Tuesday, March 23

Week 2

My class yesterday went well, I had no class today. The students all speak English, but have some difficulty with correct pronunciation. They are very respectful and talkative. Praise!, the classroom was not too cold. Maybe it was because I have learned to layer like never before and the afternoon was some warmer.

The dust storm from the north came through here last Saturday. The wind was very strong and visibility very low. We did not go outside all day. It remains very hazy with low sunlight. It is dry here but the main drought is north and also in Southern China. The rivers flowing through this city are nice with beautiful parks all alongside.

Today, we ate at KFC for lunch. Our driver is with a young lady who is the daughter of a high city official here in Linyi. She is a student at Beijing University but is home for a few days and is visiting with us to work on her English. We have been very blessed to have her and her driver at our call since Sunday. Tonight, her parents are taking us out to dinner. This is our last day with Lisa(her English name). BTW, the KFC is not like ours, but enough to remind us of home foods for a change. It stays very busy - mostly young adults and college students.

The church we visited on Sunday is called a Christian church. It was packed and there were also some worshippers outside. There were about 3/4 women. It was very reverent and the pastor spoke almost an hour. The only thing that we understood was the hymn melody, "Have Thine Own Way Lord". The two young ladies who took us to church had never been to one before.

I am doing well, continue to pray for no sickness and ability to rest. We have been able to go to a supermarket to get bread, so now I can have peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, if needed.

Thanks for your gracious emails and thoughts.
Martha