GONG XI FA CAI !!!!!!

Sorry that it's been 2 weeks since I have posted anything.  Last week was most of the usual stuff.  We did go to a wedding reception for Bro. Francis's nephew--=very interesting!  Bro. francis is the 2nd counselor in the branch presidency.  You know that every ward has their wealthy person.  Well, Bro. Francis is ours.  He is currently retired.  He drives a Mercedes and Land Cruiser(when he takes all of us missionaries somewhere).  He has a really nice home and so does his ex-wife. 
Last Saturday he invited all of the missionaries to his nephew's wedding reception.  All of his family and neighbors have great respect for Bro. Francis.  They also have respect for us because we're his friends.
When we arrived, everyone stared and started talking and  whispering.  You get use to that when you are the only white people in the room.  They take us to their most honored seats and want us to eat first in line and play songs just for you!  They're so respectful and gracious here.  Here's a few pics--Dad really loved the little boys who played the drums....

These are the little drummer boys and a fish pond right beside where we sat.

Dad playing with the drummers!!

Dad and sister missionaries with the Bride and Groom(I took the pic).  The sisters are so good with people, they speak their language and are so gentle with them!

This man is Bro. Francis's cousin.  He wanted to sing a song especially for Bro. Francis's American friends.  He sang "Your Cheating Heart" in English.  So fun.

Monday and Tuesday of this week were dedicated to getting my computer fixed.  Friday before last Dad and I watched, or tried to watch, a DVD.  The 2nd disc sounded terrible, so I went to Computer and tried to click on the disc--well....I erased everything on my computer!!!  I was not a happy camper until Monday came and I could take it to the repair shop.   They were so nice(all Chinese) and fixed a few things and told me how to go home and download everything.  Wellllllll.....Tuesday morning I went back and told them, almost in tears, that it didn't work for me.  They were so busy, but they took the time to help me and stayed with me right there in their shop and downloaded everything for me!!!!  They would not let me pay either day.  Dad and I went to a great Chinese pastry shop and bought a bunch of pastries for them.
Bro. Francis invited us to a Chinese New Year(Gong Xi FA Cai) open house. he and his son brought two cars to the church and picked up us and the other 6 missionaries. Bro. Francis is and older retired Chinese and is the most finjancially well to do member in the branch. He had a huge buffet and then a truck losd of Chinese acrobats performed the Lion dance! It was absolutely one of the best presentations we have ever seen. they (2 per costume) dressed in elaborate colored lion costumes and then did acrobatics on and elevated metal platform. Oh how I wish you and the grandchildren could have seen it---it is something you would never forget. In her excitement in taking pictures, mom accidently dropped our camera, and we thought it was ruined, but even though we were worried, than goodness it still works.

Every evening during the 3 week long Chinese New Years celebration, there are fireworks every night. We get to look out the windows and it certainly is much larger than any thing in the USA. On Wed. night, the actual New Years Eve, there were fireworks everywhere and it was as if the whole town was blowing up and it was spectacular. It was os loud it awoke us at 12:00Pm and we viewed thw whole thing. Coeman, it may have scared you but grandpaw was in pig heaven.

Costumes for lien dance.  Have to go --will add more pics later!
Love MOMand DAD