In this ancient city with its mostly narrow streets--certainly not designed to handle the growing numbers of private cars that have come into vogue in just the last five years--Xi'an is facing a serious problem that no one seems to know how to solve. The kids did their level best to think it through and get their thoughts on paper, not an easy task in English when you are Chinese. I guess reading all those arguments made me even more cognizant of just what being on the roads in Xi'an is all about.
Because we were up late getting the last class's grades logged in we got going slowly this morning so took a taxi to church, hauling with us our contributions to our monthly, after-church potluck. En route our driver went down a wrong lane of traffic, before--seeing cars headed his way--realizing that wasn't going to work, then made a U-turn where it was clearly marked that such a maneuverer was illegal, before safely delivering us to our hotel chapel. Usually I don't look out the window but the fluid dynamics of this morning's trip to church was really quite remarkable in that we got there without mishap! I began to think HEAVY fines for taxi drivers might be a really good idea after all!
But for now, the grades are in, the papers are stacked up high, John and Margy's book is written and edited for next semester and their power points are ready to go. Lucky them. I, on the other hand, have done nothing towards next term so still have that to face but we are dancing in the alley for right now to have a six-week break ahead.
Our biggest jobs this week are to get packed for our trip--we leave on Saturday--help Monsons pack for their required move to a new apartment, and help out on Friday at the foster home to move Amanda and her 42 babies and 21 nannies to their new facility. John and others of the men go to the new place Friday morning to receive and set up the cribs coming in by the movers. Our job, as the women in the branch, is to show up at noon to hold babies for the long van journey to their new home. Because we can fit about seven of us adults in the van--each of us holding one, maybe two babies per trip--we figure in seven trips we can ferry all the babies. Amanda says that there is no book on how to move a household of 42 babies, 21 nannies and all their stuff, but maybe she will write one when it is all done. John and I have just said repeatedly how grateful we are that there are no baby-seat requirements in China right now. We'd never get all the kids moved if there were!
Today was a banner day for us. For the first time in nearly five months we rode in a car for our trip home from church. Amanda has been given a really nice big van by some organization that has greatly blessed the foster home and made her life much easier, albeit that it has over 200,000 miles on it. Today she, with the help of her driver, whom she calls "Apple"--his Chinese name being impossible to say, even with her command of the language--brought us and the Monsons home though we live on opposite sides of the city. It was such luxury! En route she told us that she had hired "Apple" part time as a driver three months earlier for 1000 RMB/month. After two months though, he had told her she didn't need to pay him any more. He just wanted to help out. He owns a taxi and hires two men to drive for him so he is free during the day and he has plenty of money! We were really shocked to hear about his kindness because it is so rare for the Chinese to be philanthropic and so unusual for them not to put their top priority on acquiring as much money as possible. Yet here was this wonderful man who just wanted to serve. What a great example to us all.
In our branch meetings today we welcomed a new young couple--Patrick and Xiaoyu Belnap--who had truly been prayed here! The Brittons officially moved and the Belnaps arrived all on Wednesday after we enjoyed a last-supper with them at Monsons'.
Xiaoyu is from Xi'an, was converted five years ago in Hong Kong and later married Patrick, from Salt Lake City. (John used to work with his father, Kerry Belnap, at LDS Foundation. What a small world it is in the Church!) They have a little son, Lucas, plus Xiaoyu's mom lives a block from where they are now living--in the Brittons' former apartment. What a blessing they will be to have in the branch. Someone who can carry on in the branch and help out Amanda in the foster care home, when all of us BYU teachers leave for our next adventures when this school year is over. The Lord is so good to answer our prayers and bless the lives of His children, even those in Xi'an.
No comments:
Post a Comment