Going Green: Hello World!

Alllllrighty. Decided to give this thing a go. I make no promises of updating on a regular basis, but ultimately that is the goal. I want to keep you all updated on my life in East Asia over these next 6 months. I'd love to share the stories, the excitement, the struggles, the interesting people/food/culture, the needs, the blessings, the relationships, the breakdowns, and everything in between! The Father has blessed me incredibly with this opportunity and I consider it an honor to relay all that He is doing in my life and in those around me with you.

We've just spent a week in Taipei, Taiwan training and getting to know our team. We were in class for majority of the day and then got to experience different food choices at lunch and in the evenings. Very interesting food experiences. Mostly pork or vegetables covered in oil and MSG. Yum. We've been blessed not to have anyone get too sick, yet.

There are SO many people in Taipei. Like.. millions. And I feel like I see at least a million of them drive through a stoplight on scooters in the mornings. It's like the EAC off Finding Nemo… (hopefully you understand that analogy). In one of our classes they discussed statistics of C-town, just to put us in our place and hopefully increase our motivation of spreading the Love. C-town has 1.6 billion people living there. 24 thousand of them die everyday, which is 700,000 per month. As they put it, that is an entire city being formed in the City below each month. It's an overwhelming number for sure, and I can't help but feel overwhelmed and unable to make any sort of difference in that number.. but as I press on knowing my purpose and seeking out endurance, boldness, and opportunity, I know that is what the Father would desire of me. To spread His Love and encourage others to do the same. (I would encourage you, wherever you are, to stop and ask Him for that boldness as well, because I know the lost East Asians are no different than the hopeless, Fatherless people around you).

[all of the above was written about a week ago.. since then, I've arrived at my final destination and just now able to sit and work on the internet in a nearby coffee shop]

We arrived in my city.. we'll call it "Oz".. almost a week ago. When we arrived, it was fairly late, freezing, and after a long day of traveling, I was worn out and rather cranky. Our leader Jack picked us up from the airport and it was a 2 hour drive to our final destination. On the way there he kind of filled us in on some details of our living situation, the universities in our city, and other random things. I don't know if it was my weariness or the arctic, unheated bus or the guy next to me hawking lugee's into a sack (that's really common here).. but I started feeling very discouraged and discontent with the task at hand. I had already struggled finding joy in committing to this 6 month journey, but now I was struggling to find joy in any aspect of this assignment. When we finally got to our apartment, it was also freezing and bare. I went to bed in my mittens and as a not-so happy camper. I woke up in a slight haze and still freezing. The Father was quick to get my heart in check and set my mind on the things above during my morning devo. I began reading that day's devo in the book I was given for Christmas (thanks Michelle!). It read:

"Just as I called Abraham to step out in obedience to My Word, leaving all that was familiar and comfortable to go to a place that I had not yet shown him, so am I calling you to radical trust… Following Me demands that you give up control, predictability, ease, comfort, familiarity, affordability, and autonomy. I offer no up-front guarantees that you'll always approve of My plans for your life, or that you'll always feel ready for the next step I call you to take. But I do guarantee that my blessing will more than match the longings of your heart. The fulfillment of My promises will go beyond your own ambitions by an infinite degree."

I was so comforted just knowing that I was not alone in that moment. That He was there and heard my worldly, selfish pleas of wanting the comforts of home, and supplied the words I needed to hear to keep me going and to remember why I was here. I'm here for one reason. And I'm sure He'll be faithful to remind me of it often. :)

This first week we've just been getting to know the city. Where the markets are, what the bus route looks like, where the one and only McDonald's is, how to order certain foods, etc. And we actually just had our first Chinese tutor session this morning! She rarely spoke in english and it was mostly just us repeating the sounds she made… I slightly felt like Helen Keller repeating the vowels and tones, but I think I'm starting to get the hang of how to read the Pinyin.

We are going to be PWalking the campuses here, but besides that and the Chinese tutor, I think this week should be pretty calm. Almost everyone in this city has gone to their hometowns to celebrate the New Year/Spring Festival. It's kind of like a ghost town here. We leave Friday for a convention in Thailand. I'm pretty stoked for that. :)

Thanks all, for your love, lift-ups, and support. :)

"Pray for us, that God may open to us a door for the Word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison- that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak." --- Colossians 4:3-4