16nov，18，08
San Ming Times
Version 2 Vol. #4 November 18th, 2008
Greeting from the Unique City of San Ming, China,
Preach the Word; Be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2
Encouragement to Give Thanks!
We have our weekly meeting every Saturday night. At these weekly meetings we sing songs, have an important character building lesson, have some announcement, sometimes our weekly meetings are a time when some of the children can publicly apologize for a wrong doing etc… for the month of November I was in charge of the character building lessons. I will teach for the first four weeks in November. The first week I talked about, Why, should we give thanks? I told the story of Corrie Ten Boom and how even in a concentration camp she gave thanks. The second lesson I asked the question, What can we give thanks for? The answer to that question is, we can give thanks for everything. The third week I talked about the many different ways we can show our gratitude? For example, say thank you, write a letter, use your body language, and do not complain. This coming Saturday I will tell the American Thanksgiving story. Most of the children heard this story before, but several of the children wanted to hear the story again. Special Thanks to Dorcas and Joyce for helping me translate the sessions. Remember Give Thanks in EVERYTHING, and In everything GIVE THANKS.
The Worm in our Stomach
After supper one night I was talking to Sopia one of the new children when she started to complain about a stomachache. I ask her to use the restroom, and take a rest. Sopia replied that her worm in her stomach must be hungry and this is the cause of her stomach trouble. I proceeded to ask how she knows she has a worm in her stomach. I wrote down our following conversation, please note this conversation was translated:
Stephen- How do you know you have a worm in your stomach?
Sopia- O, everyone has a worm in their stomach.
Stephen- Do they really??? Who told you we all have worms in our stomach.
Sopia- My grandma said so.
Stephen- How does your grandma know we all have worms in our stomach? Did your grandma have a worm in her stomach?
Sopia- My grandma knows… and yes, she had a worm in her stomach. O day, my grandma felt something in her throat and pulled out a worm. It was this big.
At this point in the story Sopia spread her hands about 12 inches apart to illustrate the size her grandma's worm.
Stephen-Wo SAY! (Chinese word for WOW!) Really?
Sopia- Really
Stephen- All because your grandma had worms does not mean we all have worms.
Sopia- Yes, it does my Grandma said we all have worms in our stomach.
How do you explain biology when a child firmly believes she is correct? Much wisdom needed.
A visit to School
One of the English teachers from the local high school asked if I could come a say a couple words to her English class. I was a little hesitant to accept because I was concerned about certain implications. In the end it was my own boys pleading and begging me to attend his English class which convince me to visit his school. The school is very large building with many different classrooms. This school has over 1,200 students. When I arrived I was first ushered into a teachers lounge, office type room. After waiting several minutes in this smoke filled room, I was ushered into the English class room. There were 54 young smiling faces. 54 students were crammed into this little classroom. Only half the students understood half of what I was saying, but it did not matter these students saw and talked with a real white person. These students can now go home and brag to their peers that they have a foreign friend. Ever after my visit I have been getting other English teachers asking me if I can come and talk to their classes.
Please continual to pray for my children.
Thanks,
Stephen Burkholder
PS: A note for those who would like to come to visit China
Low oil prices have caused cheaper airline tickets.
Come visit China!!!