gender issues

Uyghur women are the cooks and the cleaners in the home.  Very often extended families live together to cover responsibilities and just as homes are filled with people, they are often filled with strife.

Harsh relationships between mothers and daughters in law are very common as is domestic violence and child abuse, which usually go unreported and unpunished. (For the most part, abuse in the home is not viewed as a criminal matter in China- for the majority or minority peoples.)

Since N has stayed in our home for the past few weeks, I've felt a bit of the weight of some Uyghur gender issues.  The nearest local grocery carries mainly just raw ingredients-  produce, flour, oil, eggs- and although we can get some wonderful items to add to this (butter, cheese, pasta and a few more goodies) at another store in town, most every meal is a labor intensive afternoon, and most every snack is home-baked.  I'm pregnant, caring for our big kids, and hosting this guest till one month before my due date.  And although I'm super blessed to have some local help it's not the same as living with family that can co-host every guest that crosses our doorway.

In our home, I'm not an unappreciated slave in the kitchen.  My man helps me kindly and generously.  I think his love for me is clearly shown and I know it is gratefully received.... but these demonstrations and understandings are American.  I don't know how N. perceives these things.  Does he see Matt as a humble servant (like he is) or like an idiot husband who is doing his wife's work?

Would you pray that he would see the grace and love of God displayed in our marriage?  Ask for grace for us to serve each other with patience and joy, and to submit to one another humbly, lovingly, scripturally.  Ask for help for N to understand that a wife submitting herself to her husband as unto the Lord, and a husband leading as a servant, is a beautiful blessing for a home and family.