Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Still Some Places
I visited a location in Southern China last week which defies description. Might be able to put some pictures on soon to help describe it for you.
We rode to the end of the road then hiked straight up the side of a mountain on rocks until we encountered a group of people singing.
We eventually descended. I sat at the bottom with my interpreter who lives in Shanghai. The other group a young group of courageous men and women from Corona California made the second hike to deliver the "literature" promised.
While waiting for two hours we engaged them in conversation. They let me know they had never had a white visitor. I apologized for my strange pale complexion. They kindly extended an invitation to "stop by again next time I was in the area."
I then explained that was unlikely. They asked how far away I lived. I told them "it takes 30 hours to travel from Los Angeles to Shanghai to the airport nearest their location." They said "Oh, did you come by train?"
Obviously they had no idea of the other side of the globe.
They asked "how much did it cost to come?" My interpreter informed me they measured distances by how many RMB it costs to travel.
I shared "Probably about 20,000 rmb."
The man who led the village marveled. He matter of factly stated "that would last us for a life time."
I marveled equally at the remote nature of their location. I asked him "how long have your relatives lived in this valley?"
He said with a smile. "Since God created the earth!"
A few days later we were taken to another location to see our first micro-financing sight. This is in the Northern Section of China. We parked the van then hiked once again along the ridge of a mountain. The people lived in caves. I stood on a crest looking down at their "sub-division" and thought I have never seen a sight which could have been exactly like the living conditions of the 1st Century.
There we found 53 acres of licorice planted. Good news. Those sponsored by the project are Christians. While planting the crops about 50 people had professed faith in Christ. A church and school has been started.
Readers. Forgive me for taking so long to write. I hereby commit myself to write more often. Please check back in.
Love to have you share my life and experiences. Not all will be so unique. Most of my life back home is as mundane as yours. But welcome you to this blog.
We rode to the end of the road then hiked straight up the side of a mountain on rocks until we encountered a group of people singing.
We eventually descended. I sat at the bottom with my interpreter who lives in Shanghai. The other group a young group of courageous men and women from Corona California made the second hike to deliver the "literature" promised.
While waiting for two hours we engaged them in conversation. They let me know they had never had a white visitor. I apologized for my strange pale complexion. They kindly extended an invitation to "stop by again next time I was in the area."
I then explained that was unlikely. They asked how far away I lived. I told them "it takes 30 hours to travel from Los Angeles to Shanghai to the airport nearest their location." They said "Oh, did you come by train?"
Obviously they had no idea of the other side of the globe.
They asked "how much did it cost to come?" My interpreter informed me they measured distances by how many RMB it costs to travel.
I shared "Probably about 20,000 rmb."
The man who led the village marveled. He matter of factly stated "that would last us for a life time."
I marveled equally at the remote nature of their location. I asked him "how long have your relatives lived in this valley?"
He said with a smile. "Since God created the earth!"
A few days later we were taken to another location to see our first micro-financing sight. This is in the Northern Section of China. We parked the van then hiked once again along the ridge of a mountain. The people lived in caves. I stood on a crest looking down at their "sub-division" and thought I have never seen a sight which could have been exactly like the living conditions of the 1st Century.
There we found 53 acres of licorice planted. Good news. Those sponsored by the project are Christians. While planting the crops about 50 people had professed faith in Christ. A church and school has been started.
Readers. Forgive me for taking so long to write. I hereby commit myself to write more often. Please check back in.
Love to have you share my life and experiences. Not all will be so unique. Most of my life back home is as mundane as yours. But welcome you to this blog.
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