This was a sad day.
A friend of mine, Robert Lenkart, had gone to Chicago for a couple months to start building partnerships for his English school in Mianyang. He had become a teacher several years ago, and had opened a school with his Chinese wife Gina, five years ago. He was hoping to find ways to start student exchanges.
While he was in America, I was helping out at the school on Saturdays.
Robert came back in early December and Gina was preparing to go to America for a few months to continue their work. She went to Guangdong (in the southeast of China, near Hong Kong) to meet his plane. He was sick when he got off the plane, so they stayed in Guangdong for a few days. Then they came back to Mianyang and he went into the hospital.
On Saturday, December 2nd, the teachers at his school asked me to teach the students about being sick in America. We talked about chicken soup and the kind of things you do for your family and friends when they are not feeling well. All the students made their first ever Get Well cards for their beloved teacher. They were beautiful. There were covered with warm wishes, drawings, and hopes for Robert to Get Well Soon.
He died during the week. This picture is from his funeral. On this day, many people went to a memorial hall. Robert's body was brought in in a silken casket. The room was filled with flowers; the get well cards surrounded Robert. A few people gave eulogies, then everyone bowed to the body.
After that, the body was wheeled out with his widow following. The flowers and get well cards were immediately taken out.
Robert's body was on it's way to be cremated immediately. All the things that surrounded him during his sickness and death were also to be burned. Clothes, his glasses, the flowers, the cards, everything that was touched by his death.
It seemed so strange to me at the time. I guess it's purpose is to make a clean break.
He was a good man. He had a big heart and big dreams.
After Robert's funeral, I came across this little girl. She helped remind me on this somber day that the world is brimming with life and possibility.
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1 comment:
I am so sad to know the news about lenkart's passaway.I have been out of contact with him since I move to Australia.He was the greatest teacher.I always remember that I wrote a letter to him before he left Beijing, in which I described him as "my good friend, patient teacher and respectful father." In Dec as a successful engineering student, I tried to phone him in Chicago, but nobody answered. I deeply appreciate his help and his encouragement. I am going to plant a magnolia ( this type calls michael or something like so, it originates from Himalayan, it has beautiful white flower) to remember our beloved teacher lenkart in my garden at Tasmania.
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