Southern Fried Rice

We see some pretty amazing things out our 17th floor window, children playing at the park, older women doing tai chi in the mornings, and people sitting on park benches just talking about their day.

We’ve seen weddings...

Weddings are joyous occasions that remind me people are people no matter where you are. The bride puts on a beautiful wedding dress; the groom a tuxedo. They usually have a friend or two to stand up with them in pretty gowns and tuxes. One thing, of many, that is different is the groom brings the bride early in the morning to see the home he has purchased for them. This is the grand part that we’ve been privileged to see out our window. They roll out the red carpet and with firecrackers and confetti filling the air they walk into their new home. Not to stay, but to make sure the bride and her family approves of the new home. They have a bowing ceremony inside along with gift exchanges. Finally at about noon, with the fanfare of firecrackers again they leave their new approved home to go eat at a nice restaurant with their family and wedding guest.

We’ve also seen funerals...

Funerals are hard to miss. At sun up the big band starts playing. A crowd of people in black gathers. A few hours later, the mourning family immerges out of their apartment in what appears to be torn white sheets wrapped around their bodice and head. There is usually someone in front carrying a huge round bouquet of flowers as big as a person. The flower carrier slowly heads down the road followed by the big band, the family, and then the friends. They march out of the apartment complex to busses or cars to carry them to the next location.

A few weeks ago a wealthy man passed away. Today something very interesting happen. They built a house that seemed to be made out of tent material. It had different rooms and a roof. They filled it with furniture and huge gift boxes. They marched around it a few times while playing traditional instruments….

And then they burned it down...

Not sure the meaning or purpose behind this ritual, but we hope to be here long enough to find out.

Funerals bring back the reality of why we’ve chosen to come. Why we’ve given up so much… the comforts of home, the big house with the picket fence, the dog in the back yard, and holidays with family. They remind us of the reality of people passing without ever hearing the TRUTH. It’s every believer’s duty to share with the people around us so they don’t have to go to a place of pain and suffering, but a beautiful place where we can see the ONE that loves us so.

The best thing we see out our window is the different culture. We love learning all the new things life here brings us and love meeting the locals. We hope a little of HIS light shines to all that we meet.