China, China, China

We made it through our first week of class! We grew pretty attached to our students. Mike plays basketball with them after class although it is all Chinese on the court. He has also successfully mastered in Chinese counting to ten, asking the price, and most importantly saying, “I am full.”

A kind student let us hitch a ride back into down town and helped us get a cell phone. We really are far out of town so it would take about three hours during rush hour. We explored Tiananmen Square and the river walk around the Forbidden city. Beijing is really getting a makeover for the Olympics.

The Temple of Heaven was a beautiful place to see ancient Chinese architecture, and line dance with middle age women to techno music.

At the Silk Market aggressive store venders bombarded us dropping prices from about 400 dollars a jacket to 20 or less, if you are not careful here you will really get ripped off, if anyone wants a fake iPhone we can arrange that for all of you!.

We enjoyed dinner with our new friend the Johansens and another couple in the branch, we ate a a Chinese restaurant where we were spoiled beyond all reason with service. They even pulled up a chair for our backpack and put a nice cover over it so it wouldn't get dirty. At this restaurant they cook the food for us in the middle of the table. The Johansens are great. They let us stay with them for the weekend because there is nothing to do out where we live on the weekend. Dane is studying law here. It’s nice to have friends here, especially because they blessed us with brownies.

The branch was split in two because of growth. It was very interesting to hear of the history of the church here in China that has been so recent. No doubt the spirit of Elias is here and through faith and work the gospel will be able to bless so many lives.

Dale and Lily Simpson invited us into their home after church. It was inspiring to hear of their experiences here in China over the last few years, especially after they shared their appreciation for dad helping to inspire them to come here. We really realize that Heavenly Father prepares a way for us to do what is right. They made a great home cooked meal with real bread before we headed back to the academy where we are getting geared up for week two.

Much to our happiness it rained all day on Sunday and into Monday. This cleared the pollution out of the sky and we can now see the mountains right outside of our campus, which we cannot usually see.