The big picture post...

I realized today that I often tell you little snippets of my time here in China, but I don’t always give you the big picture. I focus on moments here and there. Yet, I neglect to give you a holistic glimpse of my life here.

So consider this the “big picture” post….

I teach (on average) 5 days a week. I have 5 classes with approximately 107 kiddos. Overall, I love teaching. Everyday has both its joys and challenges. The kiddos are super cute and funny. Although I tell them often that I don't speak Chinese, they still don't understand that I really don't speak Chinese (although I am learning!). They always come up to me and babble at me in Chinese....it is truly a wonder how we communicate some days, haha. But I just love how full of life they are! And I am discovering that love can cover a multitude of sins…both mine and theirs.

Most days, I work from about 7:30-5ish. I love the people I work with. Besides one other person, I am the only American in this school building. Thus, almost all of the people who work around me are Chinese. That being said, quite a few of them have a least some basic level of English. We do our best to communicate in “Chinglish,” and I am so thankful for the grace they give me daily. And due to the relative flexibility in my work schedule, I have some time throughout the day to stop and talk with people around the school.

As of last week, I teach English (formally) three times a week. I teach our school nurse over my lunch break one time a week. She is the mother of one of my students and very eager to learn English. And she is so sweet! She has skype (which is a little unusual for Chinese nationals) and she sends me the sweetest messages in her very limited English. Love it.

On Wednesday, I teach a group of about 12 of my co-workers English. We had our first class last week, and it was a blast. I’m excited to get to know these collegues of mine a little bit more as the semester progresses.

And of course, I have begun teaching the English corner to the attendants of the Monday night gathering. I just love this time. And I love that the curriculum that I am using is a B*ble-based curriculum. Nothing like teaching both English and the W*rd at the same time! :)

Speaking of language learning, I began taking Chinese lessons (formally) this past week. I have two other girls in my class, who may or may not be sisters of mine….but my Chinese teacher is! Asking for open doors with these fellow classmates.

And I continue to learn Chinese both formally and informally from Taozi at least once a week. In addition to our Friday class, we will often stop by each other’s room throughout the day…and our conversation will lead into an English/Chinese lesson of some sort. Love it. (Ta shi hen hao laoshi…she is a very good teacher!). Working with so many Chinese teachers has been a great blessing for allowing me to learn Chinese. Everyone is willing to be my language teacher, and I am so thankful for that.

As far of my home life goes, I live in an apartment with three other girls. My roommates are wonderful. They are all my sisters* and very solid. It has been a blessing to get to know them more and hear their stories. And they have been so helpful and gracious in helping me adjust to life here. :) One of my roommates is a Chinese national…and she has been especially helpful! In fact, I should probably pay her for the amount of translation she provides. :)

In my “free time,” I have been trying to get to know both the area and the people that He has placed me in and around. Often, I go out to eat with someone at least once a week. On Monday, I went out with a couple of the girls from the Monday night st*dy. They are both my *sisters, and dinner provided a great opportunity to spend time with them and get to know them more. Looking forward to more outings like this in the future. :) Also, it has been a blessing to be able to join in a local gathering for internationals on Sunday morning. 

Anyway, hopefully, that provided you with a fuller picture of my life here. I realized the other day that I have been here just over a month. Its hard to believe. Time has flown! And yet, I feel like things are finally starting to settle into a routine of sorts.

This afternoon, before I left school, I had a few free moments to sit in my “teacher chair” and lift up my students and coworkers to Him. As I pr*yed and reflected on the past month, He allowed me to take a moment to step back and remember His gracious work through all that He has done this past month. And it just overwhelmed me. I couldn’t help but thank Him for all that He has accomplished. His hand has been so evident in the last month.

And yet, I am so prone to forget this.

In the midst of all the changes and transition of this past month, I am inclined to focus on the little details and struggles of each day and neglect to step back and see the thread of God’s grace tying everything together.

This afternoon, I had a moment to reflect and see the “bigger picture,” and as I did so, the fingerprints of His faithfulness just overwhelmed me.

Asking that today He would give you a glimpse of the “bigger picture” of what He is doing (and has done) in your life….and that this “bigger picture” would just fill you with overwhelming praise. :)