Lewes DE, canal

Bethany Beach, DE

So we get to the beach on Sunday morning. Head to the pool not long after that. After dinner we decide to head to the beach just to take some photos and see the ocean.

Well that turned into full out playing in the ocean. My sweet mom is so wonderful. She is fully clothed and by the end her pants were soaked up to the pockets.

Lilia was just splashing in the waves when she fell over. She got all sandy and wet so the shirt came off. By then it didn't matter to her and she was playing deeper into the waves.

I can't even tell you the change this is from last year. Two years ago we were at the DE beaches when she saw a fisherman catch a 3 ft shark. That moment did her in. Last year she didn't even let the ocean so much as tickle her toes. This year from the first moment she was full on in the ocean...and LOVING it! Any time we were at the beach, she wanted someone's hands and was jumping in the waves. It was so wonderful to enjoy it with her!

At the boardwalk in Rehoboth

Grandparents & grandchildren

I like this first picture because no one is looking at the camera and is doing their own thing. Perfectly candid, especially with kids.

Future BB player

I'm not kidding when I say future basketball player. At 20 months Alex is very obsessed with sports, particularly basketball and baseball. However, he hasn't fully experienced Eagles season in the Brindley home.

My mother-in-law got Alex this adjustable net and he plays everyday. He makes it in quite a bit. I keep raising the bar. He's master up to the 3rd rung so far.

Exploring Philly

Here are the kids at Philadelphia's Horticultural Center just off of Belmont Ave, right near the 76 entrance. It was so beautiful and just around the corner!

Happy Father's Day

To Dave,

a wonderful father to our children!

Acting 101

One of the things we invited international students to was a game night. We played some fun games, then divided up into 4 groups.

Each group acted out the story of the Prodigal Son, from the Gospel of Luke in the Bible. The twist was that there were 4 different endings. Then after all the hilarious acting was over we got back into those groups to discuss what we observed and liked about the story.

It was an interesting night that led to some neat discussion. One girl in my group had come to the BBQ and she also came to Chinese church with us. Sunday night she called her parents in China and told them she wanted to become a Christian. Her parents forbid her to become a Christian because they are Buddhist. (Not a very common belief for that generation.) The next morning (same day as this game night) she cried over her parents decision and asked God what to do.

You may think to yourself, "Well she's in college now, as well as on her own in another country. Why can't she just do what she wants?"

That's where cultures are very divided. We come from a VERY independent culture. Once your 18, for the most part, you are free to make your own decisions and become the person you want to be. Which is a huge reason why Dave and I love working with college students!

However, in Chinese culture, parents are so respected and so revered that the son/daughter never really grow independent of their parents, but often make decisions to please them. There are great benefits to their culture, but also some drawbacks.

So we encouraged our friend, after she told us that night that if it was up to her, she for sure would become a Christian, to pray for God to change her parent's hearts. I don't remember her name, but lift her up in prayer right now.

A tour of Harvard University

Lilia's Quote of the Day

"What age will I turn next dad?" -Lilia

"What comes after 4?" -Dave

"5! Then what will I turn?" -Lilia

"6. Then what comes after 6?" -Dave

"I don't know. 11-teen." -Lilia (She does know how to count.)

"No, 7 silly." -Dave

"Oh, is that when you get a phone, and an Ipod?" -Lilia

Boston Trek summary

Boston was unbelievable. It was SO worth going. It was worth leaving behind Dave and the kids. It was worth sleeping on an uncomfortable bed in a dorm room. It was worth long days and averaging 7 hrs of sleep each night. (And if you know me at all, that is not much sleep for me!) It was worth trekking around Boston the city, Boston University and lots of train rides on the "T." It was worth buying a BJ's membership which will now last me the next 14 months. (I got a really good deal.) It was worth eating lots of Chinese food, most of it very delicious, some not so good.

I am home with a greater love for the Chinese people. I love our job!!!!! I can't wait to go cherry picking this Saturday with Chinese students. I am home having grown closer to Jesus. I am home feeling so refreshed spiritually! (That side of me is so quenched at home with 2 little ones.)

There are so many "bests." The best part was hearing amazing testimonies of these Chinese students coming to America, meeting Christians, going to church, crying at the lyrics, asking questions and eventually accepting Jesus as their Saviour. The best part was seeing the incredible heart these students have to share the gospel. The best part was all the laughs! The best part was teaching the girls about surfing, which one girl Xia (sha) will try to learn when she goes back to NC.

But, the BEST, BEST part was the as a result of all the prayer, building relationships, and sharing the Good News of Jesus, is that 6 people have now gone from darkness to light. 6 people; Japanese, Korean & Chinese have moved from being an enemy of God to becoming his child.

It was so amazing!!!!!!!!

(more stories & pics to follow in the coming days)

SIgnatures

This is Hanqi (pronounced: Han chee) & Kameryn. I mentored Hanqi. She was amazing. She has only been a Christian for 4 months. The reason why she signed up to come to the Boston Trek was because she wanted to share the gospel with others!

Kameryn is the 9 yr old daughter of our director and Dave's boss, Steve. She is so sweet.

Well Hanqi had the brilliant idea of taking Kameryn out with her around the student union to gain international student's signatures. This was just a way to invite them to a BBQ later that night. Hanqi and Kameryn got the most signatures out of all 18 Chinese students that came to Boston on the trek! Smart girl!

The men grilling for the BBQ

Games, food and the gospel

Our first outreach was a BBQ for international students. Everyone gathered together at the park on the Charles River. The night started off with fun games as the grills heated up and the food cooked. After eating the students got into groups of about 6 to answer life questions. "What's enjoyable about America?" "What's difficult about being here?" Questions along those lines. As the sun went down we began to shiver in the cold. Students we invited to the BBQ from Boston University's campus began to leave, but our students were determined that they would hear the gospel. Some of our students ran after people as they were leaving only to sit down with them and share the gospel. Hun Lihai! (That means "very intense" in Chinese, and I mean that in a good way.) As a result of their eager hearts, 4 international students became Christians that night!

Some of the same students from the BBQ came out to other events we held throughout the week. It was amazing!

My roommate Lauren, interning with Bridges in Houston, was such a servant. She was always willing to help with whatever was needed.