Athens FCC Celebrates CNY!

What a great looking group!

Happy Chinese New Year! We hope that the new year, the year of the rat according to the Chinese, has already shown great favor to all of our friends and family. Chinese New Year is the longest and most important celebration in the Chinese calendar. The Chinese year 4706 began on Feb. 7, 2008. I'm sure that most people who read this blog are well aware of the Chinese New Year celebration. But for those of you who aren't familiar with the Chinese holiday. Here's a few notes to help you out.

My New Friend!

Whereas we number our years consecutively from the birth of Jesus Christ, the Chinese use a 12 year cycle to track time. Chinese months are reckoned by the lunar calendar, with each month beginning on the darkest day. New Year festivities traditionally start on the first day of the month and continue until the fifteenth, when the moon is brightest. In China, people may take weeks of holiday from work to prepare for and celebrate the New Year. Legend has it that in ancient times, Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came, and Buddha named a year after each one.


Legend also has it that the cat and the rat were both informed about the New Year meeting at the same time and agreed to go together. But on the appointed day, the cat overslept and the rat didn't wake him, instead he went off to the meeting himself. Of course, since the cat didn't show up, he did not get a year named for him. And that's why to this day, cats don't like rats! Apparently, the rat also outsmarted the ox, convincing the ox to let him ride on his back since it was so far to the meeting. When they got close, the rat jumped off and ran ahead, becoming the first one to arrive. Therefore, the 12 year cycle always begins with the rat! The kind ox had to settle for second place.

They didn't plan the fashion statement, but don't they look great!

According to Chinese legend, the people born in each animal's year would have some of that animal's personality. Those born in rat years tend to be leaders, pioneers, and conquerors. I'm a rabbit person, which is known to be popular, compassionate, and sincere. Connie is a dragon (Austin was jealous when he learned this fact), which means she is energetic, warm-hearted, fearless, and charismatic. Austin is a rooster, not the coolest of animals to his way of thinking, but he accepted it nonetheless. He is independent, practical, hard-working, and observant. Lily Grace? You're gonna love this one. She's a monkey person! Born in 2004 means that she would have some of the monkey's personality. She would be fun, energetic, and active. And oh, likes to chatter. Check.

But with all the fun of celebrating Chinese New Year, I try to take this time to pray for and ask others to pray for Chinese Christians. No one knows how many Christians there are in China, but there are many estimates that range from 40 to 140 million. That's certainly a lot of Christians, but to minister to a country of 1.4 billion? So, please pray for the Christians and those in China who've not yet gracefully embraced the gift of Jesus Christ. I believe that God is going to raise up a ministry in China that will one day be able to see that the Chinese people, a graceful and beautiful culture, know his glory to its fullest. And this ministry will help the Chinese government to ensure that children are nurtured in families and not in orphanages. I just know in my heart of hearts that God is planning something big with the children whom He has placed in our care. Every time members of the Athens Families with Children from China (FCC) gather, there are more of us and more little children who've already overcome more than most of us have in our lifetime. God has a big plan for these children and it's really an awesome blessing to be a part of it. Billy Kim was once an orphaned child in South Korea and was "adopted" by an American soldier, who lead him to Jesus Christ. After growing up and attending seminary in the U.S., Billy Kim returned to his native Korean roots and lead an evangelical mission of such magnitude that he is now known worldwide as the "Billy Graham of Korea!" The Koreans now send missionaries all over the world, including to the U.S.! The same can happen with one of these children who've already taught us so much and who continue to teach us new things each day.



We celebrated Saturday night with Athens FCC at China Buffet. Let the record show that this was the second time in three days that the Greens had Chinese food. I'm actually beginning to find some things I can eat! I was doing ok gathering food at the buffet until I saw the squid or octopus or whatever that thing was extending its suctioned tentacles upward begging for a dinner date! Ugh! Oh well, at least after that, I didn't overeat! After dinner, the children did what children always do, they found a way to play! Lily Grace and Anna became best friends for the evening after Anna taught her to play "Ring around the rosies." I wish I had counted how many little girls and boys from China we now have in our chapter. Maybe somebody can tell me.


Happy CNY!

Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, Lily Grace, and Lia Faith (somewhere out there),
Green, Party of Five