I realize there are no cute faces in this picture, but the story is fantastic. Recently our neighbors called and complained about this AC fan. It is on a concrete shelf outside of our kitchen window 11 floors up. Steve thinks he can fix it! So he climbs out onto what may or may not be a sturdy landing and uses a screwdriver for a simple repair. Now he needs to wait on the motor to run again before he can be sure. So he politely asks for his leftover Indian food and eats his lunch on the landing while he waits. In the meantime, someone on the 10th floor looks out of their window in surprise.....because there is a white man standing on a window sill! Steve just very casually smiled and said "nihao". And that friends, is how you know you are released from culture shock. The transformation is complete!
Abishai went swimming recently with our sixth grade students. This is Haley! She thinks he loves her, but he really just wants those glasses! He is 14 months now and finally taking some steps. He sees what he wants, takes some steps, then drops and crawls to get it. He loves to throw ball back and forth, and he has a wooden hammer he swings at everything and everyone!
Our biggest story for the month of May is this broken bone. The ulna is broken just below the wrist. Dayuma fell while rollerblading at 3pm Saturday May 26th. While you all were peacefully sleeping, we were traversing the Chinese hospital system. We went to the closest hospital first because we could tell it was broken. Here we met an impatient doctor who recommended surgery! We left, mostly because of his countenance, to get a second opinion. A bone specialist with 30 years of experience setting bones helped us at the second stop! It is already healing nicely. She is now squeezing toys between her fingers when the other arm is full.
We had a little party at our house on Mother's day. Some of our friends from Saturday night class made a big decision, so we needed to celebrate. Here is a picture of some of the girls in our girl's bedroom. Please continue to lift this group up, as we begin the leadership transition during this last month. Lift up the three guys who will be sharing the teaching duties - for wisdom and growth; that the enemy would have no room to get in and destroy (because we know he will try). I am sure it will have its ups and downs, but I continue to feel led to pass it off to these three I have been training. As it has been said (by someone who I forget) 'It is easier to teach a faithful person skill then it is to teach a skilled person faithfulness.' These guys have shown themselves to be faithful, and the HS can supply the rest!
Ruthee is growing into a beautiful young lady. She is a big helper around the house and sets a good example for her little sisters. We are learning how to help her with her hearing. We play a game at night popping our ears together. The doctor thinks the ear drum will eventually stay open if she can learn how to open it. She says everything is so loud when we can get that ear to pop! We are so proud of how she handles it. She knows it has happened for a reason. She expects Him to use it somehow. What a sweet perspective.
June 1st is childrens' day in China. So our school had a field day. There was a crazy relay race for class competition. Vaylah is cheering so hard she is about to lose her pants! She has done so well in first grade. She teams up with her teacher to share the story of true love with her classmates. They are quite a pair. She will be turning 7 just a few days after we move. She has been sad about not being in the states to share her birthday with her cousins. We promised her we would invite some strangers to our house for cake. Just this weekend we received an email from a new friend in KG. Their family is in a homeschool group and they have a daughter Vaylah's age. Whew!!! The birthday is saved!!
We have arranged for a moving company to come get our things on Monday July 2nd. We will have to wait in KG for five days for our things to arrive. Please ask for mercy in an extra measure during this time of transition. Next week, June 14th-17th, Carissa and Abishai will go to KG to secure an apartment. Please ask for the perfect place to be obvious to her. We don't want to move again for a long time!
Be Blessed!
the Reeves
