The old Silk Road - Day 7 - 'Home' Again

The Xi'an Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

After another wonderful American-style breakfast, we headed to Church which met in a former hotel on the Xi'an University campus.  It was testimony meeting, and tears stung my eyes many times as I listened to my co-teachers testify that what we are doing here is the Lord's work.  We are serving the people of China and helping them to live better lives.  It made me feel invigorated and encouraged to press forward with faith.  This Silk Road trip has been a blessing in my life to help me overcome the 'culture shock' and recommit to my work.  It was great to compare stories with other teachers and in the end, I'm glad I got my assignment and not theirs.  Blogging is always about the good times, the exciting things and the fun activities, but I have had as many down times, frustrations, and Can I Really Do This for Ten Months? questions.  I came here thinking that it would be easy for me because I've lived and traveled abroad so much in my life.  But after you've acquired a comfortable home and surroundings, it's hard to revert back to the meager small apartment stage again, especially with no bathtub or oven!  And working a full-time job teaching!  And no car!  And no familiar food!  And even when Lehi and Sariah went off into the wilderness, leaving everything they owned behind, at least they got to take their families with them!!  I was especially touched by the sign we saw outside the window at church:

This translation the Chinese got exactly right!

We enjoyed a delicious lunch in a beautiful restaurant with the fanciest, cleanest, nicest bathroom we've yet seen in China.  Then we were off to the airport and back to a rainy night in Chengdu.  We were refreshed and renewed and ready to work after our memorable trip down the old Silk Road.