Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Today, we started making ourselves useful. Barbara and Dalanda went to the foster home to hold and feed the babies. Ron and I worked with the language school. We had a two-hour session this morning with the students talking conversationally with them - asking each one their name, age and favorite things (this is what they studied the day before). This went very well....we had fun. Next was lunch.....you can see Barbara and Dalanda standing in line, waiting for their food. The food has been great.

In the afternoon, Barbara and Dalanda started their cooking. Dalanda invited the staff for a Mexican dinner feast.....chips and dip Tacos - flautas - and Carmel and white chocolate apples (all of which takes a lot of preparation time). Meanwhile, Ron and I were asked to help the students learn and present an English chant - an exercise for the students to learn the proper pronunciation of words. It was fun.

After our classes were finished, Ron and I joined the girls to see what they needed. Ron assumed his position of frying the Taco shells. It was amazing, Dalanda had counted the people and the quantity of food and then a couple of people was added to the list. It was going to be a little tight for the amount of food and the number of guests. However, when it was all done, we had food left over, as if the food had been multiplied. The food was great and everyone had a great time. We had the chips and dip and then the tacos. Next, we watched a comedian, Chonda Perice while having our dessert...the Carmel/White Chocolate apples. The evening was a complete success, thanks to Dalanda and Barbara.

Wednesday, September 5

This morning was the first time that Barbara and I had a full night's sleep! We slept until 7:30! It felt great. We got up and had breakfast and started our day. Barbara and Dalanda again went to the foster home to help with the babies. They feed them and play with them.

Ron and I went into the class and helped the instructor. We each sat with a group of students as they practiced their short vowels. We are getting to know the students and are having fun communicating with them. One of the students brought a brochure from his family's company. This company designs and builds pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment. I had mentioned to him during one of our conversations that my granddaughter was an engineer and worked for a company such as his. He is studying English so he can go abroad and sell the equipment. He wanted me to give this information to my granddaughter so it might help his family. He is a sharp young man. His name is Ricky.....each of the students take on an English name.

After lunch, we had time to ourselves. Ron had to travel back to Beijing for a meeting so I worked on my computer as the girls watched a chick-flick. At 3:30pm, we went to the foster home and presented them with all the gifts we brought. The gifts included: toy cars; stocking hats; pens and pencils; 2 first-aid kits; purses; hair clips, and balls. the kids went after the gifts as soon as we started unzipping the duffel bags. It was fun to watch. They were so appreciative of the gifts. Here are some of the pictures we took.
It was a great time watching the kids play with the toys.

For dinner tonight, we had the left-over tacos....um um good. After dinner, we went over to one of the leaders here, Danny and Ilene, to their home and had coffee and dessert. we have made some wonderful friends here. It is sure tempting to consider coming back and help them teach English. They have 4-weeks, 3-months and one year commitments.

Another beautiful day in China, working with the real heroes that are making a difference in the world. For the next three days, I will put a poem that Ron has written:

Bended knee

I was in America the other day
My heart was grieved by what I heard people say.

Save the whales and frogs and all
lets save the animals large and small.

Things have come a very long way
After all its legal to kill a baby today.

I used to think that Hitler and Saddam were evil.
But they hold no candle to the apathetic devil.

Just sit and watch while 40 million are murdered
without a blink or even a shudder.

We wonder why God can't intervene,
We blame Him and call Him mean.

I wish we could blame this on God,
but its the lack of Him that has caused it all.

We blame the government for all its done
But we have participated and are on the run.

Evolution cant be explained
We've gone backwards from were we came

In God we trust is how we began
killing and hatred is how we have ran

We must return to the bent knee
Prayer will change what man cant see.

Let your heart be touched by this today,
Bend a knee and lets come and pray!

Blessings,

DAD and MOM
Jerry & Barbara