Teaching:
I have just finished teaching intensive. This means that for the past four and a half weeks I have been teaching six days a week. Although some days I literally felt exhausted after teaching 7 classes, I am so thankful for the opportunity to show Love to over 100 students each week! While teaching is my job, it is also a time I use to exemplify Dad and the Love and Joy He shares with each of His children. Please ask for continued grace, energy, and Love for teaching and my students over the next three weeks.
Language:
One of the most challenging parts of teaching is that I don’t know the language. Some days, I feel defeated when it comes to language simply because I want to just know Chinese like I know English. While I know this is not realistic, it is something that I continue to ask Dad about on a daily basis. I ask that I would continue to learn language quickly, motivation to continue my daily independent studies, and to remembrance of what I learn!
Now that intensive is over I will begin my daily studies again! Also, I will begin with a Tutor from Jerry’s next semester 3 days a week!
While not knowing the language has its challenges, it also pushes me to continue to study. During intensive, it was difficult to study on a regular basis, but I continued to study about an hour or two a week. I know that in order to follow what the Father is calling me to next, I will need to know language. Although 100% of the time that I say something I am most likely saying it wrong, I know that I have to start somewhere. I think the funniest moments here are when I try to speak the language and people just stare at me as if to say, “Now what language is that?” Tones, Characters, one word with five meanings…It’s a challenge! Continue to ask that Language would come quickly and that I wouldn’t be afraid to use the language.
Now that intensive is over I will begin my daily studies again! Also, I will begin with a Tutor from Jerry’s next semester 3 days a week!
While not knowing the language has its challenges, it also pushes me to continue to study. During intensive, it was difficult to study on a regular basis, but I continued to study about an hour or two a week. I know that in order to follow what the Father is calling me to next, I will need to know language. Although 100% of the time that I say something I am most likely saying it wrong, I know that I have to start somewhere. I think the funniest moments here are when I try to speak the language and people just stare at me as if to say, “Now what language is that?” Tones, Characters, one word with five meanings…It’s a challenge! Continue to ask that Language would come quickly and that I wouldn’t be afraid to use the language.
Christmas Day:
While not having all of the many things we now call traditions, it made me more aware of the true meaning of the Season! Christmas here is much different than the states. As in, it’s not really celebrated here. Although most of the locals don’t celebrate Christmas, I sure did! Christmas morning I made cinnamon rolls, egg casserole, freshly cured bacon (although I didn’t actually cure or cook it…I let the boys do that), and hash browns (didn’t make these either, but they sure tasted good!). Later Christmas Day, I had the group over for Christmas Dinner along with a good old fashion White Elephant gift exchange!
It was hard being away from family for the first time, but I am so thankful for the friends who were willing to hang out with me and share my love for the Christmas holiday!
It was hard being away from family for the first time, but I am so thankful for the friends who were willing to hang out with me and share my love for the Christmas holiday!
New Years Eve:
On New Year’s Eve I had a group of friends over to play games, enjoy yummy foods, celebrate the New Year, make pancakes at 3am and watch a movie until we finally fell asleep about 4:30am. I am convinced that this year was possibly the best New Years I have had yet! Since it was too early in China to see any ball drop, we dropped and orange at Midnight and created the ‘Chinese Orange Drop’.
Spring Festival/ Chinese New Year:
Never in my whole entire life have I ever seen so many fireworks! Clearly not as many laws in this city about creating your own show. The whole city was light up with fireworks, and we were able to watch them in the city on the 15th floor of the building! It really puts the fourth to shame…J Either way, I enjoyed some homemade Jiozi (you can look it up), watched the Chinese New Years show on TV, played games, and enjoyed some good laughs with friends! While our city hardly celebrates in comparison to others, it was amazing to see what a big holiday this really is! What I have been learning:1. Choosing to Live in Him: · Choosing to live in the HS consists of choosing to live in Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control. · Evaluating where Dad wants me to working specifically right now to be able to live a life in the S. · Being filled with the S makes us like Him. 2. Living for Him not for Fruit: · I want to live in such a way that seeing fruit is not my only aim/goal. I choose to walk in the S because He is worth it all and because I love Him. · If we stay connected to the right things, we will naturally see fruit. 3. Love Dad on His terms: · Something I’ve been chewing on: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: Am I loving in the way this verse states? This is the way Dad loves me, am I loving Him this way? If not, do I truly love? How do I define love? Societies definition of Love vs. The Word’s definition of Love. 4. Joy: · A Little from my Journal: “I felt the Father saying that He has given me His Joy not only to show and experience with others but also that I may enjoy it with Him. So often my time with the Father is SO stinking serious. He enjoys my company, have fun! Instead of focusing on the bad all the time, share and laugh with Him about tripping up the stairs. Yes the serious things are important, but is that the only important part of a relationship?” Requests:· That I continue to grow into a deeper. · Ask for continued grace as I prepare for what is next. · For continued financial provision. I ask that you consider walking along side me with monthly giving or with a one-time gift. Click on the Partner with Me tab for more information. Continue to think about the Lily Project and that His will is done. |