Hello, Friends,

We will experience a true January Thaw this week complete with spring-like rains and temperatures. Don't be fooled! Winter will return. Since we are all eagerly looking forward to spring, in the United States we look to the ground hog to be our predictor of spring! Watch to see if we will have six more weeks of winter on February 2. Will Puxatawny Phil (the famous ground hog in Pennsylvania) see his shadow?

Keep washing your hands! Cold and Flu season is still with us. Have you had a sinus infection or an ear infections? Be sure to take all of your antibiotics so that you can be cured!

International Bible Study, Tuesdays 9:00-10:30, room 100

We read Jesus' command to "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." This advice is amazing. How hard is it to speak kind words to someone who is rude to you? How hard is it to smile and wave and acknowledge someone who "flips you off" or honks at you when driving? How hard is it to help a neighbor when they have spread mean or untrue rumors about you? How hard is it to reach out toward a child who has hurt your child's feelings? There are many times in the day when we can continue to carry the anger and hurt that is passed to us from others and let that become our way of life and eat up our our thoughts. Jesus shows us another way. He says, "love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back....and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

This reading also contains The Golden Rule: Jesus teaches in Luke 6:31--"Do to others as you would have them do to you." 

February 2: Let's read Luke 5:37-42. Jesus teaches us about judging others.

International Friends, Tuesdays 10:30-12:00, room 100

We feasted on Hot Pot, nabe, kimchee and chocolate fountain. Wow! How delicious. This is such a nice way to share a meal. By cooking and eating out of one pot on the table, you can enjoy some delicious conversation on these very cold days.
To make the dipping chocolate, combine a bag of chocolate chips with 1/4 C of of Coconut Oil. Heat them in the microwave on high for a minute or so. 

February 2: Let's get ready for Chinese New Year! Yaying will teach us to make Taiwanese Red Soup and Sesame Balls.

Conversation, Wednesdays 4:30-6:00, upstairs classroom

We talked about hobbies and holidays. We had a question about feral cats. In the city, cats that aren't owned by anyone are called alley cats.

February 3: Let's read Unit 14. We will talk about things to do in Indiana and in the United States. What is your favorite things to do? 

English Classes, Thursdays 9:30-12:00, upstairs classroom

It was so fun to visit your classes and talk about so many different things.

true: authentic
January Thaw: This is Mother Nature's reminder to the Midwest that spring is on it's way
eat up our thoughts: be the only thing we think about
your Father: God
The Golden Rule: the standard taught in American schools and by American parents.