5/07/2003

Chinese Pizza, SARS, & A Friend Who Gave Away a Kidney

----- Original Message -----
From: Jan Charlin
To: "K!Mberly Creasman"
Sent: Wednesday, May 07, 2003 10:37 AM
Subject: Re: Hello again!


Hello Kimberly...
We have a lady around the block who is wearing the mask. There is a lot of fear but very unfounded. It's sad, some people have stopped buying things made in Asia.

Your days are full. Mine have slowed down this year. I think I started back to fast after surgury last year and my body is kind of rejecting life right now. So, Dan and I descided I should slow down a lot this year and just let my body heal. It was one of those things that was so God, I still am amazed. Each doctor I go to always asks if it was a relative and when I say it was someone from my church, they can't believe we actually matched. It makes me realize that nothing is by chance and God planned this before time. It is still a very aahh thing and God's love is so amazing. I still don't know why God used me, He could have used anyone, yet He allowed me to give. I feel so blessed. Anyway talk about more than you ever wanted to know.

What kind of food do you eat. Pizza, but is it pizza like here or pizza with corn and fish on it(Japanesse like pizza) or something in the middle.

Isn't it amazing how fast children pick up other languages? Did your children speak with an accent? I know people are amazed when they learn English is Daniel's second language but he learned it in school at such a young age.

Well this has gotten long, I hope you don't mind. Thank you for answering all my questions.

Love, jan

MY REPLY...
We have a California Pizza Kitchen here! (not that I eat there!) When we were in China it took us awhile to get used to the style of pizza made by the pizza place we had in Kunming...Chinese pizza...thin crust..not too tasty, but close enough.

And then we had to go to Italy for some meetings in 1998. In going out for pizza there, we discovered that "Chinese pizza" was the authentic kind - ITALIAN!

Loved hearing your testimony (below). Life is full of seasons isn't it? Of the many books I'm enjoying, today it's the books TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE and THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK...two non-C books that encourage us to be grateful and full of love for others and life.

As for my Wednesday, I'm cruising through my day fully aware that I am completely dependent on Jesus(even with both my kidneys!),

K!M

5/06/2003

Photo: K!mberly in LIFE!


Rainbow Fish 2nd Run Posted by Hello

A DAY in the LIFE of...

K!mberly's days are always different - probably like most moms! So far today has been:

! Rolling over in bed for some extra sleep while Jim sent kids to school (I
was at an artists prayer meeting last night until 12...oh, I'm not as young
as I used to be!)

! devotions over breakfast

! taking our little dog in to get fixed (ouch)

! grocery shopping (with our maid - I love that part!!!)

! following up emails with pastors who may host a play I'm casting this month

! a phone call with Juwanda the production manager of a concert I'm singing in later this month. He's stressed, muslim, and gay; so our phone
conversation included a prayer over the phone for him: that God would prove
He's real and loves him today by giving him a supernatural measure of peace
and joy in his work. He said, "Kim, I wish you could be part of every show I
do!" He is a sweetheart who really needs Jesus!

! coordinating emails with some Christian women in theatre. I'm doing a half day retreat with 5 gals later this month to talk over half of the book THE
HEART OF THE ARTIST. I'm really looking forward to it!

! kids home soon. We'll work on homework together (I'm hopelessly behind Tyler in Chinese!). Get the chores done. Practice piano...

! it's 2 for 1 pizza night at our pizza shop across the street and we're having dinner guests. Cameron calls Dick Soo, "my best big friend" and
Dick's girlfriend Neelam. Both are young professional actors who've been
dating since the end of last year. Both come from really dysfunctional
families (I know that both are still emotionally and verbally abused at
home). He's a professed Christian, she's a professed atheist. But I think
that's only temporary! :-).

! kids'll go to be at 8:30 and we'll see what God has in store for our
conversation after!


This is probably more than you need to know. Ah me, I do love avoiding work
by writing! That'll teach you to ask me questions!
Love, K!M

5/04/2003

SARS Scare...Are We Safe???

I can certainly understand people's concern given that the number of cases here (a little more than 200) still represent a high percentage of the total population (4 million) compared with other places that have been hit.

We feel very safe here for several reasons.

For one, almost all the cases have been traced to a few people that brought the virus into the country. The secondary and tertiary infections have for the most part been hospital staff.

For another, the government has done an excellent job of taking swift and thorough measures to contain the spread of the disease. Everyone infected has been isolated in one hospital, and for every one of them, another 10-20 people who had contact with them has been quarantined for 10 days. Those that break quarantine are now being isolated in jail.

As you probably know, all schools were closed for three weeks, and now every school child has a thermometer and must log their temperature two times a day. Parents are no longer allowed on campus. Most government buildings now require a screening for fever in order to enter. We are in many ways blessed to live in an environment that is strongly controlled by the government.

Thirdly, voluntary precautions are being taken by lots of people. Many people are staying at home and avoiding crowds. Many places are now going to start logging in with your entrance times and contact numbers (such as movie theatres and clubs) so that people can be traced in case an infection shows up. Our church of nearly 3000 people took everyone's temperature last Sunday morning to get into the service!

Fourthly, these measures seem to be working. The growth in cases stopped a few weeks ago, and for the past two days there have been no new cases.

And fifthly, but not last and not to be preachy, we know the Lord wants us to be strong and courageous. We have sensed his leading in decisions like this over and over, when he gives us confidence in his sovereignty over our situations, even during the times when we get apprehensive about the consequences. We believe Christians can have a great witness, especially in times like these, by walking by faith in the true sense of getting our direction from the Lord and resting in him.

Hope this is helpful. I'll pray the Lord gives you all a clear sense of his leading in this situation, and what would be right for the team, families, church, and mission.

Blessings!

written by Jim Creasman to friends at Fullerton Evangelical Free Church, CA

"Wait patiently for the LORD.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the LORD." Ps 27:14