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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Tribute to Doris Wells

 

Doris Wells
June 20, 1942 - February 22, 2021
Doris Wells was our long-time board member and a dedicated friend of Blessing Hands. She was our board secretary starting in November of 2009 and served for many years. She and her husband Mickey Wells died two weeks apart of COVID-19. They sponsored four Blessing Hands students over 12 years. She traveled with us to China in 2009. I have taken parts of a report she made of that trip to illustrate this memorial newsletter.


Doris at the Peak in Hong Kong
In her words, " Many people were wearing masks at the Hong Kong Airport because of the swine flu, but they didn’t give us any trouble. We went to the ATM at the airport and caught a bus to our hotel. We went to sleep as soon as we sent emails home".

Dehai Zhuge
In her words, "I met our student, Carl (Dehai Zhuge), in Yangshuo and gave him the basketball, air pump, t-shirt, and MSU hat. It was great to meet him and have dinner with him. His father died. He has two married sisters, and his mother is a single parent."


Yangshuo's shopping was a delight to Doris.
In her words. "We only had time to shop after the 2 dinners with the mayor and vice mayor. We bought silk scarves, silk tops and jackets, and many gifts. I stayed confused about how to negotiate prices. They say to counter offer at least ½ less than what they price or less if you know what you want to pay. You must be willing to walk away from an offer. I wish I had purchased more items to give as Christmas presents." 

"We had a wonderful time in Yangshuo. The traffic was crazy - dangerous for pedestrians. "




Malan Cai was our translator in Yangshuo. She is an English teacher at Guangxi Normal University with a Master's Degree from Morehead State University in our town.
Chinese Food
"I am enjoying Chinese food but am struggling with the chopsticks. I keep trying. When we have dinner there are many dishes to choose from usually on a lazy Susan and round table. The Chinese do not waste anything. They use all parts of the chicken, head and feet included. They use stuffed pumpkin blossoms which they serve in soup. Presentation is very important to the Chinese, and the table is always beautiful and colorful."
Doris summarized the trip. "I was impressed by how smooth our trip was. Even when there were problems, they were soon taken care of. The teachers, parents, and students that Betty works with really appreciate her and do many things to make her stay as comfortable as possible. All in all, we had a wonderful trip! My world has suddenly gotten smaller."
Memorial to Doris and Mickey Wells
If anyone wants to give a gift to Blessing Hands in honor of Mickey and Doris Wells, You can use this donation link on our website.