来世缘

思念凄凉留旷野
记忆心痛无处散
微笑洒地如秋叶
梦求来生再续缘

谭千秋老师 (Teacher Tan)

谭千秋 (Tan Qianqiu), a high school political science teacher in Sichuan China, died in the earthquake trying to protect 4 students by covering them with his arms and body. His story has been one of many courageous accounts of teachers who fearlessly put themselves in death’s path to save their dear students. Another teacher ran back into her classroom 4 times while the schools crumbled to get all of her students to safety. Tan Qianqiu was honored by thousands of students at his alma alter on the day that marked the beginning of 3 days of national mourning for the quake’s victims. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, 谭君子(Tan Junzi),谭仙子(Tan Xianzi). Junzi is a bright and talented student at China's prestigious university 北大(Beijing University). She is proud of her father's actions, even as she mourns losing him.

The greatest heroes of this tragic quake are these teachers who gave their lives without second thought to rescue the students they taught and loved. We are all grateful for their incredible sacrifice. They stole from death's hand precious lives that would have been lost.

5.12.08 Mourning Earthquake Victims, Sichuan China

This past monday the worst natural disaster in 30 years hit China, a 7.9 magnitude earthquake in Sichuan China, claiming tens of thousands of lives in about 2 minutes. It is an unbelievable tragedy, especially with news of so many deaths among students, when thousands of schools collapsed, burying in some schools the entire student body under concrete rubbles. In many counties an entire generation of the young is lost forever. The parents' grief for their only child is intense and their anger so painful.

As I read the news reports of what has been unfolding in the past week, I can't imagine nor comprehend the immeasurable loss and hopelessness so many are experiencing. Here are a few bits of what I have read online. Please pray for the victims who lost so very much and for the relief workers who continue to find survivors, even a week after the devastation began. The courage of those who gave their lives to protect their children, students and loved ones inspires me to live and love without abandon. May their lives not be lost in vain, but live on to inspire this generation of what it means to truly love, live and sacrifice.
Parents mourning over the body of their child, found in the school's collapsed rubbles.

An 11 year old boy carried his 3 year old sister on his back, walking for over 12 hours to flee to safety with their grandparents. He said he loves his sister very much. His parents are migrant workers who were out of town when the quake hit.

A wife wipes her husband's body in grief. He was a teacher who covered his own body over 4 students to protect them from falling debris. All 4 students survived but this teacher did not.

These parents are grieving near the site where their child died.

A husband hold onto his pregnant wife who had just been rescued from under the rubbles.

A volunteer holds a 1 year old boy who was rescued from the rubbles, he was thrown out by his grandparents just before they died to save him. Many thought he was an orphan until his parents, who saw news reports of him on t.v., were finally reunited with their son after 3 days.

Paying a final respect to his wife, this husband strapped her body to himself so he could take her to a cremation site to give her a proper burial, he was not going to let her be buried by the rubbles.

Baby Weekend

I spent most of my weekend this saturday and sunday playing with babies, many many of them, it was so much fun, even though I was so exhausted when I came home after church today. I spent about 6 hours with Caleb and John, since Grace was out of town. I discovered recently that 2 things make Caleb laugh really loud: when I ask him to push me off his slide and when I jump to turn around unexpectedly, it's pretty hilarious. I tried the jumping thing on 2 more babies today, and they seem to like it too, it's almost kind of like peak-a-boo, but when you jump around doing that they find it more amusing. I was so happy during ITM(infant toddler ministry) first service, because all the babies I have ever gotten to know at Evergreen was there all at once, Caleb, Momoe, Asher, Katelyn, Megumi, etc. It was so fun watching the kids play with each other or by themselves, fighting over toys and snacks, running over each other. It's at times chaotic, especially when one child cries for mom and dad for a long time, somehow a few others will join in and cry for mom and dad too, it's infectious. Caleb was pretty good most of the day, only when John left after he came in for a bit was he a little fussy, but he was ok after awhile. I had so much fun playing with him this weekend, he's really fun to watch and interact with, can't wait till when we can have conversations, you know, real ones! :)