If Any Are Opposed, Text Me

Today was Sunday. We got up early and showered and put on nice clothes. We had church meetings over the telephone. All of our group gathered into one person's room, and we dialed the phone number the Branch President emailed to us. Church meetings started at 10 am. Before the opening prayer, they informed us of the rules that Chinese citizens aren't allowed to listen to the meetings, and need to hang up (by government law.) He released some people from callings from last semester, and made a couple of new callings (no one we know.) He said, "All in favor, show by the raise of hands; all opposed, you can just send me a text message, or call or email." We all started laughing at the idea of texting the Branch President during the middle of church. We had a couple of talks he had assigned, I think members of his family. We sang hymns, and were able to take the sacrament. He gave us like 8 silent minutes to each do the sacrament from where ever we were. Bruce and another ILP teacher did the sacrament for everyone. Later we went to lunch at the school cafeteria, which was gross again. We bought jam from the store and put it on the steamed rice rolls they gave us, which dramatically upped the flavor.

Sunday afternoon was the Chinese Lantern Festival. We were invited to the cafeteria for a late dinner in nice clothes. When we came, everyone was in their regular clothes, and our food was a fish head. Gross. Also we had some traditional dumplings. On our table were 2 bottles of beer, and one bottle of 39% alcohol. The principals of the school tried to get us to toast, and play drinking games with them. We explained that it was against our religion to drink. They were really nice about it and let us drink sprite. An hour later, everyone else was drunk and went to do karaoke. We went back to our bedroom. The Lantern Festival marks the official end of the Chinese New Year, so I guess we did get here for part of the New Year celebration! They did a bunch of fireworks. It also started snowing a lot. It's getting colder. Bruce also went to play piano in the school's piano room. He played Hymns with another volunteer teacher who knows how to sing. It was pretty and invited the spirit.

We love and miss you all!

P.S. Since today is Monday night for us right now, we start teaching our kids tomorrow morning!!!