April 11th, 2008 - Please pray for my student...

Please pray for my student/friend whose English name is Tammy. Tammy is a Grade 3 student whose mother is a (Catholic) Christian. Tammy joined me for Easter. I had talked with her several times before hand during my office hours, too. She is extemly quiet and reserved, very little emotions, but a sweet girl. Today, she came into my office (when I was in an EXTREMELY bad mood for no good reason- that's God's timing) and I could see in her eyes she was upset about something.  She asked me to pray for her about something. She wrote down the diagnosis in Chinese, but she has an eye disease that will cause her to go blind. Her college entrance exams are in early June, and soon after that, she will have surgery to try and stop or slow down what's wrong. There was a language barrier and heavy emotions blocking my full understanding of what she was saying, but before she left, I gave her hug. (This is the first student I have ever hugged. Not a hugging people.) She asked me to pray for her, that Jesus would give her back her eyes. I'm asking my church family to ask Jesus to miraculously give Tammy back her eyes and that Tammy would come to faith in Jesus because of this experience.

Thanks.
Always, in all ways & forever...
Laura L. Watson

my personal web page is www.RoseSoul.com
my ministry web page is www.DisciplesRunningAroundMadlyActing.org
my my space page is www.myspace.com/rosesoul

March 20th, 2008

So, the most awesome week has ended. I'm kind of disapointed, but Easter Sunday with all the students going to church is still to come. Students are coming to the office to check out the Jesus books and Bibles I have, plus various other books and movies. That's always good to see. The students are talking about the movie Narnia, and now the teachers are wanting to see it. Turns out Narnia has a write up in one of their English magazines, so what timing. Narnia and the Jesus Video have both been checked out. There is a waiting list for when they are returned.

God, of course, saves the best for last. My favorite thing has been their faces as they listen to the story. (Imagine hearing the life of Christ for the first time.) This one girl in class 368- my final class- was really enthralled. I could see her, about halfway back in the classroom. She was leaning in, she was nodding as I talked, her face showed her emotions as she heard about Jesus being whipped and then crucified. Her classmates were listening as well, but she caught my eye. When I said, "The grave was open but Jesus was not inside," she gasped. It was loud enough I heard it and so did her classmates. She didn't notice them turn to look at her. As I continued, "The angel came and said, What are you doing here. Jesus is not here. He is risen, Jesus is alive." Her face broke into a big grin and she sighed, again loud enough for me to hear. At the end, when I say, "You must decide, is the story true or not true," she said True.

She will come to church on Sunday.

This is when being a teacher is cool. Presenting new information that captures their attention and can maybe change their lives forever. The rest of the semester, talking about Texas slang, and show and tell, and English literature is probably going to be a let down.

I am asking you to pray- REALLY PRAY for this weekend. God is moving, and so I am certain Satan is trying to retaliate. Pray the students are free to come to church, that their head teachers don't call for extra studying. Pray the weather is good, as we will probably be in the overflow crowd which is outside. Also pray against rain as the church is surrounded by dirt roads which get really bogged down in mud when it rains. Pray for the students. I teach Classes 360-377. Pray for them by class. Pray against Satan, 'cause you know he's angry. And you know he's angry 'cause the grave is empty and 1200 students now know that! hehe YIPPIE!

And pray for my health and finances. Thanks!

Always, in all ways & forever...
Laura L. Watson

my personal web page is www.RoseSoul.com
my ministry web page is www.DisciplesRunningAroundMadlyActing.org
my my space page is www.myspace.com/rosesoul

March 19th, 2008

Well, today was AMAZING. So, my first class I had kids falling asleep and otherwise not paying attention so when I got to the good parts, they were confused. I was so angry. I kept thinking- THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON YOU WILL HEAR FOR YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. WAKE UP AND PAY ATTENTION. But, I with held my anger and just finished the lesson for the few who were listening and grasping. (I love their faces!)

I went to my next class. This class, I had their full attention. At the end of my lesson, I emphasize that this is my personal belief, as a Christian, and that I believe the story of Christmas and the story of Easter is true. You must decide if it is true. You can study Jesus in the Bible in my office or in history books. (I explain a bit more, but you get the idea. It's a disclaimer/encouragement to continue their personal study if they want.) I always ask, "Is it true, or not true?" It's meant as a retorical question, but in class 374, several students answered True! After class, 3 girls came to me wanting specific details about the church service I had invited them to. They brought some friends to see me after lunch as well, just to make sure. These girls have so many questions but their English limits them. I think they are most excited to go to church and ask the questions they have.

During lunch, a student brought me a homemade photo album of pictures of her friends and family for me- so we could be friends. A sweet, sweet girl. I recieved a note and a returned book from one of my students I have been praying for and talking to since last term. Simon, my militant atheist, returned the book The Case for a Creator scientific evidence of God after only 1 day saying he couldn't understand it and didn't believe it anyways. I am more determined than ever to find this book in Chinese. So many students want to read it, but they get caught up in the science of it. The English is easy, it's the science that's above most of our heads. I spent some time praying for Simon during lunch.

I taught 2 more classes in the afternoon, then English corner where I had the Jesus movie/book, Bibles, and other Easter/Christmas things and lots of other holiday stuff to look at. Only a few students came, but those who did had a lot of questions. They had seen Davinci's last supper painting and wanted to know what it was about. Flip open the Jesus movie/book and show them pictures from the movie and let them read in Chinese the last supper. Good. Then, I taught a makeup class, then dinner, then library hours. A long day, but it wasn't over yet.

Mr. James, miracle of miracles, remembered to bring me his lap top computer so I could show a movie to the Best Class of the Week as I had planned. They voted to watch Disney's Narnia. Talk about praying. I get there at 7:20, 10 minutes early, so I can explain the first 30 minutes they had to miss b/c of time. (England is at war, good Lucy goes first, then bad Edmund, etc.) It took us until 8pm to get the stupid movie to play. The battery died, so we needed the electric cable. Had no DVD player so needed to download one, but had no internet connection cable. We were all over that school getting cables, but those tech savy students were as determined as I was to make this movie night work. At 8pm, a halleluiah went up and the movie started. In Chinese, but I didn't want to stop and start all over just so we could count it as English class with an English movie. (it's classic English literature. that's enough.) I'm telling you, they were on the edge of their seats. When Aslan died, I saw a girl crying, and when Aslan resurrected, they cheered. They laughed at the jokes, they jumped at scary parts. I've never so enjoyed a movie in my life.

Now, I was quoting in my head the movie in English, but I was also starting to decipher the Chinese words. I even learned some new words since I heard them so much in the movie. Finally, I'm getting Chinese!

At the end, they clapped and started running as the bell had rung and they had to get home. Oh, miracle #47 today: Class is suppose to end at 9pm. At 8:53 I was PRAYING we would at least make it to Aslan's death so it would be a good cliffhanger to finish tomorrow. Well, the bell never rung, it never rung, and I stopped watching the clock. When God stops time, He does it for real. (the bell rang late. No explanation.) The bell rang just as they win and are taking their seats on the throne- at 9:18pm. Students gave it the extra 5 minutes to finish, burst into applause and ran. A few students stayed after to talk. They got that it was an alagory for Jesus. They loved the movie and want to see it again. They got it, and it touched their hearts. (I love theatre. I love the way it can move and get people to think in ways that an old fashioned lecture can't do.)

There was actual skipping on the way home. Students are coming to church. Students are thinking about God. Students are paying attention in almost every class. The food in the dinning hall sucks- I'm eating in a resteraunt until the spring harvest comes in.  But, I am so encouraged. I feel like crap, my body is trying to do something but what I don't know, I just know it's Satan trying to hold me back. But, when I get up uncertain I can make it thru, I pray. I pray all the way to school (Armor of God anyone?) and by the time I open my mouth to say Good morning, I'm fine. I get home, I'm practically crawling, but by God's strength, I've not called in sick, not once this week. 

God is moving thru my students. This is going to be the best Holy Week and Easter of my life! I wish you all could be here to see this! I wish I had hidden cameras so you could see their faces and experience what I feel. But, I can't. So, you'll just have to come be a teacher in China and experience it for yourselves! www.volunteersforchina.org . Come to China, tell students and teachers the story of Christmas and the story of Easter. YOU will never be the same.

I must point out I am multi cultural- very diverse. We talk about Chanuka, Kwanza, Winter Solstis, Ramadan, April Fool's Day, Spring celebrations, and other holidays that are not Christian. I emphasize over and over that Christmas and Easter are Christian holidays that came from Israel, not American holidays that EVERYONE in America celebrates. I'm really trying to make them understand truth about America and give them an accurate grasp on world religions. It just helps we have the best movies. I want them to be fully informed of what's out in the world so that if they do believe, they can believe with all their head and their heart. But, for the most part, just planting seeds of thoughts.

Okay, I'm so excited and so jazzed I might not sleep tonight, but I gotta try. Keep us in your prayers- especially as I finish the classes and for the big day-EASTER SUNDAY. The church is having Easter morning service and an afternoon performance with some singing and dancing. Last time, Christmas, my students were begging to leave this 'performance' as it was not the greatest. Pray this is... worthy of Easter.

Happy Resurrection Day! (bad spelling) Fuhuo jie kuai le!

Always, in all ways & forever...
Laura L. Watson

my personal web page is www.RoseSoul.com
my ministry web page is www.DisciplesRunningAroundMadlyActing.org
my my space page is www.myspace.com/rosesoul

March 12th, 2008

Some prayer requests special to this upcoming week:
1) I will be teaching about Christmas and Easter in 45 minutes to all 18 classes, and inviting some of them to the church's Easter Sunday service. I am told the Easter service is nothing special (which is hugely disapointing as my favorite holiday is Easter), and students only want to learn about Christmas. Pray for me to speak the right words so they have a factual understanding of these holidays.

2) Pray for my health. Came down with a bit of a cold. It's passing quickly but it affected my voice and caused my tonsils to swell up huge. Just, keep my health in your prayers.

3) Pray for my finances. In order to stay in China and help with summer programs with Volunteers for China, I need to do some serious fundraising. I really want to stay and help for the month of July, which then gives me an extra week to enjoy the Olympic celebrations in Beijing in early August.  Pray that God provides these much needed funds so that I can be a part of the Lord's work in China this summer.

4) Just pray. About anything and everything that comes to mind. Relationships with my co-workers, relationships with new students, my attitude, to be sensitive to the Spirit as He works thru me, and my work with the church (I'm doing a series of lessons on Apologetics based off of Lee Stroble's books A Case for Christ and Case for a Creator.). It's going well here. I praise God for all the wonderful stories I will have to tell when I'm home. Pray for China. Pray for Changzhi (pronounced Chan-jure). Pray for No. 1 middle school. Pray for the church of Lu Jia Zhuang (pronounced Lu Jow Ghang). God is at work and I am blessed to be a part of it. Thanks everyone! Have a blessed weekend!

For info on helping out financially, you can contact David and Ann Wilson with Volunteers for China at cen29529 [at] centurytel [dot] net or by mail at 709 Verdant Lane, Maryville, TN 37804. They also need YOU to be a volunteer this summer or a paid English teacher next semester. Assignments as short as 1 week up to 2 years are available. (My teaching position at No. 1 will be open next school year...) Check them out!

Always, in all ways & forever...
Laura L. Watson

my personal web page is www.RoseSoul.com
my ministry web page is www.DisciplesRunningAroundMadlyActing.org
my my space page is www.myspace.com/rosesoul

March 5th, 2008

Today, I had a great... Power FM/God moment.

A grade 3 student, English name is Daniel, came to my office. He told me he is taking his HUGE college entrance test early, tomorrow, in fact and wanted a little practice with his spoken English before his exam. He also wanted some help with his essays. One essay he wrote was on music. (He and I met because he wanted some American rock n' roll music, like Coldplay, Linkin Park and Greenday. He hates pop music and loves country. I of course told him about Power FM and he sent me many an email about how he loves the music and it helps his English.) Well, he also wrote about Power FM in his essay, and we talked a little about it. Turns out, he listens everyday as he has internet in his home and he greatly enjoyed it during the long winter holiday. He talked about music, and why he loves rock. His exact words, at one point, were "There is something about a scream that just has so much emotions to it." He loves punk rock.

If he passes his exam tomorrow, he will not come back to school. (The entire point of education in China is to get into college, and if he gets into college, he is free to work or travel until college starts.) I gave him some of the Power FM buttons I brought, a bumper sticker, and a pen with the website. The t-shirt I had was too small for him. If I can find him, I'll get him a bigger one or give him the backpack. As he was leaving to go to dinner, he told me he will always listen to the music because it has touched his heart and will always remember me.

God is using Power FM's music to reach a student I otherwise would have had NO contact with, as I teach Grade 1 and Grade 2. I know, in additon to the music, that the devotionals, the PSA's, and just God's spirit in everything will soften his heart and get him to think about God. He does not believe in God, but he is not a militant athiest. He simply never thought to do otherwise. Power FM has him thinking, reading, and really listening.

Power FM- YOU ROCK.

Always, in all ways & forever...
Laura L. Watson

www.myspace.com/rosesoul