Nihao!!! (pronounced nee-how) This is the first chance I've had to write. Sorry if you've been waiting on the edge of your seats which I'm sure you all have. Anyway, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the girls and one guy (poor thing) that I'm working with here. We have so much in common and an instantaneous fellowship began the first hour I met them. They are such a blessing.

I haven't started teaching yet, but I did get to meet four of my children today. Two of them are twins from Japan. Oh my word, they are gorgeous. I think I'm going to like teaching them, but I'm quite nervous yet. I look forward to the kids finally coming Monday so I can dig in.

My internet isn't very reliable so I'm sorry if I don't respond to emails, etc. for a few days. Please be patient.

I have to run to a meeting now, but I hope to write again soon. I have a cell phone if you'd like to call with a calling card, but Skype is absolutely FREE to talk with over the internet if you'd like to download that. It's similar to IM except you get a mic and you can talk to me as if we were on the phone. Shoot me an email if you're interested in that and I'll hook you up. My cell number is 13416802940 if you want to call immediately.

I miss you all and cannot tell you how much I love you each. Peace!

I'm off!

I'm not sure I've been very clear about what I'm going to be doing in China so here's the scoop. I'll be teaching 3-4 year old children at an international school called Eton House in Dongguan. I'm leaving in about 3 hours and I'll be returning to the States the first or second week of July next year. You can visit the school's website at www.etonhouse-dg.com or you can email me.

On a personal note, it's really hard to say "see ya later" to my family. It's bittersweet. We all know I'll be back of course, but it's hard at the same time.

Alright team, next time I write I'll be using my "Great Wall broadband" (I LOVE that it's called that). I love you all. Peace!

Change of plans

Have any of you seen "Blood Diamonds"? If you have, do you remember when they say to each other, "This is Africa" or TIA? Well, I'm saying that about China-TIC. I say this because plans changed in less than 24 hours and I'm now jetting off to China on the 23rd of this month.

TIC and I'm just trying to keep up at this point.

China?! I thought I was going to Africa

Hello everyone! I'm jetting off to Dongguan, China on Sept. 10th to teach English as a second language and this is how I plan on keeping everyone up to date on my glorious adventure.

Yeah, I said China. If you all know me at all I'm sure you're aware that I can't wait to get back to Africa. However, He has clearly provided an amazing opportunity for me (and Rachel!) in China. Here's how it happened...I was taking a Zumba class at the gym (I have a free membership because my boss cut a deal with the gym's boss) because I had written an article about it for the paper and decided to check it out. The teacher of the class was a 27 year old girl named Mikel who was friendly so we chatted after class some. Well, one week I asked her how much longer she was going to teach the class because in the interview the owner of the gym said he may not keep the class going long if people didn't show up. Mikel told me she was going to be leaving in August but her sister was going to replace her. I asked where she was going and she replied, "China." I asked why and she said, "to teach." Now, I had been looking into teaching in South Korea for the two previous weeks so when I heard she was going to China I immediately thought there's no way He is opening this door...right? Well, as it turned out, she was going with nine other Chr-stians, she'd taught in China before, all of the people are around my age, she wants to be a miss-onary and she wants to go to Africa for Christmas break. If that isn't Him orchestrating I don't know what is. So I'm off to China folks!

I will post more as the time for depature draws nearer and will post as frequently as possible while in China. Thanks for reading. I appreciate you taking this adventure with me. I can't wait to see what He has in store :)