A Day in the Life...

Its Spring now, and that means we're back into the full swing of things. From January until the beginning/mid March, everyone takes a Xiou Xi (break) for holiday. But, like I said, its spring now.

Spring means that we'll see flowers bloom, buds on the trees, green grass, and lots of wind and dust. (Hello alergies!) From what we understand, our city doesn't actually go into full "bloom" until May.

Spring also means that the nomads go back to the plateau...
(This photo is of us walking through a huge valley on the plateau loaded with nomad tents and LOTS of yaks walking around us:)

...also, the orphans are sent back to school at the orphanage, the prostitutes are all back in town to work on the streets, and all the shops are open and operating.

So, like we said, we're back into the full swing of things.

Here is a summed up version of our "day to day" schedules. Every day of the week actually looks quite different, but this gives you a basic idea:

Monday - Friday:
6:30- Justin is reading the bible
7:00 - Shelli is up "getting ready", still waking up and drinking coffee. Ha ha.
8:15- We're off to language class
12:30- Lunch
1:00 - Justin is coaching the baseball team of T.betan students at our University
1:00 - Shelli (Tues/Wed) is doing work with prostitutes and /or reading the bible.
1:00 - Shelli (other days) is studying and practicing language.
2:30 - both of us back to school for language
4:30 - Shelli buys groceries at local market (using language skills) for dinner.
4:30 - Justin is studying and practicing language.
6:00 - Dinner and catch up on homework and other stuff.
6:00 (Tuesdays) - Dinner with team and prayer time

Saturday:
Fun day with friends, visiting the orphans, and other stuff.

Sunday:
Fellowship day and rest.

We have a (possible) opportunity coming up to start teaching weekly at the orphanage. We would probably come in as teachers assistants for now, then in the future take on a class of our own. We're pretty excited about it. This will force us (in a good way) to use our language, and also get to know the orphans better that we've come to love.

Also...there is a hand full of women here in town (the group that Shelli is teaming with) that eagerly want to offer hope and opportunities to get the prostitutes off of the street. Their first step / dream is to open up a "safe house". This "safe house" would be an apartment that is available 24 hours a day for the women to come and take showers, retreat...refresh...renew their minds...and rest. They want to have it furnished with comfortable furniture, all utilities, appliances and necessities. The team is still working out the logistics behind it. Some may possibly be taking a trip to Hong Kong to speak with a woman there that has successfully done the same thing in her city.

The harvest is plenty...but the workers are few.

Praises:
-We have a new bathtub!! It even drains!!!! Wow.
-We just celebrated 6 wonderful years of being married.
-We're actually getting a refund on our taxes.
-Shelli's Dad's health is better.
-Our team leaders finally got their car out of the shop.

Prayer:
-Our townhouse has still not rented. We desperately need someone in there, and quick.
-The wind and dust is causing alergy issues and head colds.
-Please pray that Shelli will be healed of blood pressure issues and can go completely off of her daily medication.