Letter from Dad 3/08/09

Dear Family and other's who are willing to read this letter:

This has been an interesting week. I finially have my schedule worked out. I think I told you, I now teach four classes on Monday, and one class on Wednesday morning. I like this schedule. Mother and I had lunch with the lady that I work closely with in the English Dept. She asked me to meet with the English teachers who teach in in the English Dept. I said OK. I went to the Department at 2:00 P. M. Only two teachers were there, one was my leader, the other was mothers leader. I had small talk for a few minutes, then the lady who mother reports to, asked me this question. "We want to know about religion) Well, you know we can't discuss religion and they know it. The lady said, "during the recent presidential elections, we were told that Mr. Huckabee was a Mormon. The only thing we know about Mormons is, they have several wives. I replied, "oh." I said, well, Mr. Huckabee is not a Mormon, but Mr. Romney is. I then said, let me tell you about my religion. We are taught to honor, obey and sustain the law. The law here in China is, we don't discuss religion. "Do you want me to live my religion?" She said, are Mormons Christians. I replied, "yes." What about all of the Christian religions, why are there so many? I replied, "they teach what they think is rigtht." I did not discuss religion with them, except as aforementioned. I then said. "You invited me here to discuss the English teaching methods I use. I am willing to do that still. However, you must understand, we will never discuss religion." They agreed. The next week, I was dis invited to meet with them. Was this a set up? Absolutely!

While I was there, my advisor told me that the department was not happy with me for changing my Thursday morning class to Monday evening. (my class loved the change) I replied, "whose not happy?" I want to meet with them. I said, "life is too short to be unhappy" Tell me who they are? Finially she said, "no body." Ok if someone ever again gets unhappy, tell them I want to meet with them. I will put a smile on their face. "OK" she said. Enough of that, I left

. On Thursday we went to Beijing. We had District Conference on Saturday and Sunday. When I got dressed for the Saturday afternoon session, I found that I didnot bring msuit pants, only my jacket. We;;, all I have to wear to conference are my levis. I've never work just levis to church before. I just laughed. Well, I put on a white shirt, a nice tie and my suti jacket. Oh, along with my levis. I met several others in the lobby. They looked strange at me, but no one said anything. I guess they thought this is the way I go to Conference. They were however, very nice levis. I had just gotten them from the dry cleaners and they were pressed very well. OK, I get in a cab and go to conference. There are three others in the cab with me. Well, I didn't have the courage to go to conference in my levis, so I found a mens clothing store and bought a pair of slacks that matched my suit coat. I paid dearly fort them. Cost me twenty eight bucks. I could have bought them for five if I had purchased them on the street. Well anyway, I head back to conference. I walk in. The same people who saw me in levis, now see me in nice church pants. Still no one says anything. Neither did I. Well, at the evening session, i see a lady (the branch presidents wife) I notice that the shoes she is wearing, don't match. One is black and one is blue. Well, I guess she had somewhat the same problem that I had.

It was a good conference. We had two General Authorities in attendance. The session was broadcast all over China by telephone transmission. Members all over China could dial in and listen to the conference. This was the first time they had broadcast the conference to other areas.

The chapel is on the 4th floor of a hotel. On the main floor is a Dairy Queen. About half way through the Saturday Evening session, I was falling asleep. I thought to myself how good a Blizzard form D. Q. would taste. I got up, and told mother that I was going to the bathroom. She said to me, "don't even think of going down to D. Q." Well it was a good idea, but the thought never lasted. I went to the restroom and came back and sat down.

Traffic in Beijing and Tianjin was pure gridlock. It took us over and hour in the cab to get from the train station, to our apartment. Glad to be home.

Happy birthday to Brit and Scott. Did you get my present yet? Well don't worry, it's not my birthday until October.

While in Beijing, We went to the pearl market. Got some pearl necklaces and some purses for some of Ashleys friends. I also got a pair of Oakley glasses. They were given to me by the lady at the pearl market. She sells them.

Well, time to go to bed, and I am very tired. Will write more later. I love you all.

Dad