After three months, I think I'm comfortable here. This month has contained some of the best moments of my life!!!! I've had so many new friendships blossom and new, exciting experiences that I can't even begin to articulate how much the L0rd has blessed me. Showers of blessings indeed.
I've been having really good conversations with my Chinese teacher, Maple, and another Chinese girl named Sybil. You really have to build relationships here in order to have an impact and fruit is finally visible.
On a less serious note, yet very exciting in my opinion, last night I watched a group of Chinese people play ping pong against Aurelio, my Brasilian friend. They were using hand signals under the table to communicate the spin they were about to put on the ball and all sorts of new things. It was crazy!!!!! I didn't dare play against the Chinese or Aurelio because he's taken lessons and he's really good. However, I watched for over two hours with a smile on my face the entire time. It was SOOOO much fun to watch a good game of ping pong. They kept asking me to play, but I was too intimidated. They play nightly so hopefully I will gain enough confidence to put up a fight later this week. I wish I could show you a video of it though. It was hilarious. We were all keeping score in Chinese, I was understanding their jokes, they were trying to figure out how to say my name (big surprise), etc. It was wonderful. I don't think I'll ever forget last night. Definitely one of the most memorable moments from China thus far.
Thanksgiving is this week as well as my Dad's birthday. I thought I would be more homesick, especially since I've been missing home a lot lately, but it's so hot here I don't even feel like it's Thanksgiving. We're having a dinner on Sunday so maybe it will hit me then. I don't know...the L0rd has just really blessed me this month with a couple of new relationships and I'm not homesick anymore. I'm so content. I don't know, guys...I think He's going to have to tear me away from this place if things continue to improve. I wish I could be more candid, but that will have to suffice.
And one last thing...I had an awesome run tonight. I don't often enjoy running , but man it was good. I just ran and ran while I had good music going on my iPod. Running here has also given me some of my best moments.
Please be pr-ying for wisdom as to how long He wants me to stay. I don't have to really decide until April or May, but I'm dense so it may take awhile for me to see what He's saying :)
Happy Thanksgiving! I love you all.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
The absolute best weekend I've had in years!!!!
If the title doesn't give it away, I had the best weekend in years. It was almost perfect....
We have a fellowship on Friday nights which is basically a youth group except we're all in our 20s. There are Americans, Chinese, a Brazilian, Australian, etc. There are probably 60 of us that gather each Friday. I've only been twice, but I CRAVE Friday nights now. I've never looked forward to something so much, ever! We begin with singing then break into study groups and come back for singing and hanging out. We play games until 2 am and have deep conversations until 4am. It's exactly what I've been looking for. A hundredfold He promised and my gracious, He has surely given me a hundredfold just on Friday nights.
However, the weekend was just beginning after the Friday night bonding. On Saturday, I went over to hang out with one of the American guys I don't know very well, Aaron, and his new Brazilian roommate, Aurelio. We went to the park with another Chinese guy, Bill, and had a marvelous time. We climbed to the top of the hill and saw Dongguan on one side and mountains on another. It was beautiful. Then we played ping pong which of course I loved. (Aurelio has taken lessons! I didn't know people did such things.) So that was a lot of fun. Then we went to a Chinese dance in the park and I danced with a woman. There didn't seem to be a pattern to the dance, not that I can dance anyway, but it was still lots of fun. Then I tried to Samba and that went well...lol. Not at all really. But it was a lot of fun.
From there we went to "Flower Street" where you can get a gorgeous dozen of roses for about $4! I bought flowers for my class this week because we're learning about plants. Then we all stayed up talking on Saturday until 4am again. Sound familiar? It was just like college.
Then of course on Sunday we had our regular gathering. My coordinating teacher, Maple, is a believer and goes to the gathering so after the service she, Rachel, Sybil (Chinese) and I went to eat. One thing about most Chinese people is that they do most things slowly so it turned out to take a couple of hours, but it was so nice. Although Maple is a believer, she has a lot of questions and a few gaps. She and I had a great conversation and she said it helped. That was my first "real" conversation since I got here. It was so wonderful, especially since we work together all day, every day.
To top it off, we only have the children for two days this week, go to the zoo on Wednesday (I'm so pumped about that!), and then we have work days to finish up everything before this first term ends. I've been struggling a lot lately with missing everyone, but this weekend was such a relaxing and refreshing time. He blessed me with a couple of new instantaneous friendships that I think will be lasting.
I cannot wait to see what He does with our fellowship on Fridays. All of us girls are going and love it! Things have been rough within the group recently as well, but I think things are starting to get worked out and we're learning how to budget our time better and focus on Him instead of school.
I'm just in awe of His blessings. I could not have had a better weekend. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him!!!!!
We have a fellowship on Friday nights which is basically a youth group except we're all in our 20s. There are Americans, Chinese, a Brazilian, Australian, etc. There are probably 60 of us that gather each Friday. I've only been twice, but I CRAVE Friday nights now. I've never looked forward to something so much, ever! We begin with singing then break into study groups and come back for singing and hanging out. We play games until 2 am and have deep conversations until 4am. It's exactly what I've been looking for. A hundredfold He promised and my gracious, He has surely given me a hundredfold just on Friday nights.
However, the weekend was just beginning after the Friday night bonding. On Saturday, I went over to hang out with one of the American guys I don't know very well, Aaron, and his new Brazilian roommate, Aurelio. We went to the park with another Chinese guy, Bill, and had a marvelous time. We climbed to the top of the hill and saw Dongguan on one side and mountains on another. It was beautiful. Then we played ping pong which of course I loved. (Aurelio has taken lessons! I didn't know people did such things.) So that was a lot of fun. Then we went to a Chinese dance in the park and I danced with a woman. There didn't seem to be a pattern to the dance, not that I can dance anyway, but it was still lots of fun. Then I tried to Samba and that went well...lol. Not at all really. But it was a lot of fun.
From there we went to "Flower Street" where you can get a gorgeous dozen of roses for about $4! I bought flowers for my class this week because we're learning about plants. Then we all stayed up talking on Saturday until 4am again. Sound familiar? It was just like college.
Then of course on Sunday we had our regular gathering. My coordinating teacher, Maple, is a believer and goes to the gathering so after the service she, Rachel, Sybil (Chinese) and I went to eat. One thing about most Chinese people is that they do most things slowly so it turned out to take a couple of hours, but it was so nice. Although Maple is a believer, she has a lot of questions and a few gaps. She and I had a great conversation and she said it helped. That was my first "real" conversation since I got here. It was so wonderful, especially since we work together all day, every day.
To top it off, we only have the children for two days this week, go to the zoo on Wednesday (I'm so pumped about that!), and then we have work days to finish up everything before this first term ends. I've been struggling a lot lately with missing everyone, but this weekend was such a relaxing and refreshing time. He blessed me with a couple of new instantaneous friendships that I think will be lasting.
I cannot wait to see what He does with our fellowship on Fridays. All of us girls are going and love it! Things have been rough within the group recently as well, but I think things are starting to get worked out and we're learning how to budget our time better and focus on Him instead of school.
I'm just in awe of His blessings. I could not have had a better weekend. Praise Him, praise Him, praise Him!!!!!
Thursday, November 8, 2007
teach us...
I'm lying in bed in my apartment in Dongguan, China at midnight on Wednesday, November 7th. I'm now 13 hours ahead of you all so you all are about to eat lunch I suppose. I should be sleeping, and although I'm really going to pay for this tomorrow (or my kids will), I can't sleep.
As most of you know, I'm not really an openly mushy person and fight that part of my personality because I don't enjoy it. But oh well...I'm giving in tonight. It's all because of some Christmas decorations I saw in Walmart yesterday. As soon as I saw them I stopped in mid-stride and smiled like I am doing now. Not a huge smile, but a little smirk if you will. I just miss home. I miss calling ALL of you when I feel like it, or worse, when I need to. I miss the possibility of driving to Wesleyan to see that branch of my family. I miss the possibility of walking down the street and seeing someone I know. I miss the possibility of you all calling me. I miss so many things, guys...and so many of you.
I'm reminded of the verse in Phillipians 4 that says, "Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content." I'm content because I serve an amazing G-d who provides, encourages and loves me regardless of my geographical location. I am pra-sing Him for where He has brought me. There is no other place I'd rather be than in His will. I feel like I'm defending myself...do you all I understand what I'm saying? I am content, yes. I miss home, yes. They don't conflict with one another. He's using them to compliment each other. The more I miss home the more I begin to understand what being content really means. The verse says "I've learned." I'm learning.
I love you all so much. Have I told you that before? I often think about the reunions that will take place and nearly burst. I have to take those thoughts captive lol. Otherwise I'd never get anything done. But you see my point I think. It's going to be wonderful.
He's teaching me so much, team. I can't wait to tell you without dashes and code words. Until then, I'll be pr-ying for you.
"So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (P-alm 90:12)
As most of you know, I'm not really an openly mushy person and fight that part of my personality because I don't enjoy it. But oh well...I'm giving in tonight. It's all because of some Christmas decorations I saw in Walmart yesterday. As soon as I saw them I stopped in mid-stride and smiled like I am doing now. Not a huge smile, but a little smirk if you will. I just miss home. I miss calling ALL of you when I feel like it, or worse, when I need to. I miss the possibility of driving to Wesleyan to see that branch of my family. I miss the possibility of walking down the street and seeing someone I know. I miss the possibility of you all calling me. I miss so many things, guys...and so many of you.
I'm reminded of the verse in Phillipians 4 that says, "Not that I speak in respect of want for I have learned in whatever state I am to be content." I'm content because I serve an amazing G-d who provides, encourages and loves me regardless of my geographical location. I am pra-sing Him for where He has brought me. There is no other place I'd rather be than in His will. I feel like I'm defending myself...do you all I understand what I'm saying? I am content, yes. I miss home, yes. They don't conflict with one another. He's using them to compliment each other. The more I miss home the more I begin to understand what being content really means. The verse says "I've learned." I'm learning.
I love you all so much. Have I told you that before? I often think about the reunions that will take place and nearly burst. I have to take those thoughts captive lol. Otherwise I'd never get anything done. But you see my point I think. It's going to be wonderful.
He's teaching me so much, team. I can't wait to tell you without dashes and code words. Until then, I'll be pr-ying for you.
"So teach us to number our days that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (P-alm 90:12)
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