In the furnace

Today we are certainly still in the "furnace city." This city is living up to its nickname. It was 90 degrees today, which is pretty warm without air conditioning or air circulation of any kind. During my office hours today my feet got so swollen, that I couldn't put my shoes back on! I had to hobble around in Shannon's too-small flip-flops. However, I'd still much rather be too hot than too cold!

Not much of note has occurred during this week. I just have pretty much been trying to survive this week. Ever since I returned from the weekend in Ping Xiang, I have been sleeping horribly. Every night I haven't been able to fall asleep until 3 or 4 a.m., and then I have to wake up at 6:30 or 7 a.m.

There isn't a whole lot on my mind when I'm trying to fall asleep, but I feel like I have this sleep problem whenever something pretty momentous is happening. This seems especially true when relationships are going well, and a lot of big things are occurring in either my life, or in the lives of people I'm close to. Can you please lift this up? I'm really ineffective when I'm sleep deprived.

Anyway, there is some good news. A lot of my students who went out "recruiting" have returned to school! Out of all the students who went recruiting, only one girl was able to find any students who want to come to this university. And somehow she recruited 14 other students.

A lot of the students seem dejected that they wasted money to go home, missed a lot of classes, and then didn't find any students. Now they also have to deal with the disappointment and anger of their head teacher who is upset that they didn't find other students. But I'm thankful they have returned! :)

In other news, people continue to remark how little time left we have here before we return to America. I'm just thankful that I get to come back for yet another year of teaching and loving these students! There are still so many conversations to be had, so many lessons to teach and to learn, and so many other things yet to happen...

I will be back in America on June 30th (that's next month!) I'll be back in Kansas on July 2nd and then I'm visiting Rochester just in time for my birthday on July 17th. After Rochester, I'll be going to Virginia from July 23-27th. If you'll be in any of those places during those times, please let me know! I want to hang out with you and see you!

Thanks as always for your special thoughts and encouragement!