An earthquake in Myanmar

I was sitting at my desk tonight and thought I was having a dizzy spell - my desk seemed to "quiver".  About 10 seconds later, it happened again.  I shook my head, blinked my eyes and wondered what was wrong with me.  Doug was working at his desk, but had a headset on listening to something, he didn't notice it. 

About 10 minutes later, our team mate Adrianne who lives at the guest house came to our door, she had just received a call from our other team mate who lives in an apartment building about a  mile away - on the 13th floor.  Her whole building shook, people were running out of their apartments and down to the street, some were screaming.  Yes, we felt the earthquake in Myanmar here in Hanoi.  Apparently, the higher up you were, the more you felt the sway.

Adrianne too thought she was just light-headed, our team mate Sam "thought' his chair moved, but decided it was just a weird feeling.  Sometimes we just don't trust something happening around us when there seems to be nothing to explain it.

There doesn't seem to be any damage here, just a lot of frightened people who live in 20 and 30 story apartment buildings on this side of Hanoi.

Seems like too many natural disasters lately.........and wars, is time getting short?  Matthew 24:6

Raindrops Keep Falling on our Heads

Just as the weather appeared to be warming up, a cold front roared out of the north into Hanoi yesterday. High winds, rain, and cold air dropped the temp back down to 48 today, as everyone bundled up against the chilling dampness. (Ok, I know most of our family and friends in the northern USA would welcome 48, but here, that's really cold!)

So as we prepared to walk the few blocks to a student's apartment for lunch, out came the jackets, gloves, and umbrellas. Walking along Chua Lang street in a winter rain is an adventure. Odors seem to linger when everything is wet and dripping.

 Puddles, mud, and broken sidewalks challenge the hardiest of walkers. The lead walker guides the group with quick commands, "watch the hole", "mudpile at 12 o'clock!", don't know what it is, but don't step in it!", and the favorite..."duck", as we walk by people huddled together under large tarps which hang suspended from wires, hung not quite high enough for the average American.


 Lunch with our friends was a treat...they made some of our favorite Vietnamese dishes - nem (fried spring rolls with fish sauce), stir-fried beef with onions, carrots,and lettuce, and bun, pronounced "boon" (rice noodles). The girls went all out to feed the English teachers! Traditionally, the Vietnamese prepare BIG meals because running out of food is impolite and brings shame. So Susan, our teammate Sam, and I were sure to eat hardy as a token of appreciation.

After lunch we strolled back to our home at the guest house. The walk took us through some alleys and back along Chua Lang, home of the village pagoda. We were wet and cold, but our hearts were warm with the love shown to us by these young women. So, even though it's a dreary, rainy day...

"I'm never gonna stop the rain by complaining - cause I'm free...nothing's worrying me."



Everyday life

Life goes on at the guest house.  Doug is giving mid-terms this week, so he is busy at home correcting tests when he's not in school.  I'm busy with students and lots of planning lately as we  prepare to come home.  I continue my work at Hanoi International Fellowship once a week and am now getting procedures and my job description written up so that they can find someone to replace me.  Our English club meets on Wednesday evenings and some new students have shown up lately. We're always happy to see new faces.

We are excited for one young lady who has just won a scholarship through the U.S. embassy to study in the States next year.  She was Doug's student  for two semesters last year and again for the current semester this year.  She has been a regular to our English club since the very beginning.  We're still waiting to see if she will study for a full year or only half a year, and where she will study.  Chicago is one of the four cities; we'd love to have her so close to us!  We celebrated her birthday right after Christmas.

Once in awhile we get to do something out of the ordinary.  This week I was invited to an event at the Hanoi Library.  Our good friend, Elizabeth McLean, had a book launched there.  She is a Canadian woman who taught International Relations at the Diplomatic Academy for 4 years and lived with us in the guesthouse.  The publishing of the book was a cooperative effort with the Canadian Embassy and Women's Publishing House, a Vietnamese company.  It was interesting to meet the Canadian ambassador and the owner of the publishing company. TV cameras and newspapers covered the event.  I wasn't expecting such a big event, but it was fun to be part of it.  Those who attended received a free copy of the book. Many young female students wanted their books autographed and Elizabeth was enjoying her special time.

 

Right now, preparing to go home is keeping me busy.  I'm looking into having a couple of boxes shipped home (we have collected a few things in our two years in Hanoi). Of course, I'm making lists of things we still need to do before we leave Hanoi and trying to spend more time with friends and students.  With our departure only 2 1/2 months away it's hard trying not to think of the goodbyes that are coming.

We had hoped to bring one of the students that we are very close to home with us for a summer vacation, but that did not work out - he was unable to get a visa.  We are very sad about that, but hope he will be able to visit us in the future.

These last months will be a mixture of focusing on the work that still needs to be done here and looking ahead to what is next for us.  We know that He has everything already planned, we just need to pray for the wisdom, patience and vision to see the path set before us.

A Wonderful Tet (New Year) Break

The Lunar New Year (Tet)  holiday is a convenient time to escape the cold and damp in Hanoi. We needed some R&R in warmer climes. We're fortunate to be able to travel inexpensively to some nearby countries where the sun is out. So off we went to spend a few days in Penang, Malaysia with two friends who teach in China. What did we enjoy most? Scenery, food, significantly less traffic, shopping in night markets and bazaars, the company of friends, and great coffee.

Penang is a pleasant little island in Malaysia. The multi-cultural mix of the people offers a variety of good food. Most everyone speaks English (the British East India Company started here in the Georgetown quarter), and it's easy to get around.



On Batu Ferringhi beach we strolled the shore barefoot and stopped for refreshments in the shade of beachside stands. Later, Susan found a great batik shop in the Georgetown marketplace and obtained some "bahgans" (that's Bostonian for bargains.) And we dined in the market food zone and witnessed the Lion Dance that ushers in the New Year.

This was our 2nd year attending the Chiang Mai conference in nearby Thailand. Our teachers from all over Asia gather here annually for rest, training, and spiritual renewal. We delighted in having Michael Card with us this year. His singing and teaching were a highpoint of the conference.

Most of us love Chiang Mai because we can enjoy great western food and trips to Starbucks. And the night market is a carnival every night.

But you know the saying about "all good things" coming to an end. So we came to the final day of conference and farewells to so many new friends. Susan and I will miss the faces of these dedicated teachers and workers who have become like family. We thank you all for enriching our lives...and don't forget, you're invited to relax and stay in Suttons Bay, Michigan anytime.

For now, there's work to do in our classrooms, so - finish strong!

Tet - Welcome Year of the Cat

"Chuc mung nam moi" signs abound in Hanoi this week. Everyone is in full gear preparing for the Lunar New Year celebration. February 3rd is the official New Year Holiday but, unlike back home, this is a 2-3 week event.

Tradition calls everyone to return to their family home province/village at this special time. Students from outlying provinces started packing days ago; most have already left campus to go home. Even the Hanoi kids are already gone and busy helping their families get ready to celebrate. Three of my five classes this week were "rescheduled" because so few students were left at school. We'll make up those sessions in March.

For the last few days we've watched from our balcony as kids toted suitcases and bags out the gate to catch a cab or motorbike to home, the bus station, or the train station. I caught this photo of one of the last guys "out of Dodge."

On a walk to the store the other day we found many sidewalk areas transformed into parks. Actually, just like the Christmas tree stands we see at home every year, these traditional New Year kumquat trees and flowering peach trees are for sale on every corner. But be careful, taking one home isn't quite like tying a Scotch pine to the roof of your car!

         So Chuc Mung to all, and here's our salute to the Year of the Cat!

Chuc Mung Sinh Nhat - Happy Birthday

65 years ago today, Gertrude and Richard Davenport welcomed their 4th son into the world. The happy event (at least, I think so!) took place at the Welland Memorial Hospital in Welland, Ontario. Yeah folks, I was born a Canuck. That's why I can understand my friends Jeremy and Laura, eh!

Six and 1/2 decades later I'm living in Hanoi, Vietnam and teaching English to some of the most wonderful kids I know. And I'm realizing the fulfillment of a dream to return to the land I visited 41 years ago. In just about 4 months we will finish our assignment and return home. As we approach the Tet holiday (Lunar New Year), we're thinking of what remains to be done and what lies ahead.

But today I'm thinking how blessed I've been during my 65 years. My biggest blessings have always been people; my family and my friends. And for this past year, all of you special people who helped Susan and I come on this journey! Many thanks.

But I also have some new faces etched on my heart...my students. Earlier this week, at our Weds. evening English Club, a group of "my kids" surprised me with a party. Along with the beautiful cake they gave me the gift of their smiles and their love. That, dear friends, is the source of the true fountain of youth.

Today, a special young woman presented me with smiles and roses, and a warm hug. She is family. If they ever remake the movie "It's A Wonderful Life", I can play the lead role.

To all of you everywhere on this beautiful blue planet...Peace and Love in the knowledge of the Father and His Son. To a certain few in Northern Michigan...the C.O.G. will be home soon! Chuc Mung (Luck and Joy) to all of you!

And so it was Christmas...

And so we were on vacation! As the first semester ended, the weather in Hanoi turned colder. So what do northern folks do...go to Florida! Or, in our case, go to DaNang and Quy Nhon.

Many of you know that DaNang is my favorite city in VN. Old memories, warm climate, great beaches, and good friends. We stayed one last time at Hoa's Place on China Beach. Hoa and his wife, Giao, have become close friends; they are great hosts. The "girls", six ladies from Da Nang, take us everywhere on their motorbikes and treat us like family. We traveled again to sites around town, including the huge caves of Marble Mountain.

  
         

     

Some Canadian friends joined us for a few days and then we all drove further south to the port city of Quy Nhon. More great beach and a wonderful hotel where the sound of the surf rocked us to sleep for 5 nights. 

                          

On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day we gathered together - 2 teams from Hanoi and 2 from Quy Nhon. Kids, gifts, turkey dinner and meringue pie, mmm! It was a joy to celebrate with folks who understand the true meaning of the holiday. We were all blessed.

      

We were back in Hanoi for New Year's...is it really 2011 already? 

A new year but the same purpose as we return to classes and sharing

the good news that came on Christmas so long ago.