The Downtown Diner

China was in a national state of mourning Monday to Wednesday this week. I've never seen national mourning like this before. I remember in the U.S. after 9/11 we had a moment of silence a week after the tragedy and flags were at half staff. But this mourning in China is more pervasive. All the TV channels broadcast is news from the earthquake zone, or sometimes they play music and run through slide shows of people being pulled out of the rubble, people reuniting with their families, soldiers walking over muddy roads, helicopters dropping supplies onto the ground, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao comforting victims. But I haven't seen any commercials during this 3-day period. The radio stations aren't playing music. Everyone has taken a pause to mourn the loss this incredible loss.

The good news is that Rachel made it back to Beijing last night. She was in Mianyang during the quake. It's so good to have our whole team back together, everyone safe and sound. We are blessed beyond measure.