Our classes have been really interesting lately. In our oral classes, we have been having lots of great discussions on relevant life subjects. It is very fun to see the students' perspectives on a wide variety of subjects and to see their vocabulary grow at the same time. They have seemed to love this style of teaching. This week we looked at how the ingredients to make a perfect parent and also to bring up a perfect teenager (unachievable, but a standard to work towards). Their conversations and list was spot on. The week before, we looked at what things they needed to be happy and the question of money and things bringing happiness and love. We are looking at traditions and traditional values also--it is sad to see that some of the moral corruptness of America is very evident here, but there are a few students who fervently hold to a high moral standard and it is fun to hear them discuss with the others. These discussion have brought up a lot of good topics and chances to share.

This weekend brought our teammates from Guiyang--all 10 of them. it was great to be able to share together and to spend time together singing and feeling like a mutual family. It is sad to hear that two of them will leave after this semester and two more will leave after the following semester. We have greatly enjoyed having all of them here and they have grown to be our family. We go on little trips together and can share during the week. We wish them many blessings wherever they may go.

On Sunday, we had our Open House but found that many of the English department students were outdoors on the track. We decided to go and join them and found out they were preparing for the Sports Day competition. One of the students, who is not even our student, came and gave us a gift. He is from Dali and is from the Baizu minority and he gave Patty and I one of the Baizu minority clothing. It is amazing!! We will have to go out around the countryside and take some pictures to post so that you can see them on Flickr. After the running, we went and watched a movie, The Climb. It is one of the movies by Billy Graham and it was excellent. The students really enjoyed the story, but it did not have Chinese subtitles so it was more difficult for them to understand. They did very well though and we explained some also. We have been having many students come often and that has been good to grow in relationship. One of the students, also brought a friend who is family. She does not speak much English, and is an Art student, but that was good to give her some gifts to help her learn more. The Open Houses have definitely been a blessing and blessed.

It has been a week full of rather warm temperatures, so we have been busy with outdoor life and also hanging out with students. Many of the students are very active with playing sports or love being outdoors like us. This last week was the ping pong tournament, so I played lots of ping pong and Patty also came along and has been starting to play more. The tournament was three days of competitions, each department playing, doubles, and the singles tournament. I played in the singles tournament with over 150 other guys. I won my first two matches (I did not have to break a sweat doing it, because for some reason none of them showed up). That meant that I got to play for the championship in my bracket against someone quite good. Because I was the token American in the tournament and our friends were there from Guiyang, many people came to watch and take pictures of us. It was a fun match, but lots of pressure as everyone was cheering so loud, but I finally lost in 4 games (it was quite close). I have enjoyed being active and competing. The next tournament ahead is the Sports Day, which is a Track and Field competition on May 14th. I do not want people to think that all we do is sports though. But I did get my first official award, I got a certificate for being the second place winner in the Basketball Competition--it has a stunning case. But it says I am a student and they could not write my name, so they left it blank, but it makes me feel more accepted, except that I can only read part of it. Sports have been a great way of getting to meet many students from multiple departments, but there is still the language gap. They can only speak a little English and I know a little Chinese. I have been tutoring a student of mine in pronunciation and a PE major in vocabulary, so that has been a great learning opportunity. They will teach me a little Chinese also. Well, I should start some supper. Patty has been busy enjoying the outdoors reading and spending time with students, and just lately they got new pianos so she has been over there playing and singing. Every now and then she will get a guest who sits and watches over her shoulder. The funny thing is that Patty often will not notice for a long time. We wish you a wonderful week and many blessings!!