Empty classrooms

(Eating dinner at our favorite restaurant with one of Jonathan's students and two of mine, who are on the right).


Weep, weep, weep. Today I walked into one of my classes, and there were only 20 students, down from a class size of 45! The rest have gone recruiting.

And now I also found out that my favorite, special student/best friend has been pressured so much to recruit that she will most likely leave very soon for the remainder of the term.

It just makes my blood boil in frustration and helplessness. I felt a lot of despair today. I was disappointed that more than half of my students are leaving, but this news was much more serious for me. She and I hang out several days a week, we study the book together, we study Chinese and English together, and we talk about life. And we can laugh about anything and everything. I don't know if I can handle it. She's one of my best friends I've ever had.

I can't and shouldn't say much about how these students are pressured to leave. But I will say that they must not lose face. In addition, if they don't leave to recruit, they will not be eligible for future scholarships. Can you spell "b-l-a-c-k-m-a-i-l?" It doesn't make any sense! They are here to learn.

Anyway, things are different here, and there's not much I can do about it. My classes may dwindle to 10 people by next week, and it's hard to be motivated to teach or write lessons if nobody will be there.

Okay, I'm finished venting...

Tonight one of my boy students will be studying the word with Jonathan. My special student also came to help out, because she is classmates with them. We ate dinner together, and my heart was so content, I thought it would bust. I love these students so much--I never thought I would feel this way. The rest of the problems and issues and strivings on earth really pale in comparison to loving these precious people, and helping point them to truth. Please continue to lift them up!

And one more thought... Last night our team was studying Stephen in the word, who died for him. It got me thinking about what it means to sacrifice everything for him, and then I thought it might be more challenging to live every day dedicated to him, than to die.

Anyway, now I leave you with some unique, random videos.

(This is for you, Andrea--here's some dancing at dinner. This is Rachael's birthday dinner on Monday, after we got back from Wuhu and hadn't slept in 2 days)

(Craving some cabbage and pig bladder? Help yourself in the teacher's cafeteria)