To All,

First, thanks goes to Lizzie for the time to build this blog for Suzette and me. She did a great job.

Going to China is certainly a an unexpected adventure. Although I expressed some interest in teaching overseas, I honestly wondered if it would really be possible. Yet, here we are within 7 short weeks of leaving.

Qingdao, China is a coastal and port city. It was the host city for the sailing events during the Beijing Summer Olympics of 2008. It is a city of about 8 million people and located directly west of South Korea.

We will teach for Qindao University (http://english.qdu.edu.cn/). Suzette is scheduled to teach Business English to graduate students and I will teach the same to Freshman undergrads. The university really allows for freedom in the way we will the the courses. There is a textbook, but will will be able to add, embellish, and go in the direction the students need us to go. In addition, we are encouraged to have "Education Corners." These are opportunities to converse with the students in small groups away from the class room. It allows for the opportunity to develop relationships and further meet their individual needs.

Qingdao has a colorful history (http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/607765/Qingdao). I am fascinated by the fact that it was under German control for a couple of decades. I understand that the German influence is still evident in the city and, of course, its brewery.

Many have asked if we are serving an LDS mission. Although this assignment is through Brigham Young University, it is not a mission. In addition, we are restricted from discussing religion. We are ambassadors of a sort. We will endeavor to represent the United States, the state of Utah, and Brigham Young University professionally and respectfully.We are in China to perform a great service in teaching. We will do our very best to contribute to the lives of the students we interact with.

I cannot wait to post to this blog pictures and experiences. I hope that each reader can experience some of what see through our blog.

A dear friend of both Suzette and I passed away yesterday night. Wendy Tidwell will remain in our hearts. She was generous, and always pleasant even though she had health problems for quite sometime. She and her husband were recently sealed in the Temple. I was so impressed with her humility and patience. She and her husband were diligent students of the gospel. Although Gary Tidwell has his wife in this life, I am convinced he will reunite in a life to come. My heart goes out to them.

Death is interesting passage of life which we all must go through. At 60, I have much more mortal life behind me than in front of me and thus I think of it on occasion. Wendy's passing has given me time to pause and ponder again.

Death is obviously an unknown. People have varying thoughts on what happens next based on their personal beliefs. I am convinced this mortality is a mere moment in our lifetime, but a very significant moment. It is all we know. We have very little, if any, recollection on what went on before and nothing about what lies ahead of us. We have heard of those who have experiences of death and returning. My mother has experienced this herself when she was younger. I have had no such experience, but am convinced that there is something to those near death events that others experience.

One author used the the term "The Birth We Call Death" as a way of describing death as merely a process of moving from mortality to immortality. Regardless of how it is described, death is a process that is frightening because we don't know with absolute surety what lies on the other side. It is a faith issue. We describe death in a way that we try to comfort the survivors.

I am comforted in my faith. I hope Gary finds comfort and since all must experience the passing of a loved one and death itself, I wish the same.

Hello!