I remember this time 2 years ago. It rains in China and is cold from December till the end of March. We are in the end of February... we still have about a month of rain. It's cold and cloudy and dreary. This fits the things going on around me too. The attitudes of people are cold and cloudy and rainy. The things I am dealing with are being dealt in that manor.
The end of March cannot get here quick enough. I am looking forward to the sunshine and warmth. The rain doesn't come back... it gets hotter and hotter and then about mid September I'll be wishing for end of October when it starts to cool down again. It's beautiful here in April. The flowers are in bloom, the animals are out, the sun, and it's warm. It's perfect. Easter is the perfect picnic/kite flying weather.
I am looking forward to spring. I hope with Spring comes new friendships and new encouragement. As of late... I haven't been able to identify with the foreigners very well. I've been secluding myself from their contact. They don't understand me or care to get to know me. It's making it hard. It has been encouraging to have a few conversations with my friend Ashley. She understands where I am in life and what is going on with me. It's nice to have one person to identify with and talk to.
Our Father is so incredible the way he works. The way he brings people in and out just when we need them. Since being back from holiday and not talking to the foreigners as much... he has brought old chinese friends back into my life. He also brought in some friends from home. He has made apparent the people who truly care about me. He has shown me his love through HIS people here. It's amazing to sit back and see and show that to others.
I am truly focused on my job here... It is the biggest blessing I've been given.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Wisdom is Supreme
Proverbs chapter 4 20-27
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Romans chapter 14 and 15
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
Who are you to judge someone elses servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he WILL stand, for the L--d is able to make him stand.
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers everyday alike. Each one should be FULLY convinced in his own mind.
For none of us live to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the L--d; and if we die, we die to the L--d. So whether we live or die, we do so to the L--d.
For thsi very reason, Ch---t died and returned to life so that he might be the L--d of both the dead and the living.
So then, each of us will give an account of HIMSELF to G-d.
Therefor let us stop passing judment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself adn G-d. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Ch---t did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encourgement of the BOOK we might have hope.
Accept one another, then, just as Ch---t accepted you, in order to bring praise to G-d.
May the G-d of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I have found so much comfort in these passages as of late. Just thought I would share.
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.
Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.
Romans chapter 14 and 15
Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters. One man's faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.
Who are you to judge someone elses servant? To his own master he stands or falls. And he WILL stand, for the L--d is able to make him stand.
One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers everyday alike. Each one should be FULLY convinced in his own mind.
For none of us live to himself alone and none of us dies to himself alone. If we live, we live to the L--d; and if we die, we die to the L--d. So whether we live or die, we do so to the L--d.
For thsi very reason, Ch---t died and returned to life so that he might be the L--d of both the dead and the living.
So then, each of us will give an account of HIMSELF to G-d.
Therefor let us stop passing judment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself adn G-d. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.
But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.
Each of us should please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For even Ch---t did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me."
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encourgement of the BOOK we might have hope.
Accept one another, then, just as Ch---t accepted you, in order to bring praise to G-d.
May the G-d of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I have found so much comfort in these passages as of late. Just thought I would share.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Dad's Love
I'm continually amazed at how relationships that are centered on DAD can go through so much and still come out stronger than ever. I have recently been reunited with a very close friend and it's like time never went by. We are right back to where we were.
I am also amazed at just how much wisdom some people can have and share. I've been having a hard time with some relationships and with some forgiveness and I was just reminded that the standard I hold for people.. I have to live up to myself. So many other things were taught and said, but that was the gist.. the most important thing I learned today.
I love being back in class... I love teaching and the joy I see on my students faces. It amazes me the effect I can have on a group of people. Dad is truly working in me and here every single day. I am continually blessed.
I have also had a few random friends from my past pop back in my life, and I find that comforting. The internet has truly made this World a smaller place, and time have no restraints. It's pretty cool.
I start Chinese class next week... yay!
I am also amazed at just how much wisdom some people can have and share. I've been having a hard time with some relationships and with some forgiveness and I was just reminded that the standard I hold for people.. I have to live up to myself. So many other things were taught and said, but that was the gist.. the most important thing I learned today.
I love being back in class... I love teaching and the joy I see on my students faces. It amazes me the effect I can have on a group of people. Dad is truly working in me and here every single day. I am continually blessed.
I have also had a few random friends from my past pop back in my life, and I find that comforting. The internet has truly made this World a smaller place, and time have no restraints. It's pretty cool.
I start Chinese class next week... yay!
Monday, February 16, 2009
First Day of School
Well, when I started my Spring 2006 semester I said.. "It's my last first day of school!" I didn't realize that I would teach someday and have more first days of school. Today was by far my favorite first day of school I think I have ever had.
The semester is looking very exciting and the students are pumped about it. It was also great to see my students again. I missed them a lot and them me. It was just normal to be there. Then I had lunch with a friend/student.. and I am excited to get to know her better. She is a seeker and that's amazing to get to be apart of that. I really do love my job and students so much. They really are encouraging and just happy to be in class. Even the ones I had problems with last term are at least in class this term. That's nice.
I am excited for what this term is going to bring. I'm sad I only have 17 weeks left though. That's not many at all. I guess I should get on the job hunting for next year in Hangzhou.. or wherever.. hmm. I hate decisions.
The semester is looking very exciting and the students are pumped about it. It was also great to see my students again. I missed them a lot and them me. It was just normal to be there. Then I had lunch with a friend/student.. and I am excited to get to know her better. She is a seeker and that's amazing to get to be apart of that. I really do love my job and students so much. They really are encouraging and just happy to be in class. Even the ones I had problems with last term are at least in class this term. That's nice.
I am excited for what this term is going to bring. I'm sad I only have 17 weeks left though. That's not many at all. I guess I should get on the job hunting for next year in Hangzhou.. or wherever.. hmm. I hate decisions.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Winter Trip
Winter Trippers
During Class
Girls Night Out-Pete's Tex Mex!!!
Chinese New Year Fireworks
Children watching fireworks
Well, I'm back from the Winter Trip to Beijing. It was wonderful to see the friends from America that came to teach us. The workshop was so helpful. Not only in my current situation, but for the work I have cut out for me for the rest of my life. I learned so much about DAD's work and how i can further that.
It was wonderful fellowship as well. We started to call it "Camp for Adults" by the end, and leaving was just as hard as leaving camp. We had classes all day.. with speakers who taught us so many things. Then evenings were spent in fellowship with Girls Night/Guys Night and also a TALK TO DAD time for one whole night. It was the biggest blessing of this year. I got refocused and some great advice on our situation here.
I have an inner peace about life right now. I also have a lot of unrest about what to do next year. I guess We'll see just what DAD has in store for me. He tends to make his plans work out perfectly.. I need to stop worrying and just start letting him weed out my options. I'm not really big into decision making.. ugh. Anyways. It was wonderful and I am back safely.
Friday, February 6, 2009
A Glimpse of His World
These travels I have just finished have taught me so much. I have learned so much and changed so much and experienced so much. I got to see a part of His World that many people don't get to see. Some of it was completely incredible. Other parts were not as amazing. They were hard to see.
We started on January 11th in China.. flew to Guangzhou (South China). When we arrived we took the bus shuttle to the train station. We didn't have tickets to Nanning... and everything has been really sold out. It's hard to travel in China during holidays. Not enough transportation for all of the people in China. Well, we get to the train station and have problems.. like everytime I get up to a window.. the close for lunch. They don't understand what I need.. finally this Chinese girl decides to help me. We ended up with train tickets overnight that night. WONDERFUL! We took her and her friends to lunch for helping us for the 2 hours it took.. Then we chilled till we caught our train. We were not looking forward to overnight train to Nanning because the girl told us we had soft seats. Comfortable, but not perfect for overnight. So.. we're walking to our car and it ends up we have soft SLEEPERS... so wonderful. We proceed to get situated and then we get in our car and shut the door and spend time fellowshiping together and communing with our DAD. It was a wonderful start to the trip.
5 people traveling together can get interesting..
Once we got to Nanning it was 5 am. We went to sit outside the Visa office till it opens so we can apply for our Vietnam Visa and get it back the same day. Not thinking about having to give them our passports, but also having to have them to check into a hostel. So I break out my resources and find the hostel that does the Visa service for you. So we go there and they have 5 beds left. Perfect. Then they do our visa for us. So we spend the day doing a lot of nothing.. showers, shopping last minute at Wal-Mart, exploring, hanging out. Then we left the next morning on the bus to Vietnam.
Vietnam was amazing... we went to Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Saigon. It's an open tour bus. You get tickets all the way down and when you get to that city you stay till you want to leave for the next place. It was a wonderful way to see the whole country. Kayaking on Halong Bay, Motorbikes in Nha Trang, Clothes made in Hoi An, and nothing in Saigon. I didn't like Saigon.. actually I think by then, I didn't like Vietnam. It was such a Worldly place.. so much evil around. There were drugs guys that would ride up next to you and say.. Marijuana??? Everywhere. There were prostitutes, drinking and partying everywhere. The foreigners on vacation were cursing so much and just all about the Worldly. It was so hard to be there. I felt like I was IN the World, and had never been so happy to not fit in. It broke my heart to see so much of that.
Cambodia still had a lot of World. It was mostly the foreigners who were traveling through. We smelled a lot of marijuana. The country was amazing though. It was so poverty stricken. The children were not kids.. they would school, and then go to work. There wasn't playing. The 6 year olds had better English than my 22 year old students... their English was better than mine. The adults were smiles, but begging. The country as a whole was just so beat up. They have been the underdogs in so much political mess.. they just kind of get pushed around by everyone around them. While we were traveling through I read "First They Killed My Father". It was really hard to read, but such a great history lesson on Cambodia. The take over of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot. The genocides.. Vietnam taking so much of their country. The constant fighting between them. There is so much amazing history here.
While we were here we were in Phnom Penh and visited some Family. I got to see some fellow workers, and family friends.. the Northens. They do free dental work on a ship up and down the Mekong. The villages have come to rely on them so much and appreciate them. They are doing so much for our DAD in this job. Then we went up to Siem Reap to Angkor. This was first built as an Empire for the King in the 12th Century. Then they were changed to Hindu Temples to Vishnu.. then to Buddhist Temples. It was amazing to see. You need so many days if you want to see every inch of this place, but we only had one day and that was a enough. We did the highlights and the most popular temples. There are so many. It's the largest religious structure in the whole world.
Then on to Thailand... We did Bangkok for a day. Bangkok was like being in a big Chinese city or in America. It was nice, but I loved the small villages of the entire trip. I didn't miss being in a city. Then we left for Koh Phayam where we layed on the beach for a few days. It was a nice end to the traveling. It was so relaxing. We got to just swim, lay on the beach, play frisbee, football, volleyball, nap, nap, nap. I spent a lot of time in our DAD's amazing creation. It is incredible how you can go from the mountains of Vietnam to the beach of Thailand and see the variety he has given us in life.
Getting back was fun.. 2 hour ferry, 9 hour overnight sitting bus, day in Bangkok, flight to Guangzhou, overnight in the airport, flight to Hangzhou, bus to Ningbo, taxi to apartment. in 65 hours I slept 2 hours tops.. I have been exhausted. haha.
This trip was amazing and hard. It was really hard to be in a group of my brothers and sister and feel so completely alone, like I didn't fit in at all. Like my life was worthless. It was so hard. It was also amazing because I finally took that last step to having DAD as my best friend. I finally felt that inner peace and comfort that comes from being around HIM constantly. He consumed my time completely. I spent all of my time talking to him, and studying. I learned more about myself and HIM on this trip, than I ever have before. It was amazing and wonderful.
I am home now and headed to Beijing for a Conference tomorrow. It should be great. I will get to learn a lot about my long term work here on this Earth. I know that it will help me so much in my future. It will also be nice to fellowship with others, and encourage each other. I have gotten to experience so many amazing things. I am so thankful for this. There were no big kinks in the trip.. it all just worked out adn we were mostly safe. I am so thankful.
I have so many stories that I wish I could share, but I'm afraid it's just too much. I'll share a few at a time when I update for a while. I have them in my written journal and hopefully that means in my book that I'm working on. So just buy the book someday..
We started on January 11th in China.. flew to Guangzhou (South China). When we arrived we took the bus shuttle to the train station. We didn't have tickets to Nanning... and everything has been really sold out. It's hard to travel in China during holidays. Not enough transportation for all of the people in China. Well, we get to the train station and have problems.. like everytime I get up to a window.. the close for lunch. They don't understand what I need.. finally this Chinese girl decides to help me. We ended up with train tickets overnight that night. WONDERFUL! We took her and her friends to lunch for helping us for the 2 hours it took.. Then we chilled till we caught our train. We were not looking forward to overnight train to Nanning because the girl told us we had soft seats. Comfortable, but not perfect for overnight. So.. we're walking to our car and it ends up we have soft SLEEPERS... so wonderful. We proceed to get situated and then we get in our car and shut the door and spend time fellowshiping together and communing with our DAD. It was a wonderful start to the trip.
5 people traveling together can get interesting..
Once we got to Nanning it was 5 am. We went to sit outside the Visa office till it opens so we can apply for our Vietnam Visa and get it back the same day. Not thinking about having to give them our passports, but also having to have them to check into a hostel. So I break out my resources and find the hostel that does the Visa service for you. So we go there and they have 5 beds left. Perfect. Then they do our visa for us. So we spend the day doing a lot of nothing.. showers, shopping last minute at Wal-Mart, exploring, hanging out. Then we left the next morning on the bus to Vietnam.
Vietnam was amazing... we went to Hanoi, Halong Bay, Hue, Hoi An, Nha Trang, and Saigon. It's an open tour bus. You get tickets all the way down and when you get to that city you stay till you want to leave for the next place. It was a wonderful way to see the whole country. Kayaking on Halong Bay, Motorbikes in Nha Trang, Clothes made in Hoi An, and nothing in Saigon. I didn't like Saigon.. actually I think by then, I didn't like Vietnam. It was such a Worldly place.. so much evil around. There were drugs guys that would ride up next to you and say.. Marijuana??? Everywhere. There were prostitutes, drinking and partying everywhere. The foreigners on vacation were cursing so much and just all about the Worldly. It was so hard to be there. I felt like I was IN the World, and had never been so happy to not fit in. It broke my heart to see so much of that.
Cambodia still had a lot of World. It was mostly the foreigners who were traveling through. We smelled a lot of marijuana. The country was amazing though. It was so poverty stricken. The children were not kids.. they would school, and then go to work. There wasn't playing. The 6 year olds had better English than my 22 year old students... their English was better than mine. The adults were smiles, but begging. The country as a whole was just so beat up. They have been the underdogs in so much political mess.. they just kind of get pushed around by everyone around them. While we were traveling through I read "First They Killed My Father". It was really hard to read, but such a great history lesson on Cambodia. The take over of the Khmer Rouge and Pol Pot. The genocides.. Vietnam taking so much of their country. The constant fighting between them. There is so much amazing history here.
While we were here we were in Phnom Penh and visited some Family. I got to see some fellow workers, and family friends.. the Northens. They do free dental work on a ship up and down the Mekong. The villages have come to rely on them so much and appreciate them. They are doing so much for our DAD in this job. Then we went up to Siem Reap to Angkor. This was first built as an Empire for the King in the 12th Century. Then they were changed to Hindu Temples to Vishnu.. then to Buddhist Temples. It was amazing to see. You need so many days if you want to see every inch of this place, but we only had one day and that was a enough. We did the highlights and the most popular temples. There are so many. It's the largest religious structure in the whole world.
Then on to Thailand... We did Bangkok for a day. Bangkok was like being in a big Chinese city or in America. It was nice, but I loved the small villages of the entire trip. I didn't miss being in a city. Then we left for Koh Phayam where we layed on the beach for a few days. It was a nice end to the traveling. It was so relaxing. We got to just swim, lay on the beach, play frisbee, football, volleyball, nap, nap, nap. I spent a lot of time in our DAD's amazing creation. It is incredible how you can go from the mountains of Vietnam to the beach of Thailand and see the variety he has given us in life.
Getting back was fun.. 2 hour ferry, 9 hour overnight sitting bus, day in Bangkok, flight to Guangzhou, overnight in the airport, flight to Hangzhou, bus to Ningbo, taxi to apartment. in 65 hours I slept 2 hours tops.. I have been exhausted. haha.
This trip was amazing and hard. It was really hard to be in a group of my brothers and sister and feel so completely alone, like I didn't fit in at all. Like my life was worthless. It was so hard. It was also amazing because I finally took that last step to having DAD as my best friend. I finally felt that inner peace and comfort that comes from being around HIM constantly. He consumed my time completely. I spent all of my time talking to him, and studying. I learned more about myself and HIM on this trip, than I ever have before. It was amazing and wonderful.
I am home now and headed to Beijing for a Conference tomorrow. It should be great. I will get to learn a lot about my long term work here on this Earth. I know that it will help me so much in my future. It will also be nice to fellowship with others, and encourage each other. I have gotten to experience so many amazing things. I am so thankful for this. There were no big kinks in the trip.. it all just worked out adn we were mostly safe. I am so thankful.
I have so many stories that I wish I could share, but I'm afraid it's just too much. I'll share a few at a time when I update for a while. I have them in my written journal and hopefully that means in my book that I'm working on. So just buy the book someday..
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Snapshots
Fellow Family and Workers in Cambodia. I've known them for years and it was so wonderful to see them and their work. Such a breath of fresh air.
Our Group on the Mekong River Boat Project.
hahaha.. European
Vietnam
My Son Temple fallen
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