September 2014 Beijing Life

Fundraiser

Amy and her classmates from our home school co-op raised funds this weekend for the Agape Migrant Center, an organization that helps educate and provide medical care for children of migrant workers in Beijing. They joined a neighborhood-wide yard sale that takes place each weekend in the summer and fall months, and sold items they had collected from their own families, friends and neighbors.

I went for awhile to enjoy the event, and had a great time people watching. I also bought two classic movies on DVD for just 1 kuai each. Only later did I realize that one of the cases had no disc inside. Buyer beware...

Beijing Junk Sale. Check out that blue sky!

This little angel bought her wings from one of the vendors.

The weather was beautiful and many people stopped by to see what was for sale. Amy managed the cash box for the group, and counted up the grand total raised: 1820 kuai, or around $300. They tried to give away items at the end of the sale, but people were suspicious about that, so instead they sold things for one kuai each.

Amy and her friends dealing with their customers.

People were waiting three-deep to look at their items.

Club Soccer

Ian finished the fall season of club soccer with his team in 2nd place in the league. They were tied with the 1st place team in wins and losses, but lost to them on forced goals. Their record was good enough that they will move up to the next level for the next round of play.

Here is Ian, bottom left, with his teammates (and one of their girlfriends) after their final games. His teammates are German, American and Chinese.

TCFC-Third Culture Football Club

Before, During, After

We had new kitchen counters and a new sink installed this week!

Our old, cracked kitchen counter. It was cracked when we moved it and the crack continued to grow.

The old sink and counters waiting for the elevator.

Destruction.

Shiny new sink and counter-tops! They are manufactured stone.

Rodney thinks the weight of the sink (especially when full of water) was too much for the old counter to bear as it is basically just sat suspended over the cupboards from one end to the other. He worked hard yesterday to mount pieces of wood underneath as supports for the new surface. We shouldn't encounter that problem again.

We are thankful for these events and blessings that enrich our lives here in Beijing!