New cultures, new places, new foods!

Hula Dancers

Kalua Pork with white rice and Lomi Salmon

We have really been enjoying the diversity here in the Bay area. So far we have eaten Chinese, Korean, Thai, and Hawaiian food. Yesterday we went to the Aloha Festival in Napa with the Youngs and their friend, Kyle. Brent and Kyle grew up in Hawaii, so I'm sure they felt a bit of home yesterday. We all shared Kalua pork with white rice and Lomi Salmon, Pork long rice, and mac salad. It was really neat to see all the Hawaiian culture, especially the Hula dancers! Apparently in many cultures each person does not 
have their own plate in which to eat from, they eat from one communal bowl. This will take some
 getting used to for me (Ginger)...as I am a 'germ-aphob,' in case you didn't know. We started doing this communal eating yesterday, and I would say I was able to get off to a good start.

Eating Dim-Sum in Chinatown

Thnah Young and I, she is from Vietnam. She's an excellent tour guide and shopping buddy!

Autumn Moon Festival-Chinatown

Last weekend we also ventured into China town and attended a Messianic Jew service with the Youngs (they have really been great at introducing us to all the various cultural experiences around here!). China town was altogether different than the rest of San Francisco. This is probably stereotypical, but it really was dirtier and more rushed and crowded than the rest of the city. However, there were also very affordable and fun shops and eateries! We also went into some traditional Chinese markets. The fish were still swimming, the frogs still looking at you...the workers would pick one out and kill it right before your eyes if you wanted. It was completely different than WV, and also very fun! I bought 3 scarves for 10 bucks! I wanted to do the 7 for 20, but Cody cut me off at 3! haha Scarves are very popular here as the bay winds can be quite chilly! The food was also good, we ate at a Dim-Sum buffet. Dim sum is equivalent to  appetizers as I understood it.

The Messianic Jew service was quite different, as well. We participated in Davidic dancing and some of the members blew ram's horns! It was interesting to see how they relate to and worship God.

This morning we attended Red Hill church in San Anselmo. The people were friendly, the worship was good, and the sermon was challenging. We really liked it. We have one more church to visit next Sunday, and then we will make a decision on a new church home. Please pray for us as we make this decision. We want to attend a church where we can be challenged, serve, and connect with others.

Oh, we have also ran into some people from WV here in the Bay area, which is quite strange considering we are so far away. The youth pastor at a church we visited lived in Parkersburg and attended PHS (which we won't hold against him!) and I met a man who was wearing a We Are Marshall shirt at my preschool--his wife grew up in Teays Valley and went to Hurricane High School. It really is a much smaller world than we realize :)

Please pray for us and keep in touch!

Love,
The Bartrugs