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Date: Sun, 25 Dec 2011 Dear Family and Friends, If you see this headline tomorrow, "CHINESE POLICE SET UP ROADBLOCKS AROUND CHURCH BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE!", the important thing to remember is that the roadblock was set up by the traffic police to facilitate crowd control--more details below and photos to illustrate attached. Well, Christmas Eve is over here in Chengdu already, and we’d like to let you know how it went. On our way to church we passed some seasonal sidewalk food—roasted sweet potato, pineapple, and boiled spicy peanuts. We were a bit surprised to see that the road leading to the church was blocked off by the police. “Is this a Christmas Eve issue?” I asked the officers sitting in the truck. They nodded. The road was blocked at the other end of the block, too. People could walk in, ride a bike or scooter in, but they would have to park elsewhere. For the evening, the street in front of the church was designated as a walking street in order to accommodate the huge crowd that was expected. Sending our best wishes, love and prayers to you this Christmas! Todd, Jeanette, Claire and Kate
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* * * * * * * * * * * November 6, 2011 Dear family and friends, The screensavers this month feature two of Todd's students, Carol and Maya in what was obviously not a photo op, and the second illustrates where cyclists keep their umbrellas when it is neither sunny nor raining. This is the link mentioned in the Red Flag. It's a short clip from a Saturday evening worship service: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcFLTzF8ye4 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Easter Greetings from Sichuan! There are many different shrubs and trees in Chengdu that stay green all year around. There is one type of tree in particular that is very plentiful. The leaves are enormous. The girls used to use them as dinner plates for their dolls or to wrap precious stones. About this time of year, though, these trees are really not looking that great. These large leaves are tattered and torn. They have been coated with the black sludge that fills the air, partially washed by rain, only to be coated again. Some are grey/green, others are yellow/brown. They make for very sad looking trees. I am afraid I have been feeling like this tree lately. Maybe I have been looking like it, too! There is a lot to be down about – you watch the news. Here, most of the MPC teachers have gathered together to celebrate Easter and we are also saying formal goodbyes to colleagues who are leaving MPC this summer. They have worked alongside us for years and we really don’t know how we will do without them. This particular group that is leaving is a very talented, committed group. At the same time, we hear that others who we were hoping to join us have made the decision not to come. I spent last fall trying to understand the amazing changes that have happened with the church partners while we were gone for two years. I have spent this spring dealing with the reality that change happens slowly and sometimes it’s two steps forward, one step back. The seminary which was going to open this fall has been put on hold for another year. This is disappointing, but I respect their decision to want to do this well, rather than quickly. Increased government scrutiny seems to be happening both in churches as well as in schools, which decreases trust, and increases suspicion. Rocketing food prices are increasing the already huge gap between rich and poor that we see around us. Misunderstandings. Budget cuts. Working with real people in ministry in a real world is messy, just like the tree. But suddenly, literally overnight, the wind blows those old leaves off and you realize that they have been hiding huge buds of new leaves. These buds unfurl the lightest, greenest leaves you have even seen. They almost glow! Within a day or two they are as big as your palm, and the entire tree is draped in a robe of light green silk that floats gently in the breeze. It is breathtaking. You can’t believe it is the same tree. There is almost no resemblance. This is the kind of resurrection world we live in. It is really all around us, just as surely as the ugliness. This is also the resurrection world that is to come. “Listen, I will tell you a mystery! We will not all die, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. When this perishable body puts on imperishability, and this mortal body puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will be fulfilled: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’” Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” May God bless you as you live in reality of the resurrection. The Lord is Risen! Jeanette Hanson * * * * * * * * * * * Greetings from Sichuan, We are seeing signs of spring here with the peach blossoms beginning and the a few buds turning green on the willow trees. I saw a wonderful kingfisher the other day, brilliant turquoise, but the girls tell me that they have seen him several times this winter. We hope that you will soon be also be seeing signs of spring where you are. Peace, * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Friends and Family, Todd has put together another Red Flag and called it November so it is my task to send it before November is over! I hope that this finds you well, warm, and eagerly awaiting the Advent of Messiah, God with Us! This month's screensaver puts you in our church pew in the balcony of Chengdu's Enguang Church (formerly known as the Gospel Church of the Canadian Methodist Mission). The building is more than eighty years old. Todd put together a short photostory on buying Bibles in Chengdu based upon what he's come across since the summer. You can view it here. (You can also view a number of other interesting images at the site, which is maintained by the International Guild of Virtual Peacemakers.) Peace be with you all, * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Friends, While I hear of excess water in Saskatchewan just in time for harvest, I invite you to think of those in Fujian who also experienced flooding and destruction and are now working to put their lives back in order following this disaster. I am very excited that the congregations in the China Vision group are finding ways to be responsible for their brothers and sisters and as Pastor Lu says "be part of the struggle". (see article attached) You are invited to also share this struggle with them. Help them to rebuild these church buildings in this next year. Let your Thanksgiving overflow as you also connect across barriers of culture, language and miles to "be part of the struggle" with your brothers and sisters. We wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving! May God bless your expressions of gratitude for the gifts we have been given and give you peace and joy. Jeanette and Todd Hanson * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Friends, With greetings sung out by the many toads outside our window, and the one that has become a pet for Kate. (I guess I should have agreed to the cat!) Thanks for your prayers and many messages. We appreciate your support for us during this time of transition. Todd and Jeanette Red Flag Report September 2010
* * * * * * * * * * * * Dear Friends, Here's a new Red Flag--direct from China this time. We've been in China five whole days now, and we're still feeling pretty overwhelmed. Yesterday, though, we signed a three-year lease on an apartment, and we move in next Tuesday. (When we asked if they could reduce the rent, they counter-offered by offering a three-year lease, which meant they would not be raising the rent on an annual basis, which is very common practice here. Moving from one apartment to another year after year is another very common practice.) The apartment is very close to the girls' school, but about eleven kilometres from Sichuan Normal University where I (Todd) will be teaching. My next purchase will be a bike. Thanks for your interest, and please feel free to pass this along to anyone else who might be interested in what's going on here. Todd |
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