Canaan Land Cafe

This week we have been helping our friend, Chen Rong, fulfill a dream.  She is opening a coffee shop/cafe/English tutoring school as a way to share hope and love with people in the community.

Serving cookies to the guys who hung the awning 

In English, the name of her shop is Canaan Land Cafe.  Some friends from her fellowship helped her paint the walls and ceilings.  She and her parents have worked hard to clean, prepare, and advertise for grand opening.

The front entry counter

 She even has a kid room with a foam-tile floor.  In the this photo, Chip and friends are helping decorate the walls with stickers.

This week I helped Chen Rong as we experimented with making a few different kinds of pizza (different crusts, different toppings, etc.) and cookies.  She wants to have some Western food at her cafe likely because it attracts foreigners and Chinese young people.  Her dad came in out supplying us with things we needed.  I asked him if he likes pizza.  He said he'd never tried it.

 Chen Rong ordered sauce, cheese, pepperoni, etc. from an import store.  When the delivery arrived both she and her partner were confused about the contents.  They weren't even sure which of the things in the box was cheese.  We were happy to help clear up the confusion.

Chen Rong and her business partner baking chocolate chip cookies

                              

Many of the things she did were not "normal" to me in terms of opening a cafe by American standards.  For instance, she was learning to make pizza and cookies less than a week before she opened, she had never used an oven before, and while it is a coffee shop, she only has one average-sized French press and two bags of coffee because she imagines most of her customers will want instant coffee or tea.

And as thanks for all of our help, Chen Rong's mother made us a TON of shrimp-filled dumplings.

Me and Chen Rong's momma outside the shop for the Grand Opening

 Friday night was the trial opening just for family and friends.  Guests mingled in and out trying pizza, cookies, sushi, meatballs, and fruit.  People really seemed to enjoy the food, even the American pizza.

Cute kiddos eating their snacks outside

 Chip and I talked to these boys and their moms for a long time that night.  They are in high school and were eager to practice their English (or at least, their moms were eager for them to practice).  We also got in a lot of Chinese practice communicating with all of the guests.

I am hoping in the fall to volunteer at Canaan Land Cafe at least a few hours a week.  I told Chen Rong that I could even come and just do the dishes--something she and her business partner vehemently opposed.  So I will probably do some baking or help with English tutoring--whatever I can do to help her share light and hope in this city.  Be asking that people will feel His love when the enter, and if you are in Changchun, you should definitely stop in for some snacks and conversation.

A very successful first day at the cafe!  Trusting for many more to come.