Xiaogan: Lauren's View

Ni Hao Friends,

On the long plane ride from San Fransisco to Shanghai, I had time to think and read. Something that stuck out to me was the sentence Open Your Eyes There is Much to See. I have found this to be true as we have journeyed through China, through the lively city of Shanghai, the crowded streets and buses of Wuhan and now  in Xiaogan.

     Our time here in Xiaogan is sadly coming to a close tomorrow, yet we have learned so much and seen God at work in this city. "God is doing amazing things through his Church everywhere. Our brothers and sisters all over the world give us a glimpse into how God is working." These words ring true as we have learned so much from our brothers and sisters here as well as those who do not know Christ. We have had many opportunities to talk with students, opening our eyes to their education system here, and the ways that relationships play out. They ask us a lot of questions during class, their favorite one happens to be 'what are your hobbies?' In most places it is uncommon for them to see foreigners and so we get plenty of curious looks and lots of questions.

     Another way that our eyes were opened here in Xiaogan was through homestays with students from the university here. Each team member was placed with a different student, and this past weekend we headed out to different cities around Xiaogan to experience the everyday life that many families in China live. I had the joy of going out into the country to a home that was a 2 1/2 mile walk from the road into a smaller village of homes. While there I got to experience pumping water, making traditional foods, and experience how  people farm. I also got to climb a giant hill (to them a mountain) in the rain, experience some Chinese shopping, and how to play a traditional Chinese game. My host student's mother was there, but her father and brother were away at factories where they work and live, only coming home every so often. This was a great time to interact with the students on a more individual level, and experience their life.

     We head out on a night train tomorrow to Xian, and will spend some time there doing some english corners, and taking in some of the ancient Chinese culture. Thank you for your support and prayers!

Grace and Peace,
Lauren Dodge
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Grace and Peace,

Lauren Dodge