Tuesday, April 8

By Dave Hale

Thought for the Day: “People of knowledge use words with restraint, and those of understanding are even tempered” (Prov. 17:27).

Again we had a 7:00 a.m. breakfast at the hotel. Hu Di shared a statistical summary of China, especially population. There was light rain, not enough to clear the air. Mary and Dave went to the GV office to type the first sections of the journal. Work was interrupted when the pay-in-advance electrical system stopped. At 11:00 a.m. two representatives from Xi’an Holiday International presented information about optional tours. After lunch we left for our teaching locations. Generally the classes went well, our being more comfortable with classroom situations and possibilities. Before one class the students took a few minutes to rub/exercise their closed eyes to music, to improve or protect their vision. Dave was amused to find an empty room marked “Morality Museum.” Some of the students from Grade 7 presented a brief program about the city. Peggy’s afternoon was less successful; the students were tired and their attention span was shorter.

The rain stopped having cleared the air enough so that the sun and new moon could be seen. Dinner was at the Millennium An-Chang restaurant at the end of the block. We learned to use serving chopsticks as well as our own. The group was bemused at the choice of music, from “Auld Lang Syne” to “Happy Birthday.”