I have just a few minutes so thought I would post one last blog entry.

This is a bittersweet day for the Guiyang team. It is the day we say goodbye to our students, Chinese assistants, and many friends we have made who have made our stay here one to remember.

Our Classes ended this morning and we have been faithful to our task and purpose here. Teachers and assistants have been thoughtful and productive in both delivering lessons and planting seeds. Even some harvesting and encouraging.

To all our families, friends, and supporters:

We give you much thanks and appreciation. We could not do this without you. This may very well be the last blog for this camp. Tomorrow will be filled with activity--our last day of classes, cleaning our rooms, closing ceremony, and a picnic (if it ever stops raining) in Hua Xi at the Principal's home, and the dreaded packing. Then we depart the school at 8:00 am on Saturday morning to go to the airport to head to Shanghai and Xinning.

Rain, Rain, and more Rain. We should have brought swimming suits!!!!! and row boats. We are in our second day of NONSTOP rain. The land is covered in water as are all our walkways. No more dry feet in this camp. And someone should have told the designers of this school that water and shiny porcelain tiles just do not mix. Remeber our team as they walk on VERY slick tiles where you are not able to distinguish the water puddles from the dry tiles. We hear many calling out "oooooppps!" Many near misses but so far no one has bought any tiles.

How can we express our thankfulness for the boss's goodness?

What a wonderful weekend. We could not begin to describe the beauty of this place or the smells, or the sounds, or the number of people. Guiyang is a city of 2 million people with another few hundred thousand in nearby villages. Amazing.

Here are some important messages from the team to their loved ones. Enjoy!!!!!

Going well. Ask for health of team members and open minds of the students. Chris R.

First week is almost over! Thank you for your thoughts and well wishes. Keep them up! Tell Grandma and Dan "Hi" for me. Deborah Nelson

Susan and Fran, How are you doing? This is great. All is well and I have a frend...a water buffalo and a hairless leg. Ask me later. Love, Dave

WOW!!! Is HE great or what!!!!!

"I want a cell phone!"
"I want an iPod."
Claudette Hylton and Wendy Greve are shopping from American flyers with pretend money.

"Mom, I have no patience for this today!"
Danielle and Mary Anne have heard these stories a million times!!

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. The Christmas story in class 6 brought forth several seekers. Look for a later picture. Michelle Hall, Anna Cruz, and Mollie Kennard and Chinese assistants sing to Doug.