Touched by the Stans

I was away on assignment to teach on a DTS in an anonymous area (the base would call it "East Asia"). This has gotta be one of the most touching trips in recent years. Look what the students gave me at the end of the week:

Totally unexpected... they don't own much yet dug into their possessions to produce things like: a travel set of fork/spoon/chopsticks; a notebook with verses written inside; Khyrgystan memorabilia that evoked my own memories of a past trip; bracelets, mirror, and most touchingly - a watch given by a father to a daughter, her 'jia chan' (family inheritance); even a staff hurriedly passed me a new blouse she had bought just before she left for a trip. *sniff*

Oh man, I didn't know how to react... I felt so bad, yet moved at the same time.

Also, I was very grateful to the YWAMers for coming alongside me to help me out with my airfare. In 2 hours, my entire airfare was covered after various ones came by to stuff notes into my palms. My pocket was full of money when I walked out out the lounge! Plus, money kept coming in, because I had to book my Japan air ticket! I could use the abundance of blessings for my next trip =)

I guess it's people who live by faith who give the most, who are the richest.

Here's the most exciting day of the trip - going with CM and Jane to visit the migrant people.
In we go!

We had to go through a tunnel, and weave through narrow, dusty, uneven paths to get there.... CM and Jane cracked me up in their heeled shoes (looking like local women!) and chanting "xi(2) guan(4) le(3)" (used to it already). Really localised already, those two!
Negotiating the tunnel.
When is it gonna end???
Eeks, watch your head ahead....
Finally, reached! Happy man welcomes us. He's a junk collector by profession, and has a family to feed.

Our purpose in going to this home was to find out what the teenage son's dreams and interests are, so they could find a course to enrol him in. As he's been cutting school, he needs to be equipped with a skill for his future. True enough, he told us he enjoys repairing appliances. The team is gonna put in money for his skills training, which counts as a big help to his family who lacks funds for his schooling.

Wow, this is what I call, Championing Young People. Helping them realise their worth and destiny. It's what we were created By God to do on this earth.
Funny things spotted on the way out: chicken backsides being fanned by an electric "fly-disperser"!
Street scene at migrant community. Bah Bah Sheep...
At K&V's cafe, V teaching the staff how to make healthy smoothies. Note Ken's new Terminator haircut. Very sexy.