Jubilant Spirit

Picture Frames made by a few of my students!!

What a beautiful day! I am truly thankful for this beautiful day the Father has made!! It began early as I met one of my student's Susan for market shopping. We went to the local market and picked up several different vegetables to cook a meal with! When we got back, we washed all the vegetables, and then pealed two potatoes.... except, we pealed them using the handle of a SPOON! What the heck!? Yep, I had a knife, but Susan was very insistent that we use the handle of a spoon.. so I was ferocious scraping off the peel of the potato in order to be done with the mess, and Susan said, "slow down- we are not in rush". Come on Susan! You're killing me here! There are more convenient ways here! Well, eventually the other students joining us for the meal called her and she went downstairs to bring them all up to my apartment! Perfect! I grabbed the knife and began cutting the peel off! So sneaky, then when Susan came back in she said "ah you used the knife didn't you?!" Whoooopss...  Dang! I thought she wouldn't notice! And so I received a scolding! Anyways, when the rest of Susan's classmates (six more of them) walked in the door I was surprised because they had made me two beautiful gifts!! They were handmade cardboard photo frames with photos on them of the night I made jiao zi with them!! It was so adorable and I felt so loved! One of the frames even had Nike on it and a blonde girl... because on the first day of classes I told them I love Nike and running! What a blessing!!

Jack Black, me, Susan

me and my kids!! LOVE THEM!

Oh Susan surprised me on this one- kissing my cheek!

So as we made the meal and then sat down together to eat it, I was truly blessed. There is such a jubilant spirit among this particular class and group of students! They shared with me how they went to KTV (karaoke) last night for their "study- sister's" (classmate) b-day! Susan told me that one of the boys, Jack Black, had been dancing a lot during the KTV. I asked Jack Black to show me his dance moves after the meal was over and he consented! However, before we could get to his stellar dance moves, we had the funniest time during the meal! The students explained how each guy in the class has an "angel" assigned to him. So each boy get's a girl student in the class where they can call if they need help with things or what not.. I thought it was so adorable! Susan is Jack Black's "angel"! I loved the idea! The food was delicious, however, Jack Black (being the master chef) accidentally cooked everything with WAY too much salt so we had a good time teasing him about the meal! We even got laughing so hard at one point that he spit food out twice!! Once on the boy to his left, and to his great chagrin, once on me as I was sitting on his right! He hid his face from me for about fifteen minutes from embarrassment but I couldn't help but laugh-the boy is an absolute joy to be around! So contagious! After the meal, I had planned on providing dessert for the students- my favorite homemade choc. chip cookies! Unfortunately, they had found them far before the meal even began! So, they were demolished before the meal! And one student kept eating them, as he said "I just woke- up! I did not have breakfarst!" haha I love all the "r's" they place in random places in English words! Also after the meal, as promised, Jack Black busted out his dance moves. He began with a slightly inappropriate Michael Jackson move that I had to quickly discourage him from doing to him break dancing in my little living room! And, as if that wasn't enough, he moves me to the side and suddenly kicks his right leg high in the air and lands gracefully in the splits on the wood floor.... um, owww!! I was completely shocked! Where was this coming from??! Oh boy, such a sight! Then I got him to dance and I just imitated his moves- the kids loved this as I was not as a precise as Jack Black, but I was willing to try nonetheless! And the evening ended with a wonderful time of hanging out and eating out with David and Emily! I am so blessed to be here and in this place find joy and purpose!

PR's:
1. Our team is healing from a difficult week!
2. Full financial funding for me as I have about $1700 left to raise!
3. Continued discernment in the Spirit's leading!

How can I lift you up this weekend/week?

Blessings, Courtney