What is the difference between surviving and thriving somewhere? For me, the difference always is being able to take care of only myself (surviving) and being in a secure enough place to be able to help others (thriving). Every transition seems to put you back into survival mode: how do I find food? How do I get around? Where do I get things? Last year moving to Changchun threw me back into survival mode. However, the second year language students reached out to us and helped us: meeting us at the airport, preparing our apartment with necessities before we arrived, helping us in the first necessary interactions in Chinese like paying the landlord rent, getting registered at the police office, ordering the big jugs of drinking water delivered, solving basic maintenance problems, setting up internet, etc. My second year friend also had me over for home-cooked dinners every once in awhile, especially before I had all the kitchen equipment I needed to do that for myself.

Now, Im not only surviving, Im thriving. The new crop of first year students came in three weeks ago. As there are nine of them and five of us, some of us helped two students coming in. So the week they came was really busy as I was trying to be in several places at once, as both houses had to meet landlords, buy groceries, get cell phones, buy curtains, set up internet, etc. However, I so enjoyed the feeling of being able to thrive. I can translate for a cellphone plan purchase in Chinese. I can not only help you get to the market, I can help you find and set up a router to use the internet. I can be on call for landlord issues and do a bit of rough translation over the phone.

This year I hope to make the transition from surviving to thriving as I have deeper conversations as well. I now know enough Chinese to build a friendship and express the foundational truths about the Hope I have. This year I hope to gain the language and the tools to

September 2014

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C hinaBeth Bergstrom

having friends over to try new recipes at my house!

out to lunch with a friend after Chinese fellowship

offer that Hope in a real and meaningful way in the heart language of those around me. Please join with me in this effort by petitioning the Father to enable me to make that transition as I study this year.

This is China, so things change quickly and constantly! One of the first changes Ive noticed is the replacement of all the sidewalks everywhere I go. Ive had to start taking new routes to the same places to avoid the worst of the construction. Hopefully its all finished before the ice sets in for winter!

My relationships are also changing. Quite a few of the girls I had deep relationships with last year have moved away either after graduation to a new job or just temporarily for an internship. Several of my classmates have moved to a new job, are in America having a baby, and weve added two new girls into our class because they studied Chinese in college and can jump in with us. And even the relationships that are still there continue to grow and deepen and become more real. Im building new relationships with tutors and others that I meet. The first year students are also here and we can build new friendships as well.

Please join with me in asking that in all these changes I hold on tightly to the One who doesnt change. Ask that He continue to provide relationships with people He wants me to encourage, and ask that the relationships that Im beginning and continuing this year would be for His glory.

Beth BergstromELIC Chinese Language Program Northeast Normal University Teacher Training Building #401 Ren Min Da Jie #5268 Changchun, Jilin Province 130024 130024 #5268 #401 PEOPLES REPUBLIC OF CHINA

Above: celebrating the end of a successful first week with new first year students and old friends together!

celebrating my birthday with friends in the community

the new sidewalk construction