Well I found an apartment, signed a contract (with Amelie's help), and I'm moving. Tonight. Without a car.
The plan is, to move all my things by taxi. It may take two trips. Doing this by hand signals alone is going to be challenging. Please pray for my safety and success.
P.S. I will probably be offline for a few days, until my Internet gets hooked up at the new place. Don't worry. Don't send any unnecessary e-mails. I'll post another entry when I'm back up. That's all for now.
21 August 2011
15 August 2011
Apartment Hunting
Well, I had some warning that I might have to move out of my current apartment. Sunday morning, however, in response to my e-mail, I was notified that I would indeed have to move out by the 23rd. That gives me a little over a week to find a place, sign a contract, and move.
Fortunately, I'm not completely on my own. Yi Feng has been very helpful. Yesterday, I met her after the first service (where she was serving as an usher), and explained the situation. She took me to an apartment agent, who was able to find a place for us to look at. (The agent tried to find more, but the owners were not available.)
The place we looked at (a 4th-floor walk-up) might have been OK, but the owner wanted too much money. (He was concerned about renting to a foreigner.) So, we left there, and the agent promised to find us a place. Yi Feng left her phone number with the agent.
After that, I needed oats, so we went to the open market. Then, leaving the open market by a different route, we got a little lost in the alleyway. But after walking for a little bit, Yi Feng recognized a school, and we found a stairway to an overpass which was part of a familiar road. Then, we found another rental agent, and he had some places he could show us.
The next place we looked at, a 3rd-floor walk-up, had recently been redecorated, so it was in pretty good condition. The only real problem was that the owner would not make any agreement until she met me, which can not happen until the 20th when she is back in town. That doesn't give me much time to move, or to find another place if she doesn't like me.
The third place we looked at, a 6th-floor walk up, was in pretty good condition. It had everything I needed, and the price was very reasonable. It did have a used ashtray, but I didn't notice much smoke smell. It was also available immediately.
I decided to put some earnest money down on 6th-floor apartment. The problem was, I didn't have enough cash on me, and I didn't have enough time to go to the bank before church. (Church was at 1:30, and it was then about 1 o'clock.) So, we agreed that I would come back after church, and put the money down then.
After church, we returned with the cash, only to find that, in the meantime, someone else had already seen the apartment, and put money down on it. Yi Feng was pretty angry at the agent for allowing this to happen. I was initially a bit upset, too, but I realized there was nothing that could be done about it. After a while, the guy offered me a discount on the agency fee for another apartment, but he didn't have anything he could show us right then. On Tuesday, he will have something he can show me, but I'll have to go alone, because Yi Feng will be busy. However, this guy speaks a little English, so I should be able to manage.
Prayer Requests
Please pray that God would help me get a good apartment. This is much more challenging than it would be in the U.S., and I don't have much time to look.
That's all I have time for right now. Thanks for praying. God bless.
Fortunately, I'm not completely on my own. Yi Feng has been very helpful. Yesterday, I met her after the first service (where she was serving as an usher), and explained the situation. She took me to an apartment agent, who was able to find a place for us to look at. (The agent tried to find more, but the owners were not available.)
The place we looked at (a 4th-floor walk-up) might have been OK, but the owner wanted too much money. (He was concerned about renting to a foreigner.) So, we left there, and the agent promised to find us a place. Yi Feng left her phone number with the agent.
After that, I needed oats, so we went to the open market. Then, leaving the open market by a different route, we got a little lost in the alleyway. But after walking for a little bit, Yi Feng recognized a school, and we found a stairway to an overpass which was part of a familiar road. Then, we found another rental agent, and he had some places he could show us.
The next place we looked at, a 3rd-floor walk-up, had recently been redecorated, so it was in pretty good condition. The only real problem was that the owner would not make any agreement until she met me, which can not happen until the 20th when she is back in town. That doesn't give me much time to move, or to find another place if she doesn't like me.
The third place we looked at, a 6th-floor walk up, was in pretty good condition. It had everything I needed, and the price was very reasonable. It did have a used ashtray, but I didn't notice much smoke smell. It was also available immediately.
I decided to put some earnest money down on 6th-floor apartment. The problem was, I didn't have enough cash on me, and I didn't have enough time to go to the bank before church. (Church was at 1:30, and it was then about 1 o'clock.) So, we agreed that I would come back after church, and put the money down then.
After church, we returned with the cash, only to find that, in the meantime, someone else had already seen the apartment, and put money down on it. Yi Feng was pretty angry at the agent for allowing this to happen. I was initially a bit upset, too, but I realized there was nothing that could be done about it. After a while, the guy offered me a discount on the agency fee for another apartment, but he didn't have anything he could show us right then. On Tuesday, he will have something he can show me, but I'll have to go alone, because Yi Feng will be busy. However, this guy speaks a little English, so I should be able to manage.
Prayer Requests
Please pray that God would help me get a good apartment. This is much more challenging than it would be in the U.S., and I don't have much time to look.
That's all I have time for right now. Thanks for praying. God bless.
07 August 2011
Chinese Lovers' Day
Saturday, August 6, was the Double Seven Festival, more commonly known in China as Lovers' Day. On Friday evening, as Yi Feng and I sat talking on a department store bench, she told me the legend on which this day is based. (Her story was slightly different from the Wikipedia version.) For most of Saturday, I was busy volunteering for Hudai Church, or traveling there and back. However, I arranged with Yi Feng to meet me in the New District, and we went out to dinner.
Most of my readers know that I don't have any experience with this sort of thing. However, this time I picked a good restaurant that she hadn't been to before (I had, with some school staff), and we got a private room. The meal was delicious, made all the more so by the excellent company that I had to share it with. We enjoyed ourselves immensely. Yes, I was a gentleman.
Prayer Requests
I can't imagine how I ever came to be this fortunate. I am truly grateful to God for bringing Yi Feng into my life. Praise God for his marvelous goodness to me!
Today, Yi Feng will take her mother to church in the morning. Mrs. Wu wants to see why this Christian thing is so important to Yi Feng. I will not be there. For one thing, that service is always extremely crowded. For another, it will all be in Chinese. I will try to meet them after the service.
So, please pray for that meeting, that it would go well. More importantly, please pray that Mrs. Wu's heart would be softened, and she would be open to the gospel.
Got to get ready to go. Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying. God bless.
Most of my readers know that I don't have any experience with this sort of thing. However, this time I picked a good restaurant that she hadn't been to before (I had, with some school staff), and we got a private room. The meal was delicious, made all the more so by the excellent company that I had to share it with. We enjoyed ourselves immensely. Yes, I was a gentleman.
Prayer Requests
I can't imagine how I ever came to be this fortunate. I am truly grateful to God for bringing Yi Feng into my life. Praise God for his marvelous goodness to me!
Today, Yi Feng will take her mother to church in the morning. Mrs. Wu wants to see why this Christian thing is so important to Yi Feng. I will not be there. For one thing, that service is always extremely crowded. For another, it will all be in Chinese. I will try to meet them after the service.
So, please pray for that meeting, that it would go well. More importantly, please pray that Mrs. Wu's heart would be softened, and she would be open to the gospel.
Got to get ready to go. Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying. God bless.
01 August 2011
Chinese History Lesson
Sunday was an exceptionally good day. It started with meeting Yi Feng at church, a few minutes before 8 a.m. That was just the rendezvous point. She had somewhere she wanted to take me, but she wouldn't say where. She just took me to the bus stop and looked at the table to find which bus to take. (I love dating a local Wuxi girl. I would be lost without her.) When the bus came, it was extremely crowded, but that was a good excuse to hold her close. :-)
When we got off, there was a small mountain in view with a traditional-looking Chinese tower at the top. We weren't going to the top of the mountain, but rather to the old-time, partially-restored Chinese town at its base. At first, I was too busy holding on to Yi Feng to remember my camera, but eventually she reminded me, and I did get some pictures.
I learned a bit about old Chinese life and customs. I also had a chance to see Yi Feng bargain when I wanted to buy her a hand fan. The original price stated was 10 RMB, which I thought was fair, but she bargained down to 6. I fanned her with it, and she showed me how well she could handle it. (It does take some skill.) Then, of course, I gave it to her for her to use.
After that, she wanted to take me somewhere else, somewhere indoors. First, however, we stopped at a place just across the street, where I could add more money to my bus card. Yi Feng made the transaction much easier. Then, after sitting and relaxing in the cool office for a little while, we went back to the bus stop, and took another bus downtown. Time, however, became a bit of a concern, and we decided to just have lunch, and save the other outing for another time. A dumpling place presented itself, which made a good lunch.
The rest of the day was pretty good, too. Yi Feng was baptized (sprinkling, for those who care), and she really valued my support, which touched me. After church, we went back to the New District, and successfully ordered two barrels of water for my apartment; a replacement and a spare. (Yi Feng was essential in that process.) Later, we went out to dinner, and then we went for a walk. Yes, that's it. What, you want details? MYOB. :-)
Prayer Requests
Firstly, praise God for Wu Yi Feng's baptism! As I said, this is a big deal in China. She was very happy about it. At the same time, please pray for her family. None of them currently believe in Jesus, and none of them were present to support her; only me. That was the only dim spot on what should have been a completely joyous occasion.
That's all I have time for now. Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying. God bless you.
When we got off, there was a small mountain in view with a traditional-looking Chinese tower at the top. We weren't going to the top of the mountain, but rather to the old-time, partially-restored Chinese town at its base. At first, I was too busy holding on to Yi Feng to remember my camera, but eventually she reminded me, and I did get some pictures.
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| Chinese Painting, Portrait View |
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| Chinese Painting, Landscape View |
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| Stone Pedestal of Unknown Use |
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| Water-Wheel for Irrigation |
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| Picture Showing Use of Water-Wheel |
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| Wicker Basket of Uncertain Use (I say it was a crib.) |
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| Strollers or Prams |
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| Chamber Pots and Wash-Basins |
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| Axi (AH-shee) |
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| Afu (AH-foo) |
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| Statuettes of Chinese Lovers |
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| Statuette of Dragon Puppet |
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| Statuettes of Statuette-Carvers |
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| Ancient Chinese Writing (Note the 3rd character down on the left-hand column. It's the "zhong" character, meaning "middle".) |
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| More Modern Chinese Writing |
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| Another Mode of Old Chinese Writing |
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| Fine Porcelain Seats Around a Table |
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| "Wu" Character, the Family Name of Wu Yi Feng |
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| Picture of Common Chinese Life |
After that, she wanted to take me somewhere else, somewhere indoors. First, however, we stopped at a place just across the street, where I could add more money to my bus card. Yi Feng made the transaction much easier. Then, after sitting and relaxing in the cool office for a little while, we went back to the bus stop, and took another bus downtown. Time, however, became a bit of a concern, and we decided to just have lunch, and save the other outing for another time. A dumpling place presented itself, which made a good lunch.
The rest of the day was pretty good, too. Yi Feng was baptized (sprinkling, for those who care), and she really valued my support, which touched me. After church, we went back to the New District, and successfully ordered two barrels of water for my apartment; a replacement and a spare. (Yi Feng was essential in that process.) Later, we went out to dinner, and then we went for a walk. Yes, that's it. What, you want details? MYOB. :-)
Prayer Requests
Firstly, praise God for Wu Yi Feng's baptism! As I said, this is a big deal in China. She was very happy about it. At the same time, please pray for her family. None of them currently believe in Jesus, and none of them were present to support her; only me. That was the only dim spot on what should have been a completely joyous occasion.
That's all I have time for now. Thanks for reading, and thanks for praying. God bless you.
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