A different kind of Friday

I'm still figuring out how to spend my time on the weekends here in Tuscaloosa. I'm caught between being friends with students, wanting to go visit friends in other cities and not quite being close enough to friends from church and the community to hang out. I was thinking this weekend I would go camping by myself to get away from town and get some time to think and such. Elaine sent me a text last night asking if I was going to Chinese Church, because her and Blair wanted to go. I thought it was a good opportunity to take them and introduce them to a really good thing going on in town.

Its a totally different kind of Friday night. I called YuShan and she thought it started at 6:30, so thats what time we showed up. Turns out, it doesn't start until 7:30, so the three of us sat in the church for an hour just catching up and talking. A few minutes before 7:30, people began filing in. I introduced the girls to some of the people I had met in the past and soon, church had begun. 

Let me set the scene for where we were. We were sitting the basement of a church, with song books and bibles in hand, all in Chinese, a computer and vpu hooked up to face a screen and a podium with a man speaking. A woman played a few songs and people sang songs of praise. Everything was done in Chinese, with the exception of welcoming us. 

My mind went in and out of focus, as I can't really understand what they are talking about. All I could think about was how great it was that this existed. In the middle of the town I lived, is a gathering of Chinese believers, praising God. They praise God in their language, and God understands. They speak of the Gospel and invest in each others' lives. Its just encouraging. After the message, we broke up in a small group and talked about what true love meant. For the first few minutes, I just listened to the others discuss. Then they asked me. I was a little surprised. I had no idea what they had already discussed or the nature of their answers, but I went for it and told them what I thought true love was. I told them that to me it meant to be known and still loved, it was unconditional, and always forgiving. They liked that. I felt valued and welcomed.

The group is so funny. They make a lot of jokes...which I don't know what they are, I just know everyone laughs a lot. When they talk, they smile. And they are always willing to talk to me. Its such a wonderful place. After the service, they had snacks for everyone and we hung around to talk to people. Overall, it was a really great night. I'm glad the girls got to come with me and I'm so thankful to have found such a great group. 

Oh yea, I saw Ping again tonight and she still wants to tutor me. She is pretty insistent. That could be interesting...I'll keep you posted on that!