Recent Correspondence

Here is the first letter....

Holly Twigs,

Thank you for a splendid Christmas performance this evening in downtown Jinan. I sensed that the congregation seemed pleased with our humble part on the program. I appreciated leading your warm, heartfelt, and harmonious voices while watching your glowing countenances.

For you who arrived at the planned hour, I seek your forgiveness of the director and accompanist for being an hour late. The Thelins, Paula and I left our apartment at 5 p.m. We had intended to hail a taxi at the south gate. For about 40 minutes, the four of us waving, we could not secure an available taxi. With help from a few Chinese at the south bus stop, we attempted to board Bus #2. The bus was crammed with passengers. As we were about to take the first step, the bus driver motioned "no more" and closed the sliding doors. Back to taxi flagging. Two young Chinese girls took note of our dilemma and offered help. They tried their cell phone to call a taxi. Finally, another crowded #2 bus came on the scene. We boarded, barely, then took a long start-stop ride to the location nearest the church where we then caught a taxi. The two girls rode the bus, stayed with us, waved us goodbye as we drove off in the taxi to the church. Once inside, here were the two girls. They wanted to be part of what we were hoping to experience Christmas Eve.

Had it not been for these two young girls, we would have arrived much closer to performance time, if at all. I'm sorry we couldn't explain what happened before the program because of rushed attention to last-minute details. Yes, we should have left our apartment much earlier.

Here's hoping for some extra forgiveness from all of you this season of good will to all men, including those who fail to fully meet their Christmas Eve commitment.

Richard (and Paula) Watkins

P.S. One taxi pulled over just as a women jumped us and drove off. Dana said: "Hum, no room in the bus, no room in the taxi."

And here is the second letter I wrote.....

Dear Holly Twigs,

For Brian and for all of you, here are last nights photos taken by someone sitting right in the front & center. The other photos I took.

Here is the story from another perspective. Last night, I certainly failed in the roll of a wise man. Richard forgot to tell you that I left home without a top coat, only wearing a shirt, light suit coat and tie as planned. Of course I was thinking I could just jump into a warm taxi and speed to the church, then quickly get out and hurry in.. No such luck. It was well below zero. I froze. Dana was worried I would catch a deathly cold so she took off her coat and placed in on me. I ran about wildly trying to flag a taxi and wolf whistled at every taxi I saw much to the delight of our little group and of passers by. I learned that loud whistles do not stop taxis in China when they are already carrying passengers. However, Paula did even much more in her efforts. She was animated and so involved in hailing a taxi, that for the 40 minutes she could be seen by our group and by passers by, running this way and that through the dusty shrubs, jumping over bushes and waving her arms with all her might. What a night! What a sight all because our time was tight!

We were made humble. This was Christmas eve, but nothing seemed work. The busses were full and indeed there was no room in the taxis.

With the help of two Chinese angels, by number 2 slow bus and then a taxi, we made it to the church a half hour before the program started, which was much better than an hour later. We were blessed to even get there at all. Thank you Richard for our travelling group's apology to the rest of the choir. We love you and you are a great choir director and your light shone last night as did the spirit of your Holly Twig Choir.

Last night's Christmas eve adventure was certainly one to remember. The program was awesome, the costumes, the choirs, the songs, and the primary age children's performances were so good. That we were privileged to learn how the Chinese people love Christmas, was not just simply a new China adventure. It is clearly a rare and special blessing. What a thrill for Dana and me just to be there and to witness a Chinese Christmas eve program.

I can say that we really enjoyed the cold, freezing, Christmas eve with good Jinan people, and with the O'briens, our Weihai friends, and by choir invitation, with our Chinese Christian friends. What an unusual and inspiring musical performance dedicated entirely to the birth of Jesus Christ and love for the savior of the world. They tried their very best to sing the songs of love and praise for the savior. This was a night to remember. This was an exceptional China adventure. To see and to learn about these wonderful Chinese people is why we were sent to China. With a new spiritual perspective, I feel happy to be able to now proclaim "That's China!"

Dana and I love and appreciate you.

Thank you.

Merry Christmas to all!!
Love,
Jay Thelin