laughing the laugh of faith

"To human reason it sounds ridiculous,but FAITH laughs at impossibilities and cries,'It shall be done!'"                         - C.T. Studd

Do you know Chinese?
No.
Are you going with someone?
Nope.
Do you know anyone you will be teaching with?
No, not really.
Who will you live with?
Umm....I'm not sure. I'll find out when I get there. 
Do you have a lot of experience teaching young primary students?
Primary students? No, not exactly. 

As I begin to tell more people about my upcoming opportunity to teach overseas, I am bombarded with questions like these. Unfortunately for my inquirers, my answers often prove unsatisfactory. In fact, my answers seem simply ridiculous. And truth be told, the more questions I am asked, the more I realize how ridiculous this whole adventure sounds. I am moving to a foreign country where I have very minimal understanding of the language, I know no one, and I will be teaching young students who know very little (if any!) English. 

I should break down and cry when answering these questions. All these "details" are overwhelming. And being the practical and realistic person that I am, these questions should bring me to tears. 

But yet, instead of tears, I often find laughter escaping my lips. No, I don't know the language. No, I don't know anyone. No, I don't have much experience.......And yet, I find myself smiling. Laughing even. My heart is filled with joy. 

Why? 

I can laugh because I know my Father is much greater than all of the details. 
He is a Father who is not too big to care about the smallest details of my life. He has called me to China. And as a friend reminded me the other day, if He has called me to China, He will take care of everything to get me (and keep me) there. 

One of the things I am most anticipating about my time in China is the opportunity to see Him reveal Himself in mighty ways. In America, we can become so comfortable. We are not often placed in situations where great intervention is necessary. We are pretty self-sufficient.  

I am pretty self-sufficient.

China is going to be uncomfortable. It will be hard. It will difficult. While in China, I know I will be placed in situations where great intervention is not only necessary, it is required. If my Father does not show up, I will be utterly without hope. 

China will be hard. 

But it is where He wants me. That is all that matters. 

For this reason, I can move forward laughing the "laugh of faith" as Amy Carmichael stated. All of these "impossibilities" allow the opportunity for Him to demonstrate that absolutely nothing is impossible. In fact, sometimes He will choose to wait until a situation is seemly "impossible" in order that He alone can receive all the glory for His help. I can move forward with joy knowing that the He has promised to be faithful. He will always "show up" - even in the most impossible of circumstances.

So, no, I don't know the language. But by His grace, He can enable me to learn the language. He can speak through me with the language of HIS love. He is not One to be limited.

True, I do not know anyone. But He has promised to never leave or forsake me. He is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. He will provide everything (and everyone) I need. And I can move forward knowing that He alone is more than enough for me. 

Knowing this - knowing MY Father - compels me to laugh when faced with a new impossibility. No, I don't have it all figured out. No, I don't know what the next few months of my life will hold. 

But I know Who does.....and because of that truth, I can laugh the laugh of faith - not fear.

“We are not here to be overcome, but to rise unvanquished after every knockout blow, and laugh the laugh of faith, not fear.” – Amy Carmichael

China bound....

Oh my. That's very soon!

I pause and read my friend's text message once again. The reality of her message began to sink in.

Yes, it is very soon.

In less than one month I will be moving to a culture completely different than my own.

I will be moving to China.

Although this is not too much of a surprise to me (I have been thinking, dreaming, and planning for this opportunity since high school - which is kind of weird, I know), the truth is the date of my departure has taken me by surprise. In fact, a few months ago I would have told you a completely different story of what I would be doing in one month.

This past semester, I had the opportunity to student teach in the most wonderful classroom ever. As I finished up my student teaching experience, my plans for my next semester began to take shape. I would stay in the same town, substitute teach, and continue with the work my Father had granted me in that town. And to be honest, I was very content (dare I say comfortable?) with this plan. I liked it.

But then, my Father intervened and did what He seems to do best in my life - exchange MY plans for HIS plans. Apparently, He had different plans than the ones that I had envisioned for this next semester of my life.

 And those plans included China.

About six weeks ago, He literately dropped the opportunity for me to teach in China in my lap. And I - cautiously - allowed this "China dream" that I had placed on the back shelf of my mind to once again surface to the forefront. As I began to pray, seek Him, and seek godly counsel, He began to confirm this decision in my mind and heart. And so, one night a few weeks ago, I sent what was perhaps the scariest email I have ever sent in my life. I sent an email to a school official in which I agreed to teach ESL to young Chinese students for the next year and a half of my life. 

Fast forward a few weeks and many emails later, and in less than one month, I will leave for China.

And it is for this reason, that I have created this blog....to allow you, dear friends and family, the opportunity to receive little updates from me throughout my time overseas. 



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