December 15, 2007

Ni hao from mei guo!

We arrived back in the States late last Thursday night. On Friday we had to rush down to Bolivar so that Jeanna could make it to her graduation! It was a really hectic time. Our last two weeks in China were hectic as well! It seems like a whirlwind of events that I haven't really processed yet. We were busy with basically a two-week goodbye, spending time with both friends and students. It was difficult because I felt like I was so rushed in getting last-minute things finished that I didn't really get to say the things I wanted to say to people. However, Dad did give me several opportunities that I had yarped for.

On Tuesday I had my last tutoring time with one of my students. He was the one with whom Dad had given me opportunities to have several good discussions about him. He and his mother gave me a hanbok (Korean traditional clothes) as a gift for teaching him, and in return I really wanted to give him a copy of Dad's word. I yarped about it a lot and asked others some questions to find out the best way to present it, and even that morning I felt really sick and anxious but I just kept yarping. And Dad really answered me in two situations. I was having lunch with one of my old English house roommates before my tutoring session, and I thought I might be able to talk to her about him, but it didn't end up that way. Then my tutoring session went great--I presented a copy of Dad's word that was bilingual and he seemed to really appreciate it, and for me, it was a really cool experience! Then I was able to see my old roommate a couple more times before we left and actually ended up giving her a copy of Dads word in Chinese! I wasn't even expecting to be able to do that because she seemed really closed to things in the summer. But I think Dad has been working in her a lot and she seemed like she wanted the copy! So I really had two answers to yarpers there, and I will continue to yarp for them to learn about Dad.

It was interesting to see all the different people that wanted to say goodbye to us. We were really blessed by an m family and a single m that took the time out to talk to us about our stay and about their lives and share themselves. Even the night we left we were surprised and blessed to see how many people came to see us before we left for the airport, and even

the people that came to the airport! These people are so special to me! I'm so glad that Dad sent me to meet them and share my life with them. I really feel like I am refusing to believe that I'll never see them again. I know it will take awhile to process my emotions and thoughts about my time in China, but I hope I will remember these for a long time.

Since we came back it has been interesting to see how things change and yet stay the same in a lot of ways. I think I will learn a lot just by coming home from a different place! One kind of weird but funny thing I've noticed is that I am no longer used to flushing toilet paper. In China you have to put it in the trash can because the plumbing is not good. So now I am always looking for a trash can in the bathroom, and it seems really unnatural to flush toilet paper! I have also noticed that my bad English has rubbed off onto other people here, too, haha. Hopefully that will be rectified soon! (Is that the right word? I am not sure... haha)

I'm so glad I got the opportunity to go build relationships with people and learn so much. I'm sure that I learned a lot more than I taught! It is so amazing to see diversity in the world. All these people that Dad created are the same in basic ways, but there are so many interesting differences. My time in China made me excited to experience more cultures and see more of the diversity that Dad created. It also showed me how wonderful relationships are and the importance of relying on Dad to do his work! I am anticipating where He will send me in the future and the people I will come to love. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support! They have been invaluable to me; I can't express my appreciation for you all. I yarp that Dad would bless you all!

Shangdi ai ni! ("Dad" loves you!)

Joanna