GRATEFUL

I feel like I'm a pretty grateful person but this year I am feeling particularly grateful.  I'm not good at expressing myself, but I look around and I see where I am and am so thankful for this opportunity.  Many people asked us "why are you going to China?"  and many ask us now, "why are you in China?"  I still don't know but I'm glad Kim was prompted to come and that we both followed that feeling.  Teaching has been difficult and a lot of prep. This week I have taught my classes about Thanksgiving.  I played the song "Grateful" sung by Brian Stokes Mitchell.  The words say: 
In a city of strangers
I've got a family of friends
No matter what rocks and brambles fill the way
I know that they will stay until the end.

Is that not exactly where we are right now?  Our students have accepted us and have wrapped their arms around us and loved us and taken care of us.  The other English Teachers are our best friends.  The songs continues:

I feel a hand holding my hand
It's not a hand you can see
But on the road to the promised land
This hand will shepherd me
Through delight and despair
Holding tight and always there.

I'm so grateful for my Savior and a loving Heavenly Father who leads us every step of the way. What a journey this is and what a fabulous world we have.  These people are beautiful inside and out.  They are so accepting and helpful.  SO positive and caring.  They are hard workers.  They love their families. I'm grateful for my family who supports us.  I miss them like nothing else. I'm grateful for friends at home that support us as well. We've had a great adventures in our life and I look forward to wherever the road leads us.  Life is interesting and grand!  We are so blessed.

 Grateful, Grateful
Truly grateful I am.
Grateful, Grateful
Truly blessed
And duly grateful. 

Kim wrote this to our family.  I don't think he'll mind my sharing it here:
"Feeling very grateful that we have had the opportunity to come to China.  We definitely had to leave our comfort zone for this experience, but it has definitely been worth it.  It has been and continues to be an incredible experience.  Words can't describe what we have learned and the things we have seen.  We have met and become dear friends with people from all over the world that we never would have met if we hadn't taken this leap of faith to come to China.  People from not only China, but Germany, Iran, Poland, Brazil, Russia, Armenia, England, Ethiopia, Italy, France....
I have learned far more from my students than they have learned from me.  My perspective on China and the United States and the World has been expanded so much.  I see things differently now, in a way that I never would have been able to see before. " 

I hope I am a better person for all this.  I definitely have been changed.  Love to all.  Come visit!  We'd love to show you around. 


Happy Thanksgiving 
 Went to some Opera performances and at local Concert Hall.  One of the teachers in our building teaches them English.


Some people just enjoying a warm day at the park.


Museum at the Muslim District.
 
Full Moon while out walking one night. 
Beautiful water fountain at a park.

Saturday excursion with some of the BYU teachers.


Pagoda in Bioji. Took a day tour with some of the other foreign teachers.
Foot massage includes a good back/shoulder/arm massage as well.  A little bit of Heaven.  
Yes...that's the pile of "stuff" he got off Kim's foot.  😅

These kids were waiting for the city bus after school.  They were pretty cute!
Because we are obviously not Chinese they were interested in our English.  All students learn English in school. 
Found a new park in town.  This place is amazing.  I can't show all the pictures--there's just too many.
 Drum concert in the Drum Tower.
 This is how the Chinese take their pictures here.  Beautiful water feature at the park.
 Tang Dynasty Paradise
Dragons!
There were several of these hand statues

Drum Tower





 The Wild Goose Pagoda in the distance.



 Balloons anyone?
I could go on and on but it's time for me to stop.  I think it's safe to say we're having an amazing time and we ARE GRATEFUL!  


Comments

  1. Caroline Gibson CleggNovember 22, 2017 at 11:46 PM

    Love your photos and comments! Such a beautiful country. Great to hear all about it. Thanks for sharing! Hope your Thanksgiving is wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DebraNovember 23, 2017 at 5:38 AM

    We love seeing your photos and hearing all about your adventures. I especially loved the words to Stokes' song - it's always been a special one, and brought a tear to my eye this morning reading it in your blog. HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

    ReplyDelete

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