Hello friends and family. I have a few tidbits, a few morsals to chew on as you belly up to the dinner table for the Feast or lounge in the chair to catch the games. This week has been full of surprises from my first grade students. On Monday, they huddled around me after class, pointing, laughing, and saying the few words I can understand and a lot of words that I don't understand. The conversation turned to point out the amount of hair on my face (No shave November). What has a lot of hair and moves around like a human? It's a monkey of course. Laughing at the foreign teacher, now dubbed the monkey, I quickly exited the classroom. I wasn't gonna take any more insults from 6 year-olds.
Yesterday I walked back toward the offfices after class, but not before playing with the boys a bit. We exchanged rounds from our fake guns a few times after class. Today, one of the boys comes up to me immediately after class and says, "Play." I agreed and soon it was 15 vs. 1. There was no end in sight. I played fake dead, they played fake dead, I hope you don't think less of me for letting boys be boys. What first grade boy doesn't love playing guns with his foreign english teacher? So this is how they show their love and appreciation for me, by shooting me in the head? I wouldn't have it any other way.
I've also been called a Killer while here in China. The first time was in Beijing after Peter and I scored a deal on some sweaters in a market. We talked down the price to the point that when we walked away the vendors said, "You are killers." The second time was tonight at a study. We were talking about drowning the Old Adam daily. We kill him. Edward, one of our friends said, "So we are Sin Killers. We kill him everyday?" I gave him a yes. He replied, "So stubborn." That nasty old sinful nature. He has no place in my life. Thanks be to Him, who gives us the victory through our L0rd, J.C!Now we stop and give thanks for all of the many and various blessings our Father has poured out on us. May He bless you this Thanksgiving Day. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost! Happy Thanksgiving!
