Sunday at the Lake

Today was our only day off from teaching so the school took us to Quinhai Lake, the largest salt water lake in China. We were squashed into vans for a 2-hour van ride that included, in no particular order of fright/amusement: trucks passing each other on curvy mountain roads, yaks, buddhist temples, tibetan horses, spectacular mountains, baby yaks, a man walking a huge sheep on a rope down the highway -destined to be "mutton" on the menu later that day, fields of yellow flowers, more temples, shrines, prayer flags and statues dotting the mountain-tops, shepherds "keeping watch over their flocks" - we saw one herd his yaks with, yes, a sling and a stone, herds of sheep and goats, more mountains, tibetans selling gasoline in jerry cans by the road-side, women in high heels strolling the rocky "beach"- and I use that term very loosely! Seeing Jason P under his umbrella lounging on the rocks was awesome! The young'uns on our team went swimming in their clothes or otherwise played in the water. Amazing day- many of us are sun-burned, all are in awe of this beautiful land, humbled by the MEAGER life many lead just to survive, and the spiritual darkness that blankets this region. There are not enough flags or banners or big gold statues to bring hope to these dear people. Ask for workers and a movement of the H/S to bring LIGHT to this area of the world! On the ride home we stopped at a grasslands area where, again, the young'uns, and Jason P!, climbed a gigantic mountain then ran back down it- the scenery was just breath-taking. Lest this sounds too extravagant, please know that our vans were full, ours had no a/c and the windows didn't open, the driver tried to smoke in the van until we let him know that wasn't a good idea, the traffic was horrible-like, valium-worthy horrible, we had KFC for lunch, which was picked up at 8am and hauled around in the vans until lunch time- and, we ate huddled around the KFC bags on the rocky beach, standing up, lol! Not very glamorous but the cool breeze and "day-of-rest" was worth it! It is sobering to see our days ending here- 3 more days of class then graduation. We have fallen in love with our kids-and they all feel so loved and special. Their teachers are so harsh and their lives so full of pressure to succed that this camp time is a joy to them! We are planting seeds in each life and asking that those seeds bring fruit. We had a sweet time of singing last night in our hotel- we are under so many restrictions that we have to be so cautious all the time. If that environment is hard for us for 3 weeks, imagine how our brothers and sisters who live here must feel! Lift them up that they would find ways to shine- to "bloom where they are planted" despite the hardships! Remember G and S and H and J and probably many others I don't know about- those who are family and those who could be soon! I am meeting with my students from 2008 weds night- it will be great to re-connect with them. So many of us have long-term relationships with kids here- what a joy to see them summer after summer! Continue to think of us-the darkness has been oppressive now and again but we are counting on our "warriors" back home to see us through! This camp has been trouble-free in many ways and we'd like to keep it that way. We also have a million more plane rides and a trip to BJ and another week before we'll be home- lift us up for good health and team unity and effective work, that we would, again, be a sweet aroma wafting through these mountains! Love you all- miss you! C-A-J-J-J-L * the Xteam