September 2002

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold all things are become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17

Recreating myself

Dear Friends,

When I started high school, my father told me that there would be so many more people in high school than in junior high that if I wanted to recreate myself, this was the time to do it. I received a similar lecture before going to college. By the time I graduated and was moving on to this call in China, I could give the talk to myself. As much as I may tease my father for his sermonettes, I do find truth in them.

Still, the services are completely in Chinese and I don’t understand much of what I hear. Instead, I spend the hour-long sermon time either reading my Bible or learning how to write basic Chinese characters. So far, the man who sits next to me has taught me how to write “I,” “love,” “Jesus,” and “you.” This means I can write the sentences: I love Jesus, You love Jesus, Jesus loves me, and Jesus loves you. So despite the language barrier, I can still communicate these simple truths and create the friendships that Christ’s love allows. I have found this to be crucial to reinventing myself in my new home.

My teacher role is the other main facet of my life. It’s actually something I cannot get away from. In Jiu Jiang, perhaps in all of China, people are seen as the work they do. I’m fortunate because teachers are given great honor here. Also, because I am a foreigner, my students are even more warm and welcoming. In each class of 40, I have probably received at least 20 invitations to countryside homes.

But it’s the non-English majors who are the most active at making my acquaintance. In several classes, I have had extra students try to sit in on my classes to hear my lectures, something that’s not allowed. And when I am sitting on the bleachers near the back playground (the only place on campus that I can sit peacefully outside) planning my lessons, many of the PE majors have hopped up to sit for a short chat. They practice what English they know, and in the process also teach me some Chinese.

These chats have turned into games of basketball or volleyball, lunch in the cafeteria, and then visits to their dormitories. I have even attended and participated in some of their classes! All things really are becoming new—because these boys don’t know that I have always been athletically challenged and they love just having me around. As I said in the August letter, it’s for these relationships that I have come to China. I feel like I’m learning about the Chinese people and that they’re learning about me and, through me, about my country and the world.

Please pray with me that both my friends at church and school will continue to be open: both learning about me and teaching me about them.

Mizpah,

Becky