Would you volunteer to get on a roller coaster ride if you saw this sign?
"In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties"--
I purposely wouldn't be up for it at all, but yet I've been on the ride of a life time since July when I found out that the owner of the school Dr. Benhur Lee had fired the headmaster of the school and it's chairman of the board. In fact, there was no guarantee that we would even start school on time. By God's grace we did and for the first couple of months we even got paid for our work. Looks like this roller coaster ride is over! Psych! Now, however, is a completely different story. I haven't been paid a full salary for three months and Dr. Lee is up to his shenanigans.
November 7th, he came into school with 2 of his cronies and pushed around our headmaster Tim. Tim ended up going to the hospital to be checked over and doctors found some concerns with his heart. Later we found out the pushing around was a diversion to steal Tim's school laptop computer. Thankfully, there wasn't any important documents on the computer. Because of the fear of what Dr. Lee might do in the future and the lack of help from the police, our school closed for five days to install security cameras.
We started school again and all was going well. Can I get off the ride now? November 16th was my first day back at school after having nearly a month off. I was super busy preparing my students for the upcoming Christmas program and tree lighting ceremony. I'm super blessed to have such talented students who were working very hard at home and at school. Even in the midst of the busyness and craziness, I was feeling a lot of hope that everything would turn out. Then November 28th happened. Dr. Lee showed up at school and with the security cameras, the office staff saw him coming. They had been told not to let him enter so they didn't. However, Dr. Lee began to smash the front door in to gain access. Every time Dr. Lee enters our school, we go through our lockdown procedure so our students get pretty scared. The next two days we had school, but then administration decided that due to the security and the police not helping us after this incident, that they could not risk the safety of the teachers and students. So we shut our doors from November 30th-December 13th. We didn't have a Christmas concert (tear), but my students were able to perform at the Kunlun Hotel for the tree lighting ceremony.
December 13th we resumed classes and the return was bitter-sweet. Looks like the track is finally going up towards blue sky. I was happy to be back, but because of unpredictable school schedule, 20% of the elementary students are leaving. Parents want to know that their children have school, and I don't blame them. So even though I was happy to be back, I was sad to know that this would be the last time that I saw some of my students. And on top of that, first semester grades were due at the end of the week. Thankfully, I made it through. The teachers also have begun to petition to the Labor Department here in Beijing. This department helps both nationals and foreigners to receive unpaid salaries. We're busily collecting bank statements, employment contracts, passports, visas, foreign expert cards, and housing contracts. Some teachers have already filed, and we're patiently waiting for a response.
This past week, I've also been keeping busy every morning by teaching an English class at an academy. I think about these two Korean students that I have and how they don't even get a break to relax. However, I'm thankful for the job for some spending money and to pay bills. Yesterday, I was able to go to a hot springs northwest of Beijing with 6 of my coworkers (and this resort was the kind where you get to wear swimsuits not birthday ones. :) ) I really enjoyed going into a rose petal pool, cherry blossom pool, a rain pool, medicinal pool, and a jet pool to name a few. My favorite part was that they had these slabs of stone that were heated that you laid on. Then you could get a massage or have your face covered in cold cucumber slices. Of course, I caught a few zzzz's while I was on this slab.....
We really enjoyed our time! For a moment, we forgot that we were on the ride of a lifetime. Until it happened, a huge 30 feet drop as the track made a 90 degree angle to the ground. With this IAB situation, a moment of relaxation can be gone in a quick second. On our way out, we had a lot of text messages from coworkers. Dr. Lee somehow was able to get our frozen bank account open and he withdrew approximately 6.7 million yuan (about 1 million US dollars). Wowzers! So then of course emotions of fear and anger rose up within us. What I've come to love about my co-workers and working at IAB is that, within an hour, we were praying together about this situation. That God would ultimately be glorified and that we would not fear and panic. That we would trust in the promises that He has for us.
The following day, I received this email from Dr. Lee:
Dear Parents and Teachers
Merry Christmas!
First of all we really appreciate your concern and prayer for IAB during past several months. IAB was illegally operated under the leadership of Mr. Paul Chou and Mr. Tim McDonald. The legal board of IAB wants to be involved in the operation of IAB and provide the some legal action for the regular operation. The legal board asks all of you be calm down and work for the good education of students. Your contract will be continuously recognized by the legal board of IAB.
1. The salary of staff will be paid as followings.
Salary of Dec. of 2011 is paid on Dec. 22, 2011.
Salary of Jan. of 2012 will be paid before Jan. 20, 2012.
Salary of Feb. of 2012 will be paid before Feb. 29, 2012.
2. The payment plan of next 4 months (March to Jun of 2012) will be made before March 15, 2012.
3. The unpaid salary (Aug 2011 ~ Nov. 2011) will be clearly paid in June 30, 2012.
The Chairman of legal board Dr. Benhur Lee
Could it be that I finally get to disembark? If anything, I've learned that this man CANNOT be trusted.
Then on December 22nd, I read an email that Dr. Benhur Lee has been arrested for criminal activity. Of course, we have not been told what the charges are. In fact, I have no idea if he is even still in jail. This sure is one long, adrenaline-filled, emotional-schizophrenic roller coaster ride.
So I have no idea what this all means. In the meanwhile, this journey has taught me so much. First of all, God has shown me my pride and independence. As you know, I don't like to ask for help and I want to do things on my own. The past months, I haven't been able to do much by myself and I've had to humble myself to ask---there doesn't get to be much of me and there's more of Jesus. I guess that's the point, but it doesn't make it any easier does it? :)
God shows me how much He cares. In the craziness of it all; I still have friends, family, and IAB parents that will take me out for a meal, give me gift cards to buy groceries, offer to pay my loans for me, pray with/over me, encourage me, and hug me. I can't help but cry and get emotional over it all. I feel so overwhelmed by the love and care and blessings that I see.
I did NOT volunteer to get on this ride but because of Christ's work and His promises, I completely trust that this ride isn't going to come crashing down to the ground.
"But take heart! I've conquered the world."
Thank you Jesus that you have, otherwise I'd keep my feet firmly planted on the ground.
