Wednesday

I am finally able to get to a computer again. Mike never has gotten his hooked up, so I have to use a coffee shop.

The new church I am at is quite different from years past. This is a new program. They are doing a pretty good job, but there are a lot of difficulties for us or at least Lindsey and I. We get there around 9:00 AM and do not leave until 5:30. It is a long day. The first day the assistants were apologetic and said they had not prepared well. they were right. I will say though, that they have worked hard to correct that.

Most of our kids do not speak or Understand English very well. Many are only there because their parents made them come. They love the games, but the rest is only ok. It is very frustraiting. I do have 4 darling little girls who are very smart and whose English is great. They make everything worth while. They put 100% effort into everything.

MOst of our kids did not know each other which made things a bit harder too. They have been so shy. To get them to have conversation, to read or do anything at first was like pulling teeth. We would ask questions and get blank looks. Just like when we were at the orphanage in Hohhot, we had to go to plan B.

We are using a Christian curriculum that is pretty good, but it is hard to communicate a lot of it. I do not think any of them go to church. A few had been once or twice in their lives and have heard a bit but do not know much. Lindsey and I need lots of prayer!!!

The kids are developing relationships with each other. We also have some girl crazy boys, who will tell you they are girl crazy. Some of the kids like the relationships and are asking about youth groups. So, I guess this is what a lot of it is about.

We had a cooking competition today. Lindsey, Me and two TA's judged. There were 6 groups. one group made sandwiches, one did hamburgers , two did salads, one did punch and snacks. Then there was the last one...it was an egg and meat thing that was snatched away by a leader before it could get to us. She made the boys who cooked it eat it first. Two of the group would not eat it and one did not like it. The 4th who did most of the cooking said it was great. The judges were to sample everything. We were not allowed to eat it. We were grateful!! HOwever, the contest was fun and most of the kids did a good job.

We are on our way back to the dorm to wash clothes and go to bed.