July 18, 2007
Longzhou, China

Hello,

As I sit and write this I am a couple weeks into my summer holiday. I thought that this would be a great time to sit and reflect upon my first year in China. This past year was filled with a great deal of joy and also many challenges.

Students in Kyle Fryling's English class had to make fashion statements using newspapers.

One enjoyable thing about being a teacher in China is getting to know the students that I work with. I have had many memorable experiences with them. One that stands out was an activity that I had them do in class when talking about clothing. I split the class into groups and assigned each one to make a fashionable set of clothes out of only newspapers. When the students were finished choosing a model and making them a new outfit they needed to present this to the class. It was fun to see how excited the students got with this activity. They used newspaper to make everything from pants to earrings and then proudly walked down the “catwalk” to the cheers of their fellow students.

When I do things with students there are almost always funny things that happen. Most of these funny situations are not intentional, which makes it even better. They can be errors in their English or cultural differences. I have been asked if I am two kilometers tall. I have had students who sat in the front of my classroom for six months compliment my beautiful blue eyes. I blushed and responded politely with a thank you and then told them that I do not have blue eyes. After this, a small argument ensued in which I was not able to convince the student that I have brown eyes (and they were unsuccessful in changing my opinion). I was also once told that, according to their textbook, all Americans eat bananas with a fork and knife. Once again I was unsuccessful in changing their mind and as hard as they tried they could not change mine either.

In addition to all of the funny and sometimes ridiculous things that have happened I have also learned a great deal. One thing that I have learned is how much I depend upon others around me in spiritual matters. I always thought that your faith is yours alone and that this was an individual choice where you do not depend on others around you. I liked to think that if I was plucked out of my home church my spiritual walk could continue without missing a step. The reality is that we as Christians were made to function within a community of believers who encourage and challenge us. Last year I learned how important this community is for me as a Christian. In America, I would go to Sunday service, Bible studies, and have spiritual talks with friends and fellow believers. In China, I went to a church with 30 members where I did not understand any of the service or discuss things with any members. Due to the language and cultural barriers I felt disconnected from the worship, sermons, and fellowship that normally come with being part of a church body. I now have a new perspective on how the community of believers around us is so important and can enhance and encourage us in our walk.

I hope to enjoy the next month and a half of the summer holiday. After this I will start my second year of teaching.

Please continue to pray for China and the work that is being done to grow the church here.

Kyle Fryling

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 244