Teaching has begun!

We are now members of the teaching profession! It's exciting to be working after months of packings, orientations, unpackings... (although to be honest, we are moving again this week to another apartment, so I guess this transition phase has not ended yet! We are really happy about our new place, but no one is ever thrilled to bits by the prospect of another move).

Our classes are wonderful. We are privileged to be teaching such a motivated group. And, they are very nice people, so it's always delightful to run into them around campus! We are teaching two regular classes, one tutorial, editing the work of our peers and graduate students (last week we finished the editing of our first Th.D. dissertation!) and also running ten conversation class groups.

In addition to this, we are parents in a 'family' group at LTS, which mostly entails the management and organization of group activities with those international students in our family. We are also helping LTS as they work to create an English language center for Christians from the poorer Mekong Delta region of South East Asia.

Ryan recently has taken on the role of faculty secretary, as one of our dear colleagues has been diagnosed with cancer. (Please keep him in your prayers. He is a good friend and neighbor of ours and also the Pastor at one of the Churches we attend.) On a brighter note, I am pleased to announce that I am on the committee planning LTS's 95th anniversary year celebrations! The party starts next autumn! I don't actually know what this means for me, but I pulled an American and volunteered during our last faculty meeting. I think I was the only person who volunteered to do anything- I don't think it's part of the culture to outwardly assert you are a good person to undertake a responsibility, however, I felt I should get involved and it sounded like a position which would not require theological expertise! (I have experience in planning 'fun' and maybe this could be a place for creative flair?!)

When I asked him about our 'job news,' Ryan prattled on, "We have had four different job offers we have had to turn down, three of which were from major financial institutions, that shall remain nameless, however, they do print their own money...." I know all of you miss his witty or off-kilter sense of humour...

From Hong Kong with love...