you are in my thoughts...

hey to all...
i hope my last posting and this posting are actually posted...i cant really read anything on the screen except what i type so i hope that its working correctly...well, im here in our city and our team of 5 is back from our first trip to the countryside...it was awesome! we hiked a long way and i got my first shower of the week yesterday, so that was nice...i trust that you all are doing well at home! i miss you all so much...im learning so much here!! the food is amazing and im picking up the language somewhat decently...our leader is a stallion on the language...he speaks like 4 or 5 dialects and doesnt even care!! im learning so much from him...so far i have had a great time with the bros and we are getting along just fine...t-burk, jamies, d.o., peeps, and i are needing you to lift us up when you get a chance...mostly ask that we would get done what father wants to get done...that we would remove ourselves from the attention and that serving him would be our focus...

this is a beautiful place...there are mountains in every direction...jody you would love it here...minus all the people that talk extremely loud...how is work going? are you the head architect yet?...good...my pack is working great and its a perfect size for my necessities, which boast mainly water...last night i got to play ping pong for the first time on the street and it was a blast. i played some street dude who was apparently betting people...he called me out and i followed suit...i lost 12-14 but was rather excited at my effort...i think he could have beaten me worse but maybe i can test him again next weekend...

as foreigners we draw a crowd everywhere we go...at first it was awesome and most of the time funny but when we are in small villages it hinders our progress somewhat...(that is a situation that you could lift up for us when we are out in the countryside)...

mom, we got to visit a school (200-300 kids) the other day and you will love seeing the pics from that...they were so excited slash freakin out...we got to go around and introduce ourselves to a few of the classes and they were very sweet kids...how is school?..i hope it is going well...im continually lifting up your patience...

dad, you would love the countryside as well...the mountains and streams are beautiful and the people are so kind...i dont think you would like the food or the tea though...(no sugar and lots of leaves)......how is the golf?
when i get back i will be ready to take you on again with more vigor...

i look at yalls pics often and am constantly thinking about what yall are doing when im walking...like right now jody is prolly getting close to bed in about an hour because its 9:59pm and mom is tired too...dad is still hanging in there by the t.v....ya know stuff like that...

there are a few things that chinese people love and i will share them with you all:
cell phones, leather cell phone belt clips(males), kenneth cole style shoes(males), staring at americans, being really loud, the color blue...the list goes on but i will save some for later.

ambbbberrr, jrod, agoad, blake, kstew, areuben, and others that i miss a lot...you guys are awesome and i think about you so much when im walking...amber when i get back we are getting some sonic and we are gonna eat cookies too!! jrod...golf without a doubt...amber i was gonna send you a bday card to 1107 gridiron but im not sure if thats the right address and now i wont have time to send you a bday card before your bday(it takes like 2 weeks)...sorry girl...but email me your address so i can send you something sometime...agoad, you tear up that camp this week...love on em hardcore...

im sorry all that this is the most randomly put together blog of all time...but im out of practice and have so much to say...A-reuben if you are reading this i hope that you are getting deep in your swords lately and that you are learning so much...

if there is one thing that i have learned so far it is that i take fathers blessings for granted...these people have nothing and i have everything and more and still i ask for more...forgive my selfishness...

i wish you all the best and know that im thinking of you often...