We are getting ready to come home I took my last Chinese final at the school. After class the teachers ask all of the foreign students out for dinner at a nearby chicken and potatoes hot pot place. Jesse and I got to share a table with our three teachers. I was surprised by how much of the conversation we could understand. This was the last time we could hang out with our teachers, so we exchanged emails. One of the, teachers that is not part of the family emailed me the other day about Christmas and I sent her the story of Christmas. I hope it speaks to her heart and that she will ask questions about it to some of our family members. After the meal Jesse and I went to a Christmas party at the school. They told the real Christmas story and also sang some songs about Father and the birth of His son in both English and Chinese. I got to talk to one of my friends about Christmas and some of the Chinese traditions with the holiday. He told me that usually Chinese people give each other apples, because they represent peace.
The next day was Christmas Eve and I wanted to give my friends something that is at the heart of Christmas so I wrapped up some words and films for them. That night I went to and English corner, one of my friends was hosting it. The students sang some Christmas songs and played some games. At the end I pulled some of my friends a side, and tell them why we celebrate Christmas. They all enjoined their gifts I hope to see them again before we leave. Keep these students in your thoughts.

future me says Nimen Yao Dongxi

This week the grandmother of the people’s house we stayed at the first month died. She was in her late eighties and had a large family with great and great-great grand kids. We decided to visit and bring the family some flowers a few days after her death. We forgot that three to five days after the family has a funeral serves of sorts. People will gather, eat, and pay their respects to the dead. We happen to come on the day that they were having this party in preparation to move the body to the mountain. We came in to the court yard and laid the flowers in front of the body. Then we were asked to bow before the body and we respectfully declined. On this day it would be very rare to see the family, so we decided to leave. Before we could take two steps out people were telling us to stay and eat. The food was pretty good. The local people’s funerals are very interesting the first few days after the person dies the family will clean the body and put rice and a coin in the mouth. Then the body will either be burned or put in a casket like box. Then the family will have a feast for the village and carry the body to the mountain to be buried. This mother to so many children a few weeks earlier heard the entire message. I hope that she received father’s message. Please keep this family in your thoughts to Dad.
This week I also took some of my Chinese finals. During our time here Jesse and I have been enrolled in three Chinese courses Speaking, Writing, and Chinese Made Easier. We have both been working very hard to learn the language, so it is a relief to be ending school for a while. My major concern is that as we are preparing to return to the United States we will lose sight of propose. This is an important time for us and a great opportunity to share with our friends more openly than normal. Sometime this next week we will through a Christmas party for our friends. Please talk to dad about this party and that we will have ample opportunities to share.

future me says Ni Hao Pengyou

Hey Everyone
During this time of year the people hold a big dinner for their families and friends and they will kill and cook a pig. This is a big event for the people everyone arrives early in the morning to help kill and prepare the meet. We left our city about seven in the morning and made our way through the mountains to a brother’s house by the time we got there we were all a little car sick and it was time for lunch. The meal consisted of fish, assorted parts of the pig, noodles, green vegetables, and other stuff. The meal was pretty good I was not expecting that liver and intestines would be as good as it was. After the first meal we went to the mountain side to help pick olives. When we returned the family was busy preparing blood sausage. Its prepared by taking the blood of the pig and mixing it in with rice and stuffed into the intestines and boiled. While the people are preparing the food for dinner the guest will play majiong and drink some beers. Most of the time I don’t play majiong because it is an easy way to lose a lot of money, but I got to play the last two games because no one else wanted to play and the guy said we could play without gambling. I ended up winning the last hand. By the time we finished playing it was time for dinner many of the dishes we had for lunch with the addition of the fresh blood sausage. Sadly or luckily enough I did not have any.
A few days later I was hanging out at the school and I ran in to a freshmen English student. As we were talking and I found out that he is part the local people group. This is great news not especially for me but for some of the other people here that will be here longer doing DAD’s work. I hope that I can pass this new friend to some of my other foreign friends. Father might have big plans for this student. Please keep him in your thoughts.