We're in a new cell group here with 2 other families (Invited by the USC docrtoral grad who's a communications professor here - the friend of Jim's through the China connections who'd go out for coffee with him during Cameron's AWANA program on Sunday afternoons this spring). The other family is Finnish, but they'll be moving to Jakarta in July. Finnish! He workds for Nokia. I've never met anyone from Finland before!!! They've lived in Uzbeckistand, India, Australia... and they seem so NORMAL! Anyway, when she was asking us last night to pray for her about leaving her Bible study with unsaved Japanese women, and their needing a new leader that she could trust, I said, "Too bad the Webbs aren't considerring moving here until next year [a CRM couple who we adore who currently live in Indonesia]. Lori Webb speaks fluent Japanese and is the life of the party!" Can you believe that the world is so small that this Finnish woman KNEW Lori? Lori had come here for a conference last fall and SAT next to the Finnish couple!!! She'd even met some of the Japanese women from the Bible study!
Today a young woman came up to me while I was studying with Tyler in the public library. I didn't recognize her, though I've known her pretty well: she's the teenaged daughter of a good friend of Liu Yi Yan - my best friend from Kunming. He communist parents are very wealthy and have had her studying in Singapore for a few years now. We've only seen her a couple of times. We've tried to hook up with her more, but, ya'know, we're friends of her PARENTS....that's not too cool. I've known her as a very spoiled, uninteresting, and self-absorbed brat. Today she was this LOVELY young woman. She recognized me first and told me that she's become a Christian! Wow. Her school friends had started taking her to church with them when she was feeling blue at Chinese New Year. That made my day (well, that and having a great time studying with Tyler in a beautiful spot).
Kids are excited that this is the 3rd weekend Bob and Louis (their friends who are brothers) came to church with us. The mini-van is starting to come in handy!
Kids practices for their English composition exams by writing you letters, so look for them in your mailbox in about 10 days! Tests were all put off as long as possible. I love their school - many schools just made the kids cram to keep on schedule. THey've had their oral exams and 2 English Composition exams. They have Math tomorrow, Chinese on Tuesday and Tyler has Science on Wedensday. Neither boy is nervous about it and have prayed that they can encourage their classmates who are stressed out about their scores. The last day of the term is Friday, but we think we'll skip it! Tyler has to be back for extra classes the first week of the "holiday" 8am-12...at least it's a shorter day!
