Well, my summer life is almost over. Break out the white shirts and ties. Yesterday saw the first of three days of teacher meetings (Fri, Mon, Tue). Wednesday is the first day of school and, as I begin this sixth year here, I'm actually surprised about how excited I am. (I am excited every year ... but I expected it to get routine over time.) I passed one of my 7th grade boys in the neighborhood this afternoon and when I reminded him there were only four days of summer remaining, he just groaned. ;-)
My darlin' Marilyn is doing much, much better. It is a problem for her when she laughs and smiles, which she does a lot, but they'll remove the stitches Tuesday and in 2-3 months put in the permanent (we hope) implant.
The Olympics are, of course, a huge deal here. (Can anyone spell, "duh"?) We saw two soccer games on a single ticket a few days ago. I prefer to watch it on television where I can flip through 4-6 channels at any given time showing some kind of event. (You have to remember who owns everything.) It's much like the US or any other country broadcasting it: if that country has no chance in an event, you don't get to see it. However, the Chinese team is so large (remember the opening ceremony), that we get to see many, many things ... many more things than I ever got to see on US television broadcasts.
One of our friends is an Olympic volunteer, one of tens of thousands in half a dozen cities. Now, imagine, a few million American people (mostly college students) applying to be Olympic volunteers ... unpaid being a key issue, mind you. Incredible. They are excited, helpful, polite, educated and smiling ALL of the time.
The little controversies you hear of singers, "squinting" basketball teams, rather youthful athletes ... I don't get excited about them. They're par for the course in every major event of this type because we live in a fallen world. But I absolutely loved the perfectly-choreographed 2,008 drummers and the joy on their faces. I admired the older man running around the lip of the stadium to light the torch and the mind that thunk that one up. (Boy, has London got a big job to impress us in 2012.)
I got excited about the 17 year old Chinese boy lifting weights for a gold medal, the Ethiopian girl who won the 10,000 meters yesterday and the look on the American girl's face who suddenly realized she came in 3rd for bronze. There is something about the summer Olympics that should cause everyone to set differences aside.
In the 10,000 meters, I watched the Ethiopian girl lapping several other girls. As she stood near the finish line, I could see them continue to run. Why? Because their race wasn't over. Her race was over but they still had one, or even, two laps to complete before they could stop. As some of them finally reached their personal finish line, I could see them look at their wristwatches ... evaluating their race. Of course, most all of them had the glory of Olympic medals in mind earlier, but there was only going to be one winner. Yet they didn't quit, they didn't slow down and walk in ... they ran ... to the end! Be it so for you and me.
Bye, y'all!
I love you guys,
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
13 July 2008
Marilyn is feeling a little better following her "unfortunate altercation" with the bathroom countertop and floor. Her lips are healing nicely (hopefully no more pureed chicken stew) and the bridge of her nose is yellowing a little as the bruise goes away. She is still sore and her face hurts when she tries to apply creams and stuff. But she claims to have had no hot flashes since the fall. Marilyn's hoping it's not just a temporary thing. (She'll have to tell you if the whole thing was worth it.) She hasn't been out of the apartment for five days ... we'll have to do something about that.
The sky is blue here for two days in a row. I'm sure the powers-that-be will take all of the credit for it.
I'm looking forward to visiting the U.S. in December. Other than seeing those of you we can, I really don't miss anything else. I'm not really excited about being inundated with Christmas decorations and music in stores and malls.
I'm also looking forward to the new school year and the kids I'll have in class. I'm especially looking forward to teaching His Word to them. Next week, assuming Marilyn is better, I'll spend time in the classroom re-assembling it after the crews painted everything. I like deciding on the posters and such that I'll make and put on the walls. Then there'll be a trip to the plant market for half a dozen hanging plants and to the furniture market to buy a sofa (something really gaudy) for the kids to lounge on.
The Lord is, as always, very good to us. With the exception of her "unfortunate altercation", we are healthy and the summer is becoming a relaxing time.
A young woman attorney asked me at English Corner on Friday night what my life goals were ... did I want a lot of money, to travel, etc? I told her that there were different categories:
a) to be the best man, husband, father, grandfather (#12 enroute) and friend possible;
b) to be content with life and the things that happen;
c) to do the things that, when I see my Jesus face-to-face, will bring a smile to His face and allow Him to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant".
I explained that much of my life was spent chasing other things, spending my energies with other attitudes, and selfishness. Now, I try to keep my eyes on Heaven as I anticipate that at anytime I will see Him. I also explained that I am not perfect and make many mistakes on any given day but that He loves me and forgives me and only wants (and offers) the best for my life ... now and after death. She was very attentive ... pray for her, her English name is Sunny.
Later y'all,
In His Name
Dad/Mark/Grandpa
The sky is blue here for two days in a row. I'm sure the powers-that-be will take all of the credit for it.
I'm looking forward to visiting the U.S. in December. Other than seeing those of you we can, I really don't miss anything else. I'm not really excited about being inundated with Christmas decorations and music in stores and malls.
I'm also looking forward to the new school year and the kids I'll have in class. I'm especially looking forward to teaching His Word to them. Next week, assuming Marilyn is better, I'll spend time in the classroom re-assembling it after the crews painted everything. I like deciding on the posters and such that I'll make and put on the walls. Then there'll be a trip to the plant market for half a dozen hanging plants and to the furniture market to buy a sofa (something really gaudy) for the kids to lounge on.
The Lord is, as always, very good to us. With the exception of her "unfortunate altercation", we are healthy and the summer is becoming a relaxing time.
A young woman attorney asked me at English Corner on Friday night what my life goals were ... did I want a lot of money, to travel, etc? I told her that there were different categories:
a) to be the best man, husband, father, grandfather (#12 enroute) and friend possible;
b) to be content with life and the things that happen;
c) to do the things that, when I see my Jesus face-to-face, will bring a smile to His face and allow Him to say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant".
I explained that much of my life was spent chasing other things, spending my energies with other attitudes, and selfishness. Now, I try to keep my eyes on Heaven as I anticipate that at anytime I will see Him. I also explained that I am not perfect and make many mistakes on any given day but that He loves me and forgives me and only wants (and offers) the best for my life ... now and after death. She was very attentive ... pray for her, her English name is Sunny.
Later y'all,
In His Name
Dad/Mark/Grandpa
Thursday, July 10, 2008
10 July 2008
This has been an odd sort of week.
We went to Ikea in Beijing with other families on Monday. That's an all-day ordeal, considering the 5 hour round trip and that it claims to be the 2nd biggest Ikea in the world.
Tuesday was pretty lazy. Nothing going on. As I predicted, the gas meter guy showed up at about 7:30pm, read the meter and I paid him cash. It rained all day and we stayed in.
Yesterday was going pretty lazy, too. Marilyn had been feeling a little more tired than usual and had taken a nap. I was on the laptop watching a video with headphones when she tapped me on the shoulder. She had gone to the bathroom, leaned on the counter and then had awakened on the floor staring up at the door knob. She doesn't remember anything. She had cut the inside of her upper and lower lips with her teeth(?), had hurt her nose and put a dent on her forehead at the hairline. She wouldn't go to the doctor and spent the next 3 hours throwing up and suffering diarrhea while I held on to her in case she felt like passing out again. She then slept for a little while, worried about how bad she might look and at 8:30 went to bed until around 6am. She's still pretty banged up today. Her neck and shoulders hurt. Her nose, lips and forehead are very tender.
This evening she told me she doesn't need to be "watched" anymore. She made some rice and we had a little dinner together. She is in the living room looking for some "chick flick" for us to watch together. Oh joy!
Later y'all,
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
We went to Ikea in Beijing with other families on Monday. That's an all-day ordeal, considering the 5 hour round trip and that it claims to be the 2nd biggest Ikea in the world.
Tuesday was pretty lazy. Nothing going on. As I predicted, the gas meter guy showed up at about 7:30pm, read the meter and I paid him cash. It rained all day and we stayed in.
Yesterday was going pretty lazy, too. Marilyn had been feeling a little more tired than usual and had taken a nap. I was on the laptop watching a video with headphones when she tapped me on the shoulder. She had gone to the bathroom, leaned on the counter and then had awakened on the floor staring up at the door knob. She doesn't remember anything. She had cut the inside of her upper and lower lips with her teeth(?), had hurt her nose and put a dent on her forehead at the hairline. She wouldn't go to the doctor and spent the next 3 hours throwing up and suffering diarrhea while I held on to her in case she felt like passing out again. She then slept for a little while, worried about how bad she might look and at 8:30 went to bed until around 6am. She's still pretty banged up today. Her neck and shoulders hurt. Her nose, lips and forehead are very tender.
This evening she told me she doesn't need to be "watched" anymore. She made some rice and we had a little dinner together. She is in the living room looking for some "chick flick" for us to watch together. Oh joy!
Later y'all,
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
3 July 2008
I was telling Marilyn that I am now operating in life in a similar fashion to my Grandpa Ted Prescott when he retired in 1965.
Every month when he received his Social Security and Carpenter's Union pension checks, he and Grandma Myrtie went from place to place, in the old Ford, paying their bills in cash. That included the electric company (PG&E), the water company, the rent, the mortuary (for their burial plots) and the phone company. I never knew him to write a check, although he may have. I always thought that was an awful lot of effort.
Last week I went to what is called the State Grid (~5km) and paid, in advance, for about five months of electricity in cash. (I'll ride my bike next time, since I know where it is now.) Yesterday I rode my bike about 8km to the doctor's office to get our blood pressure medication. (They only issue one month's worth at a time because of the difficulty/uncertainty of getting shipments in from Hong Kong.) On the way back, I searched for and stopped at another place to pay, again in advance, for about 5-6 months of water. The gas meter lady will come to our place soon for cash. One of our high school kids makes extra money paying off everyone's phone bills for us each month for a slight fee, and then coming around to us for cash. I'm forgoing the mortuary stuff for the time being. ;-)
Life is simple here, but, in its own way, more complicated.
Later, y'all
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
Every month when he received his Social Security and Carpenter's Union pension checks, he and Grandma Myrtie went from place to place, in the old Ford, paying their bills in cash. That included the electric company (PG&E), the water company, the rent, the mortuary (for their burial plots) and the phone company. I never knew him to write a check, although he may have. I always thought that was an awful lot of effort.
Last week I went to what is called the State Grid (~5km) and paid, in advance, for about five months of electricity in cash. (I'll ride my bike next time, since I know where it is now.) Yesterday I rode my bike about 8km to the doctor's office to get our blood pressure medication. (They only issue one month's worth at a time because of the difficulty/uncertainty of getting shipments in from Hong Kong.) On the way back, I searched for and stopped at another place to pay, again in advance, for about 5-6 months of water. The gas meter lady will come to our place soon for cash. One of our high school kids makes extra money paying off everyone's phone bills for us each month for a slight fee, and then coming around to us for cash. I'm forgoing the mortuary stuff for the time being. ;-)
Life is simple here, but, in its own way, more complicated.
Later, y'all
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
Sunday, June 29, 2008
30 June 2008
For today's message, you'll have to look at Marilyn's blog "prescottsinchina.blogspot.com". I'm using her computer, hit the button for my blog and it posted to hers, oh well.
Later,
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
Later,
In His Name,
Mark/Dad/Grandpa
Friday, June 13, 2008
Aw man, they're gone!!
It's Friday night.
We just returned from a 3-1/2 hour bus ride from Beijing after seeing John and Bethany off at the airport. We went up yesterday and spent the night so they could finish honing their bargaining skills and see some more of China. I hope you enjoy their stories as much as I did being there while they happened. Someone ask Bethany why she was muttering about bleaching all her clothes straight from the suitcase. ;-)
The two local kids in the photo are Murphy and Nicole.
We are going to miss John and Bethany a lot and hope one day each of you can find the opportunity to visit us here also.
We start packing tomorrow for the move to our new apartment. We have Sat-Tue to get it done because the movers are coming on Wednesday.
In fact, I think I'll pack it in now also. See you all later.
Good night,
Dad/Mark/Grandpa
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
If it's Tuesday, it must be Tianjin
Well, it's been a little over a month since I last posted. The powers-that-be have had this blocked. Marilyn keeps advising me to use a bypass program to get here but I figure (and have been told) that they'll see me use it and wonder why.
We've done a lot since April 28th. Two one-week-long trips. One for pleasure with our Chinese teachers. The other was with 37 seventh grade kids, 7 teachers, 5 cities, 6 days, 2 overnight trains and 3 hotels. I liked that trip better than the first except that the first trip allowed me to see parts of China I had not previously visited.
John and Bethany are here. We've done lots of Chinese food (including baby octopus and donkey burgers), Indian food, ... well you can ask them. They've met some sweet, young like-minded locals that they want to take back to the US. They've risked their lives numerous times in Tianjin traffic, met lots of people (all of whom love them) and spent four exhausting hours at Friday night English corner, done a lot of shopping and spent yesterday at the Great Wall.
Last Thursday, at graduation, 12 of the 25 seniors had been my 8th grade students during my first year here. It was very exciting for me to be there and watch their commencement.
Marilyn and I are moving to a new apartment on/about the 18th of June. We were asked if we would like to move and make way for new staff arriving in August. We are being provided a larger apartment on the 2nd floor in a different neightborhood. It has large windows on 3 exterior walls. First the first time in 5 years we won't feel like we live in a cave ... although there is nothing really wrong with what we have had except for the lack of natural light, especially in the winter.
And, finally, I continue to sit in last (11th) place in our fantasy baseball league. But what fun!
Love y'all,
In His Name,
Dad, Mark, Grandpa
We've done a lot since April 28th. Two one-week-long trips. One for pleasure with our Chinese teachers. The other was with 37 seventh grade kids, 7 teachers, 5 cities, 6 days, 2 overnight trains and 3 hotels. I liked that trip better than the first except that the first trip allowed me to see parts of China I had not previously visited.
John and Bethany are here. We've done lots of Chinese food (including baby octopus and donkey burgers), Indian food, ... well you can ask them. They've met some sweet, young like-minded locals that they want to take back to the US. They've risked their lives numerous times in Tianjin traffic, met lots of people (all of whom love them) and spent four exhausting hours at Friday night English corner, done a lot of shopping and spent yesterday at the Great Wall.
Last Thursday, at graduation, 12 of the 25 seniors had been my 8th grade students during my first year here. It was very exciting for me to be there and watch their commencement.
Marilyn and I are moving to a new apartment on/about the 18th of June. We were asked if we would like to move and make way for new staff arriving in August. We are being provided a larger apartment on the 2nd floor in a different neightborhood. It has large windows on 3 exterior walls. First the first time in 5 years we won't feel like we live in a cave ... although there is nothing really wrong with what we have had except for the lack of natural light, especially in the winter.
And, finally, I continue to sit in last (11th) place in our fantasy baseball league. But what fun!
Love y'all,
In His Name,
Dad, Mark, Grandpa
Monday, April 28, 2008
Some days are more grueling than others ...
Today and tomorrow are teacher workdays; working on curriculum guides ... please don't ask ... for your own good. "Never ask a question if you can't stand the answer."
Yesterday we had a picnic at the water park with some local university students. The weather was great. (Spring is wonderful here, just short.) They are a fun group. We ate different foods, rode the electric bumper cars and won a toy monkey keychain for Marilyn by popping balloons with darts. The 8 of us got a lot of stares as we walked around and ate lunch on the grass. A little old lady employed by the park to sweep the sidewalks and pick up trash was very impressed by our work to clean up after ourselves. She did insist on taking one bag of trash for us. She didn't use the same trash can I did ... perhaps she wanted to examine the bag to see what we'd been up to. A couple of the girls had bought Marilyn a helium balloon (SpongeBob SquarePants) which they tied to the back of her bicycle as she rode home. Cute! Marilyn, not SpongeBob!
Saturday was the school carnival. My group of students sponsored a water balloon booth. People could stand there and hit each other for 2 RmB (28 cents) or me for 5 RmB (70 cents). We sold about 600 balloons in 3 hours. I was pretty wet at times, but students get pretty nervous chuckin' water balloons at teachers ... even when they're paying and can't get in trouble. We made a pretty good spectacle of ourselves in front of the migrant workers reworking the street out front of the school.
In a few minutes we'll have a staff appreciation dinner. Man, it's hard to believe we've been here 5 years already.
This morning over coffee, Marilyn and I were reminiscing about the time we've been together. As she looked around our apartment, she mentioned that house on Ferngrove in Antioch and then looked at me (with tongue in cheek, of course) and asked, "Why did you say 'Yes' to the Lord?"
Later, y'all
Yesterday we had a picnic at the water park with some local university students. The weather was great. (Spring is wonderful here, just short.) They are a fun group. We ate different foods, rode the electric bumper cars and won a toy monkey keychain for Marilyn by popping balloons with darts. The 8 of us got a lot of stares as we walked around and ate lunch on the grass. A little old lady employed by the park to sweep the sidewalks and pick up trash was very impressed by our work to clean up after ourselves. She did insist on taking one bag of trash for us. She didn't use the same trash can I did ... perhaps she wanted to examine the bag to see what we'd been up to. A couple of the girls had bought Marilyn a helium balloon (SpongeBob SquarePants) which they tied to the back of her bicycle as she rode home. Cute! Marilyn, not SpongeBob!
Saturday was the school carnival. My group of students sponsored a water balloon booth. People could stand there and hit each other for 2 RmB (28 cents) or me for 5 RmB (70 cents). We sold about 600 balloons in 3 hours. I was pretty wet at times, but students get pretty nervous chuckin' water balloons at teachers ... even when they're paying and can't get in trouble. We made a pretty good spectacle of ourselves in front of the migrant workers reworking the street out front of the school.
In a few minutes we'll have a staff appreciation dinner. Man, it's hard to believe we've been here 5 years already.
This morning over coffee, Marilyn and I were reminiscing about the time we've been together. As she looked around our apartment, she mentioned that house on Ferngrove in Antioch and then looked at me (with tongue in cheek, of course) and asked, "Why did you say 'Yes' to the Lord?"
Later, y'all
Friday, April 25, 2008
I haven't forgotten ...
... to write this yet. It's just that for the last few days I haven't really had anything to say. Today the temperature is about 70 again with a wind which can grind you to a complete halt when it gusts in your face. (It did!) (That's a weird feeling!)
Dropped by the clinic today and, as usual, there is a new doctor there temporarily. Got my blood pressure medication renewed and then we got to talking about my ankle. He is the only doctor in twenty years who has offered to look at it specifically and refer me to a specialist. He pointed out four guys who might be able to help, but the fifth one on his list specializes in orthopedic pain. He told me to avoid getting my hopes up for a resolution, but at least they can look at my ankle anyway.
It's Marilyn's birthday. She is a very special lady. She gave up a lot (all of you) to follow me here for what will soon be five years. Thank you, darlin'!
We're excited John and Bethany are coming for two weeks in June.
We're excited about Tim and Allyson's fourth coming in November.
We're excited about going to Heaven.
Later ...
Dropped by the clinic today and, as usual, there is a new doctor there temporarily. Got my blood pressure medication renewed and then we got to talking about my ankle. He is the only doctor in twenty years who has offered to look at it specifically and refer me to a specialist. He pointed out four guys who might be able to help, but the fifth one on his list specializes in orthopedic pain. He told me to avoid getting my hopes up for a resolution, but at least they can look at my ankle anyway.
It's Marilyn's birthday. She is a very special lady. She gave up a lot (all of you) to follow me here for what will soon be five years. Thank you, darlin'!
We're excited John and Bethany are coming for two weeks in June.
We're excited about Tim and Allyson's fourth coming in November.
We're excited about going to Heaven.
Later ...
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Rain, Rain, Rain
The rain continues today. The students were disappointed because a soccer tournament between the middle school houses has to be cancelled until mid-May.
I couldn't ride my bike this morning. In many cities, taking a bike ride in the rain is no big deal; you get a little wet, that's all. But in this part of the city, the water on the streets backs up very quickly. The puddles can disguise missing manhole covers, monster chuckholes which have appeared over night, bricks, etc. But the worst thing is the quality of the water. It begins to look and smell like sewage very quickly. At any rate, it tends to spoil a perfectly good bike ride.
Maybe Wednesday.
I couldn't ride my bike this morning. In many cities, taking a bike ride in the rain is no big deal; you get a little wet, that's all. But in this part of the city, the water on the streets backs up very quickly. The puddles can disguise missing manhole covers, monster chuckholes which have appeared over night, bricks, etc. But the worst thing is the quality of the water. It begins to look and smell like sewage very quickly. At any rate, it tends to spoil a perfectly good bike ride.
Maybe Wednesday.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Transparent Gold
One of my 8th grade students was recently baptized. She was asking me where gold was mentioned in Revelation and as I was preparing to help her, she said "21:21". Then she asked, "What kind of gold is so pure that you can see through it?" I admitted that I had no idea, nor did anyone else ... at least, not yet.
I've looked through all of the translations available to me through E-Sword and they all talk about gold that is so pure it is either transparent as glass or clear as crystal. Despite the differences of opinion about various words/verses in the Scripture translations, everyone fully agrees that John absolutely saw a street paved with gold so pure you could see right through it.
I've looked through all of the translations available to me through E-Sword and they all talk about gold that is so pure it is either transparent as glass or clear as crystal. Despite the differences of opinion about various words/verses in the Scripture translations, everyone fully agrees that John absolutely saw a street paved with gold so pure you could see right through it.
Black-and-White Striped Paint
One of my 8th grade boys (bear in mind, he'll be in high school next year) was assigned to purchase water balloons for an upcoming school event. He asked me on Thursday if he should buy the ones which already had water in them ...
Why the title? In my younger days (when I was not nearly so kind and merciful) I had been known to send new kids who were fresh out of school on a search around the shop for black-and-white striped paint.
I love teaching middle school here!
Why the title? In my younger days (when I was not nearly so kind and merciful) I had been known to send new kids who were fresh out of school on a search around the shop for black-and-white striped paint.
I love teaching middle school here!
Oh well,
The heading on this site is still showing up in Chinese. I'll have to check with someone about how to prevent this from recurring.
Second Try
It's very warm in my classroom again today. It's about 86 degrees with a fan blowing on me.
The powers-that-be don't turn on the A/C until about May 1st ... why? Well, it may be that the locals don't stop wearing their longjohns (they call them "second pants") until May 1st.
This morning as I left for school it was about 68 degrees with no wind. The first man passed me, riding his bike, wearing a jacket, hat and gloves.
We had several local university students over for snacks and Rummikub last night. They arrived with faces perspiring heavily. When I asked if they had ridden their bikes, they said that they had all used the bus, but it was very hot and crowded and that the streets were crowded with people. They all appeared to be wearing "second pants". What do I know?
Oh, "second try", right ... this is the second try because when I tried to post to this site earlier today, everything came up in Chinese and I was unable to navigate through the site. I deleted the site and started over, so we'll see ......
The powers-that-be don't turn on the A/C until about May 1st ... why? Well, it may be that the locals don't stop wearing their longjohns (they call them "second pants") until May 1st.
This morning as I left for school it was about 68 degrees with no wind. The first man passed me, riding his bike, wearing a jacket, hat and gloves.
We had several local university students over for snacks and Rummikub last night. They arrived with faces perspiring heavily. When I asked if they had ridden their bikes, they said that they had all used the bus, but it was very hot and crowded and that the streets were crowded with people. They all appeared to be wearing "second pants". What do I know?
Oh, "second try", right ... this is the second try because when I tried to post to this site earlier today, everything came up in Chinese and I was unable to navigate through the site. I deleted the site and started over, so we'll see ......
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