LONG Day

It was a long day yesterday and it seems a lifetime ago. We woke up in Shagri la and it took until 2:15 in the morning to get to Beijing. Long delays and a two hour wait in a HOT airplane. Boarded and reboared. Crazy, but a safe flight here. We are in a 6 star hotel here. WOW top notch. We had to be ready for heifer villiage at 10. I had no idea when I got on the bus how my life was going to change. I won't be able to tell you in words and my pictures won't express it, But it was a life changing day. I don't remember the last time I've been so emotional. We rode for 3 hours outside of the city and then stopped for lunch. We saw lots of farming of wheat going on with machines this time. But very interesting they lay it on the roads to thrash. They don't mind if cars or buses run over it, then they scoop it into bags. We ate a great lunch. I'm getting so good at chopsticks and using eastern bathrooms. I'll have to adjust when I get home. We then rode for another hour. We kept going through what we thought was a viliage. But they would get smaller. Our guest from Heifer works at a university and in her free time donates to Heifer, we picked up a man at lunch that is a vet that also volunteers fof Heifer. We changed buses to make it down the road. The bus barely could and they are so proud of the paved road. Heifer started working with this villiage in 2007. We were just sitting there and all of the sudden we hear a band playing. The whole villiage has turned out to meet the Americans who have come to see what they have done with Heifers help. I burst into tears. There were about 20 women dressed in their red and green costumes dancing as four men played cymbols and drums. They held fans. They had us walk into town as we headed the parade. People were lining the streets and were so happy to see us. They danced for 20 minutes, we gathered under the trees in their town square where their community center has been built. The head leader had written a speech and he was so nervous to read it for us. Everyone had come in from the fields to greet us with their children. We gave them our gifts and then we made our way to the school. Another wow. All the child were lined up to meet us and were clapping as we walked into the school grounds. These familes live on about 150 per year. Which is about 1000 yuan, This school is for grades K-4. If they go to high school it cost the family 10,000 to send them. There were about 40 kids and 4 teachers. I was so moved I can't even begin to tell you. We gave them some sports equipment and the faces lit up. They then marched to their rooms and we got to go in and see what they were learning. Precious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone wanted to shake our hands and hug us and get their picture made with us. We then were marched through the villiage in a parade to see the sewing shop Heifer helped them start. They had about 20 machines and they are making down coats to sell. Great set up. We then went to visit two homes to see how the animals Heifer gives them can help. This is such a small space to tell you the impact this day had on all of us. I'm having to pay to type this and must go, but believe me you will hear more about Heifer and this villiage. I'll never eat another walnut without thinking of them. Great day.