Today I would like to share this feeling of joy that’s been pushing me all this years. I am not living in my country, I am a foreigner, an outsider, no matter how much I try I will always be different. I live in China. Chinese are very good people, they share lots of common behavior from Latin American people, they have a high value for family and the elderly, they love sharing and spending time together, love eating out and above all they worship their children.

Somehow, lots of people complain about them, I sometimes feel ashamed because it’s not polite to talk about your host, so I practice the non- complaining-about-what-I don’t like- policy, I think it’s normal to feel out of ground sometimes, feel rejected and sometimes laughed at, but isn’t it the same wherever you go?

But my point today is not about being a foreigner in China nor rising kids here either, it’s about grace. when I left home, I could hardly feel grace for simple things, a good time with my mother, my brothers, being at a beautiful place, we took everything for granted… Here in China I really appreciate simple things, such as having a small dinner with my family, going out and realizing I am so far away, talking with my neighbors and being understood, going to church, watching a movie , in fact most of the common things are now  wonderful experiences. I feel I am under grace, fell blessed and full of hope.

Love my children and my wife, miss my mom and brothers, it’s all part of life, I hope in the end all comes back to me and lift me up in Grace….

Juanmanuel Cunningham Armas

September 4 2011