China.

Dear Friends,

I would like to welcome you to my blog. As many of you know I have spent the last three weeks in Beijing, China. I will be spending the next 10 months here, and while I'm here I would like to keep you all posted with the many things that have been going on in my life.

The last three weeks have been a blur, but here's the breakdown. I make it to China safe and sound. On the flight to Newark, my eardrum nearly exploded, but other than that everything went smoothly. The flight from Newark to Beijing was probably the most difficult part of the whole trip, simply because it was when reality finally set it. I was in a row of strangers on a plain full of Asians with a TV screen loaded with movies and a hot dog in a plastic wrap.When you have a hot dog in a plastic wrap, you can't sleep, and all the tension from leaving your friends and family behind hits what can you do but pr*y.

I love the food in China, I love the people, and I love my job. Currently my teaching job is rather cushy. I teach a total of ten periods a week! All the same lesson! Not only that Micah and I co-teach. Supposedly things will change. Micah and I are suppose to have our own classes and we are suppose to each teach 2o periods a week., but who knows if this will ever happen.

Friday was Teacher's Day. Teacher's Day in China is serious business. Every teacher receives a multitude of gifts. I received a crazy pen, a few journals, some awesome cards, a wooden key chain, a fake flower, and a feminine clover leaf necklace. What made it so much fun was not expecting all of these things.

My other full time job is always slowly gaining speed. Teaching from the Word is incredible. So far I have experience one study and taught one CSI class. Micah and I co-teach catechism. This is incredible. Our students are on fire for the Word. The fellowship warms your heart and makes you excited to be a Christian. The passion that my brothers and sister have is phenomenal many of them spend at least 3 hours at various studies throughout the week. Next week I think that I will be attending at least 5 studies and teaching 3.

I spend a lot of my other time trying to place myself in uncomfortable situations. I think that this has been an effective way to fledge into Chine culture. I have a few good stories from the last few weeks involving this third pastime. They include trips to the Great Wall, Wal-Mart, the Bird's Nest, the Watercube, the Beijing Zoo, and the basketball courts.

This is the reason that the background image for my blog is a basketball court. I've played basketball at least five times and these experience are just awesome. Basketball has been my primary means for meeting people. My experiences have shown me that sport is the international bond between males.

Ms. Ella Bella, I miss playing with you. Make sure that Dolly doesn't get out of hand and if she does you should probably put her time-out.

I pray that all of you are experiencing the riches of God's grace, and that God continues to challenge all of you in order that you place all of your trust in him.

Matthew James Werner