Jing Jing

There are moments, and then there are MOMENTS. 

The second is the kind that not only makes your day, but that you have to tell everyone about. I had one of these moments last week.

There is this precious little girl in one of my classes, her name (the only one in Chinese that I know) is Jing Jing, and she has my heart. Almost every class she has a note or a picture that she has drawn for me. I have quite the collection of artwork on my wall from her. Today she said (in English) "I love you, Ms. Hailey" - it melts me. I hate to say I have a favorite, but I definitely do.

This past week as I was finishing up telling the Christmas story, I asked the class what they liked most about the story. I got many answers, things like "When the kings visited" "when the Baby was born" "When the angel came" etc. Then Jing Jing raised her hand, so I called on her - and she told me that she had a book with the same pictures in it. I immediately wanted to ask her so many questions, I wanted to see that book.

A few minutes later as I was passing out stickers to the winning row she pulled her book out of her desk. I definitely hadn't expected her to have it with her! She handed it to me, and as the bell went off I got to quickly flip through it. I saw that it was not just any book, it was the Book. A children's picture version, completely in Chinese. I can't tell you how excited I was. Of all my students (and I do love them all), for it to be HER to have that book - it just makes my heart so happy.

I asked her today if I could see her book, and she and I went to look for it. We didn't have time to find it. But I just needed to tell you all about that special little girl and the hope that I have for her.

I left the class SO excited. I wish so much that I could talk to her, or that we could just understand each other more. I only hope that one day we will have that chance.

This is Jing Jing and I after class one day.