taste of the truth? What about those who've been eating empty little cakes their whole life and haven't had a chance to try the true delight, like one finds in a Little Debbie. I think this is where it is our part comes it to share with others. Share the truth we know and stop others from walking around in falling into empty traps.
Besides just purchasing little cakes lately, I have also made maybe the best purchase yet...a heat fan!!! This little guy works magic in my room. In China, they have a day that the heat will come on for everyone...Nov. 15th (this Saturday!! ), but it is already getting cold outside. So my room has been many degrees of cold. At night, I wrap myself up in my blankets like a Flaming Amy's burrito with many layers. My new fan keeps me a lot warmer and cuts the chill in my room drastically!

Here is the fan in action!! Praises!

A closer look of the warmth coming from this machine!