We said "Goodbye" to part of the team yesterday as some could not finish the week because of commitments. A half a dozen left this morning heading north to Beiijing home. We said "Goodbye" to the seniors who reside in the center where we were staying. Kristen has a video of them standing on the front steps waving! We also have a video of the children at the last school lining the driveway saying "Goodbye". We created quite the traffic jam!
The rest of us still 30 something boarded the bus on a six hour trek back to Maacu for them and Zhihu for us. The ride is always eventful! They are such a fun group of people to travel with! It reminds me of mine and Gary's days working with youth and the mission trips! Except that these are all grown adults having a blast with one another! They love to laugh and joke and I don't believe I have seen a more joyful group of people! On the way out a week ago the bus trip began with each one taking a turn at the mike, yes-there is a tour guide type microphone on the bus! Each one of us trekked to the front of the bus and introduced ourselves telling who we were and why we came! So on the trip away from the school we each took another turn (remember we have six hours to travel) and shared about our experience of the week and anything else that we felt like we wanted to say! Of course they all shared in Chinese and sometimes someone remembered to translate for us and sometimes not! But it was a blast! It made the ride seem shorter and really gave a great opportunity to hear one another's heart! (Wish I had thought of it for our family trips to KY! Not the introduction part of course but maybe our expectations on the way there and our highlights on the way back!)
They dropped us off tonight and are driving on to Maacu. (Kristen and I are on our own the rest of the way home. Tonight we are in a hotel until morning when we get up and take a hotel shuttle to the ferry on to Hong Kong.)
Lots of waving and hugging but not final farewells! Oh, no! We know we will see them on Facebook! Thanks to modern technology! And if we don't see them here again we will see them in Heaven! So no farewell here is final!
We just say, "See ya!"
Speaking of which, we are looking forward to see you all soon as well!
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