Saturday, November 1 2008

Good morning

It's hard to believe that I have been here a week already. I guess time goes quickly no matter where you are in the world.

Yesterday I had a wonderful opportunity to spend most of the day with a group of Pastors from the states who are here as part of a Leadership Training program. In the morning we did some sightseeing. We took them to the Protestant cemetery and to the 200-year old Protestant Chapel founded by Robert Morrison, the first person to translate the Bible into Chinese. Then we visited the ruins of St Paul's. There was a Chinese man passing out little tote bags with Christian goodies in it, and telling the crowds that "Jesus loves you", but he wouldn't give one to anyone who wasn't Chinese. It wasn't clear which church he was from, but he was adament in his message of Christ's love.

We came back to the Center for lunch and the pastors and their wives had a chance to meet many of the students and eat lunch with them. We spent part of the afternoon visiting the Kun Tam temple and maritime museum, and then came back to the center for services and communion. It was a very uplifting day for the peole working at the Center.

Those of us working at the center stayed for evening classes, ect., and then met the Pastors again around 8:30 for bilingual Bible class which ended around 10:15. It was a very full day, and I am sure they were all tired. It was also very hot yesterday...upper 80s and very humid. It felt a lot like July in Illinois.

Two of our teachers and one of our students left this morning for a 5-week trip around the US visiting churches and presenting a short program about the English Centers in China. They are Doris, John and Flora. Lift them up in your prayers that they have a safe and successful trip (and that Flora gets to see snow, her one wish).

I enjoy reading your comments. They keep me connected to home. I am a little homesick, but I also know that this time will pass quickly.

Lois