A video I did for some missionary friends of mine. Please check out their website.
www.betoandlaura.blogspot.com
Posts
Joshua Tree
13 years ago
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Hope in Honduras
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Chengdu to Beijing to LAX CHINA PT 3
Well I last left off with a little bit of the schedule
Morning – (7am-ish) get up for personal devo, then breakfast of steamed dumplings and rice porridge.
After Morning – Singing and lesson
Near Noon – Small groups and English Class
Noon (ish) – Lunch (usually at a restaurant in the area)
Afternoon – outing (think Panda Amsterdam)
After Afternoon – Free time (i.e. Allan updates Twitter)
Evening – Dinner (again restaurant)
Night – Activity/Video
This was our schedule, for the most part, what we stuck to. Some days did go a bit off schedule, but let me hit of the highlights.....
Personal Study Time - I loved this! I usually sat on the rooftop with my Bible, journal and instant coffee or a cup of tea. It was good to just be ith God in the morning.
Breakfast - Everyday we had the same thing, literally. It was rice porridge, steamed dumplings called bao zi, boiled chicken eggs and salted boiled duck eggs. While this may not seem like the most popular choice for Americans, this is a very Chinese breakfast. I thought it was pretty good myself. Add a little dark soy vinegar and well, its all good.
Morning singing and study I am sure were all good but they were all in Chinese, so i really have NO clue what was said.
Small groups - This was a time when everybody (but Marcus and I) got into small groups and discussed what every was said in the lesson. Since i could not understand what was said in the lesson I didn't really have all that much to contribute, so Marcus and I used the time to prepare for our "English Class".
"English Class" - This was a time when Marcus and I would teach silly songs in English with our guitar/mandolin skills! (and yes they are sweet skillz) This was a oppertunity for the other leaders to have a break and we would teach/entertain the kids for a bit. Now at this point i must thank the teachers at Ramona elementary for donating to help me buy supplies for this time. I bought little prizes and what not and the kids loved them! Thanks!
Lunch - Usually at a restaurant within walking distance. This was the time when i would catch a quick phone call with my amazing and beautiful girlfriend.(love you kelly)
Outings - This is when we took the kids out to different places. One time was to the Panda Breeding center. This is what i called the Panda Amsterdam. Another time the kids went and saw Transformers 2 in the theaters. Now this might not seem like a big deal, but is was the 1st time any of these kids went inside a movie theaters to see a movie. It is a big luxury for kids in the "villages" to see a movie in the theaters. I mean, if you are making $100-200 max a months and a movie ticket cost around $20, it is a big deal. They really loved that. We also went to a famous poets house and in general had fun.
Free Time! - This is my favorite time as i got to just hang out, walk around the city a bit and update twitter.
Dinner - Again at a place round the corner
Evening - There would be a movie around a Bible story or something of that sort and then off to bed.
Highlights
Here are a few stories that for me will stand out.
Watching the kids play -
For me one the big highlights of the week will be watching the kids play. Many times i would forget that they had an injury. They just played, like any kids their age. As someone that has been in a wheelchair and lives with something that can hold me back, it was awesome to see these kids live vibrantly even though they had some amazing challenges.
Jamming -
One of boys in the group whose nickname was Yao Ming, took a big interest in my mandolin and Marcus guitar. He loved to just sit and strum. I taught him a few chords and i would sit and watch him go at it. I would join in and help with strumming or fingering or bring in some back up with the guitar.
Birthday and Getting my hair done -
My family isn't really big into birthdays. I mean, I haven't had a birthday in the states for about 5 hears or so, that might have something to do with it, but for the more part we just don't make a big deal out of them. So I had my B-day in China this year. The foreigners got me a REAL birthday cake and we had a little party, it was AWESOME.
Ok, well for the other story, after an English class we had some time left over. As little gifts i got the girls "hair things" as i call them. I know how to buy cool stuff for guys, but as for girls i have no clue. So at the 99 cent store, (where i do most of my shopping for mission trips of any sort) i bought "hair things" little rubber hair bands, brushes, scrunchies (?) and what not. Well I had handed these out and all the girls when to town with them. (score one for me!) So they started having doing stuff with their hair and then looked at my hair. "Hmmm....." i heard one of them say. (Hmmm.... is for sure a universal thing) The next thing i know i am sitting in a chair with 3 Chinese girls with rubber hairbands ATTACKING my hair. I ended up with little tuffs of hair shooting straight up in pink, yellow and BRIGHT green. Well when they were done it was time to eat. So i went to pull them out and all of them looked at me with these big sad eyes and begged me not to take them out. So i agreed on keeping them in until after lunch. So i kept them on. I don't think i have ever had so many people stare at me. I mean, i am sure i almost caused an accident. i wore them with pride and when people stared i just smiled and waved back. The girls loved it. All of the people in the restaurant laughed and i just had to laugh with them. They asked what happened and i just pointed to the girls in the group and they all instantly understood.
Field Hospitals -
Well, after the week was completed, we took the kids and the parents back to the train station and bus stops that they came from. We took a bus and went to a train station then to a field hospital where a bus stop was. This was the heaviest moment of trip. These field hospitals were made after the earthquake. Many of the hospitals around the epicenter were damaged and over loaded with victims, so that they had to build these long stable like field hospitals.They are simple concrete, steel and wood. They are meant to be for the moment, not for comfort. Patients and their families would live in these make shift rooms while receiving treatment. Some have been there for almost a year.
Seeing the patients walk around the complex, families in waiting in the rooms and the small make-shift tent convenience stores, made me realize more of the reality that i was seeing. Its not that i didn't think i was real, but to see it face to face is totally different from hearing the stories of the past week.
GETTING HOME - Well Beijing
So after my week in Chengdu I had to head back to Beijing. On the way to the airport Alex, Marcus' girlfriend, got a call that her aunt was in the hospital, so she took a cab and got on the next flight out. Marcus and I got to the airport at 4:00pm and our flight is suppose to take off at 8:50. There is a 30 min cut off time to board the plane, so 8:20 is the latest that we can get on the plane......remember that.
Well, 4:00 we get there and get in line, hand over the passports and get told, "you are not in computer, please to go that line" Well, Alex had paid online, that is how we got to Chengdu in the first place! Anyways, we go to the next line and the lady behind the desk says, "Ah, you are here, but you have not paid". (Time 4:15pm)
Marcus and I needed some proof that we paid for the tickets, Alex was the person that paid and she had the "magic chinese flight numbers", of course she was the on a flight. So we had to wait, and wait and wait. (Time 5:00pm)
Waiting for an hour turned to 2. Marcus and I are getting nervous so we start looking for spots to sleep for the night in the airport. Time (7:00pm)
Finally Alex gives us a call at 8:00pm! We go to the ticket lady and she starts talking to Alex. (T-15 mins to cutoff) There was alot of Chinese spoken (T-10 mins) and then more computer typing (T-5 mins), and then phone calls (T-0 mins) and more talking in Chinese (T + 5 mins) and then more computer typing....(T +15, 20, 25)
"Ohhh...." that is a universal sign that something has happened. SHE FOUND THE MONEY! YAY! But now our plane has already left. We ask if we can have our money back, "No, I am sorry, but you missed you plane." (note this is the same lady we have been talking to the entire time)
"Yes, we have missed our plane because you couldn't find our money. Ok, well, you foun the money in the computer can you use that money to buy us another ticket in the morning?"
"No, you missed your plane, we can not give you back the money" (The time is now 9:00pm) And you think airlines are bad in America?
Well the hunt is now on for 2 one way tickets to Beijing. Marcus is searching on his computer and i am asking every ticket office in the airport for their prices. Finally at 11:30 we buy 2 tickets for $211.00 each! They leave at 7:30 in the morning. Rather than waste money on a taxi and a hostel, Marcus and I spend the night in the airport. We end up finding our way to a space under an escalator around 2:00 am. Now mind you we are in the arrivals section of the airport. So there are still announcements over the loud speakers, people walking around and mosquitoes flying around. I have rarely been so happy for 100 proof DEET and my sleeping roll.
Come 3:00am Marcus is done ans starts to sleep. I like my stuff so i stay awake and stay guard. I give my lovely girlfriend a call and talk till my battery is dead. i zone out in ipod land and then take a little nap.
4:00am I go to use the restroom and spend the first 5 mins going on a mosquito killing spree in the stall. (I really DON'T feel like getting bit anywhere that my pants usually cover) After the deed is done i go to wash my hands, and see the mirror is a checkerboard of mosquitoes. Again, another killing spree.
for the next hour and a half i do what i can to nap and stay up. Around 6:00 we get up and check in to our flight. AND VICTORY! Our names were not only in the computer, but it showed we had paid!
We got home, took a shower, (AMEN!) and then headed out to buy pearls. (I was under orders to bring back a chocolate pearl for my loving girlfriend) (ok, not so much orders, but it was very HIGHLY suggested) (love you Kelly)
The next day I had a last good Chinese meal and i was back on a plane. Now, my flight over was Air Canada, but i had misread my flight stub, and found out i was going back on Air CHINA! I was not thrilled. While i was my seat was an ok size, my ipod froze up an hour into the flight.
I arrived in America 13 hrs later and was very happy to see Kelly out of the gates.
FINISHED! There you have it!
I have other, non-China related posts to come. Hope you enjoy and feel free to comment.
Here is a slide show of my favorite pics, they are the same as from the first post, but now that you know the end of the story, it kinda gives you a little extra fun.
In Christ,
Allan
Morning – (7am-ish) get up for personal devo, then breakfast of steamed dumplings and rice porridge.
After Morning – Singing and lesson
Near Noon – Small groups and English Class
Noon (ish) – Lunch (usually at a restaurant in the area)
Afternoon – outing (think Panda Amsterdam)
After Afternoon – Free time (i.e. Allan updates Twitter)
Evening – Dinner (again restaurant)
Night – Activity/Video
This was our schedule, for the most part, what we stuck to. Some days did go a bit off schedule, but let me hit of the highlights.....
Personal Study Time - I loved this! I usually sat on the rooftop with my Bible, journal and instant coffee or a cup of tea. It was good to just be ith God in the morning.
Breakfast - Everyday we had the same thing, literally. It was rice porridge, steamed dumplings called bao zi, boiled chicken eggs and salted boiled duck eggs. While this may not seem like the most popular choice for Americans, this is a very Chinese breakfast. I thought it was pretty good myself. Add a little dark soy vinegar and well, its all good.
Morning singing and study I am sure were all good but they were all in Chinese, so i really have NO clue what was said.
Small groups - This was a time when everybody (but Marcus and I) got into small groups and discussed what every was said in the lesson. Since i could not understand what was said in the lesson I didn't really have all that much to contribute, so Marcus and I used the time to prepare for our "English Class".
"English Class" - This was a time when Marcus and I would teach silly songs in English with our guitar/mandolin skills! (and yes they are sweet skillz) This was a oppertunity for the other leaders to have a break and we would teach/entertain the kids for a bit. Now at this point i must thank the teachers at Ramona elementary for donating to help me buy supplies for this time. I bought little prizes and what not and the kids loved them! Thanks!
Lunch - Usually at a restaurant within walking distance. This was the time when i would catch a quick phone call with my amazing and beautiful girlfriend.(love you kelly)
Outings - This is when we took the kids out to different places. One time was to the Panda Breeding center. This is what i called the Panda Amsterdam. Another time the kids went and saw Transformers 2 in the theaters. Now this might not seem like a big deal, but is was the 1st time any of these kids went inside a movie theaters to see a movie. It is a big luxury for kids in the "villages" to see a movie in the theaters. I mean, if you are making $100-200 max a months and a movie ticket cost around $20, it is a big deal. They really loved that. We also went to a famous poets house and in general had fun.
Free Time! - This is my favorite time as i got to just hang out, walk around the city a bit and update twitter.
Dinner - Again at a place round the corner
Evening - There would be a movie around a Bible story or something of that sort and then off to bed.
Highlights
Here are a few stories that for me will stand out.
Watching the kids play -
For me one the big highlights of the week will be watching the kids play. Many times i would forget that they had an injury. They just played, like any kids their age. As someone that has been in a wheelchair and lives with something that can hold me back, it was awesome to see these kids live vibrantly even though they had some amazing challenges.
Jamming -
One of boys in the group whose nickname was Yao Ming, took a big interest in my mandolin and Marcus guitar. He loved to just sit and strum. I taught him a few chords and i would sit and watch him go at it. I would join in and help with strumming or fingering or bring in some back up with the guitar.
Birthday and Getting my hair done -
My family isn't really big into birthdays. I mean, I haven't had a birthday in the states for about 5 hears or so, that might have something to do with it, but for the more part we just don't make a big deal out of them. So I had my B-day in China this year. The foreigners got me a REAL birthday cake and we had a little party, it was AWESOME.
Ok, well for the other story, after an English class we had some time left over. As little gifts i got the girls "hair things" as i call them. I know how to buy cool stuff for guys, but as for girls i have no clue. So at the 99 cent store, (where i do most of my shopping for mission trips of any sort) i bought "hair things" little rubber hair bands, brushes, scrunchies (?) and what not. Well I had handed these out and all the girls when to town with them. (score one for me!) So they started having doing stuff with their hair and then looked at my hair. "Hmmm....." i heard one of them say. (Hmmm.... is for sure a universal thing) The next thing i know i am sitting in a chair with 3 Chinese girls with rubber hairbands ATTACKING my hair. I ended up with little tuffs of hair shooting straight up in pink, yellow and BRIGHT green. Well when they were done it was time to eat. So i went to pull them out and all of them looked at me with these big sad eyes and begged me not to take them out. So i agreed on keeping them in until after lunch. So i kept them on. I don't think i have ever had so many people stare at me. I mean, i am sure i almost caused an accident. i wore them with pride and when people stared i just smiled and waved back. The girls loved it. All of the people in the restaurant laughed and i just had to laugh with them. They asked what happened and i just pointed to the girls in the group and they all instantly understood.
Field Hospitals -
Well, after the week was completed, we took the kids and the parents back to the train station and bus stops that they came from. We took a bus and went to a train station then to a field hospital where a bus stop was. This was the heaviest moment of trip. These field hospitals were made after the earthquake. Many of the hospitals around the epicenter were damaged and over loaded with victims, so that they had to build these long stable like field hospitals.They are simple concrete, steel and wood. They are meant to be for the moment, not for comfort. Patients and their families would live in these make shift rooms while receiving treatment. Some have been there for almost a year.
Seeing the patients walk around the complex, families in waiting in the rooms and the small make-shift tent convenience stores, made me realize more of the reality that i was seeing. Its not that i didn't think i was real, but to see it face to face is totally different from hearing the stories of the past week.
GETTING HOME - Well Beijing
So after my week in Chengdu I had to head back to Beijing. On the way to the airport Alex, Marcus' girlfriend, got a call that her aunt was in the hospital, so she took a cab and got on the next flight out. Marcus and I got to the airport at 4:00pm and our flight is suppose to take off at 8:50. There is a 30 min cut off time to board the plane, so 8:20 is the latest that we can get on the plane......remember that.
Well, 4:00 we get there and get in line, hand over the passports and get told, "you are not in computer, please to go that line" Well, Alex had paid online, that is how we got to Chengdu in the first place! Anyways, we go to the next line and the lady behind the desk says, "Ah, you are here, but you have not paid". (Time 4:15pm)
Marcus and I needed some proof that we paid for the tickets, Alex was the person that paid and she had the "magic chinese flight numbers", of course she was the on a flight. So we had to wait, and wait and wait. (Time 5:00pm)
Waiting for an hour turned to 2. Marcus and I are getting nervous so we start looking for spots to sleep for the night in the airport. Time (7:00pm)
Finally Alex gives us a call at 8:00pm! We go to the ticket lady and she starts talking to Alex. (T-15 mins to cutoff) There was alot of Chinese spoken (T-10 mins) and then more computer typing (T-5 mins), and then phone calls (T-0 mins) and more talking in Chinese (T + 5 mins) and then more computer typing....(T +15, 20, 25)
"Ohhh...." that is a universal sign that something has happened. SHE FOUND THE MONEY! YAY! But now our plane has already left. We ask if we can have our money back, "No, I am sorry, but you missed you plane." (note this is the same lady we have been talking to the entire time)
"Yes, we have missed our plane because you couldn't find our money. Ok, well, you foun the money in the computer can you use that money to buy us another ticket in the morning?"
"No, you missed your plane, we can not give you back the money" (The time is now 9:00pm) And you think airlines are bad in America?
Well the hunt is now on for 2 one way tickets to Beijing. Marcus is searching on his computer and i am asking every ticket office in the airport for their prices. Finally at 11:30 we buy 2 tickets for $211.00 each! They leave at 7:30 in the morning. Rather than waste money on a taxi and a hostel, Marcus and I spend the night in the airport. We end up finding our way to a space under an escalator around 2:00 am. Now mind you we are in the arrivals section of the airport. So there are still announcements over the loud speakers, people walking around and mosquitoes flying around. I have rarely been so happy for 100 proof DEET and my sleeping roll.
Come 3:00am Marcus is done ans starts to sleep. I like my stuff so i stay awake and stay guard. I give my lovely girlfriend a call and talk till my battery is dead. i zone out in ipod land and then take a little nap.
4:00am I go to use the restroom and spend the first 5 mins going on a mosquito killing spree in the stall. (I really DON'T feel like getting bit anywhere that my pants usually cover) After the deed is done i go to wash my hands, and see the mirror is a checkerboard of mosquitoes. Again, another killing spree.
for the next hour and a half i do what i can to nap and stay up. Around 6:00 we get up and check in to our flight. AND VICTORY! Our names were not only in the computer, but it showed we had paid!
We got home, took a shower, (AMEN!) and then headed out to buy pearls. (I was under orders to bring back a chocolate pearl for my loving girlfriend) (ok, not so much orders, but it was very HIGHLY suggested) (love you Kelly)
The next day I had a last good Chinese meal and i was back on a plane. Now, my flight over was Air Canada, but i had misread my flight stub, and found out i was going back on Air CHINA! I was not thrilled. While i was my seat was an ok size, my ipod froze up an hour into the flight.
I arrived in America 13 hrs later and was very happy to see Kelly out of the gates.
FINISHED! There you have it!
I have other, non-China related posts to come. Hope you enjoy and feel free to comment.
Here is a slide show of my favorite pics, they are the same as from the first post, but now that you know the end of the story, it kinda gives you a little extra fun.
In Christ,
Allan
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