An Extra Measure of Grace

The mother of Evie's new friend has said this several times now: life in Kunming seems to be afforded an extra measure of grace.  These types of platitudes tend to rub me the wrong way, except that this time, this platitude fits our lives here.

I was particularly proud of myself the other day.  I went out for a bike ride the other day and accomplished a few benchmarks that had been intimidating me: going out by myself (simultaneously wonderful and frightening), going someplace and returning without too much grief, and negotiating a few intersections.  It's amazing how basic the challenges of life can become, isn't it?  While I pedaled away, I followed my new friend's advice: pray for safety on the way out and thank God for a safe return upon journey's completion.  As I made my way through a 2-lane (or three lanes, or four, or whatever people feel like, as the case often is in China) roundabout,  I found myself asking the Holy Spirit for guidance.  And I felt Him nudging me.  I watched a bus approaching my street as I was about to cross; the bus was on the inside lane which, in the Western world would signal that he is not exiting the roundabout, but he in fact did exit the roundabout, cutting off the car behind him.  I had elected not to cross the street a moment before and was glad for that decision.  But more than that, I had felt God's presence nudging me to pause.  Thankfully I listened, right?

It got me thinking.  Why haven't I learned to live like this earlier?  Depending on God to get me through my day, that is.  Was it because I just felt so self-reliant that I never even thought about asking for help through things like roundabouts?  Probably.  I think that is part of the reason I like living in foreign countries; the experience just lays naked my, our, utter helplessness.  It is so nice to feel competent and independent, as we are so accustomed to feeling when on our home turf.  Who has to think about going to the store to buy toilet paper or pick up a few groceries?  Who wants to?  But as I am double-locking my bike at the shopping center (and I know that double-locking is really not good enough--perhaps a force field might do the trick), I really do believe the best theft prevention is to pray for that pile of metal and rubber as I leave it.  Lord, please let this thing be here when I get back.  The truth is, the reality of our lives is that we are in dire need of God's daily nudging and protection.  We are not competent or independent.  We are utterly reliant on God's provision and presence.

Helplessness also gives me a reason to ask God for more than just help.  Another wise friend of mine encouraged me to approach my time here in Kunming as an opportunity to ask God for his purpose for me.  How will you use me/what will you teach me today, Lord?  When I feel confident and competent, I do not ask God those questions because I am so convinced I already know the answers.  Being in a place in life where I need His help and I really want His purpose forces my hand to ask the questions and to be ready for the answers.  I am discovering that opening my life up to not knowing and, even more, not trying to know, God's plan probably allows Him to set His plans in motion.  We love to walk into situations and decide where we fit in and how our talents will best serve our circumstances.  But I am coming to learn that I am better used when I am not trying to be used.  Let God do the leading and be ready.  Again, it's that part about realizing that my real competence comes from giving up my competence.

I don't think the solution to this kind of pride is to move to a foreign country.  The solution is confession and repentance.  Then I think God does give an extra measure of grace; when we know we need it, we can see it when it is bestowed upon us (that must be where that whole "blessed are the poor in spirit" thing comes into play).  I think I am just grateful to be in a place in life in which the work of God is being made clear to me because that work helps me throughout my day--I need it that often.  Make our taxi driver kind, help my kid be successful on the potty today, keep us safe, make me more patient, let this person answer her phone...keep me sane! ;-)

I'm not sure if I'll get to understand why God brought us to China, but as with most grand adventures, before others get changed, the most significant change happens within.  May it be so in my life with an extra measure of grace.  As a friend of mine prays: Eyes to see, ears to hear, willingness to act.

A New Life--First Glimpses of Kunming

I have tried my best to take our camera around with me when we go out, but I tell you, the cloud of distraction that seems to follow me everywhere also applies to taking pictures.  I'd have to say that learning to do life with two small children is a learning curve that does not go away when you move to a new city in a new country.  I wouldn't say the curve has been made worse by being here, but the things I'd like to be doing (taking pictures, calling family to describe all the sights and sounds, trying out the local restaurants, etc) are just not happening at the pace I'd hope for.  Oh well.  One step at a time.
Here are some pictures of the life we have been living thus far!

 Kunming International Academy

Michael's classroom is on the third floor in the middle section.

 Here is the entrance to our neighborhood, called a xiaoqu (say it "shaow-choo").  Our building is down to the left about an eighth of a mile.

 Primary playground at the school.  I take Evie here a couple times a week.

 Our water delivery guy.  He's pretty strong; those water bottles are heavy, and he hauls them off his scooter and up into your building (we have an elevator, but still...)

 Our building--number 67, 10th floor.

 Living room

 The gang, in the kitchen

 Emma, sitting in her Bumbo "floor (please don't sue us, it's a FLOOR)" seat

 Some friends took us up to the hills on the west side of Kunming.  There is a magnolia tree park there, and we enjoyed a picnic, sunshine, and a little strolling and lolling about.

 "Spring City" doing its thing in January.

 Please appreciate the lawn.

 This is the lolling I was talking about.

 We got to enjoy some traditional dancing in honor of the New Year holiday coming up.

So this is some of our new life.  For having a young family, it's quite lovely.  Most of our needs are in walking distance, so we walk a lot; I'm counting on that baby weight just melting away... :-)  Most days, Evie and I cook together, do some art, play with friends, visit Dad at lunch time, take a walk, and have nap or "quiet time."  It's a good rhythm that I enjoy with her.  I am learning that to eat the foods we like and have a nutritious, cost-effective version of them means that I have to make it myself.  Thus we regularly make yogurt, kefir, and kombucha (for good gut health and keeping us healthy), as well as bread, tomato sauce (you can buy this, but I try to supplement with my own because tomatoes are fresh here year-round), and tortillas.  I'm enjoying this type of resourcefulness, and I think we will be healthier because of it.  Milk is not a Chinese food, and it is imported.  Note: when your milk comes in a box that does not need to be refrigerated because it has been so highly pasteurized, it is no longer milk.  It is white liquid with fat and protein that is now super difficult to digest.  We quickly made a family decision to stop drinking milk (sadness) and switch to home-made kefir and yogurt instead.  It's been a fair trade-off, and we all have excellent digestion as well!

The kids are doing very well; I hardly recognize Emma from her newborn pictures; she is getting fat and sweet.  She smiles and gurgles a lot and has recently found her fist to put in her mouth.  She is a strong baby and does not hate being put on her tummy.  It's a lot of fun to watch her and Evie develop a relationship; they like each other, and Emma smiles and squeals when Evie dances and sings for her.  I have also decided that two is one of the weirdest ages for people.  It's this morph age between baby and kid, where your kid does both baby and kid things simultaneously.  Like telling me a reasonably long and complex story with pretty big words and then lapsing into silence to take a draw on her pacifier.  Or "reading" through a book from memory and then informing me that she needs a new diaper (potty training is on the horizon...)  And even though this stage of life can be really tedious and boring, I am so thankful to be able to stay home with both girls.  Wow.  What a privilege these days.  Thanks to God for that.

I think they will be good friends.