Well, here it is!
My big news.
………………….
I started writing this blog as a way to keep you all connected, in some small way, to me, what God teaches me, and my life here in China. I haven't always been on top of it, but that time has come to an end. My adventure in China has come to an end….at least for now.
After a lot of prayer and information gathering, I will be moving to Germany this summer!
It's a huge step for me and, in many ways, feels like more of a step of faith than my move to China (crazy how that works, right??) .
I will be going back to school, but this time not as a teacher. That's right, I'm going to be a student again! I will be going to a small city in South Western Germany, about 5k from France and 20k from Switzerland. My goal is to enroll in a program in Romance Studies (no, not the mushy stuff). I will, Lord willing, have the opportunity to study 4-5 European languages while studying culture and history. I am also looking for an apprenticeship in cooking while I am there.
This is a huge change for me, but I am very excited about it (Who wouldn't want to study and learn cooking in Europe??). I believe that this is the next step that Abba has for me and I'm so glad He is going with me!
As a side note, as I study German (try studying German in China….it's so beyond any challenge that you can imagine…) and look at pictures of the city I will be moving to, I can't wait to have a plethora of fresh cheeses, sausages, and breads!
I would really appreciate your prayers as I make this ginormous transition from teaching in Asia to studying in Europe. While it is very exciting, it is also very difficult. In many ways, I had begun to look at China as my earthly 'home' and had begun to sink roots here. Leaving my school- my students and co teachers- is really very hard for me, and I'm currently going through transition emotions that I never knew existed before. This is all quite uncharted transition for me.
Ways to pray?
1. Confidence even when the move gets difficult.
I believe God is in this move, but that doesn't mean that I won't struggle with doubts along the way. Prayers for confidence and wisdom are coveted.
2. Finances to make the move/live.
While my school here will pay for the ticket to fly over there, I will still be covering the expenses along the way- extra luggage fees, food and hostels along the way, etc.
While many universities in Germany are tuition free, I will still have to pay for living expenses, student fees, and health insurance. I mentioned earlier my desire to work as an apprentice in a kitchen, but until the paycheck comes in, things will be very tight.
3. Language Tests
Well I am going for language study already, but in order to make it into my program, I will need to pass the exams for a very high level of German first. I may take the first semester in Germany to do a focused language study at the university, but that will go back to request #2…Language school is not tuition free…. :)
4. Body
I feel strongly that this move will be to join God's work with a local body in the city I'm moving to. Pray that I will find that body quickly once arriving and that He will provide a network there that will help with transitions. Also pray that God will prepare me to receive and give in the local body there.
I can't even tell you enough how excited I am to finally get to share this news with you.
Thank you all SO MUCH for your support through prayer and encouragement!
Tschüss!! =)
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
The Truth About a Traveler's Life
The life of a vagabond is one of whimsical wandering. A life that many sit in stuffy cubicles and dream to partake in. Rich colors drape their bedrooms and twinkle lights hang from the ceilings. Flowing skirts and leather bracelets array their arms and flow about their tanned skin. A dreamy look is always in their eyes that sparkle with dreams of adventure and far-off places. Pins are posted on Pinterest with the caption of, "Some day, Monte Carlo, some day". Everyone knows their passion for travel, and everyone supports it (Well, except maybe Mom, who always wants her baby safe at home). And when they finally save up that last penny and post a picture of the tarmac saying, "Hasta lavista, 'merica, Hello Paris!" hundreds of cheers go up and no fewer than 106 likes clicked out of excitement for dreams come true.
But that's not always what the life of a traveler is, is it…
………………………………………………..
No. The life of a traveler is far different from this picturesque concept of "gypsy living". As most other areas of life pictures, sayings, social media, and commercials have given only half of the story when it comes to living overseas- or even short term trips overseas.
A swirl of faces, some stained with dirt and tears, some stained with ruby red lips and purple or blue on their eyes, faces bleached white as a sign of high status. Students hair, a sea of black mingled with white, yet so young. Other children, hair jet black, has been mingled with soot and garbage. This woman is hard-working, tired, age lines her face and her eyes are tired, but the next woman to step onto the bus, clicking 5 inch heels and tight pencil skirt and shirt freshly pressed and accessories only the finest.
Your memories swirl and you see the elderly in a home, gathered around to enjoy the fine arts event you're putting on. Dresses glitter in the evening light and smiles are on all faces. Puccini floats through the air and fades into O Solo Mio, the evening ends with wrinkled hands embracing soft, young ones. Sad eyes, full of memory glisten as they tell of a memory that went along with the aria you've just sang.
Yet again, you feel as if your head is in a vortex and there you are, sitting on a soccer field in South America, sweaty children all around you, you're wearing a wordless book bracelet and you're eagerly sharing about how Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." Their eyes are full of anticipation, they listen attentively.
But no, you're not finished yet. The memory of a soccer field reminds you of a park, in your own "home country" This is the land were you came into existence. A park not far from the university you attended and the many homeless you brought food to. Not always food for their stomachs, but always something to chew on. The man who turned away a chance at new life only to be taken away on a stretcher the very next day. The woman who said she desperately wanted out of the life of sleeping with a knife, but couldn't last more than a couple weeks in a halfway house with a job.
You see girls taking you to a field in the middle of nowhere to open a Bible, concealed between textbooks, because if they were to be seen with the treasured pages in public, they could be kicked out of university- or worse. Children with disabilities in orphanages, with fewer hands and hearts to love on them than they should have- but at least it's something, right?
You see, the life of a traveler is full of new adventures, friends and experiences, but it is so full of hurt, fear, and agony.
Sure, we have our whimsical "gypsy" days, but that's not our reality. Our reality is a lot of hard work and a lot of goodbyes. And goodbyes never get easier. Sometimes, you don't even want to say, "Hello" to a new person, because it just means that one day, you'll have to say just one more, "Goodbye".
God has given me a life that I could never have imagined. Sure, I've always known that I would live somewhere overseas, but I never knew what it would take- or where He would move me!
There's something so exciting about going new places and trying new things, there's no denying that. Stepping off the plane or train or boat and taking your first breath of that new city, state, country, or even continent is exhilarating! Your eyes, full of curiosity and wonder as you observe the new cultural differences, colors, customs, foods, and architecture, sparkle. Your heart races as every new experience takes you further out of your comfort zone. You find yourself doing things you never thought someone could pay you to do. You find yourself speaking in languages you never dreamed you'd actually speak (or understand for that matter)! You find that it IS possible to retrain your palate to not reject squishy or unknown textures, you can stomach just about anything! (Well, except stinky tofu…)
But with ever step, a new memory, a new heart string, a new struggle, a new goodbye.
So here I am, sitting on the floor listening to piano ballads, getting ready for another goodbye. (Or whole slew of them, should I say?) I see more than 2,000 students faces all at once. I see a sidewalk, prayed over and committed to kingdom work, on my walk to work. I see a developing city, smog descending and the air thick with damp, musty air. I see more than 40 teachers that I have gotten to work with over the course of 3 1/2 years. I remember tears so many they would take bottles and bottles to contain. I remember words spoken out of frustration and anger that never should have been born. I remember the kind old man who offered me a seat when he saw I was exhausted. I remember the woman, a tooth missing and skin all wrinkled and leathery, that smiled at me that day. I remember the lady at the street food stand who remembers me and tells me she's missed seeing me when I started taking a different route home, or came home late. I remember the man at the little store downstairs who always tried to talk to me (when my Chinese was REALLY bad) and persevered through my confusion and frustration until we could have a conversation. I see young adults and teens with tears in their eyes as they shared their struggles and hurts with me. I remember the hugs I've given and the hugs I have received. I remember so much. Again.
There is so much. So much joy, so much laughter, so many tears, so many lessons, so many people, so much God. So much goodbye. Now is the time of goodbye. I'm so thankful for the time I have been given here in this enchanted land. Not once, or even twice. But three times, He's given me time here. Each time was so different from the former, and special in and of itself.
In the words of John Legend, to my China,
And this. This is the life of a traveller. The truth.
But isn't the truth really that we are all travelers? Sure, some of us get cozy where we are and call it, "home", but we're never really home. And that is something that traveling has taught me. This world is not my home, I'm just passing through, and oh how I can't WAIT to be HOME. So I pray will be the case for you. That you will comprehend the fullness of this statement, you are not at home, nor should you feel at home. We are all travelers and we will all spend this life saying, "Goodbye", but one day (and I feel it drawing closer), we will never have to say goodbye- ever again.
But that's not always what the life of a traveler is, is it…
………………………………………………..
No. The life of a traveler is far different from this picturesque concept of "gypsy living". As most other areas of life pictures, sayings, social media, and commercials have given only half of the story when it comes to living overseas- or even short term trips overseas.
A swirl of faces, some stained with dirt and tears, some stained with ruby red lips and purple or blue on their eyes, faces bleached white as a sign of high status. Students hair, a sea of black mingled with white, yet so young. Other children, hair jet black, has been mingled with soot and garbage. This woman is hard-working, tired, age lines her face and her eyes are tired, but the next woman to step onto the bus, clicking 5 inch heels and tight pencil skirt and shirt freshly pressed and accessories only the finest.
Your memories swirl and you see the elderly in a home, gathered around to enjoy the fine arts event you're putting on. Dresses glitter in the evening light and smiles are on all faces. Puccini floats through the air and fades into O Solo Mio, the evening ends with wrinkled hands embracing soft, young ones. Sad eyes, full of memory glisten as they tell of a memory that went along with the aria you've just sang.
Yet again, you feel as if your head is in a vortex and there you are, sitting on a soccer field in South America, sweaty children all around you, you're wearing a wordless book bracelet and you're eagerly sharing about how Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me." Their eyes are full of anticipation, they listen attentively.
But no, you're not finished yet. The memory of a soccer field reminds you of a park, in your own "home country" This is the land were you came into existence. A park not far from the university you attended and the many homeless you brought food to. Not always food for their stomachs, but always something to chew on. The man who turned away a chance at new life only to be taken away on a stretcher the very next day. The woman who said she desperately wanted out of the life of sleeping with a knife, but couldn't last more than a couple weeks in a halfway house with a job.
You see girls taking you to a field in the middle of nowhere to open a Bible, concealed between textbooks, because if they were to be seen with the treasured pages in public, they could be kicked out of university- or worse. Children with disabilities in orphanages, with fewer hands and hearts to love on them than they should have- but at least it's something, right?
You see, the life of a traveler is full of new adventures, friends and experiences, but it is so full of hurt, fear, and agony.
Sure, we have our whimsical "gypsy" days, but that's not our reality. Our reality is a lot of hard work and a lot of goodbyes. And goodbyes never get easier. Sometimes, you don't even want to say, "Hello" to a new person, because it just means that one day, you'll have to say just one more, "Goodbye".
God has given me a life that I could never have imagined. Sure, I've always known that I would live somewhere overseas, but I never knew what it would take- or where He would move me!
There's something so exciting about going new places and trying new things, there's no denying that. Stepping off the plane or train or boat and taking your first breath of that new city, state, country, or even continent is exhilarating! Your eyes, full of curiosity and wonder as you observe the new cultural differences, colors, customs, foods, and architecture, sparkle. Your heart races as every new experience takes you further out of your comfort zone. You find yourself doing things you never thought someone could pay you to do. You find yourself speaking in languages you never dreamed you'd actually speak (or understand for that matter)! You find that it IS possible to retrain your palate to not reject squishy or unknown textures, you can stomach just about anything! (Well, except stinky tofu…)
But with ever step, a new memory, a new heart string, a new struggle, a new goodbye.
So here I am, sitting on the floor listening to piano ballads, getting ready for another goodbye. (Or whole slew of them, should I say?) I see more than 2,000 students faces all at once. I see a sidewalk, prayed over and committed to kingdom work, on my walk to work. I see a developing city, smog descending and the air thick with damp, musty air. I see more than 40 teachers that I have gotten to work with over the course of 3 1/2 years. I remember tears so many they would take bottles and bottles to contain. I remember words spoken out of frustration and anger that never should have been born. I remember the kind old man who offered me a seat when he saw I was exhausted. I remember the woman, a tooth missing and skin all wrinkled and leathery, that smiled at me that day. I remember the lady at the street food stand who remembers me and tells me she's missed seeing me when I started taking a different route home, or came home late. I remember the man at the little store downstairs who always tried to talk to me (when my Chinese was REALLY bad) and persevered through my confusion and frustration until we could have a conversation. I see young adults and teens with tears in their eyes as they shared their struggles and hurts with me. I remember the hugs I've given and the hugs I have received. I remember so much. Again.
There is so much. So much joy, so much laughter, so many tears, so many lessons, so many people, so much God. So much goodbye. Now is the time of goodbye. I'm so thankful for the time I have been given here in this enchanted land. Not once, or even twice. But three times, He's given me time here. Each time was so different from the former, and special in and of itself.
In the words of John Legend, to my China,
"Cause all of me loves all of you,. I love your curves and your edges, all your perfect imperfections…"And how true is that. Never a straight line here. Always a curveball, something new, something different. Normal is different. And as hard as days have been here at times, I will always love it. I will always cherish these memories, as many as there are, I can't forget.
And this. This is the life of a traveller. The truth.
But isn't the truth really that we are all travelers? Sure, some of us get cozy where we are and call it, "home", but we're never really home. And that is something that traveling has taught me. This world is not my home, I'm just passing through, and oh how I can't WAIT to be HOME. So I pray will be the case for you. That you will comprehend the fullness of this statement, you are not at home, nor should you feel at home. We are all travelers and we will all spend this life saying, "Goodbye", but one day (and I feel it drawing closer), we will never have to say goodbye- ever again.
"Cause I gave you all of me, and you gave me all of you."Thank you, Jesus.
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