A few weeks ago I sent an old computer and an old camera to Laos to some students whom I taught while on vacation there. I was not using them and thought they would have more use for them than I. I thought it also allowed me to talk to them more via skype to help them with speaking and other things. It would also give them a chance to write more emails and improve their writing.
I called them on Sunday night and they were so happy to hear and to see me. The computer they used to call me before was not that good and they could barely say or see me. We talked a lot and they expressed how thankful they were towards me. They also mentioned that the guesthouse, where I stayed in Luang Prabang, had given them free wifi so they can talk to me and continue their services. I made a promise to go back to the guesthouse and stay there over the Chinese New Year. The joy they had, the smiles and everything else filled me with a tremendous joy and happiness. It is these feelings and the feelings I have for another that have made me so happy.
This morning I got an email from my mother. She was at the doctors last week and they found some cysts on her colon. The cysts are cancer. I called her immediately and she sounded fine. The doctor made it sound like a routine procedure and maybe it will be. She will be operated on November 10. Suddenly this huge joy has turned to concern. I hope everything will be ok.