“Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road...”Their hearts were burning after a conversation with the Son! What makes our hearts burn? When do we feel alive? Our hearts only truly burn when we are face-to-face with the reality of the abundant life that the Father offers.
Our hearts know it before our minds do! Our hearts burn until our eyes are opened to the truth! Our hearts burn until our minds understand what our souls already know; he is alive!
We are grateful this week:
1. Yesterday was the North Face China Endurance Challenge. I completed that 40K in 3:37:09, and I am extremely happy with that time considering we dealt with 30mph winds all day, a 400 meter incline in 3.5km, and a 400 meter decline in 2.5km. I also stepped on a stick that punctured my shoe at about the eight kilometer mark. It went through the sole of my right shoe, between my toes, and poked against the inside of the top of my shoe. I thought my foot would be bleeding for the rest of the race, but amazingly the stick went perfectly between my toes and did not even leave a scratch.
Many of our fellow IECS teachers came with us to run the 10K. Peter & Shannon Lucas-Roberts, Jessica Shamblee, Amelia Martin, Courtney & Wil Corder, and Ryan Bettwy all ran in the 10K with about 2,600 other runners. Peter ran the whole way with a student from our college, Chai Wan Li, and they finish together, 4th and 5th overall!
Jessie spent the day with one of her students, Cassie, and they stayed at the finish line cheering for all the finishers, taking pictures, and aiding the IECS runners.
2. On Tuesday night we hosted a game night, and Jessie and I invited three students. We played Settlers for about three hours, while Shamblee, Peter, and Shannon played Suckotash and Uno with other students in Shamblee's apartment.
3. Next weekend is the Labor Day holiday in China, so Friday's classes have been canceled.
Please think about us:
1. On Monday night we will have our final English club of the semester on the main campus.
2. This will be the last week of regular classes for Jessie and me. After this week we will begin the final exam interview process for each of our students.
3. During the third week in May we will have our annual English week! About 13 teachers will come from the States, led by Newt and Claire Hetrick. We are very excited about English week! All of the training is completed at this point, and we are eagerly awaiting their visit. Please continue to “think” about it as the final details get sorted out in the upcoming weeks.
4. Jessie and I will be heading to Beijing again on Tuesday for another baby check-up. Only 9 more weeks remain until we get to meet our little girl!
Living outside the boat,
Brad
