China Post 1

After a short stopover in Singapore, we flew to Guangzhou and arrived there at around 11:30am. We thought that we may have to wait until 8pm to fly from there to Guiyang but Alfred managed to get a 3pm flight and we arrived in Guiyang at 5pm. Guiyang is a large city and we were amazed by the number of tall buildings as well as the amount of construction taking place. We were picked up at the airport by bus and went to our hotel in the heartof Guiyang. The hotel was very nice (about 3 star by our standards). We ate at KFC - mostly for our children's sake - the last western food for about 2 weeks. It was all spicy and you could get a duck wrap as well as a chicken wrap.
We left at 8:00am the next morning (Friday) by bus for Kaili. We arrived at our hotel near lunchtime and after settling in we went over the road to a restaurant for lunch. Kaili is also a large city surrounded by farms and countryside. One thing I've noticed is the absence of birds and other wildlife - everything gets eaten. Both Kaili and guiyang were a constrast of wealth and poverty. There is western influence here especially in food and fashion but there is also a lot of traditional chinese culture.
We had meant to start teaching at the High School on Friday afternoon but the foreign affairs department heard of our arrival who contacted the city mayor who contacted the school principal to say that we were not allowed to do anyrthing at the school. Ben, Alfred and Alsie tried to get a meeting with the government officials to ask to be given permission to work in the school. We were given permission to visit the school and talk to the children that the Balwyn church sponsors but it looked like we would not be able to teach. After returning from the school on Friday afternoon we had dinner and met to talk and pray about the situation. We met again in the morning before breakfast to pray and we also heard that the principal had gained a hearing with the mayor amd government officials. At 10am we heard that we were allowed to enter the school and teach but we had to be careful not to talk about our faith.
So as it has turned out we have been teaching all day Saturday and today. It has been quite exhausting because we had only planned on teaching in the morning and having the afternoon for preparation. Annette and I are tired tonight. There are three teams of teachers and Annette and I are heading a team each. The kids are doing very well and are loving the adventure. They are very popular with the chinese children. We are building good friendships with the children at the school and it will be sad to leave on Tuesday.
Last night we went to a large restaurant which features traditional Miao food, music and dancing. The food was delicious - although there is quite a lot most of us don't dare to try. After eating we went outside and joined the tribal people in their traditional dancing. It was great fun. I seemed to be targeted throughout the night. When we were eating the waitresses came in and fed each of the men and then poured wine (or in our case - coke) down our mouths. All the men got the treatment once but I got it four times. When we danced outside we did a spiral and when we went past other people the Miao would bump you with their hip. I think everyone of them picked me out and bumped me when I went past. Then when the dance finished 6-8 women picked me up and hurled me into the air about four times. It was great fun and everyone was laughing - especially Annette and the kids.
Sorry it's been so long to get a post up - it's been hard to get an internet connection since we got to China.