Winding Down

We have three weeks left and our emotions vacillate a hundred times a day between excitement and joy about seeing our family and being home, and deep sorrow at leaving the people here that are so kind and good to us.  Our days have been slow and leisurely because university is having a three week holiday right now, but our nights have been filled with parties and farewell dinners.

The Chans had us over for a delicious Chinese dinner. 

Starting at eleven o’clock: Chinese dumplings (something I’ve really learned to love over here), Chinese pancake, rice, green beans and Chinese sausage, and Chinese cucumber salad.  YUM!

Left to right: Wai Ling, Ellen, Daniel, Carol, and Dindi.  Daniel is from Hong Kong and speaks Cantonese.  Carol is from Taiwan and speaks Mandarin.  They are both converts to the church and when they met and married, they could barely communicate with each other.  Ellen hardly spoke until she was three years old, but when she started talking, she could move back and forth easily between both languages.  The girls are all tri-lingual and Dindi speaks French as well.  They are lovely people and their home is full of love and laughter.  Ellen is coming to Utah for a visit this August.  She has already booked her tickets and her coming eases the pain of our going.  I’m hoping she’ll be the first in a long line of visitors.

Friday night was a birthday party for Brodie and Mele. 

Hayley, Trevor, Brittany, and Brodie.  Everyone had to dress up as something that started with either B or M.  These kids love to do costume events.  John and I have no access to costumes so John was an all BLACK, and I was jus Me.

Mele Tuipulotu and Luke Katene.

Ginger, Violet, Lurita, and Luisa.

Amy in her yummy costume.

Saturday night was a farewell party for Alice who leaves for BYU Hawaii this Saturday.

Hayley, Brodie, Alice, Sina, and Ellen

Trevor, Stephanie, Matt, Wiki, and Emma participate in a rapid charade relay.

Yesterday we went with Alice Cammock to a little Chocolatier’s over by Governor’s Bay for a decadent hot chocolate.  This little girl slipped into our hearts, sat herself down, and will remain there.  We love her and are grateful that she, too, is a traveler.  She and her parents, Pete and Liz, have welcomed us into their homes (they have been rather tossed around by the earthquakes), they have fed us wonderful, healthy food, and they have loved us, prayed for us, and counseled us.  Come to Utah Cammocks.  We will take you any time.

Last night we had dinner with Martin and Margaret Bourne.

We have had many dinners around their big family table.  They were the first to take us in.  They made us feel like we were part of the family.  We will never forget their many kindnesses to us. 

God bless you our lovely Kiwis.  We love you all so much.