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| Meet my girl CM. She's one of my closest sisters here in Gcity way too many reasons to publically list online. Much like the life I lived back home, there's always something to do, meetings to run to, people to meet up with, etc. It's rare that CM and I actually get to do something fun and not work related.
Tonight while we were walking around the night market after our meeting, she turns to me and says..... "Anna I think you're just so cute! Every time I think of you and when I see you, I just want to smile." (She should've stopped right there.) " You remind me of a round ball every time I see you!"  I clarify and ask...."What do you mean round ball What does the ball represent?" CM explains....."You know how a ball is round all over. That reminds me of you." "OH OK!!!So you literally mean I remind you of a ball." Great, glad I got that cleared up.
Funny thing is, I didn't mind one bit! We both just started laughing and surprisingly, it made me feel all warm inside my puffy jacket just thinking about it! Maybe I've been living overseas too long, but these little comments don't even phase me anymore. While we were walking along, I saw this stand selling winter coats for 35rmb (4 dollars) so the Chinese in me comes out and you know I'm flipping through the stacks and stacks of coats to find me a deal. I finally find one with no goddy flowers, sparkles or embroidery all up on it and I turn to the owner and ask...."will this fit me or am I too fat?" I never thought I'd ever ask that, but heck, I ain't taking off my warm puffy jacket and scarf to try on something on if I can just ask the owner if it'll fit or not. Cause we all he's gonna tell me whether I like it or not anyways. So yes, it's been a fun filled night with CM and now I'm gonna roll myself to the bedroom and roll into my bed.
Meet CM, who fancies me for being round like a ball!
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| One of the great things about living in China is the daily interaction with people that never seems to happen back home. We have the chicken lady at the chicken market, who sells frozen, boneless, skinless chicken breast, which all the foreigners know about. And it's really not just a chicken market, but it's where the chicken lady's stand is, so we've termed that market the chicken market. Then there's the sponge cake lady who sells sponge cake of all different shapes and sizes at the chicken market. And of course there's fruit lady, banana guy, corner store girl, bakery girl, corn guy, handy man, electric bill guy, water guy, nail place girls, facial girl, fabric lady, etc. New conversations to be had with every one of these people on a daily basis.
Today, I'm just going to tell you about egg lady. The first time I went to the egg lady, I was shocked at how nice her eggs were! I mean HUGE in comparison to the other vendors right next to her, for the same price eggs. I bought my usual dozen, which always leave people perplex, especially when the price of eggs go up to .55rmb per egg instead of the usual .5rmb. I don't really care if they think I'm an idiot cause I get 12 instead of the obvious 10. I'm use to getting a dozen eggs! Shot me. (on a side note, the egg compartment in my frig holds 13 eggs  yeah... why?) Anyhow, I was all happy the first time I saw her cartons of eggs and starting picking through the basket to carefully select my dozen. When suddenly, my ears nearly deafen at the horrid question that came out of egg lady's mouth......"Are you pregnant or just fat?" I know I'm a little round in the middle, and I've got me my share of wobbly bits, but I hardly think I look even remotely PREGNANT!!!! My response to her horrid question was....."No I'm not pregnant, I'm just fat!"  To which, her and the egg lady in the next stool just laughed.
So for months, I boycotted egg lady and refuged to buy eggs from her. Even though the other vendors had eggs of lesser quality than hers, I just couldn't bring it upon myself to subject myself to the devil egg lady.... haha! Deviled eggs... get it? Anyhow, I have searched high and low for months and all over town to try and find another egg vendor who offers eggs even vaguely similar to the quality that my egg lady has, but to no avail. I've even been willing to lower the bar a little, yet none. I've had to swallow my pride and go back to the o.g. egg lady. Sadness overwhelms me that I have to go back to the one who mistaken me for being pregnant! But what I am to do? She's got the best eggs in town. I figure in the end, all that matters to me is getting what I want who cares if she thinks I look pregnant?  Maybe she'll even give me a couple free eggs next time?
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| Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now am found
Was blind but now I see
Over 600 students sat and listened intently as J and I proclaimed the testimony of our lives before an audience of One through the gift of music that only He can give to us. What an amazing blessing to be able use the gifts of singing and playing that He only has given us to share about the Truth. I love every opportunity I can get to share the Truth, but even more so when it's through song, which rarely happens here. Oh, but when an opportunity arises like it did two nights ago, I seize it and it's absolutely exhilarating for me!
Thank you all for your faithful petitions on behalf of the singing. Even in the cold, all I could think about how good Father is in giving us more than we could ever have imagined. Never would I have thought that I'd be able to sing in Gcity? I thought for sure my singing days were over when I left home. And not only did I get the chance to sing before a crowd who of students who needed to hear the Good News, Father even provided an amazing guitar player to accompany me on stage, right here in Gcity! Our Father rocks! November 2nd is definitely up there as being one of my favorite nights in Gcity.
Enough about the evening, here are some pictures of how my singing career all got started in Gcity...... Enjoy!
It all started when a couple students asked me to sing with them for the school's opening ceremony a couple weeks ago.
 
Little did I know when I committed to sing with my students the song they'd pick for me. We won't go there with the song they picked. All I have to say is.... if I never sing a country song again, it'll still be too soon.
 
I did have a great time with my students and of course, it got my name out there as being the "foreign" teacher from America.
 
And of course, what "foreigner" doesn't have foreigner friends? I rounded up my most foreign looking friends and brought them along to give me more face. In exchange for some yummy dumplings after the show.
 
As a result of singing for the opening ceremony, I was invited to judge the school wide Foreign Language singing competition as one of 3 foreign judges! I had to take a picture of this guy who tried out with the accompaniment on his cell phone! Needless to say, he wasn't one of the finalists.
The big day! Before the show, J and I do a run through in preparation for our big moment to Shine!
Finally, our moment to proclaim the Truth! PTL for the chance to use our gifts for the purpose of kingdom work. I loved every minute of it! Thank you Warriors for all the encouragements and petitions!
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