Mongolia and China

They build things a lot here and when they talk it sounds kind of like slurping tea. I like that. Also pushing isn't rude, which is really interesting. If you bump someone's foot though, it's a really big deal and you have to shake hands quickly or they will probably hit you. It's a bit cold today, which is relief.

Beijing-Ulan Bator 30 hours of fun. Some things we saw from the train window : Wild horses, no roads and the Gobi desert. Camels too. And the great wall of China. Inside the train. Loads of lovely people. I made friends with these Chinese American kids and we played cards a lot. Lots of unrude pushing too.

In China spitting isn't rude. It's not uncommon for middle aged WI style women to "hock a lougie" as the Americans would say. Also a lot of leaning over delicately pinching one nostril and violently cleansing the other at your feet. It's beautiful. Not making noise while you eat is rude too. Slurping is required. Staring isn't rude either. Most of the places we were in China no westerners at all go. In one villages they had never seen white people. So there was a LOT of staring. Everyday someone had to have there photo taken with people. In one school I had to give autographs. It is so weird. They all think we are so beautiful too. The other day I was compared to David Beckham. You have permission to laugh heartily.

Seriously China is an amazing country. No wonder Paddington was so cool. All the rice paddies and noodles and 1.3 billion people. It's cool. In heaven one in four people will be Chinese. On Earth it's about one in five. I'm pretty sure that's relevant.

So I'm in this tiny hut in a village in China watching some American B movie on DVD by the open fire in the middle of the room. There are six boys in the room and a couple of Grand parents. They have to turn THE bulb out to put the TV on. It's a weird world seriously. It's hard not to see westernism as some kind of foul disease which is slowly eroding all variety in the world. Bringing a uniformity stamped and trade marked by a large yellow M and a starbucks logo. It makes me sad, but so too does under nourished and ignored kids and maybe Westernism has something positive to say to them.

Pray for all our health. I got a bit sick and the others are sick now too. Rice three times a day is not great for our pet bodies. Food in Mongolia is way more varied it seems. Last night at a Mongolian restaurant I had shepherd's pie. So weird. How did Shepherd's pie make it to Mongolia? To be honest guys I probably spend at least 80% of the time completely confused.

foreigners aliens strangers in this world, in every world maybe. We're praying to God for all our needs and He never disappoints. The other day we need train tickets there were none. We prayed, then there were six cancellations, all beside each other. He is so good to us. So much more. Helping Angels everywhere. Insight, truth. It's much better to hear in person. So pop over and I'll fill you in.