Spokane Trip May 2013

8-7-12 Tuesday, part 3 (last part)

OK, so, seriously Saje, we gotta get this moving along. If we don't, people will be hearing about our flight home from India on the one year anniversary of our flight there!

Tuesday evening was wonderful. After service and waffle-goodness (see earlier post) we headed back to the Kingdom Hall for dinner and a show. The friends had made tons of great food and set up buffet lines in the back of the hall. Here is a picture of the inside of the KH:

The evening started out with some interviews. Zane and I were interviewed about our involvement in the Hindi language field. The brother on the right was the interviewer and the sister in white was our translator. Another brother was interviewed about preaching in Hong Kong and Other lands, and lastly another delegate from US was interviewed about how he learned the truth. 

This sister played a medley of three or four Kingdom Songs that she had worked on, including percussion tracks that played on the keyboard. The young brother followed with a classical piece. At one point his music fell off the keyboard, but he stopped, put it back, and picked up again right where he left off. We were very touched by the amount of work and sacrifice and time that no doubt went into preparing for their performances.

Lastly we were serenaded with a classic Chinese folk song and three beautiful Kingdom Melodies. Our hearts were bursting with love for them when we heard their voices singing praise to Jehovah, even though in a language we do not understand.

At the end of the night, none of us wanted to leave. It didn't matter if they could not understand the words we were saying to them, we just kept telling them, "We love you and thank you."

Stay tuned for more from Hong Kong and India. I promise to keep each day in one blog post. :) 

8-7-12 Tuesday part 2

continued from Tuesday part 1...

Kowloon Walled City Park. 
After tour guide Carmie said the name about 3 times, I realized it wasn't her or me, it was the name I just couldn't understand. When I saw it printed I was like, oooooohhhhhh! 

This park, as you can tell by the name, used to be a city. Kowloon Walled City was a densely populated, largely ungoverned settlement that in the 60s and 70s was a haven for triads, prostitution, gambling and drug use. It was pretty much a free-for-all, with very little involvement from the government. (If you want to know more: www.lcsd.gov.hk/parks/kwcp/en/index.php) Anyway, the government eventually got fed up with the crime and squallor, demolished the city and made a park that opened in 1995. This is a small model of the city that took up only 6.5 acres.

The park is laid out in a classic Chinese garden style. Carmie gave us a short intro to Chinese gardens, because there is so much meaning behind the choice and position of every plant and structure. First of all, one is not supposed to see the whole garden from one point, parts are hidden from view on purpose to encourage exploration and discovery. Therefore one feature of a traditional Chinese garden is a big rock or wall blocking the view from the entrance. Usually as soon as you enter there is some obstruction. Also, much of the garden can be seen metaphorically. For instance, a rock can mean a mountain, a pond can mean an ocean. This make the garden not just pretty but meaningful. One last thing, many times the entrances to gardens and homes are flanked by couplets, one part of the poem on each side.

LUNCHTIME! We were pretty hot and tired by this time, so we headed toward the Kingdom Hall and a lunch spot just around the corner. Lunch was amazing! It was served family style, with dishes of food placed on a large lazy susan in the middle of the table. Pork dumplings, BBQ pork buns, egg custard buns, shrimp dumplings, pork and noodles in brown sauce, glass noodles and steamed vegetables... Yum and Fun! I had never had Dim Sum before and I really liked it. 

Since lunch was just around the corner, we walked to the Kingdom Hall for the meeting for service. James told us we would have the privilege of working in stand witnessing! This involves not just standing (hehe) but using a stand of literature to show which publications we have.

The meeting was about how to be all things to all men. Then we got some tips on how to do stand witnessing, such as to smile and look approachable. If we are getting stared at then we could say hi (lay ho) and maybe ask how they are (lay ho ma). 

We were split up into groups of 3 or 4, given a group number and told to remember it. This came in handy because after we got back onto the bus, we drove around and as we approached an intersection, James or Carmie would shout out, "ok group number 1, this is your stop, get ready to get off!" and then we'd pile out and go with some local friends who were waiting for us. Our group had Tony and Maria and us. We were greeted and taken for a short walk to where our stand was. Here we are: 

We stayed there for a little over an hour and Zane placed a magazine! When it was time to go, but before we got back to the bus, the friends we were with took us into a store to get some traditional Chinese snacks. I forgot the name, but it's basically a waffle but instead of square depressions in the batter, it's little egg shaped bubbles. So cute and yummy! They also got us egg custard tarts to take back and share on the bus. Those were very rich and a little too much for me since we had just been boiling in the heat and humidity. I think they would hit the spot on a cooler day.

Here is our full service group except for Maria because she is taking the picture. 

I know it's only the first day, and I promise it won't always be like this, but I have to split this into a part 3! Stay tuned!

8-7-12 Tuesday part 1

Tuesday morning we pulled ourselves out of bed, fed and caffeinated our bodies and headed onto a big bus with the rest of tour group A103. In the lobby of the hotel there were about 100 people milling around, mostly from other tour groups who were leaving around the same time.

Our group had about 40 people in it, all from the US. Our tour guides were James Lam and his wife Wood Lam*, Cindy, Carmie and Wendy. (*Funny tidbit: Lam means Forest in Chinese.) They were from the Tsuen Wan and Kwai Chung congregations.
First stop? Bethel! On the way, we were given some tips about surviving in Hong Kong:

1. Water
2. Fan
3. Umbrella
4. Handkerchief

Notice a pattern? Yes. It was extremely hot and humid the entire time, even at night. Our lovely guides passed out fans for us and we made really good use of them.

Bethel in Hong Kong is split up into two locations about 30 minutes from each other. In one location is the offices, in the other is the residences. I have to admit, I don't remember much about the facts and figures we learned on the tour. But I will never be able to forget the love of the Bethelites and their excitement in having so many visitors. Many of the departments had prepared a souvenir for us to take. There were bookmarks, fans, teabags and even a rock from the gardening department.

After the residence portion of the tour, we had some cookies and water bottles and were able to meet and chat with some long time full-time servants, some who had been doing so for 40 years. 

From Bethel we boarded the bus and headed to Kowloon Walled City Park. 

To be continued in part 2...

8-5-12 airport antics

8-5-12 Going to Hong Kong

Hi there! We are on the plane! (well not when you're reading this, but I'm writing this on the plane and uploading it at the hotel later)

We are somewhere over the Bering straight. Only 8.5 hours to go! Haha.

We've had a nice meal and this airline is amazing. Of course all of our experience with international long-haul flights has been thru the medium of tv and film, sooo...

Ooh! It's tomorrow! Zane says we just crossed the international dateline. There goes our youth, another day older, far too soon. What a shame.

So our fun has already started, we met so many friends at the airport. There were 40 witnesses on our flight. We took pictures and swapped info cards while we waited at the gate. Besides friends from English and Hindi, there were also some from Spanish and Sign Language.

Something really cool happened at the terminal. Two friends from Peoria who are in ASL were signing to each other when a man sitting behind them interrupted and began speaking to them in ASL. They were able to explain to him who they were and why they were traveling to hong kong. If you are not yet struck with the amazingness of three or more people who happen to know sign happening to be in the same terminal as each other AND happening to find this out, just wait. It turns out that these men were not on our flight. No. They were not even in the correct terminal area! Their gate was a completely different one. So the chances of them getting a witness should have been low. We all thought that was cool.

We look forward to sharing many more experiences like this, others and our own.

10:15pm Hong Kong time. We made it here! While our hearts and smiles are energetic and unflagging, our bodies are giving out. (We've been awake for over 24 hours.)

After we landed, deboarded and claimed our luggage, we ended up spilling out into a large room, the Arrivals Hall. There we found a welcoming committee of smiling brothers and sisters, waiting for anyone with a little red badge. They were waving frantically and hugged each of us and pretty much it was perfect. The hotel had a whole  boardroom set up just for JW  check-in. It was manned by about 20 local brothers and sisters on laptops, eagerly getting us all sorted out.

We  got our room number, keycards and a goody bag! I impressed a few of them with my first ever attempt at speaking mandarin. I told them 'nice to meet you' 'hoko hangyang sik lay' (They were too nice, amped up on holy spirit, love and caffeine. They applauded.)

We love this brotherhood so much.
Please leave us a comment below or email us. We miss you!

Tomorrow: Bethel tour, field service, congregation gathering.

We miss you guys!!! Love you!!!

Gratitude and Visas

You might want to turn this down, it gets kinda loud in the middle.

BIG NEWS!

Whoa!

I was organizing my pictures on my computer and came across these.

Summer 2011, we went to a Itasca-fest with Cindi and Amanda. Zane found a few new friends. Needless to say, he was the only one brave enough to hold or touch any of them. But I did stick around to photograph him! That's gotta count for something, right?

Wedding: noun. (ˈwɛdɪŋ)

(this was my favorite candid shot of all)

Alan & Jess,

We love and are very happy for you.

May your love always be strong and may it astonish you day after day how much more you can love each other than the day before.

Thank you for letting us be part of your special day, it was beautiful.

Lots of love,

Saje and Zane

Squirrel upside down in tree looking cool.

Zane took these pictures while (I can only guess) we were in service. I don't really know however, because he never told me. I just found them on my camera and who else would do that?

I think the story is pretty self-explanatory. Squirrel upside down in tree looking cool.

Concert Day!

So today was concert day! We have been waiting for today since February when we saw Jukebox the Ghost in concert for the first time. Our friend Sierra was so excited about seeing them again that it infected us and we went to see them with her a few months ago. At that concert they mentioned another upcoming concert and as soon as tickets went on sale, we bought ours. A few other friends were there too. (See pic) It was so much fun!

One of the opening bands was WakeyWakey! who I had eagerly anticipated. When we bought our tickets to Jukebox I looked up the opening bands too and wakey has a violinist so I was instantly interested. But even if they didn't I think I would have liked most of their songs anyways. We were running late because of the traffic so we missed most of their set BUT we walked in during my favorite favorite song, "Dance so good" and I nearly cried because it sounded so wonderful in person.

Zane wasn't that into Jukebox until he saw them in concert for the first time, then he was hooked. Their showmanship is phenomenal! There's 3 guys, but each of them are interesting to watch on their own. My eyes are constantly bouncing from drummer to guitarist to piano because I don't want to miss any of their antics.

Tonight I took a lot of video which I will put up later. Sierra and I did our choreographed dance to one of their songs and sang along to the songs. I think the entire audience sang along to Summer Sun and it was so cool to experience that. They also played 2 new songs from their upcoming album! Whoo-hoo!

One piece of sad news: my little camera's microphone was completely overwhelmed with the volume and only picked up the softer parts of the songs. I'm still working thru the footage for any usable pieces.

So everything having been said, it was a great concert and a great night.

Good Times on Devon

Invitation Campaign in Little India

Sunday 4/10/11

(above: Sierra and Sunil giving a man an invitation.

below: Estrella and Nina posing with invitation at end of block)

(above: the girls had just got done doing that store.

below: 'good times' nuff said.)

It was the hottest day so far this year. 75-80 degrees, and we were out in the hottest part of the day. But still the people were everywhere walking around and many of us ran out of invitations. Zane and I cut out at 3:00 and gave over our extra invitations to those staying out. I'm not expecting to get any back, but that's a good problem to have. It was a very fruitful day.

Just one funny experience. Zane and I went into a deli to give an invitation. Zane was talking to the lady at the counter, explaining what it was for. He hit all the right points: the date, time, language. Then he added, "खास है औंर बहुत मुफ्त होगा" which is "It is important and will be very free."
He meant to say it was very important and would be free, because we'd been saying it all day.Right there in the middle of the store, I tried to stifle a laugh but it came out anyway! I felt horrible but zane didn't realize he had misplaced the 'very'. He smiled about his blunder and mine and the lady behind the counter also smiled and complemented us on our Hindi, and even took a few invites to give to the workers in the back!

Sweeeeeeeet!

Hi there.

New thing: photodulce.com.

My friend Paula has so many good ideas. This is the product of her latest.

Every week, she and I and our friend Dominick will take photos on a theme. Then on Sunday night they will be posted to photodulce.com.

I’m not a very good photographer, not very good at all. BUT I’d love to get better and maybe this new wordpress blog will help me. Paula and Dominick are really good. Anyways, go check it out if you can. New photos every Monday.

Luis Alejandro De La Vegas and Steve’s Adventure

Zane and I recently spent 10 days in Washington State, visiting our families and friends. We didn’t take very many pictures but we have two pets that we take on all our trips with us, and we did take footage of them.

The monkey is Steve, named after a friend of ours in New York, and the rhinoceros is Luis Alejandro De La Vegas.

Apple Picking 10-4-09

Both Zane and my first time going apple picking, and I think Amanda's too. Who knows, I can't remember a month ago, it could have been ALL our first time.
We ate soooo many apples in the orchard that by the time we left, we didn't want to eat any of the apples we bought to take home. :(
We got a bushel and split it between the Z&Me and Cindi&Amanda. WAAAAAAY too many apples. Next time it's probably going to be a half-bushel or a 'peck'.
This is surprising, considering I grew up around farms and farmland and crops and such, but I had never actually heard the word 'peck' properly used outside of 'peter piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.' It's an actual thing, a peck! Go figure.
I know that we can't wait to go again next year.

Ramblings 1

What? I just saw that my phone does not know the word “emailing.” How in this day and age does a phone NOT have emailing in it’s T9 dictionary? It also did not have the word “taco.” Come on people, taco? Really?! It’s like the 2nd most frequently eaten food in America, I’m pretty sure. Right behind sandwich. My phone knew how to spell sandwich, no problem. Stupid phone. Oh, but it’s orange! Ok, since you’re pretty I’ll let this one slide, phone. But no more second chances.

Pizza Nite

So Funny!

Last weekend Zane and I attended a friend's wedding in Louisville. (We are so happy for you two!) This is a picture from the photobooth at the reception.

Navy and the Pier

Monday I headed downtown with some friends to show some new friends more of the city of Chicago. We headed to Navy Pier and walked all the way to the end. Navy Pier used to be actually used by the Navy, but now it's more like a mall on the water. You can take boat rides out into Lake Michigan and into the city on the river. It's easy to forget and call Lake Michigan the ocean because it's so big. It's more than big, it's GREAT. The weather was perfect, but since it was early in the day and a weekday, the Pier wasn't super busy. We just hung out at the end for a while, perfect for a photo opportunity.

Inside is a children's museum and an IMAX theater. Upstairs is a large greenhouse with palm trees and tropical flowers. There's also a ferris wheel and a carousel. Nearer the end is the Shakespear Theatre, where they were advertizing Aladdin. We walked around singing "A Whole New World' for a while after that.
At one point we headed inside to a stained glass museum to see the one with the Tetragrammaton in one of the peices. Pretty cool. On our way back to the entrance of the pier we went inside to the food court. Chad enjoyed what I believe to be the best hotdog in the world: A chicago style hotdog, complete with tomato slices and celery salt. I think he'd agree to that. Nina and I had sub-par mexican food. Boo.

After eating it was time to go. We had lots of fun, at least I did, and hope to see my new friends soon. I have to mention that Sierra made sure those who hadn't yet were exposed to Garrett's Popcorn. Haven't had it yet? Shame on you.
A big shout out goes to Atit and Tyler who walked all the way back to the cars at one point to add money to the meter so we wouldn't get tickets. THANKS GUYS!