Spreading our wings

Well we branched out a little further this week. On Friday Bonbon (Maggie Hubble’s cousin) took us to see Maggie’s parents, who live in Shang Bai Cun, Deqing Xian, Huzhou Shi, Zhejiang Sheng, China (Yes, much smaller village than Shanghai). We first met them when they were visiting Maggie and Geff in Idaho earlier this year and they invited us to come to their home when we got to China. We weren’t absolutely sure then if we were coming to China, but since we are here now, we decided to make good on the invitation to visit. 

On the way, we stopped at the local market where Maggie’s dad works as a butcher. We wandered through the market and looked at all of the local items available to buy.  We will definitely have to return there later to buy lower cost meat and produce, rain boots and some umbrellas.



 After that we stopped by Bonbon’s Dads restaurant to pick up Duck soup, a menu item his father is well known for. While we were there, his mother treated everyone to cold drinks (I might have looked hot and sweaty by then).

 



Bonbon's parents






Duck soup - Includes all of the duck





The restaurant



Then we went on to Maggie’s parent’s home. They have a large beautiful home that was built last year. Maggie's Mom (mama, 妈妈) invited us in, gave the kids treats and brought out the fans (It’s still very hot and humid here).

Maggie's parent's house

While Maggie’s Dad (bàba, 爸爸) was still at the market, we decided to go on a hike/walk. Not far from their home is a walking path (Road, trail, not much distinction here people, bikes, scooters and cars all use the same pathways) that winds through a wooded/bamboo forested area. All along the roadway were attractions like a climbing wall (in the parking lot), an animation studio with a large Optimus Prime at the entrance (Not open yet), a horse stable (designated riding path behind the stable), lots of landscaping, a boat pond and a zip line. Kaleb and I (Matt) were the only ones interested in the Zip line. Everyone else went boating. What a beautiful area. Kaleb said, “Look at the mountain covered in “trees”. It was actually covered in a dense forest of bamboo”. No trees at all on the mountain.


At the stables (This is a Unicorn ;)  )

boating

boating - Notice the "trees"

After our walking, boating, zipping excursion, we returned to Maggie’s parent’s house and they had spread out a feast. It was beyond delicious (we don’t mind a little adventure when it comes to eating). There was enough food there to feed us and two other families and they still had left overs. Maggie’s mom was even thoughtful enough to make hot dog/burgers… Chinese processed meat sticks in bean buns… the kids each tried one and we brought the rest home.

Lunch with family

The river, wash basin, swimming hole

After lunch the kids went down to the river to play while Maggie’s mom and the neighbor washed dishes on the riverside. They also ran around in the bamboo forest behind their house for more than an hour. We think it was especially nice for the kids to get out of the apartment and city and play.



Bamboo forest

Bamboo forest

Washing dishes

Chicken... In the forest

 

It was a really fun day. Exercise, food, friendship. Thanks to Bonbon for taking us everywhere and interpreting everything,

An update on church.
Saturday we made the trip in to Hangzhou. It went even quicker and smoother than the week before. We stayed with the Woods, who treated us to burritos, chips, salsa and quesadillas, followed by a movie. Nice treat.

On Sunday there was a convert baptism for Happiness, who is from Nigeria. It was a wonderful service and her life story is amazing. The trip home was smooth and uneventful. On the taxi ride back to the bus stop, we saw a few weddings taking place around the West Lake Resort area. It is a really pretty area within Hangzhou.

 

That's the update from this side of the earth. For those of you in the states, tomorrow was already a great day.