China 2011 Travel Blog

Hearing in silence.

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 13:12:05 GMT

Somebody commented on my post about learning from other religious perspectives asking me to say something about the concept of quiet, and since I'm up at 7 am with a serious case of jet lag, I think I will approach that topic now that I've had a bit of time to decompress.

I'm still proceessing this read more...

Wrapping up.

Sat, 22 Jan 2011 03:00:46 GMT

Our time in China is drawing to a close and I have mixed feelings about that. On one hand, I can't wait to leave behind squat toilets (or trenches), mystery meats with lots of bones, and poor air quality for my poor asthmatic lungs, but I have so enjoyed all of the various experiences that I'm sad to read more...

We are still alive and... PANDAS!

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 12:40:50 GMT

My foot is almost good as new! Which is good because we have been doing some more walking. Yesterday morning we visited doctoral students and a professor of Religious Studies at Sichuan University here in Chengdu. It's very interesting that only one student is a Christian - the rest are studying for read more...

Surrender

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 13:19:48 GMT

Where do I begin with some of my reflections on what we have seen in China? There has been so much to observe and process that it is somewhat overwhelming. I am very thankful for the wonderful group of 7 that we have on this trip, but I am also thankful for the gracious hosts and guides that have been read more...

Inclusionism and other topics.

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 08:15:38 GMT

Today we began our morning with a trip to a Buddhist monastery to sit down with a Buddhist master and ask him questions about his religion and practices and relation to the people of faith in China. We heard a bit about the training that monks go through and what their lives are like, and even heard read more...

Jack and Jill Went Up the Hill...

Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:32:05 GMT

And up and down and up and down...

Today was certainly a day of many learnings. We have definitly left the glitter and lights of Hong Kong for rural China, a rare experience for Westerners. Nothing here is familiar - food, houses, roads, towns, driving, churches, language... all new and strange. This read more...

I must be funny

Sat, 15 Jan 2011 13:41:01 GMT

Today was a travel day as we left Hong Kong to enter mainland China. We are now in Xixong in the Sichuan Province. After one minor-ish hiccup (almost not having a plane ticket for Emily-the other, wiser one), we took a roughly two and a half hour flight followed by a three hour drive in a read more...

Inspired by compassion

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 15:21:25 GMT

Every so often (and perhaps not as often as I'd like), I am moved profoundly by persons whose lives exude compassion and tireless solidarity with those who are trodden under foot. Yesterday was one of those days.

Annaliese has been a mission worker with the Chinese Rhenish Church, Hong Kong Synod, read more...

To Market, to Market . . .

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 11:44:47 GMT

"Hong Kong was once called 'the Pearl of the Orient', now it is a massive shopping paradise and a land developers' gold mine." So began Dr. Kwok nai-Wang in his lecture on the history of Hong Kong and the church in Hong Kong earlier this week. Our visit here would make such a claim hard to dispute.

How Beautiful the Feet that Walk to Early Morning Chapel!

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 00:44:39 GMT

Tao Fong Shan Chapel

Every Friday at 7 AM this center holds a Eucharist service in the chapel, and this morning we were invited to join them. It was a simple but deeply meaningful service, very familiar in some ways but also very fresh and new in others. The reading of Scripture from Isaiah 52:7 - read more...

Questions on religious dialogue

Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:40:17 GMT

Today was my favorite day so far. We started out in a freezing cold, but interesting, lecture about Hinduism, Buddhism, and the folk religions (Taoism, Confucianism, and other folk beliefs). By the time our lecture was over, the clouds had cleared and it was starting to look like a beautiful read more...

Getting to know the people....

Wed, 12 Jan 2011 08:54:50 GMT

Today we learned more about the history of Christianity in China. Christianity first came to China in 635 C.E. (A.D.). Christianity has been brought to China a number of times and encountered a number of struggles including times in which Christians were oppressed due to their religion. read more...

AHHH-mazing

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 22:54:28 GMT

Good morning! It's been over a full day since we've posted on the blog. When we returned yesterday night, we went straight to bed because it was a long, exhausting, wonderful day. It opened our eyes, hearts, and minds to an expanse of issues, ideas, and questions. read more...

Some thoughts on the body of Christ

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 12:42:02 GMT

I was thinking of posting some pictures, but I got a really big blister from walking the town today, so I don't want to go back upstairs and get my camera. You'll just have to suffer through my text and look for pictures on facebook later.

Today was a pretty fantastic start to the trip. My roomie and read more...

First Full Day in Hong Kong!

Mon, 10 Jan 2011 09:27:19 GMT

It's 5:29 PM here in Hong Kong. Today was our "easy" day, where our host John took us all over Hong Kong. I had watery noodles for breakfast and it was really good! After that we went to a meat market where we saw hanging pig parts and beating fish hearts. Yum! ... NOT!

Then we went up a tram to the read more...

Arrived safely with only a couple minor hiccups...God is good!

Sun, 09 Jan 2011 22:46:27 GMT

At about 8:00pm China time (6:00am CST), our plane safely landed in the Hong Kong airport. It was a very long flight, but a good flight nonetheless.

The most beautiful part of the flight was when we were over Siberia. There was enough light to see mountains of snow and ice, frozen rivers and their tributaries, read more...

Are We There Yet?

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 02:02:35 GMT

I can hardly believe that it's almost here, that we're really doing this. We're going to China! Our bags are packed full of extra socks and kleenex, our cats are taken care of, our rides arranged, our mail held. All we need to do is get there.

But first... many many hours on airplanes!

One of the nice read more...

Before Leaving for China...

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:18:27 GMT

We welcome your prayers for safe travel for all participants on this China adventure. The group will head out this Saturday! The Luther Seminary students participating are Beau, Lydia, Nathan, Gwen, and Emily W. We also have Emily G. from PLTS (Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary in Berkeley, CA). read more...

Almost ready!

Thu, 06 Jan 2011 21:19:07 GMT

Well, the group departs in about two days and I'm starting to feel almost prepared. Having parents that are doctors makes it hard to get out of the country without every type of pharmaceutical known to humanity, so I have been making multiple daily trips to Target. I think the pharmacy techs are beginning read more...

Welcome to the China Blog!

Mon, 27 Dec 2010 18:53:01 GMT

Christmas greetings!

Our students and faculty are getting ready to head to China on Saturday, January 8, 2011. Keep your eyes on the blog for a greeting from the faculty leader, Dr. Theresa Latini.

We also need to post an ackowledgement of the beautiful pictures that form the header for the blog. The read more...