3/23/12, 21:15 EST; 3/24/12, 09:15 Beijing Time; 3/24/12, 01:15 GMT; Tianjin, China

The 21^st was our last day in Chengdu and we didn’t go anywhere except the international school.  While there, we got to see some presentations on things like the earth quake of 2008 and a movement to strengthen families.  We also had the privilege of seeing a spectacular performance on the Chinese banjo (known to some as the Pe Pa). 

After that we ate at the cafeteria and those of us who were chosen to be part of the impromptu CLCHM praise band, myself included, tried to throw something together for a special fellowship time at the school, following the regular chapel, which our team sang in.  Fortunately the kids from the international school did most of the leading, since they did a great job.  I must admit that it was a bit odd for me making up accompaniments for praise songs on the violin for the first time (not to mention being miced).  I don’t know that I prefer it to more traditional styles, but I was extremely glad that I got to have that experience, in China of all places.  After the fellowship session went out to eat as a group for our last dinner in Chengdu and returned to our host families to pack.  The next mourning we said our farewells and left for an uneventful day of travel, with the exception of a unique billboard depicting a small boy urinating from long range into a western style toilet and some nasty illnesses which we have all ended up with now.  When we arrived in Tianjin we had a bite to eat at a plaza with a number of restaurants and checked in to our hotel.  The next day was spent singing and singing and singing and singing some more for the nation-wide festival of international schools which we journeyed here to attend.  After getting back exhausted and sick the sane ones among our party (a small minority) went to bed and the insane ones, myself included, sat in the lobby and sang (perhaps some did neither, but I don't know anything about that).  Today we have another day of grueling singing ahead of us, which none of us are looking forward thanks to the fact that all of us are suffering from varying degrees of illness (except for the ones who don’t have to sing, of course).  Ah well.