My heart in writing this blog is simply to chronicle what God's doing and maybe give a little insight into what it's like to move overseas, and hopefully encourage more people in the corner they live in or to make the leap to do the same as I, if the Lord is leading in that direction...

So I made it to the airport, got on my (first class, thanks Jesus) flight, and arrived at what I like to call "limbo." God has been generous in letting me transition slowly to life in another place. It is a blessing to be in Colorado, and meet people (mostly college students) from all over the country who love Asia until I board the plane to HK on Tuesday at MIDNIGHT!! We have been spending the week learning how to function as healthy teams, teach English to young Asian students, and live as people who love others well and walk with humility, maturity, and wisdom. This summer's camp will be incredible because of the tools we have been given, the hearts behind it, and the Source from which it all comes.

For me, it is a different experience than the last two summers I have participated. I get the joy of being the site coordinator for 6 Hong Kong ("Xiang Geng" in Mandarin!) Teams. It feels different to not have my own team, but the fun is I have one HUGE team! (about 50 folks!) While they have been learning all the above mentioned things, I have been making plans and corresponding with many people from HK to enrich our language and culture training when we arrive. This is something else I am passionate about: you can't really love people well until you really seek to understand their culture and where they are coming from. Eastern culture is fascinating to me- it's a communal culture which means it highly values relationship above all things-- a challenge for us task-oriented and time-oriented Americans, but I love every minute of it because I know it's causing me to know the Lord as I am stretched in unique ways.

What God is doing...

A couple of months ago I was anticipating what it might be like to leave home, family, and friends for the first time. I didn't know how I would respond but I asked the Lord to get the most mileage possible out of it. I told Him I wanted Him to take me deeper in our relationship. Moving away from the country I've known all my life is the hardest thing I have ever done in my life, but He has been gracious to get many many miles out of this move. Not to mention that this time in my life has also been one of the MOST exciting!

I have had the privilege of rooming with a woman who has served in Japan for the past 30 years, and you can imagine that I have picked the poor woman's brain so very much. The reality of this move hits in waves, and when she asked me how I was doing this morning another wave of emotion hit- I miss my family. I have never been one to "miss" people but I can be sentimental. I cannot tell you how strange it was to step away, not sure when I would hug them next. In talking to her, I think she put a word on it: separation. As we talked we connected the dots- she said she came to know God. She had a hint of how Jesus might have felt when God had to turn His head as Jesus hung on the cross. Jesus felt the separation, I feel it too, but the cross is good news for me today for these reasons:

1. He knows how I feel being separated from those I love to an incredibly high degree (so I find intimacy and fellowship & intimacy with Him in that).
2. He achieved victory over these "griefs and sorrows" in the resurrection.
3. This is an experience of hope I have to share with the world, were my faith is my VICTORY! (1 John 5:21)

There's a depth of fellowship found in that point of suffering. I realized for about the tenth time this week that He is swiftly answering my prayer to know Him deeply by stripping me of the comforts I rest in. I want JESUS to be my Savior and the one I rest in. I KNOW that is His best for me and He is giving me the privilege to walk it out. I have found that in the suffering (Click the link to read an incredible article that resonates with me personally.) and sacrifice that the Word says we will do, He extends grace all the more and He moves His kingdom through it. This is how LOVE is demonstrated! We magnify Christ when we endure such things unto Him. May you endure today and shine brightly with His life and light!