“Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Father, for he comes.”The weather was amazing all week, and spring is in full force! It is as if we switched from the cold darkness of winter to the warm daylight of spring over night. The trees are green, the cherry blossoms are blooming, and a warm breeze is flowing through our apartment. As we walk across our campus it is fun to think that the fields and trees are singing for joy as a new creation has risen from the ground. The darkness is gone, let the glorious light shine, as the new creation sings for the joy of an empty tomb!
We are grateful this week:
1. On Tuesday night we held a small concert for about 100 English students on the main campus. Peter emceed, Jess video-taped, and Shannon & I played 6 songs each. We also spent some time sharing the meaning behind the songs. It was a nice relaxed atmosphere, and we are hoping to do it again before the end of the year.
2. For the holiday weekend, all of the IECS teachers came to Langfang. Everybody arrived by Saturday before noon, and then at 2pm the girls held a very special surprise baby shower for Jess while the boys played basketball. We all celebrated together on Sunday morning after a big homemade breakfast, and then went out for a special lunch at Jade Harbor (the “Rain Forest Restaurant”). Around 2pm the Baoding and Tianjin teams caught their taxis to the train station to return to their respective colleges.
Please think about us:
1. This Friday we will have our final English club on the Western Campus. Jess Shamblee will be speaking, and our run-on play will come to a conclusion. About a week and a half later we will have our final English club on the main campus.
2. During the third week in May we will have our annual English week! About 15-20 teachers will come from the States, led by Newt and Claire Hetrick. We are very excited about English week! Please continue to “think” about it as the final details get sorted out in the upcoming weeks.
3. Our return plane tickets were finalized this week. We will return May 28th, one month before Jess' due date.
4. Jess' 3rd trimester has begun! We have our monthly visit to see the doctor this Tuesday and then we will return every two weeks for checkups.
Living outside the boat,
Brad
