Ｓｔａｒｓ ｏｆ Ｈｏｐｅ

• 　My harbingers of spring are the bushes that border the canal that runs along a few yards behind this building.  The arched green branches are flecked with bright yellow blossoms here and there (the leaves come later).   On the bare, bowed branches the blossoms shine like stars of hope.　
  
• Cover your ears!  Firecracker days continue and it wouldn't do to let up on the noise polution and air polution until the year is well-launched, would it ?  I mean, it's just a week since Chinese New Year's Day, (a day when the smog never lifted).  Mornings you can watch fireworks in broad daylight.
• Saturday we enjoyed feeding some sort of llama in the zoo. This amiable black fellow liked our apples and bread, but wisely declined the Coke a boy proffered.  Up stepped a younger llama and sniffed our food disdainfully; then -----typical teenager!----slurped the Coke eagerly.
• I remain in the afterglow from the wonderful big meeting.  When our people heard about it yesterday, some couldn't wait to go (next time).  It was special that at the big meeting it was noted how Hudson Taylor had got off his boat at that site and prayed for the church there.....a blessing they believe is still in operation.   One thing is sure, that miracles still take place!