Sunday Thoughts August 31st, 2008

“If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.”

Nobody “forced” us to come to China, but here we are, excited to see how we will be used in our second year! We returned to China this week and have been slowly recovering the jet-lag.


Why we are grateful this week:

1) Our flight went well; there were no delays and no problems! We left Washington DC around noon on Wednesday, and four movies & a book later we landed in Beijing.

2) After a summer of visiting friends and family, we were finally able to unpack for the first time in two and a half months!

3) The sophomores, juniors, and seniors arrive today!

Please continue to “think” about us:

1) Peter and I will be spending at least three days a week on the Western Campus. Please keep us in your thoughts as we travel to and from the other campus.

2) Our class schedules are set for the semester, but we need to arrange our schedule for visits to the Philip Hayden Foundation, and English Clubs on the Western Campus.

3) We are also considering the possibility of arranging an English Club on our main Campus. There are already few student-run English Clubs, and we would not want to create a sense of competition between theirs and ours. We are also worried about spreading ourselves too thin by adding another Club to our schedules.

4) Peter and Shannon Lucas-Roberts will rejoin our team at the end of this week. They are returning a week late because they are presently on their honeymoon.

5) IECS teachers will be in four colleges this year: Will & Courtney Corder will be in Tianjin, and Amelia Martin, Emily Green, Ryan Bettwy, Tim Phillips, & Jon Allison will be in Baoding. They are all first year teachers in China, and they will be arriving within the next two weeks.

Going the second mile and loving it,
Brad & Jessica Distad

August 17, 2008: Home Sweet Home

"This world is not my home, I'm just passing through.
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue...
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

This World is Not My Home, Words and Music by Albert E. Brumley 1965

Dear Friends,

In many ways the past summer "vacation" has been one the most difficult I have experienced. I have truly felt the reality of the phrase, "this world is not my home." There are many definitions of "home," but with every new and temporary experience, I longed more for my eternal home.

Returning "home" from China was in itself a contradiction. Our home in Hagerstown is rented out to a lovely woman and her three children, so we could not return to that home. Instead we stayed with my parents for couple days, before heading to Virginia and then Pennsylvania. During the month of July we lived at Brad's parents house for five weeks, working at Brad's old summer job teaching swimming lessons. Just as I was beginning to get the hang of things, August hit in all its fury. In three weeks we were in Washington DC, Ocean City Maryland, Durant Iowa, Chicago Illinois, Grand Rapids Michigan, Thurmont Maryland, Hagerstown Maryland, Ellicott City Maryland, and Chantilly Virginia. It is hard to believe that in one more week we will be headed "home" to China again.

The constant traveling and time with friends and family has been both a joy and a challenge. Through it all, I must continue to remind myself that "this world is not my home." Despite any preconcieved notions of what "home" really is, I must remember that my father has for me an eternal inheritance and a home that cannot be destroyed. I can rest easy knowing that he has made a time for everything in his plan, and right now his plan is that I be "home-less." If "home is where the heart is," then I know that I was made for another world, and an eternal home.

Love,
Jessie and Brad

"If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world."
-- C.S. Lewis

The summer is flying by! We have been teaching swimming lessons, visiting friends & family, and preparing for our return trip to China. By the end of August, we will return to Beijing for another ten months of teaching.

Many people have asked how they can support our work in China. If you are interested in more detailed information about our work in China, please email me at bard203@hotmail.com. You can also call us at 240-310-5405 or 301-247-4630. However, this email address and these phone numbers will only be accessible until the end of August.

We would love to partner with you on this adventure!

July 18, 2008: Life to the Fullest

Dear friends,

It's difficult to believe that my last update was two months ago! Life has been chugging along for Brad and me, taking many fun and surprising turns. One year ago I was in grad school while Brad was readying our home in Hagerstown for the move to China. The months have flown by, and here I sit again at the computer in my in-laws' home, miles from our adventures in China. China is never far from our hearts though, and the people we know there remain in our thoughts daily. Here is a recap of the last couple months as we have returned to the U.S.A.:

May 1-10: My parents and brother Josh came to China to visit during our Labor Day vacation! My family had a great time seeing the sights, and meeting our students and friends. They spent their first couple days in Langfang, where they hosted English Corner for a very enthusiastic crowd of college students! Then they joined us for a visit to a nearby orphanage, before heading to Beijing. In Beijing we visited the Antique Street Market, Great Wall of China, Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City, National Theatre, Bei Hai Park, the Tea House restaurant, Temple of Heaven, and Pearl Market. Then we were off to the seaside resort town of Qinhuangdao, where we visited Pigeon Park, Qinhuangdao's English Week team, the Olympic stadiums, and Old Dragon Head (the end of the Great Wall). Finally they returned to Beijing to see the Silk Market, and the main Olympic stadiums. One of my students served as our friend and guide for most of the trip, and she grew quite attached to my family! The two times that Danielle had to say goodbye to them were full of heartfelt tears. She has since been corresponding with them over e-mail.

May 12: At 2:28 pm an earthquake hit the Sichuan Province of China, 950 miles from our home in Langfang. Brad didn't feel a thing in our ground level apartment, but I saw the ceiling lights swing and felt the floor move gently in my fourth floor classroom. The building was evacuated for 10 minutes, and then classes returned to normal. South west China was devastated, and the hearts of the Chinese sought answers to many difficult questions.

May 17: Brad and I ran and finished the Great Wall Marathon!

May 22-June 2: English Week at Baoding. As most of you know by now, one week before English Week would have come to our campus in Langfang, the city officials decided that they would not permit our English Week to occur. Attempted meetings with these same officials were impossible due to the closure of government offices to mourn for the earthquake victims. At the last minute, Hebei University in Baoding decided to take on the additional English Week team, bringing their total visiting teachers to 26. Shannon, Peter, Brad, and I took the bus to Baoding for May 24-25. We met up with the group again in Beijing on June 1 to see them one last time before their departure. These volunteer teachers (including Brad's friend Brian Kough, Shannon's sister Emily, and Shannon's brother-in-law Jeff) were a great blessing to everyone they met. This trip was also instrumental in bringing a long-term team to Baoding for the 2008-2009 school year.

May 31: Shannon's closest Chinese & American friends in China conspired to bring Shannon a surprise bridal shower! Secretly, friends arrived from Beijing, Langfang, Baoding, and Qinhuangdao to celebrate the happy occasion. Those who arrived early distributed balloons, photographs, and festive foods around the room. Most Chinese guests admitted that they had never participated in a "surprise" party or a bridal shower before. Brad videotaped guests giving their best wishes to the bride and groom. The large group hid in the dark until Peter, Emily, and Jeff led Shannon into the room to the shouts of "SURPRISE!!!" Shannon then introduced everyone to her sister and brother-in-law. At that point, Brad took Peter and the guys out to play basketball, while the girls spent the afternoon playing wedding games like What Famous Woman Am I?, Toilet Paper Bride, and How Well Do You Know The Bride? Then Shannon opened her many traditional Chinese and American wedding gifts. After the party, the team from Qinhuangdao and the team from Langfang went out for a delightful dinner together.

June 12: After a hectic week of packing, giving exams, and grading work, Brad and I boarded the airplane home from China! My Dad picked us up from the airport, and drove us home where my Mom had beef stroganoff (one of my favorites) waiting for dinner. Mmm...

June 13: My family celebrated my sister Kristy's 21st birthday together.

June 14-19: Brad and I went to camp at Rockbridge Alum Springs with the students from Boonsboro High School whom we had been working with before we went to China. We were exhausted and slept a lot during afternoon free times as jet lag caught up with us. We were really excited to be joined by Deb Fiola and a new young cadre of Boonsboro students. The week was awesome despite our fatigue, and we loved catching up with students and leaders alike as we heard about their past year.

June 22: Brad and I spoke at Haven in Hagerstown, Maryland about our adventures in China.

June 25-29: Brad and I went with my family and the people of TUMC to Creation Music Festival in Mount Union, Pennsylvania. A generous donor decided to sponsor our ticket so that we could participate. Brad and I attended numerous presentations on youth leadership and international businesses. We really enjoyed hearing the new music, and finding some to bring back to China with us. We spoke with many different leaders in Asian countries about their work and compared stories. One group even gave us two whole cases of their books! We came home with many new resources and ideas for our teaching.

June 30-August 1: Brad and I are currently working at Antietam Recreation Summer Day Camp for five weeks. We've been working about 37 hours each week, teaching swimming lessons, lifeguarding at the pool, crawfish hunting, kayaking, and floating down the Antietam Creek in inner tubes. Next week our work load will go to 42 hours a week, and we'll add facepainting, arts & crafts, and drama to our responsibilities. Today we spent the 30 minute period after lunch sharing with all 300 students about our work in China. Each week we have also been asked to share with the counselors about our work in China.

July 7: We had dinner with Mike & Larue Beckley, and Jennifer & Joe Pearson. It was a great evening of sharing about China, Taiwan, family, homeschooling, adoption, and the stories that shape our lives.

July 13: My sister Kerri called me, Kristy, and Karilyn to ask if we would like to drive up to New York City for the day on Sunday. Incredibly enough, all four Head sisters were available for the day. So we piled into the PT Cruiser and headed for New York City to meet a friend of Kerri's from France who was visiting the U.S.A. for the first time. Anne-Charlotte and her friend Carole were delightful, and we had a great time exploring the NYC Subway, Greenwich Village, and Soho. We returned home exhausted but happy to have so much quality time together. I also loved getting to see Kerri's house in Lancaster, which I hadn't seen in 1.5 years.

July 16: We led a Book Study with the Tristate Young Adults and shared about China. We showed some of our videos from China and answered questions about our work there.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements:
July 23: Meet with the Doub family to discuss China
July 27: Speak at TUMC about China
August 14: Speak at the Lion's Club about China
August 16: China "Thank You" Open House
August 17: Speak at Tristate about China
(Please let us know if you want to invite us to speak with you or your friends in the next 1.5 months!)

As you can see, these past few months have been a whirlwind of catching up on a year's worth of relationships. We have loved every minute of it though. Our relationships are so precious to us, and all the more when our time at home is so short. If we haven't seen you yet, we hope to see you before we leave. We are learning to live every day to the fullest, to hang on to every moment. Thank you for making our days at home so wonderful, and for keeping us in your thoughts all year long. Our work would be impossible without you.

Always,
Jess and Brad

Sunday Thoughts June 8th, 2008

It is hard to believe that we will be back in the United States in less than a week! The school year is over, and it is surreal to think that we will be on a plane this Thursday.

Aside from the fact that we are in China, I had assumed that the end of this school year would have felt much like previous years. I was wrong! Although we are excited to return home, we are not excited about leaving. In the past, I was always counting down the days until I would be free from teaching. I saw my job as a burden, a necessary evil. This year, I am saddened to think that I will not see any of my students for 11 weeks. We are eager to return to our friends & families, but we are hesitant to leave; it’s a paradox of feelings!

Why we are grateful this week:
1) All of the teachers from English Week have returned home safely. It was a tremendous success, and the team learned to “flex” with the changes to their destination and schedule.

If you are interested in being part of an October 2008 or May 2009 English week, then please contact us for more information. We would love to talk with you this summer! It really is a life changing experience for everyone involved.

2) One of my New Year’s resolutions was to run two marathons this year. Jess and I ran the Great Wall Marathon three weeks ago. I ran with her the whole way; the pace was not taxing. For me, it was like a long slow training run. So, I scheduled another marathon for this week. I planned to push my pace to see how much 20 weeks of training had helped. I finished 30 minutes faster than my previous personal best, but I am most thankful that I am uninjured after running two marathons in less then a month.

3) Jess has been baking with students the past two Thursday nights, and I have enjoyed the delicious creations. M & M Cookies made with oil instead of butter, and pistachio-walnut-chocolate

chip cookies are surprisingly good. These times have been great opportunities for us to share our lives with students. I also love being the taste-tester; it’s a win-win situation!

4) We held our final movie night of the semester last night, and we closed it out with Life is Beautiful. About 100 students came.

We have enjoyed the movie nights this semester, and will probably continue them next year. They are easy to plan, and the students appreciate them.

5) Our contracts are complete! The changes have been made, the necessary physicals completed, and our signatures are on the papers. At this point, we have completed everything we can do to be prepared to return next year.

Please continue to “think” about us:
1) This is our final week in China, and we don’t want to waste it with packing and anticipation. We want to finish strong! Beyond that, we want to realize that this is not the finish. We plan to return next year, and we plan to stay in contact with those students who have Internet access during the summer.

2) Our plane leaves from Beijing on Thursday at 6:30pm and we arrive in Washington DC on Thursday at 7:44pm. It’s a 13-hour flight that only takes one hour, and we will probably spend the better part of a week recovering from the jetlag. Coincidentally, we will be spending that week with 400+ high school students in Virginia.

Our only concern about the flight is how we will get to the airport with our luggage. The college is supposed to provide transportation, but we are unsure if that will happen. So, it might be challenging to find transportation to the airport next Thursday.

3) We are currently working on plans for next year. We are hoping to organize more frequent English Clubs on the Main Campus.

My vision is that we would hold two clubs on the Eastern Campus and one club on the Western Campus each month.

My concern is that the students might view the Club on the Main Campus as competition for their student-run English Clubs. This is why I want our Clubs to be on a different night, and I want them to look and feel different from the student-run English Clubs. In this way I am hoping that they will be viewed as a compliment instead of competition. We also need to get approval from the English Department, which includes the arrangement of our teaching schedules so that we could all be free on the same evenings.

4) One of the first tasks we need to complete when we return to Maryland is creating a 2008/2009 budget. We have been extremely blessed with the necessary funding for this year, and we already have a good start toward next year. However, once we are home and have full access to our accounts, we will need to reevaluate our financial situation and continue the process of raising our 2008/2009 budget.

5) We will be home for about 30 hours before we get on a charter bus full of high school students heading for Rockbridge, Virginia. We have been looking forward to the opportunity to spend a week with many of the students we worked with during the last three school years prior to China, but we will also be coping with jetlag. We have stayed in touch with many of these students via the Internet, and this should be a great week. As the summer progresses we are hoping to support the new leaders at this high school as they work toward creating a “Club” of their own.

We will be in Maryland for most of the summer (June 12-August 25), and we can not wait to share our experiences in China with all of you.

Living outside the boat,
Brad & Jessie

Sunday Thoughts May 26th, 2008

Storms can be exciting, fun, and dangerous. In the midst of a storm we might struggle, panic, cower, or foolishly believe that we are in control. We are not in control, and until we realize who is in control, we will always be fighting against the storms in our lives. He calmed the storms!

Why are we grateful this week:

1) If you do not know yet, we were able to alter the plans for English Week. Unfortunately, it will not be in Langfang, but we were able to switch colleges at the last minute. The team is now about two hours away in Baoding. Although we are disappointed that they were unable to come to our college, it is amazing to us that they were able to find a new location with such short notice. 17 teachers, $2000 each, and nowhere to go; “He calmed the storm!”

2) The English Week Team made it safely to Baoding. They had a five hour delay in Chicago, but other then that there have been relatively few problems. We took the two hour bus ride to visit them over the weekend, and they were doing well. They are very excited about the upcoming week, and have been jokingly referring to their trip as “Operation Flex.”

It was great to see the team! We talked with old friends, played basketball with students, toured the campus, participated in the first English Club, and went to a leadership seminar for the Chinese teachers. It was revitalizing to see the excitement of the English Week teachers!

We had to return to Langfang for 8am Monday morning classes, but due to a slight miscalculation, there were no more buses leaving from Baoding to Langfang until Monday. So we went to the train station, and found the same results. We finally settled on an overpriced taxi. We were tired, sad to be leaving our friends for the week, and our driver insisted on smoking. When we arrived outside of Langfang, our driver refused to take us into town, and left us in the middle of the highway to find our way back to the college. When we finally got back to the campus just before 10pm, we stopped at the local convince store and bought some ice-cream. As we walked the final 100 yards to our apartments, I enjoyed my ice-cream and thought, “He calmed the storms!”

3) A wise man once said: “Don’t tell Him how big your storm is, tell you storm how big He is!” We are grateful that He calms the storms in our lives!

Please continue to “think” about us:

1) Jet-lag is in full force for the English Week team. Please keep them in your thoughts! The English Week team is: Joe Paolella, Brian Kough, Tim Phillips, Jeffrey Guinn, Emily Guinn, Beth Rivera, Stephen Rivera, Ryan Betty, Laura Sauvain, Dana English, Bethany Thornton, Nancy Suter, Damond Lassiter, Jessica Samblee, Claire Hetrick, and Newt Hetrick.

2) We are trying to finalize our contracts for next year. We return home in less than 20 days, and we are worried that this will not be completed before we return to the United States, even though we started this process over a month ago. Finalizing our contracts also includes the reimbursement of our airfare, $1500 each.

3) The college has agreed to have five full-time IECS English teachers next year, and they have also said that they are looking for a Native Japanese teacher. We have been pushing for a sixth teacher, but it looks like there will only be five next year. The odds are slim, but if you know somebody who is Japanese, like-minded, and interested in teaching in China, please do not hesitate to recommend them. Otherwise, please keep it in your thoughts.

Thank you for your thoughts,
Brad and Jessie

May 17, 2008: The Great Wall Marathon

I am not an athlete.

I tried softball when I was little. I remember that I wanted to play softball because my brother played baseball. The Hustlers were the best team in our league, so I spent most of my time on the bench. My father had to argue with the coach to put me in the game. I think we won the local championship that year, but it certainly wasn’t because of me. I was too busy ducking from the ball and picking daisies in right field. Halfway through the next season, I decided that the uniforms were too much to wear in the summer heat. I asked to stay home, and my parents happily obliged.

I tried ballet when I was older, with much the same results. I didn’t like rehearsals, and I dreaded the final performances. The leotards and crowns were itchy, and I wanted to stay home and read books.

Gym class was a comedy. I benched a bar with no weights. I was the last one to finish every mile run. I had the lowest number of sit-ups, push-ups, and chin-ups. I couldn’t touch my toes or jump over the high jump. I couldn’t dribble, throw, hit, or kick with any accuracy. Awkwardness and weakness defined my every movement.

In high school, tennis was my new dream. No one wanted to be on the tennis team. I was told that ANYONE who came out to play would make the tennis team. My family liked to play tennis at the park, so I thought I’d give it a try. For my birthday, my family gave me a new racket and some neon yellow tennis balls. I went to every pre-season practice with joy and commitment, and loved the team camaraderie. A week before the season began, the coach pulled me aside. It turned out that not just ANYONE could make the team. I was the only one cut that season, before I ever played in a single game.

Fast-forward 10 years. I am now married to a super-athlete. Fantasy sports, team sports, coaching. You name it; Brad loves it. Before we were dating, I began training for a marathon to impress him, but quit after reaching 7 miles. He had run 5 marathons, and 9 ultra-marathons. Running a marathon became a secret dream of mine. It sounded perfect for a non-athlete like me. You can run as slow as you want; the only catch is you have to keep running. It’s the only sport I can think of where everyone wins when they cross the finish line.

So, it was with some hesitation (and after swearing him to secrecy) that I explained to Brad that one of my dreams was to complete a marathon. He was, of course, thrilled to help me. He immediately downloaded Hal Higdon’s Novice Training Schedule from the Internet. Before I knew it, I was running 4 out of every 7 days. My 12 to 15-minute miles were nothing to brag about, but for me, every mile was an accomplishment. The little girl who was the embarrassment of the gym class, now found herself jogging around the track for hours. I was daily spurred on by students and teachers around the track, and by Brad’s words of encouragement or prodding as needed.

Running through sickness, winter winds, freezing cold, rain, dirt, heat, sun, and floating pollen was not exactly my idea of a good time. Some days ended in tears or collapse as I fought blisters, cramps, aches, and fatigue. The most difficult fight was against myself, as my mind daily reminded me of my previous failures in the realm of sports. I fought feelings of discouragement as the marathon date came closer. Living in China for the year, Brad and I didn’t have too many marathons to choose from. So we’d chosen to run the Great Wall Marathon, one of the world’s most difficult adventure marathons. Feelings of dread at the heights, stairs, and uphill climbs of the Great Wall loomed ahead.

During race week, I was miserable. Whereas I had done great in my 20-mile run, I now struggled mentally with my 2 and 3 mile runs. It was during this time that I remembered why I was running the marathon. I was not running it to break any speed records. I had decided to run to practice self-discipline and a healthy lifestyle. I had decided to run because I saw the training and marathon as something that Brad and I could enjoy together. (Brad said that running a marathon together was the equivalent of an 8-hour date.) I had decided to run because I admired Brad for running marathons, and it was a dream of mine to finish one. I had decided to run 26.2 miles (42 K) to prove to myself that I could do it. Finally at peace with the coming marathon, I was calm and relaxed for race day.

The race weekend was great. On Friday, we met a group of foreigners for the 3-hour bus ride and soaked up the stories of those who had run the course before. After arriving at our picturesque ivy-covered hotel at the Great Wall, we explored the Wall and the area for opening ceremonies. At dinner and breakfast, we shared the anticipation of the course with first-timers and old-timers. We made friends all weekend with people from all over the world, exchanging e-mails and Facebook accounts.

The morning of the race dawned cool and overcast—perfect weather for a marathon. We were up packing our bags at 5am. I was frustrated to realize that I’d forgotten my sports bra! We asked around, but weren’t able to find anyone who could lend me a sports bra. In the end, I was standing in a room under the stands (immodestly surrounded by mirrors and windows) being “bound” in a cotton wrap and gauze by a Danish first aid woman. My new “bra” was surprisingly comfortable, but I put my regular bra on over it, and rubbed vaseline under its edges just in case.

The race itself justified the 5 months of training. After the starting gunshot, we walked forward until we crossed the starting line, activating the timers on our shoes. It was an uphill climb to the Wall, where we were met with breathtaking views and staggering heights. I had to hold Brad’s hand or shoulder during the descents to bear the sheer drops and vertigo. The path was so narrow at times that we had to walk single file, or hold on to a rope lest we drop into the abyss beyond. At times there was no wall, but only stairs, and frequently there was no railing. Sometimes there were no stairs, but only a dirt path or a rock scramble. After descending from the Wall, we ran through the starting gate again, and then 20 miles through the surrounding villages and countryside. We made friends along the way, like John the chiropractor, and Roxie the encourager. We ate bananas, and drank water and Gatorade.

Mentally and physically, the course was exhausting. There were times when I would have much rather quit than kept going. Given my vertigo on the heights, I certainly did not want to climb the Wall the second time at 22 miles. If it weren’t for Brad’s encouragement, and the encouragement of our new friends, I probably wouldn’t have made it. I doubt I have ever felt such physical fatigue, but as we approached the finish line, I knew that it was worth it. As I ran the last 1 K at a slow jog, and finally crossed the finish line I felt nothing at first but relief and exhaustion. Race officials announced Brad’s and my name as we crossed the finish line in 7 hours: 58 minutes: 42 seconds. Others placed medals around our necks. Only 2 people crossed the finish line after us before the race ended for the day. It was then that I realized that I had earned a medal. I had certainly never received a medal for anything like this before. Exhilaration replaced exhaustion. I finished! We finished!

During the 3-hour bus ride home I felt disbelief at the accomplishment of my dream. It’s great to know that there is a place where “the slow and steady win the race.” My success has boosted my confidence in myself and in my physical abilities. In the days since the marathon, I have been enjoying my “Zero Week” of rest and relaxation from running. But I’m realizing that running a marathon doesn’t end there. During the past five months, running has become a part of my lifestyle, and a hobby that I now share with my husband. Yesterday, as I watched Brad create new marathon schedules for the summer months, I realized that I am really looking forward to doing this again in the future.

So maybe I’m not an athlete. But I’ve run a marathon. :)

Love,
Jessie