Esther

For the last several weeks, I've been spending regular time with a local friend who's a family member, going on outings, learning how to cook, and then studying our favorite book together with David after the kids are in bed.
This was the first time she taught me how to cook, and we had a good time going to the market together and picking out what we wanted.
Caleb came along and helped, choosing some of his favorites as well... lotus root, mushrooms, corn, cabbage, and cucumbers. He had fun looking at the chicken feet and pig's snouts, but didn't choose those!
Nor pig skin, eels, seaweed, or any of the collection of undetermined plant species...

Though we've eaten many of these things in restaurants with friends, I don't think we're quite ready to make them part of our regular menu!

When we got home, the kids enjoyed some lychee fruit,
and then Susanna helped wash the veggies.
It's been fun to learn about some of the local cooking methods. Some things I've learned:
- No matter how many dishes you're cooking or how many people you're feeding, you only need the following to cook a good meal: a rice cooker, a wok (just one!), a pair of chopsticks, a wooden spoon, and one stove burner (or a fire!).
- Most of the time required to cook a meal here is in the preparation. Actual cooking time is about 3-5 minutes per dish (they use extremely high heat to cook), while preparation time can takes 1-2 hours. Lots of chopping!

- Seasonings include fresh garlic, fresh ginger, soy sauce, oyster sauce, salt, vinegar, pure MSG, chicken stock, pickled chopped greens, fermented tofu,

sichuan pepper or pepercorns (known among foreigners as "tongue-tingling" pepper-corns), many other types of locally grown spices, and all manner of peppers--fresh, dried, ground, or otherwise!

This is the meal we prepared: Thinly sliced pork tenderloin with mushrooms, corn and beans, green squash and potato soup, lotus root and pickled vegetables, and squash leaves. Fresh...simple...healthy...yummy!

A simple meal shared with a special friend, among many other times shared together since we met over a year ago. Remembering times like these brings both joy and sadness to my heart now as we said goodbye only 2 nights ago--one of many goodbyes we will be saying over the next few days, until we leave for our new home this coming Wednesday. Only a few years ago, Esther was an alcoholic with a difficult family situation and a complicated, painful relationship with a man in her life. Suffering from depression and feeling hopeless, she attempted suicide by jumping off of the highest building in her small village--four stories tall--that left her right leg permanently disabled. After a long recovery and some other significant events, she was introduced to the Father and began a new life. Now she is a wonderful sister, growing and loving and strong. She has generously shared her friendship with us, loved our children, learned with us, laughed with us, and enjoyed with us food for both body and soul. We will miss you, Esther, and will never forget the way His light shines in you. Looking forward to the day we'll meet again...