It Came as a Surprise: Part 2

"Everyone stand up, push in your chairs, and line up!"  Then I said for my own benefit, "We are going on a mini-field trip."
We walked out of the classroom, and down the hall about 20 feet to the reception desk.  I pointed out a medium-sized, yellow box on top of the desk.  (This past month, Yew Wah had been asking for donations of clothing and school supplies to hand out to the students in a poorer village of Qufu.  A small group of Yew Wah high school students and teachers were to travel there soon to spend time at the school and interact with the students and teachers there.)
In the few minutes that remained, my co-teacher and I gave a quick, bilingual mini-lesson about our partner school in Qufu, and what the donation box meant.  We explained that they could show compassion by choosing some items to donate to the students of the Qufu school.  I looked at the students' faces when we finished, hoping to see some sort of understanding.
Still blank looks.

I finished that day feeling disheartened, and slightly concerned about these future policy-makers, businessmen, and leaders.  Yes, there was still time for them to learn, but would they?

My question was soon answered.  On Wednesday, then Thursday, and even on Friday, our students brought stuffed animals, clothing, pencils, books, and other donations for the students in Qufu.  It really came as a surprise after that cricket-producing lesson on Tuesday.  My heart was very much warmed.  Yes, there still was plenty of time.