Hi everyone!
Just wanted write you a quick note
to let you know that I made it safely to China. Thank you so much for
all of your encouragement and support and for lifting me up through this
whole journey. He has been so gracious to me in the past 48 hours.
Although He is gracious every single day, some days I think I'm a little
more aware of it than others....today would be one of those days. :) Oh
I would love to write more, but I'm in desperate need of some sleep
(hellloo jet lag! :). Thanks again for all of your thoughts!
Sending love your way from CHINA!! :)
ps. Would
absolutely love if you could continue to be lifting me up as I
transition to life here...although I've arrived, I'm realizing that this
was just the first step of the journey.... :) Thank you so much!
Sunday, February 17, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
valentine's day visa!!
Today I received one of the most unusual Valentine's day gifts ever..... a work visa to China! :)
Wow. This has been quite the process, and I am so thankful to see how my Father is paving the way for me....
All that to say, I wanted to let you all know of a slight
change of plans. Since I was able to receive my work visa today, I was able to re-book my flight to a much earlier date.... :) Although it
seems a little sudden, this will put me arriving in China just in time to begin the semester with my students. Anyway, I just
wanted to let you know about this change and would LOVE if you could be
lifting me up the next few days as I embark on this journey. :) Thanks
so much. I cannot express how thankful I am to Him for you all. Praying
that you recognize His love more and more today!
Happy Valentine's day! :)
its getting closer....
I remember saying to a friend at the beginning of this journey that I wouldn't really believe I was going to China until I had airplane ticket in my hand and was boarding my plane. Although I have purchased my ticket (twice :) and have yet to board a plane, the reality is beginning to sink in. Each day that passes by brings me one day closer to the day I leave....this excites me ever so much! :)
I just wanted to say a quick thank you for your thoughts and encouragement, dear friends. His hand has been quite evident in the littlest of things lately, and it makes me all the more aware of His great grace.
I just wanted to say a quick thank you for your thoughts and encouragement, dear friends. His hand has been quite evident in the littlest of things lately, and it makes me all the more aware of His great grace.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
disappointments
"You set your heart too much on things, Anne," said Marilla, with
a sigh. "I'm afraid there'll be a great many disappointments in
store for you through life."
~Lucia Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
I'm afraid I relate a little too much to Anne.
This past week, I set my heart too much on things...like getting my visa documents in the mail early this week. And receiving work visa in one day before the Chinese New Year. And flying to China two weeks early. And being able to begin the semester with my students.
Ultimately, I set my heart on the possibility of all these impossibilities that God could bring to pass.
This past week, I was informed that I would be receiving two documents in the mail shortly. With these documents, I could obtain my work visa. If all of these things could be aligned, I could reschedule my flight (once again) for an earlier date this time.
My heart became ever so excited. This must be an answer to the desires of my heart. I really wanted to be able to begin the semester with my students and to get to China soon. I asked so boldly that my Father would work out all the details for all these things to come to pass. I pr*yed boldly. incessantly. specifically. in f**th.
And in the depth of my heart, I just knew it was going to work out. After all, wouldn't He receive so much glory from this? It would be an absolute miracle to be able to first receive the necessary letters in the mail on time, then receive my visa before the Chinese New Year and the subsequent closure of the consulate office, and finally, be able to switch my airline ticket for less than $400. My Father has proven again and again to be more than capable of the impossible. This would be just one more story to tell of how God did the impossible.
And early this week, it appeared that once again He would.
I received my visa letters/documents in the mail on Tuesday - one day earlier than expected. I printed my visa application on Tuesday night and double-checked it five times (At least!). I made copies of everything. Letters. Applications. Flight confirmations. Everything. Nobody would be able to accuse me of being unprepared.
I asked for safe travel and to be able to get to the consulate quickly and efficiently.
And on Wednesday morning, He helped us. My mom and I arrived on time, despite the dreary weather. In fact, we were the first in line. We stood outside the consulate in the rain, lifting this whole process up, all the while.
Finally, they opened the doors. I approached the visa drop off window. Carefully, I gave each document to the visa officer. Passport. Application. Letters. Documents. Everything was in order.
As the application process drew to a close, I was already rejoicing and praising Him....I was going to get the visa that afternoon. I just knew it. And I knew that the Lord was going to provide an affordable plane ticket that evening. And in a few days, I would headed to China.
And then, she handed me my pick-up ticket.
"Come back next Thursday."
I looked at the ticket. The date was 4 days later than when I wanted to fly out.
"I don't understand. That is in over a week. I requested expedited service. I wanted my visa today."
The young visa official peered at me, her face void of expression.
"Come back next Thursday," she repeated.
"But I still don't understand. Your offices are still open until Friday. Why can I not get my visa today?"
"The Chinese New Year holiday. I'm sorry. No expedited service."
As I looked into her hardened face, desperately in need of Love, the reality of this whole situation began to dawn on me. I was not going to get my visa today. I was not going to get my visa tomorrow. I wasn't even going to get my visa Friday.
"So, there is absolutely no way I can get my visa today? or even this week?" I weakly inquired once more.
Once again, she shook her head and repeated, "Come back next Thursday."
As tears began to well in my eyes, I mustered the grace to smile and weakly say, "Thank you."
As I left the consulate, a mixture of sorrow and anger welled within me. But the overwhelming emotion that lingered within me was disappointment. Why would He allow this? He is not hindered by bureaucracy. He could have allowed me to get my visa today. Why didn't He? It would have given Him so much glory, right? I just didn't understand.
I tried to speak truth to myself. I tried to remind myself that His ways are so much higher than mine and that He has an ultimate plan. But it just didn't measure up in my mind and heart. Why?
As my Mom and I discussed this unfortunate turn of events at a nearby coffee shop, I remember confessing to Mom, "I just don't understand, Mom. There must be a fine line between pr*ying boldly in f**th, and unnecessarily getting your hopes up..."
But as I have processing this whole situation this afternoon, I realized that in this whole situation, I was placing my hope in what G*d could do (with a little help from me), instead of placing my hope solely in the G*d who does. Instead of placing my hope in the One who does the impossible, I had allowed myself to hope in the impossibilities He could accomplish. In short, I had shifted the object of my f**th to the result rather than the Faithful One. And when those results didn't come through, my hope failed. My faith wavered.
Slowly, He began to search my heart....Was I trusting in Him? or what He could do? Was I looking for Him? or what He could provide? Gently, He stripped away my hopes and replaced it with Him.
"My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes." I used to dramatically quote this line from Anne of Green Gables all the time growing up. (I'm sure it drove my family insane.) Ironically, the Lord brought it to my mind once again today. That is exactly what I need. I need my life to be a graveyard of buried hopes and dreams....a cemetery of surrendered desires.
True, like Anne, I may be prone to set my heart too much on things. And things fail.
But if I am setting my heart on Chr*st alone, I will not be disappointed. He never fails.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in G*d.
.....My hope is built on nothing less, than J*s*s' blood and righteousness....
~Lucia Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables
I'm afraid I relate a little too much to Anne.
This past week, I set my heart too much on things...like getting my visa documents in the mail early this week. And receiving work visa in one day before the Chinese New Year. And flying to China two weeks early. And being able to begin the semester with my students.
Ultimately, I set my heart on the possibility of all these impossibilities that God could bring to pass.
This past week, I was informed that I would be receiving two documents in the mail shortly. With these documents, I could obtain my work visa. If all of these things could be aligned, I could reschedule my flight (once again) for an earlier date this time.
My heart became ever so excited. This must be an answer to the desires of my heart. I really wanted to be able to begin the semester with my students and to get to China soon. I asked so boldly that my Father would work out all the details for all these things to come to pass. I pr*yed boldly. incessantly. specifically. in f**th.
And in the depth of my heart, I just knew it was going to work out. After all, wouldn't He receive so much glory from this? It would be an absolute miracle to be able to first receive the necessary letters in the mail on time, then receive my visa before the Chinese New Year and the subsequent closure of the consulate office, and finally, be able to switch my airline ticket for less than $400. My Father has proven again and again to be more than capable of the impossible. This would be just one more story to tell of how God did the impossible.
And early this week, it appeared that once again He would.
I received my visa letters/documents in the mail on Tuesday - one day earlier than expected. I printed my visa application on Tuesday night and double-checked it five times (At least!). I made copies of everything. Letters. Applications. Flight confirmations. Everything. Nobody would be able to accuse me of being unprepared.
I asked for safe travel and to be able to get to the consulate quickly and efficiently.
And on Wednesday morning, He helped us. My mom and I arrived on time, despite the dreary weather. In fact, we were the first in line. We stood outside the consulate in the rain, lifting this whole process up, all the while.
Finally, they opened the doors. I approached the visa drop off window. Carefully, I gave each document to the visa officer. Passport. Application. Letters. Documents. Everything was in order.
As the application process drew to a close, I was already rejoicing and praising Him....I was going to get the visa that afternoon. I just knew it. And I knew that the Lord was going to provide an affordable plane ticket that evening. And in a few days, I would headed to China.
And then, she handed me my pick-up ticket.
"Come back next Thursday."
I looked at the ticket. The date was 4 days later than when I wanted to fly out.
"I don't understand. That is in over a week. I requested expedited service. I wanted my visa today."
The young visa official peered at me, her face void of expression.
"Come back next Thursday," she repeated.
"But I still don't understand. Your offices are still open until Friday. Why can I not get my visa today?"
"The Chinese New Year holiday. I'm sorry. No expedited service."
As I looked into her hardened face, desperately in need of Love, the reality of this whole situation began to dawn on me. I was not going to get my visa today. I was not going to get my visa tomorrow. I wasn't even going to get my visa Friday.
"So, there is absolutely no way I can get my visa today? or even this week?" I weakly inquired once more.
Once again, she shook her head and repeated, "Come back next Thursday."
As tears began to well in my eyes, I mustered the grace to smile and weakly say, "Thank you."
As I left the consulate, a mixture of sorrow and anger welled within me. But the overwhelming emotion that lingered within me was disappointment. Why would He allow this? He is not hindered by bureaucracy. He could have allowed me to get my visa today. Why didn't He? It would have given Him so much glory, right? I just didn't understand.
I tried to speak truth to myself. I tried to remind myself that His ways are so much higher than mine and that He has an ultimate plan. But it just didn't measure up in my mind and heart. Why?
As my Mom and I discussed this unfortunate turn of events at a nearby coffee shop, I remember confessing to Mom, "I just don't understand, Mom. There must be a fine line between pr*ying boldly in f**th, and unnecessarily getting your hopes up..."
But as I have processing this whole situation this afternoon, I realized that in this whole situation, I was placing my hope in what G*d could do (with a little help from me), instead of placing my hope solely in the G*d who does. Instead of placing my hope in the One who does the impossible, I had allowed myself to hope in the impossibilities He could accomplish. In short, I had shifted the object of my f**th to the result rather than the Faithful One. And when those results didn't come through, my hope failed. My faith wavered.
Slowly, He began to search my heart....Was I trusting in Him? or what He could do? Was I looking for Him? or what He could provide? Gently, He stripped away my hopes and replaced it with Him.
"My life is a perfect graveyard of buried hopes." I used to dramatically quote this line from Anne of Green Gables all the time growing up. (I'm sure it drove my family insane.) Ironically, the Lord brought it to my mind once again today. That is exactly what I need. I need my life to be a graveyard of buried hopes and dreams....a cemetery of surrendered desires.
True, like Anne, I may be prone to set my heart too much on things. And things fail.
But if I am setting my heart on Chr*st alone, I will not be disappointed. He never fails.
Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in G*d.
.....My hope is built on nothing less, than J*s*s' blood and righteousness....
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