Dear Family and Friends,

Last night we had a great time at our carnival. The kids played games and won prizes until it got so dark we couldn't see to go on! Lots of excitement and smiling faces.

This afternoon (Friday) at 2:00 we will have our final graduation ceremony. Each class will perform or share something in English, we will award the top ten best speakers--one from each class--and also a citizenship award from each class. Songs and speeches are also a part of the final farewell. Each student receives a certificate of achievement for completing English camp. Typically, this occasion ends in many tears for both Americans and Chinese.

We then are out for our traditional final banquet at a Chinese restaurant. Packing, cleaning up, a little shopping--we will squeeze all these in tonight and get up for breakfast at 7:00, leave for the airport at 8:00. We will arrive in Shanghai and have some debriefing, share time, and some sight seeing and shopping. Our final flight from Shanghai to Atlanta to Roanoke is on Monday night (for you) and will arrive in Roanoke, #4572 at 10:02 PM. Most of the Xi'an team will be on that flight.

We are very excited to have Michael and Jordan back with us. They will have to do a little traveling to secure student visas, but the kids were so glad to have them back. It's wonderful that they can share the last few days with the students.

Thank you one last time for all of your support and thoughts. Now our task is to remember these students earnestly before Him and ask Him to work. Also, some we will be able to keep up a long-distance relationship through email.

No more blogs from Xi'an. Once we arrive in Shanghai, your family and friends will be able to call or email you directly. Thank you for reading!

Love, Becky (for the Xi'an team)