We've been on a retreat this weekend. Yesterday, L. was feeling pretty bad today. Nevertheless, we went to the retreat that was organized by our local study group. We had to wait first until a torrential thunderstorm had passed. We took a taxi to Nanhu Hotel (right next to the Happy Hippo water park) where we checked into our room on the fourth floor. It was a bit unkempt, with peeling wallpaper, old carpet, and crayon markings on the wall. But it was air-conditioned and it had a nice view.
We watched M. and S. (the boys I teach piano) take up fishing for a while. Then L. and I on a paddleboat for an hour...It was a pretty calm, humid day. They had motorboats for rent as well. Afterwards, we had dinner at the hotel with the fellowship group.
At 7:00 pm, M. and S's mother led a study in Chinese. Her husband and L. weren't there, since they're not familiar with the language. I attended and was able to follow most of what was shared. Not everyone believed, but those that didn't asked good questions. At times, it got emotional, as people shared some personal feelings. S. and his wife, J, spirited discussion between each other about different approaches people have developing their faith. J. was anxious for S. to believe and S. feels he needs to think it through. I shared a bit about Nicodemus and the Samaritan woman at the well...sharing mainly in English.
L. had a hard time sleeping...We went to bed amidst thunder and lightning and she didn't sleep at all. It's pretty difficult for her to sleep in a comfortable position these days...from what we've been told...it's only the beginning...
This morning, L. was not doing well at all. The thunder kept her up most of the night, so she finally went to sleep around 8 this morning. I let her sleep while I went downstairs to get some breakfast. L. and I had a good talk about ourselves and the baby. She wasn't feeling well, so we checked out. There were no taxis available (being as remote as this place was), but a bus did go by. We caught it and went a little ways out to catch another bus. L. got off at the main campus, while I went ahead to the three-self for the afternoon study.
Arriving back home, I learned that the power was out the entire day, which made things quite miserable for L...who was looking forward to catching up on sleep with air conditioning. This had not been a good weekend for her.
