Phase 10 on the Train

When it comes to train rides in China, I always get into this inward thought process of "Do I want to start talking? We still have 4 hours left to go, and I'm trapped here in this seat......man, she's talking to me...should I pretend like I don't understand? Oh no! I said something! Now I have to keep talking! There goes my plan to just zone out to my favorite novels or tv shows on the laptop." Embarrassing or not, this is the cold hard truth when you sit next to Chinese people on trains.

To our surprise, our latest train experience was nothing short of exhilarating as we taught the lady sitting next to us the game Phase 10, while she gave us a LONG time to practice (and maximize) our Chinese language abilities. The game is a very exhaustive game as it is, so it felt like an eternity when she meticulously watched each round that we went through. Trying to describe the difference between a set and a run, and then what to do when you don't get your phase, was harder than we thought! Many times Dave and I would just look at each other, shrug our shoulders, then look back at her as all three of us burst out laughing. She decided to join in the fun on the second round....interesting the crowd of people around us to come and watch. What a fun and memorable train ride!

Maybe my perspective has changed a bit with how much I engage in conversation when traveling. Now I at least know to always have some American games handy!

Granted what we don't deserve

It has been hitting me lately...the whole concept of living in the fullness of His grace. We are so undeserving, so undesirable, so pathetic even....yet we are given the opportunity to live within the realm of His glorious riches and abounding love. How in the world did we ever deserve this? We don't! That's just it....that's the beauty of it all. At the same time, I feel as though I am reminded...daily...of where I stand in comparison to his holiness. Boy, is that the sure smackdown that will make you fall flat on your face. "Oh, yeah.....this is what I REALLY am...." I think to myself as I sit there waiting for Him to once again clothe my vulnerable spirit with his grace.

About a month ago, all of the ISC schools in China got together for a teacher's conference in Beijing. It was a wonderful weekend of catching up with old friends, gaining new insights for our classrooms, and getting away for a bit to shop and explore the city. Aside from the conference itself, I want to focus on the reason why I am even writing this post. That weekend, both Dave and I were given a very tangible reminder of how He grants us what we don't deserve when it came to our hotel room. Take a look for yourself. We walk in the room and our jaws dropped. Our first words were "We shouldn't have this! This definitely can't be for us! What did we do to deserve two floors in our hotel room?!?"

And while we still can't figure out why we were given such a glorious room (and other couples who had been in China longer had a normal standard room) we were ever so grateful and reminded of His blessings!

What you see below is the room that we moved to the day after the conference was over (we stayed in Beijing one extra day). It was a hostel...something that we could afford....something we "deserved". There is more to the story at why we got such a low grade room with a single bed, but that's not the point. While we were granted an overabundance of blessing the three previous days with a two floor loft room, we were now humbly placed back into reality. I am so glad that He does that for us. Kindly reminding us that what we physically can provide for on our own does not even compare to his abounding riches in glory! What a truth to cling to.... to wake up every morning with new abilities, strength, and blessings that had nothing to do with me.