Note: various links or
other references may be mentioned below that no longer apply.
Sorry for the
inconvenience.
January 1, 2001
Happy New Year!
December was unusually
busy. Vivian was in the US until 12/19, our semester ended, and
Christmas always brings extra things to do. Each of Michael’s classes
got a Christmas party, and over 200 people came to our special English
Corner Christmas Presentation. (Almost as many came to our New Year’s
Eve presentation as well!) On Christmas Day, a dozen friends from four
countries joined us for lunch, singing, and a movie. Andrew & Michael
got many gifts from the US, and Mommy got a new electric keyboard (to
replace the piano we left in America). A friend even gave us a Christmas
tree to help make the apartment feel like Christmas.
We will celebrate New Year again on
January 24 when the Year of the Dragon gives way to the Year of the
Snake. Maybe we’ll have some pictures to show you next month!
Thanks for stopping by. Check out the
rest of our website for lots of pictures, our calendar, and favorite
links to other places in Cyberspace.
A lot has changed in the world since
that “Silent Night” 2000 years ago when a special Baby was born. But
the Light of Christmas continues to guide “wise men” to Joy, Peace,
and real Purpose. May YOUR 2001 be filled with Joy, Peace, and Purpose,
too!
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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February 2001
Dear Friends,
Welcome to our new website address! We had some
problems logging on to the old site in China, so we now have our own
domain. You'll find a few new features and photos, though much of
the website has remained unchanged. Enjoy!
As I write, we're halfway through the 15-day Chinese
New Year Festival. The holiday started off with a bang on the
evening of January 23, with the greatest fireworks display we had ever
seen (to that point!). We stood on our apartment balcony as
various local housing developments lit up the sky in up to seven
directions at once. Meanwhile, "neighbors" shot off
untold thousands of firecrackers (or all sizes!) for 45 solid
minutes. It was spectacular!
To our surprise, a similar (and we think larger)
display kept us awake five evenings later. We are told to expect
even more fireworks as the Lantern Festival (Feb.7) brings the holiday
to an end. Traditionally, it is thought that the noise and
confusion will frighten away bad spirits or welcome good spirits -
though no one knows how the spirits are supposed to know the
difference! However, I think most people just use the traditions
as an excuse for some fun!
In other news, our daughter, Beth, spent 11 days with
us in January. It was a great way to celebrate her December
college graduation! You can see some of what she saw by visiting
the new pages of our photo album. Now she has returned to her new
teaching job in South Carolina while we settle back into our busy
routine of classes and activities.
So, welcome to our new website address! You
will find a new "English Corner" feature on our Student Connection page, and there are additional new photos scattered through
our website. Let us know what you think and how we can make it
even better!
In Shanghai,
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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March
11, 2001
Dear Friends,
Chinese New Year finally ended. The fireworks
on Feb. 7 were very tame in comparison
to Jan 24 and 27, but it was still quite an experience (see last month's update).
We do not have much to write about this month.
It has just been very busy for everyone!
I told someone at English Corner that I didn't like February/March very much. After the color and excitement of
Christmas and New Year, we all have
to settle into a few months of cold, gray, hard work! Such is the cycle of life.
Fortunately for us, April holds the
promise of a long visit from Michael's
parents! We have replaced the
English Corner photo (now that we are meeting in the daytime),
and we have added some of the essays Michael's high school students have written.
Otherwise, we are still working out the
bugs at our new website address.
Thanks for stopping by. We would love to
hear from you!
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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April 22, 2001
Dear Friends,
This update is so late that we are
making it good for two months!
April started busy because Michael’s school term was to end April
12. Andrew complicated things by poking a huge hole/tear in his cornea on
April 7. The initial diagnosis included a trip to Hong Kong for evaluation
and possible permanent sight impairment. But a miracle took place as our
friends around the world prayed, and on April 19 the doctor said
Andrew’s sight had basically returned to normal! What a wonderful
reminder of Jesus’ love for us—the love we also celebrated on Easter
(or “Resurrection Celebration” in Chinese), April 15!
April 13 was a special day as Michael’s Mom and Dad arrived from
the USA for a month-long visit. You’ll find a family photo on our new
photo album page--Three Gorges—which shows our trip down the Yangtze
River (April 14-18). We will also visit Hangzhou together in early May.
Michael’s school resumed on April 20. You can see a new photo of
his students on our Student Connection page. Vivian and Andrew remain busy
learning, as Michael teaches and his parents help us with neglected chores
around the apartment (as well as enjoying a taste of life in Shanghai).
Well, that’s all for now. Thanks for stopping by. Thanks for the
care and the prayers related to Andrew’s eyes. His healing made it our
best Easter ever!
Sincerely,
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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June 1, 2001
Dear Friends,
May turned out to be a nice month. The weather stayed
dry and pleasant. Michael's parents
were still here in early May, and we enjoyed a short visit by a good
friend from Hong Kong at the end of the month. Michael's
work expanded to include one new in-company training class. He also
had the opportunity to chat with over 50 adult students (through a
teacher-friend he met at English
Corner) and later had the chance to address several dozen local
English teachers at a small conference.
June will be our twelfth month in Shanghai.
It is hard to believe a year has already passed! When Michael's contract
is up (June 30) he will join Vivian for Mandarin classes at a local
university. He wants to be challenged, and looking at the textbook makes
us think his wish will come true! Vivian's summer class will put a
greater emphasis on Chinese characters, so she is in for a challenge as
well. We are also arranging summer language classes for Andrew.
So, just when we should be expecting a break, things
will be heating up instead! But in the midst of Shanghai's warm
temperatures, our demanding classes will also provide the chance to
start more warm friendships!
Thanks for dropping by!
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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August 1, 2001
Dear Friends,
Our summer classes are going well. The
student-teacher ratios are very small, so we all get a lot of practice
and attention. Michael has learned or re-learned hundreds of characters
and is once again able to read simple texts in Chinese. Vivian has
learned enough characters to realize that the more you learn, the more
they all begin to look alike! It is amazing how moving a single dot or
line can completely change a word! Andrew is also making progress,
though he seems to be good at finding other things to do besides
studying Chinese. For one week he attended a sports camp, and he is also
taking private swimming lessons. July’s highlights included the chance
to visit 2000-year-old WuZhen, and to see the stunning Shanghai
acrobatic circus with local friends.
August looks like it will be full of
hot weather and a lot of studying before Michael returns to his teaching
duties on Aug 27. Two birthdays and our 12th wedding
anniversary will help break up the heat (see our calendar).
We hope you are enjoying your summer,
as well. Thanks, as always, for dropping by!
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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Sept 16, 2001
Dear Friends,
Like most of the people in the
civilized world, we watched in horror as events unfolded on
September 11, 2001. Our hearts go out to the families of the
crash victims, those whose loved ones are listed as missing, and of
course to the rescue and clean-up crews who will witness the unthinkable
for weeks to come.
Our friends and students in Shanghai
universally express their sadness at the tragic loss of life. There were
a number of Chinese citizens on the airplanes or in the towers when
disaster struck. Indeed, it appears that families all over the world
were personally wounded by the events a world away.
At times like these it is only right
that humans turn to God. For the many who are asking “why?” I have
attached an article I wrote
on the topic. I hope you find it helpful.
As for us, life is as busy as ever
with new classes in the Intensive English Program at Yew Chung Shanghai
International School. I have also resumed corporate training at an
airport catering company, and we continue to be active at the English
Corner and with the International Community Church. Andrew’s Chinese
improved enough over the summer to allow him to skip from Chinese level
one to level three! Vivian continues the difficult task of learning to
communicate in Chinese. We have some traveling planned, though international plans may change in the wake of
terrorism.
Thanks for your concerns over us. If
you are struggling with confusion or pain as a result of the recent
display of unthinkable evil, remember that the Bible contains
time-tested answers to Mankind’s deepest needs. It also promises that
Jesus Christ will soon return to cast out Satan and all who thrive on
evil, ushering in a millennium of worldwide peace.
In that eternal Hope,
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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Nov
17, 2001
Dear family and friends,
The American
holiday of Thanksgiving is November 22. This is considered the biggest
family holiday in the US, as many families travel far and wide to be
together. Traditionally, they eat a huge meal featuring turkey (that's
"fire chicken" in Chinese!), cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. Many
families spend a few minutes around the banquet table, thanking God for
the blessings of the previous year. Parades, football games, and shopping
also play important parts in the long weekend.
The holiday goes back to around 1620 when people from England (called
Pilgrims) first moved to America. They felt that God wanted them to leave
England, where they had not been able to worship Him the way they felt the
Bible directed. Many died during the bitter journey across the sea, and
many more died in the hard winter. But, with the help of Native Americans,
by November they had ample food and shelter, and felt the need to thank
God for His blessing. Thus "thanksgiving" was born. In one way or another
it has been celebrated ever since.
This Thanksgiving, Americans have again recently faced a bitter journey
and much death. But, again, with the help of friends (this time, natives
of many lands), they are looking past the pain, and trying to make the
world safer for everyone.
One might wonder how the Pilgrims of 1620 could thank God when almost half
of their community had just died. The answer then, and now, lies beyond
tragedy in the care of a loving God who had suffered the loss of His own
Son (Jesus) in order to buy forgiveness and offer eternal peace to
mankind.
More of my thoughts on "giving thanks" are among the articles you can link
to from our links page.
As for our lives in China, well, we remain busy and happy in our work of
teaching English and learning Chinese. We are also thankful for the
friends both here and overseas who add so much richness to our lives.
Thank you for stopping by. May you enjoy a warm Thanksgiving, followed by
an especially peace-filled Christmas season.
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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December 2001
Dear Friends &
Family,
As I write,
it is December 18, and we are only days away from both Christmas and our
trip to the Holy Land. Christmas is always a favorite time of year, but
this year we are filled with even greater anticipation. Meanwhile, Vivian
and Andrew have continued to make great progress in their studies, and
Michael has also seen big changes at work.
The first
term of the SIS Intensive English Program (IEP) ended on Dec. 7. This
freed Michael up to start helping colleagues teach about 50 Eighth Graders
in local schools! So far, he has been impressed by their desire to learn
English! (He still teaches an IEP class and coordinates the program as
well.)
The Christmas
Season in Shanghai has been wonderful! We have had so many chances to
share "Christmas" with our friends! The season started when close friends
joined us to decorate our Christmas tree. Then Andrew was in a drama (with
a second one later). Over the next few weeks, Vivian and Michael hosted
five Christmas parties for friends, students, and former students! We also
enjoyed the Shanghai International Church's wonderful holiday musical, and
Michael wrote a new Christmas song this year as well. (You can find the
words, plus his article on Christmas by following directions on our
"articles" page.)
Now we are
heading to Turkey and Israel! Andrew can't wait to see his cousins (who
live in Turkey) and grandparents (who are joining us and making the trip
possible!). We will see historic Turkey with Michael's sister and her
family, then travel to Israel to see some of Michael's college buddies. We
have wanted to visit Israel for a long time, and are excited about the
chance to stand in places that have been of such monumental international
importance throughout human history! I'm sure we will be posting some
photos soon to share a part of our experience with you.
Thanks for
thinking of us, and may you and your family also have a blessed Christmas
and Joy-filled New Year!
Michael,
Vivian and Andrew
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