Our children have completed their first full school year in Shanghai. Timotius graduated primary 1 from Shanghai Singapore International School, and Abigail completed her 3 year-old preschool from Soong Ching Ling Kindergarten (Chinese Division). They both have excelled well in their own ways, and we have seen how God has blessed them in their study. Timotius started the school year with a great enthusiasm and at the end he attained very good achievement academically at school. Abigail was very shy at the beginning, this was the first time she attended a full-day school and the class was taught mainly in Chinese language. By the end of the school year, Abigail became more comfortable, she even performed in a short program in Shanghai Theatre. For the next coming school year, Timotius will be going to Rego International School. We believe that Timotius will be able to get more attention from being in a smaller class, and will be able to get more challenges academically. Abigail will continue to attend the same Kindergarten, but we are moving her to the International division, where the class subjects will be taught mainly in English. Both Timotius and Abigail Chinese language have improved greatly. As the matter of fact that Timotius can read more Chinese characters than Ehud can. Abigail can converse more comfortable in Chinese Mandarin than her brother, because of the daily Chinese exposure at her school. This summer it will be a full summer, because Timotius will be taking lessons on swimming, Chinese, and tennis. Christine plans to start teaching Abigail to read Chinese as well.
Christine parents who visited us since last year November are still here. We thank God that they can spend all these time with us. They have been a great help to Christine and Ehud. This past May, Ehud's parents came to visit us. They are planning to be in Shanghai for 3 months. We had a chance to bring Ehud's Dad to visit his high school in HangZhou that he attended 60 years ago. Last week Ehud's Mom had a heart attack, and was rushed to Huadong Hospital in Shanghai. She has been recovering and resting in the hospital. During her time in the hospital, we have seen how God has used this unfortunate incident to show His blessing. We saw how Ehud's mom finally admitted that she needed God's help. It takes this situation for Ehud's mom to realize she does not need to bear every burden herself, God will provide strength and help to get through every good and difficult situation. We saw Ehud's parents singing Christian songs in the hospital room, which attracted the doctors on the floor to come to the room to listen. God is good all the time.
Christine has improved her Chinese Vocabulary as well. She can read a lot of Chinese characters already, and have been teaching Timotius and Abigail as well. She is also very involved in church ministries. As for Ehud, he is too busy with work, and has not improved much on his Chinese reading. All and all we have felt God is taking care of us and blessing us through our life and experience in Shanghai.
