“For you will go out with joy and be led forth with peace; the mountains and the hills will break forth into shouts of joy before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”

Dear Friends,

Throughout this week, I have been on a search for joy. Not that I felt lacking in joy, but because I wanted to share some fun stories with you. It is amazing how much joy and laughter you can find when you are looking for it! We laughed as Brad ordered a spicy dog soup on Thursday night, and Peter and Shannon tried a spicy rabbit on toothpick skewers on Friday night. We shook our heads when the English department bought us 10 moon cakes…each…to celebrate Mid-Autumn Day, and then Joseph brought us two more each. That’s 60 moon cakes total! Here were a few funny conversations from the week:

Brad and Vera stood next to a multi-colored map on the wall showing world-wide mosquito patterns and diseases.
Brad (pointing to the map): Vera, are these mosquitoes?
Vera: No, it is a map.

Brad (in a t-shirt and cargo pants) was walking Shamblee and I (in our dress clothes) to class. Danielle joined us.
Danielle: Brad, are you going to teach a class now?
Brad (joking): Yes, I’m on my way to teach a class called, “Casual Dress in America.”
Danielle (gravely): Brad, I think maybe your clothing is not a good example for this class. It does not look very nice.

Two people won my Contagious Joy Award for the week: Jess Shamblee and Brad Distad. Yesterday was not an easy day. At 9am we three teachers met four students (Forrest, Vivian, Cassie, and Melinda) to go into Beijing for the day. Due to Mid-Autumn day (today), the crowds were the worst I had seen in Beijing. Our train left Langfang at 10am, and we had standing-room-only tickets. After an hour of standing, we arrived in Beijing to wait in a long line to buy the train tickets for the home trip. Then we waited in a long line for subway tickets, and another long line to scan our bags and enter the subway. The subways were crowded too, and we stood most of the time as we rode to the opposite side of Beijing.

We didn’t arrive at the Beijing English Club until 1pm, and then grabbed a quick lunch at KFC, which we ate as we walked. It took us 3 hours to get from the Langfang Train Station to the English Club. At English Club with Tony, Lily, Frank, and Helen, we were the main show. First we practiced with the other leaders, and Club was from 2-4pm. Brad led songs, Jess led games, I helped them, and we all participated in the skit and led discussion groups. The Club went well, and then conversations lasted until after 5pm. We had a great time, and our students made a lot of new friends. After Club, we went to dinner with Tony, Lily, Frank, and Helen. It really was the only time we got to sit all day. After dinner we raced back across Beijing, arriving at the Silk Market for 20 minutes of shopping at 7:30pm.

At 8pm we were back at the train station, being shoved through turnstiles and dodging hurrying travelers dragging luggage and children. A man yelled with a megaphone into Brad’s ear, and Brad put his hand up in front of the megaphone to signal that he stop. The man instead acted as if Brad had pushed it into his mouth, and began to yell at Brad while patting his mouth with his fingertips. We pushed our way on to the train, only to find that every available seat and standing space appeared to be taken. The train attendants continued to shove more and more people onto the train. Then people would arrive to take their assigned seats, and eject those seated into the already-crowded aisle. You can forget any concept of personal space in a crowded Chinese train. I stood pinned between two men’s legs, Melinda braced herself with her arms around Brad, and Jess was in the middle of a four person “butt-sandwich.” The air was hot and humid and we fanned ourselves with whatever books and paper we could find. My stomach cramped up with the need to use the facilities, and my knees locked up from being unable to bend for the hour-long train ride.

In the midst of all of this, Brad and Jess Shamblee kept up their spirits. They led us in singing song after song, to the delight (or annoyance) of our Chinese neighbors. “If You’re Happy And You Know It,” “Barbara Ann,” “Brown Eyed Girl,” “Sweet Home Alabama,” “I Want It That Way,” “Build Me Up Buttercup,” “Row, Row, Row Your Boat,” “Swing Low,” and more. They taught the kids to do the wave (down the middle of the aisle), and we exchanged how to say various Chinese and English words. Even as we climbed off the train and a smoker puffed his cigarette right into our faces, and even as Jess had to wait in line again at the train station for her tickets for Tuesday, they kept up their spirits. Brad taught the kids “Apples and Bananas,” in the van on the way back to the college. We arrived back at the college after 10:00pm; 13 hours after our journey began. We were thoroughly exhausted, and ready to wash up and go to bed. I was asleep before my head hit the pillow, but even as I drifted off Brad encouraged me by telling me how proud he was of me and how much he loved me. Even as tired as he was, he was able to comfort and encourage me.

Brad and Jess Shamblee won the Contagious Joy Award, because they know and believe in a secret: “In each and every situation I have learned the secret of being full and of going hungry, of having too much and of having too little. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” What a blessing it was to travel with them yesterday. I learned so much about Him and his loving strength from their positive attitudes and joyful spirits. The day ended with no regrets, no hurtful words, and no hurt feelings, because they brought joy to our endless day. The kids remarked on their positive attitudes to me, and I had to agree that they showed great character in dealing with such a long and tiring day.

So this one is for Brad Distad and Jess Shamblee. You are my happy heroes. Thank you for yesterday’s lessons in joy. :)

Love,
Jessie