" ... did you hear what I said ... ?"

yes/no... 

do you know what I mean... yes/no... would be more accurate... 

many times as a parent and a teacher I've said: "did you hear what I said"

but it has been Guo who has taught me the answer: "yes/no" ... 

and by the way he answers I then follow up with the question: "do you understand?"... "yes/no"...

with Xiao Guo and me, he had to learn it was also ok not to understand and admit the need for help in learning...

Guo has been making such great strides in his conversational English skills and basic understanding of the language. A little at a time he has begun talking with those he knows and he feels comfortable with. Even his "adult" friends have it figured out: this is not a boy that is going to sit with both feet on the floor, bottom on the chair, back straight, and hands folded on his lap and have a 'conversation' for 20 minutes. YES... LOL ... there are too many  to be counted think that should be the case... even I can't do that... blah!!!

At our church it has now become the tradition the 4th graders take their first communion at the Maundy Thursday services. To prepare for this the children spend a Saturday usually two weeks ahead of time at a day long retreat at Trinity Lutheran College. Obviously, Guo is older; however having not being raised with any knowledge of the saving grace of Jesus Christ we have started from the very beginning. Guo was baptized a year ago Palm Sunday, has been receiving the blessing during The Lord's Supper as all children of the faith. He has been an eager young learner.

Guo's faith journey has been remarkable considering the short amount of time he has been to church. So, David and I decided yesterday he was ready to attend the retreat in preparation for his first communion.

What a day full of opportunities. The kids were blessed to have three great teachers: our interim Pastor Snider, our former Pastor "Jack" (Richards), who brought several students from his new congregation, and "super teacher" member: Mr. Ernie Fosse. Each had unique teaching styles, and had the kids coming up with the most amazing and thought provoking answers. (Parents/drivers/chaperones were used as facilitators to assist in class work when needed for quickly moving from reference to reference in the Bible.)

For Guo personally, it was  a day of great strides. He came out of his shell. He raised his hand and volunteered answers... The best part: twice it was something not only was he the only kid that knew the answers, but they were answers from particular parts of Bible stories. Both times he turned and grinned at a smiling Baba & Mama.

Several times last night Guo said to me: "... did you hear what I said..."

I said: "... Yes! :-)"

My heart was saying: "... I do know what you mean..."