Journals

You might be interested to have the information that the 16 new Amity teachers from churches around the world arrived safely in Shanghai last Friday, travelled to Huzhou (the sight of the orientation for them) on Saturday, and began their "in China" orientation here yesterday morning (Sunday). The orientation began with an opening worship service which I led at 8:30 around the theme of seeking to discover the treasures God in Christ has placed in our lives, in the lives of others around us and particularly here in China. I encouraged the new Amity teachers to go "treasure hunting" and to save the treasures they find by recording them in a little "treasure hunting notebook" I gave them. Our worship service was followed by the introductory plenary session, where leaders of all the various sessions that are planned were introduced and the various aspects of the program ahead explained. Each weekday the new teachers will have a session to help them orient themselves to various aspects of life in China, two sessions to help them learn about some of the best ways to teach and work with their students here in China, one class session and a tutoring session to learn some basic Chinese and two optional classes about different aspects of Chinese culture. The morning will begin with a very early morning devotion time which I am organizing for 6:45 am, right before breakfast. That will actually begin in a little less than an hour, so I'd better go to prepare the room soon. In addition, three days a week, I will be leading a session right after dinner that will center around the Lord's Prayer. Among other things, in those sessions, I will be helping the new Amity teachers to learn the Lord's Prayer phrase by phrase in Chinese so that they can use it together with our brothers and sisters in Christ here when we attend the local Chinese church starting next Sunday. Those sessions on the Lord's Prayer will begin this evening. Of course, I am also gradually getting acquainted with each of the new teachers. It is interesting to learn each of their stories and the gifts God has given them that they will use as they teach and serve as a witness of presence here in China. As I get to know them better, I will also be better prepared to provide pastoral care for them through out their time here as needed.

PS The new Amity teachers are from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Switzerland, the U.S., the U.K., and the Philippines. Those of us leading various aspects of the orientation include Amity staff and long term teachers. They are from China, the U.K., Denmark, Austria and the U.S.

PSS People can pray for the new teachers and their process of cross-cultural adjustment to life here in China and for those of us who are leading various aspects of the program that we might provide just the resources, the experiences and the caring they need in that process.