so while in china i've met some people...and these are some of my fave pictures of or with them...

need to stop here for now! bye!

-irene.

what a fast week!

last night i was thinking about the kids i met and i felt so sad! i wish i could hug them and tell them how loved they are. these short term projects are so bittersweet because you're so happy to have met them and known them, and life would be worse without having known them, but it just sucks that you have to leave.  it's not enough.  we are so limited in what we can give to others in ourselves.  i feel the need to pray.

the kids were so rowdy the last day--we had two fights in our short morning together.  it was strange, because the past couple days they were so attentive and willing to participate in everything.  i was talking to dan about it and he said it could have something to do with the fact that they knew it was our last day.  i could understand that from their point of view...not exactly the ideal way to end our time together, but i can understand it.

i'm going to go see them again on the 23rd with clarissa and nancy! (and whoever else)  i'm really happy about that.  i wonder what it is the kids really need.  people who can and will invest in their lives relationally long-term?  more opportunites to advance in society?  or ...? 

anyway, i'm really glad to have been a part of this project.  i feel privileged and thankful for the relationships i was able to make through it (not just the kids but all the MMK volunteers! ketty, stephanie, charissa, jess, john, tim) and for the ways that God has shown me a little more of his heart...how far my heart is from his...and how he wants to make me more like him.

this pictures makes my heart melt :)

SO, i've helped out with countless kids' summerschool-type programs, but my first day at the Yu Xin elementary school was a bit more unique!  BECAUSE i had absolutely no idea what they were screaming at the top of their lungs (they were physically incapable of going below a certain volume haha) for ...was it 5 hours?  anyway, it was a really interesting experience because i had to put in extra effort in observing and being sensitive to their facial expressions, body language, tone, etc.  but kids are so great because they just don't have walls like us.  i think i was able to notice faces more than usual because of the language barrier.  i can distinctly make out in my mind the faces of the kids i met today and the impressions they pressed on my heart.  i have no idea what their lives are like outside of that classroom, but i really wish i could pour my heart out to them during the time we're together.  i can't lie though, the language barrier and physical conditions of the shanghai summertime does take a toll on me.  Lord, give me strength and patience!

so i remember when i was at the orphanage in thailand a few years ago, there was this one little girl named pawn tip. we couldn't communicate with words, but there was an unspoken connection :)  one thing that really moved my heart was how she would in a way, try to take care of me--things like watching out for me when we walked up the mountain, or making sure i got my plate of food during mealtimes... here was this little orphan girl trying to share her love with me.  

some of the kids i met today remind me of her.  at the end of class, one boy, charlie. came up to me saying "you must have come from very far away to teach us...you must have spent a lot of money on our lunch..."  (john translated for me)  i got the feeling he was saying thank you...what 4th grader says things like that?  i noticed that throughout the day he would try to be very helpful--moving chairs, opening water bottles, throwing away garbage.  i also noticed he had a huge bruise on the back of his neck, and it was painful to see such a small boy with a bruise like that.  here's a picture of charlie:

tomorrow's another day!  more to come...

*warning: this is not going to be eloquent.

i think one of my biggest realizations so far during my stay in china has been how sheltered i have really been in my life thus far. i always had this desire to explore and experience the world outside my world.  i did travel outside the U.S. a few times-- thailand, mexico, and japan, but during those times i always went with a group of people that shared my exact culture.  here, even the people i meet that are from the U.S. are from different states and different ethnic backgrounds.  this experience has been different because i am almost entirely an outsider here.  i wouldn't recommend this, but i came here not knowing chinese (at all).  and that has been the greatest barrier when trying to connect with locals. 

but i feel that this has been a most valuable experience!! i am learning so much about myself and how much more i need to be stretched in understanding and empathizing with others.  strangely, i'm cherishing all the pains of adjusting--the frustrations and negative emotions.  okay, i have to stop here because our training session time is almost up, but shall be back soon!

evaluation of east villagers: i'm lovin it!  totally see the value in this site and plan on using it in the future!