Flexing

Flexible: able to bend and move in different directions.

International travel: able to bend and move in different directions.

Arriving at the gate in Seattle the night of July 4^th, we were faced with a flexible option. We could take our seats in economy class in a plane that had not even one extra seat of flex, or we could volunteer to fly the next night in first class, with a hotel for the night, food vouchers, and additional vouchers for a future trip. It was not a hard decision! The work that needed to be done could be done in Seattle as well as in Beijing. Our administrator hosts in Beijing were going to be consumed with graduation exercises on our first day, the weather in Seattle was spectacular and we had friends to visit, and who wouldn’t take first class over economy.

So it was that Thursday morning found us on our computers, deep in planning, and Thursday afternoon took us all over the lovely city of Seattle, along the sea, under the vista of snow kissed mountains, and visits to three wonderful colleagues of years past. Memories of similar visits in Taiwan, Hungary, and other parts of the globe mingled in our conversations with recollections and connections of common friends and ministry. It was a gift made in heaven, and we were deeply thankful for it.

Arriving at the gate in Seattle the night of July 5^th, we were quickly ensconced in our wide and comfortable seats. And then the fun began all over. There was a part not working on the plane, and the minutes stretched into hours, ending in a complete change of aircraft. By now it was close to midnight, but on our Eastern time zone bodies, it was 3 AM. By the time we took off, we were quite ready for dinner and a quiet sleep in seats that actually recline and lift your feet.

We arrived in Beijing at 2 AM local time, Saturday morning. Somewhere along the way we missed July 6 as it disappeared into the flexibility of time zones. Our favorite administrator, Ping, and his driver were there with a van, and in the mist and gray of the hot Chinese night, we were soon at the International House. Third floor, Room 11.

Flexibility hits again. The rooms are not small, but we have always had a suite of two rooms at the former hotel down the street. But the air conditioning works, the water runs, and there is storage space. We unpacked the bare minimum and fell into beds hard as rocks.

Day has come again, July 8^th, and we breakfasted on instant coffee, sweet bread, and drinkable yogurt. Not a bad breakfast, given a huge hot water dispenser down one floor and big thermoses to fetch and carry the water. First order of business is to settle in -- a mixture of unpacking and deep cleaning of floors and drawers before we begin to stow the clothing and supplies. Only yesterday international students left the room, and students never look behind dressers and under beds.

Ping arrives in a few minutes and we begin the dance of figuring out rooms for the rest of the team, prepping for the program, and negotiating the potholes of what he has been asked to provide and what we have the ability to provide. One idea already squelched was to provide a class for primary students of faculty. No, sorry, we can’t do that with no preparation time and no teaching materials.

One by one the team will arrive in the next 36 hours. One just called who arrives by train tomorrow. Another couple fly in tonight, two are already here, some more tomorrow afternoon, and then the bulk of the group late, late Sunday night.  Flexibility – much needed.