Last Week of Teaching

Dear Family:

Well this is the last week of teaching school for us and I have been very melancholy and sad. When I look in their eyes and see the trust and love they have for me, it is very humbling. They totally trust me and they have given their love to me with no restraint.
Last Thursday night Dan's class invited us to a class party. It was a humid, rainy night and we had to climb four flights of stairs BUT my dear Rocke and Habby met us at the door and escorted us up the steps. I baked peanut butter cookies and put a big Hershey's kiss candy on each cookie for them. They were so excited when they saw that we had brought a treat and as we walked into the room, they were singing a song for us - "My Love" by Westlife. I stood there with tears running down my cheeks and it was hard to get a grip on my emotions. We played two games and we both participated! I played the "apple" game and Dad played the "drawing" game. I had to stand behind my partner - Dan, close my eyes and hold an apple for him to eat. The twosome who finished their apple first was the winner. Needless to say, we were not the winners! As punishment we had to sing for the audience. Dad's game was for him to draw a face on the blackboard blindfolded, with a girl telling him where to draw what. They were not the losers, therefore they did not have to perform. Dad and I had copied the words to some American songs, and we all sang together. We even sang a duet for them and they cheered and clapped for us. Your old Dad has turned out to be a real singer for the Chinese. Somehow, I can't imagine either of us singing for anyone in the USA like we do for these special people who appreciate every little thing we do! As we left the building, walking down the black steps WITH NO LIGHTING, my sweet Dan and Rocke held my arms so I wouldn't fall. It was like walking down steps blindfolded! They all stood on the steps telling us goodnight as we walked away and my heart felt full.

Today I taught my last class! It was something I have dreaded since I started teaching in China... As I looked in those dear faces - faces I have grown to love so dearly - I thought my heart would break. I kept telling myself not to think about leaving and I managed to do it! Our lesson was on "choices" as they are preparing for the CET4 test.
Oh my, my old heart may just break this time...... As I walked up the street, away from building #2, I tried to remember the first day I walked down the street to building #1, room 509 for my first class as a BYU China Teacher. I recalled all the fears I felt. I remember the feeling of walking into that classroom and seeing 30 Chinese students glancing at me with wonder in their eyes but never really allowing me to "catch" their eye. When I spoke, they all bowed their heads. I sang a song and I will never forget the looks in their eyes as I sang. They looked at me as if I was TOTALLY crazy and I loved it!!!! As I walked out of the classroom that day, I realized that this is what I have been searching for, all my life! This fulfillment, this total trust, this adoration, this reaction, this joy! I knew that day the Lord had been preparing me for this for a long time and I knew that it would be a life changing experience for me. Every day in China has been a joy and I can honestly say that I have never regretted going to class to be with my students.

I have taken up a new hobby! I am learning, in the last two weeks in China, how to play the Chinese flute! Am I crazy or what? I have wanted to do this for a long time and the opportunity presented itself to me, and I took it! My friend, Tang ( pronounced Tong) is an expert flute player and I ask him about teaching me and he jumped at the chance to try teaching this old gal! I don't think he realized what he was getting himself in for!!! May I say that it is definitely hard to teach an old dog new tricks! Enough said... But, I will continue to try my best. Merlene said that she fully expects to be invited to Cedar City for a concert, presented by me as the soloist, playing my Chinese flute. I told her that I would have Barbara Shakespear accompany me on the ukulele!!!! ha ha ha

Life is good. We have SO much to be thankful for and the Lord loves us very much. We realize our many blessings every day in this country which is so different from ours. We do not take our freedoms for granted and we are grateful for our freedom of choice as well. We realize how precious our family is and they are the reason we are here on the earth - they are our joy.

We look forward to returning home, even if our parting here will be so difficult. It is absence that makes the heart grow fonder.
Until we see you all again...
All our love,
Mom and Dad