Searching for Truth

"...the foreign student talked the Bible with me. I have been very interest in the Bible and I told him when I read this book I sometimes felt confused about the stories and the spirt. He explained it in a simple way. He spoke the Bible high and regarded it as the religion of the Western culture." Echo

"Those day I always talk with a foreigner- Stefan. We talk about the Bible book. Will you believe that human beings are created by God.

"Do you know why there are so many different kinds of languages on the earth?

"Do you know who is the God's son?

"We always talk about something like that. Maybe before I didn't believe that God is really exist but now I believe that.

"Stefan told me there is a devil whose name is Sadan. He doesn't want to give up to the God....now the devil's role is nearly ending. So maybe we will face a new world.

"I think if you have belief in your heart, everything will be better.

"Stefan told me that m any Chinese are lack of belief and they don't believe the God, they only believe themselves. In fact, belief is very important for us. Maybe if we want to create a harmony society, we need belief to combine all the Chinese." Spuncky

Oohs and Aahs - or Why I Love Teaching Chinese Students!

Power point presentation...pretend you are a marriage counselor and Susan Carson comes to you seeking your advice on..

Which one should she marry?

Slide one - described the girl...as each point was projected on the screen, the students would spontaneously ooh and aah.

Example: The would-be-wedded lady was a policewoman. When that word bounced onto the slide, the students just laughed and oohed.

When her height was shown, there was totally oohing, laughing, chatting.

When the salary or personality characterics of each of the different men was shown, there would be loud oohs and aahs, or clapping or delightful chatter.

I shouldn't get paid to have this much fun....I should pay the university for this great blessing!

Lost and Found....

Allen's wallet.

Thank you, Heavenly Father!

Thank you for the honest people at this university campus.

Letter to Allen

Allen received this email recently; I am in awe.
Dear Allen：

I am really happy to write you a letter like this.
You are the best foreign foreign teacher I ever see, just the best, not one of.
I have seen many foreign teachers, but honestly they don't really teach, except for the improvement of oral English, hardly can I learn anything else.
However, you are sooo different. I enjoy the homework you give out by which we can really think or research.
To think is of great importance, and that happened to be what Chinese students lack of. Also, that happened to be what our nation needs eagerly.
Thanks for your innovative inspiring lessons.
We appreciate very much.


Keats form Nanjing

The Question

( Alexander is on the left...)

Alexander was in the study area as I was leaving and came up to ask me....

What does "God bless America mean?"

He continued, "President Obama ends all his speeches with that, so what does God Bless America mean?"

The question startled me. It still surprises me.

When Allen and I gave an explanation, Alexander asked this final question, "Would it be alright to say 'God Bless You' to my friend who is leaving to study in Australia?"

Oh, dear Alexander, yes indeed.

God Bless Us ALL no matter where we are!

Eating Humble Pie - AGAIN!!

"Does this bus go to the south campus?" we asked the two students standing at the bus stop.

"Yes, we are going there," one answered. "Do you teach there?"

"Yes, we teach there on Thursday evenings. But tonight, we are going to a competition for one of our students."

"Are you Mrs. Hackworth?" one of the two asked excitedly.

I nodded in the affirmative.

"I've heard of you. My classmates have told me about you because you are their teacher!"

I could feel a compliment coming....oh, this was gonna be good.

"Yes," she went on, "they told me they have an OLD LADY TEACHER who gives them candy!" (Direct quote here, folks!)

Allen and I both laughed heartily and long. But, then, she was embarrassed and tried to recover the moment.

"Well," I said, "it's true, I'm old and I have given candy a couple of times." We got on the bus and I smiled all the long way there.

Oh, humble pie, sometimes I deserve a big slice of just what I get!

A Letter to My Grandchildren

Dear Sean, Janessa, Stockton, Landon, Bridger, Oscar, Sayre, Oliver, Lucy, Imogen, Anna, Eli, and Miles,

I love America. I always have. My father instilled this great love of our country in me, for which I will be forever grateful.

I know America has its challenges and problems, but.....

Living in China has only reinforced this great love for America and for FREEDOM.

Let me show you just one stark contrast between America and China:

America - a student doesn't do well in high school, but he has a chance to go to college and try.

China - a student doesn't do well in high school. He has no chance to go to college.

America - a student goes to college, he chooses a major; he changes his mind, he wants to change majors - bingo- he changes majors. Maybe multiple times!

China - a student takes the college entrance exam; depending on his scores, he is TOLD what to major in. He decides he doesn't really like that major, but he CANNOT - without great, great difficulty - change his major.

America - a student chooses his dorm, his roommates, his classes. And, he can change dorms, roommates, or classes any time he wants to.

China - a student is assigned his roommmates with whom he will live his entire four years of college and in the same dorm room the entire four years of university. His classes are chosen for him, except for PE, in which case he has a choice. He will be with the same students in most classes the entire four years.

I love these beautiful students; I love their goodness, their innocence.

They work so hard; they know it is a very competitive society they live in.

They want to please their parents. Their goals are always to get a good job and support their parents. Oh, they are beautiful.

But, we have something they will not likely experience for a very long time in their lives, and that, dear grandchildren, is FREEDOM OF CHOICE.

ALWAYS BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT!

We must pay the consequences for our choices, whether good or bad, but oh, what a blessing from God to have a CHOICE!

I love you.

GMA H in China

Colin dreamed his entire life of being an engineer, but he did not get high scores on the college entrance exam, so he was put in the computer science program, which is quite watered down in this school.

Both Pixie and Chriscal are in English education which they both hate. Neither one wants to be a teacher - EVER. They will graduate in that field and hope to get a job in something entirely different. And, they are wonderful, hard-working, GOOD young people. But, they have little chance to choose want they really want!

Thanks be to God for CHOICE and FREEDOM!

Yearning to Know

Rouise is in yellow on the left...

She recently wrote this in a paper:

"From my primary school to my senior high school, I learn evolution in biology. Of course I trust this. Stefan (a new foreign friend of hers) said he had done much research and found evolution was totally wrong. He told some stories in Bible to me, such as the God made everything. the flood. Egypt and some some famous emperors in history.

"This is a very big scenery for me. In fact during these years' study, I often think that the education in China is not enough and is very slow.....

"I believe that I must change my mind, to keep the good knowledge from China and to absorb the essence of western culture.

"Everything is not as simple as I see its appearance."

Popularity Contest Winner

Picture this - a roomful of 18 and 19 year olds. Beautiful in every way...young BLOOD!

Most wearing short sleeves and some of the girls actually wearing shorts.

Then, picture this...an old lady with long pants, long-sleeved shirt.

And, it headed straight for me...31 people in the room, and it feasted at MY foot.

WHY ME? I am always left to ask?

Why am I so popular with mosquitos?

What's For Dinner?

Echo, Loni, Jenny

I just couldn't do it...

Allen did.

Echo did.

But, I couldn't eat the DONKEY meat in the wrap.

The rest of it was challenge enough for me.

Memories Are Made of This!

Kristi explains how long it takes to become a medical doctor in America....we had a special night class for our students. The students absolutely loved Kristi's and Jeremy's and Allen's singing. Wait a minute - eating Indian food in Hong Kong? What's up with that? But, it tasted delicious! They can call it the Chung King Mansion; however mansion must mean something entirely different in Hong Kong, because mansion it ain't! But, what a place to talk about for years to come. There is just no way to describe where we stayed since everything else was filled up, but it was clean, safe, and a bed...what more could one ask?!?!?! Okay, I can think of something...toilet paper. Jeremy & Kristi in Kowloon with the Hong Kong skyline in the background. I know what you are thinking...it looks fake, but it's not a background from Sears photo shop; it's the real deal.

The planning,

the execution,

the fun shopping, eating, late-night talks, sight-seeing...

and WHOOSH, it was over.

One quick/short week, but memories for a lifetime!

Whatcha Reading?

Kindle - Pride and Prejudice

HTC Wildfire Android Phone - Emma

IPad - Moon Over Manifest (2011 Newbery Award Winner)

ITouch - Abe Lincoln Lawyer

Hard Copy - Pickwick Papers (which I rarely pick up and read...too bulky!)

And, that is what I am reading right now...thank you very much.

Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Mrs. Hackworth, do you believe there is a God?

Mrs. Hackworth, in China, the grandparents raise their grandchild. Do you think that is a good thing?

Mrs. Hackworth, what is the difference between Chinese university students and American university students?

Mrs. Hackworth, why do you make us have English names? Why don't you use our lovely Chinese names?

Mrs. Hackworth, what do retired Americans do? In China, old people feel they have nothing to do or to give.

All these questions were asked me this week in our after class session. With just me there with four students, they open up, and they ask some very thoughtful questions.

My challenge - answer honestly without offense!

But, oh how eager they all are!

Meanwhile....Back in Utah

Congratulations, Stockton - newly elected Vice President of Hurricane High School.

Congratulations, Landon - newly elected Vice President of Hurricane High School.

Lucky school to have both of you....first time ever that twins have served on the student council.

Way to go S & L!

And, I just learned that Stockton won 1st place in Utah State Future Business Leaders in Web-site design and will be headed to Florida for nationals...just like his older brother, I might add.

Thank You, Mark Zuckerburg!

The Time: School Year, 1983-1984

The Event: exchange student from Malaysia - Chee Kong Teo

Oh, he was a fun one! The entire family and friends grew to love Chee Kong....he was always happy and ready to join in the adventure, whatever it was: from sledding on the dunes to playing church basketball to swimming in a hot springs in Yellowstone.

Each Sunday, Chee Kong went to church services with us. He was a high school senior and graduated with from Madison High School. After his graduation from the University of Kansas as a Civil Engineer in 1988, he stopped to vist us in Rexburg for three days. And, then, it was good-bye; see you again Never!

Chee Kong returned to Malaysia, and we lost touch with him.

The Year: 2010

The Event: Becoming Friends with Chee Kong Teo via Facebook. My, how he had grown...he was now a successful businessman in Malaysia with a beautiful wife and two children. It was fun to read about his life and see pictures.

The Year: 2011

The Event: Chee Kong Teo makes a special trip to Guangzhou, China to renew our friendship from 30 years ago. And, what a happy, fun reunion it was! Oh, dear Chee Kong, thank you for making that great effort. We will treasure the memories, the pictures, the books, and the incredibly handsome Longines watches forever.

And, thanks Mark Zuckerburg (or whomever really invented it)for Facebook.