Just thought that I would drop a short message for you to add to the Blog site regarding our Qing Ming weekend with our friends, the Henderson's. We had such a great time. Attached you will see Nancy and I at the pearl market, with Rita - the gal we buy the pearls from. Nancy bought a load of pearls and so did I. My list of pearls to buy for everyone is dwindling - slowly, but surely.
Also, you will see the fresh fish "catch" we saw that night - just hanging out on the busy street to dry!!! It looks kinda distorted and odd colored because it was taken at night! This was the second batch of fish outside drying - must be the season!
The Qing Ming festival is celebrated every year on the 106th day after the winter solstice. Actually in English, it is the "grave sweeping" or "grave cleaning" holiday. Sort of like our Memorial day. On this day, the family gathers to eat the food the matriarch of the family has cooked the day before, as they do not cook food on that day. The left-overs are taken to the grave site of loved ones and left for the deceased spirits to eat, along with wine. They also take large sticks of incense and "play money" to burn so the deceased can have spend the money in the afterlife.... They also clean the grave site sometime within a 10 day period.
Everywhere we went, we saw yellow "pretend money" which could be purchased to take to the graves. This is one celebration when the Chinese DO NOT use fireworks. Heaven knows - they light fireworks for EVERY other occasion.
We continue to sporadically have the use of the Internet and we continue to wait for the hot water every morning from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. and every evening from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. But - life is good and we feel very blessed to live among these dear people. I guess, as frustrating as it is, there are big "pay offs" in the time spent with our students and dear Li Yang. It is all worth it because of the cherished memories we will have of Qingdao and our time spent living here.
We are planning on Lesa coming at the end of the month and we can hardly wait to show her our "life" here in China. We pray that she will have the same feelings that we have for these dear people. I really do not know how anyone could live among them and not see their many virtues and their kind, gentle ways.
Much Love to everyone,
Mom
1 comment:
Jane! I love your hair white! You look very handsome. So, you were at the pearl market, that would be so fun. The bishop told me this morning that the process was to the place of deciding where I should serve. Dan Jessen and Bro Banks spoke at the Mother's day program. It was a two hanky day. And once again they handed out a 4 pc box of chocolates, which is better than a plant any day. Love, Janet
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