Okay, so I'll be leaving in a week and a half for China. We will be leaving in the evening on Sunday, June 27th. I will be there til July 22nd, China time, but the day I'll arrive in the US back home is July 21st- so on the way back I'll gain a day! ;) Interesting, right? Anyways, I haven't journaled or blogged about this trip, because I haven't been sure what perspective to take..the perspective of a missionary or a teacher, going overseas to simply teach English. I'm not sure which it should be. We're not really going solely as either of the two, it's kind of a dual-thing. So, let me first of all explain how I even signed onto this whole thing...
God pretty much picked me out for this. At least that's how it feels. My mom goes to this really amazing church in West Houston, and it's a Presbyterian church that I went to in high school and college. The only reason I don't go there now is because they don't have a very good young adult's/single's group-but they are working on it. :) It's just, at the time that I was looking for one- there were only about six active people in it (as far as I could see). Anyways, so I had found the young adult's group I currently attend, at a Methodist church also in West Houston. The only reason I'm not saying church names, is b/c I'm not sure who all is reading this, and I don't really want to be advertising, etc. If you really want to know, you can figure out a way to ask me. :) So, I go to my mom's church occasionally, mostly in the mornings, because my church group meets in the evenings on Sunday. I went with her to the Ladies Brunch Saturday, February 6th. The reason I remember the date so distinctively in my head, is because I had broken up with a boyfriend the day before, and I was pretty upset about it, and I was crying during the speaker that was at the Ladies Brunch. I was crying because of the beautiful things she was saying about being broken, and also being formed- like pottery. She was a potter who was demonstrating on the wheel while giving her life testimony and drawing all these metaphors between life and her struggles in becoming a Christian, etc.
Anyways, by the end of the Ladies Brunch I had cried my eyes out. And I wasn't sure if it was the message or because I was feeling pity for myself because of the silly breakup (not trying to say it wasn't a big deal- but I only dated the guy for 2 months, and I shouldn't have been so upset, right??). Anyways, about two weeks previous to this Saturday morning, I had gone to church with my friend Jennifer and we were at a coffee shop called Brasil (I will advertise for wonderful coffee shops on here..don't see anything wrong with that for some reason). I was telling Jennifer or "Jmay" as we nick namingly call her, about how I had this deep desire in my heart to travel and to live overseas and teach English, particularly in an Asian country- Japan, China, South Korea, etc. I distinctly remember saying this..I also mentioned South America, I think. Anyways, it's soooo weird how this all happened..because exactly TWO weeks later- this woman named Catherine approached me at the Ladies Brunch, and it all began...
Catherine and I were both drying our tears, and then we started talking about how great the speaker was from the Ladies Brunch, and somehow got onto my career as a teacher and how I've had a hard year teaching. She went on to tell me about this wonderful organization she is the President of, called American-Chinese Fellowship. She said it meets every Friday, and that I should come by sometime and do the Bible Study, etc. with them. I told her I would check it out. I gave her my e-mail address, and you know how you nonchalantly give people your e-mail all the time, not always expecting an e-mail back from them..well, this lady was different. She actually e-mailed me!! Like, the very next day! So, I told her I would try to come by and check out ACF (that's the abbreviated version of American-Chinese Fellowship). I say "TRY" a lot, because I overcommit and overbook myself VERY often. So, I wasn't really sure if I could come or not. Anyways, this particular Friday I wasn't able to come.
I went to my mom's church the next Sunday (a week and a day after the Ladies Brunch) and I ran into Catherine in the hallway outside the Fellowship hall (sanctuary). She and I small talked like people do..but then she proceeded to tell me that the ACF group has an group of teacher women who go to China each summer to teach English and do missions, as well. She told me she had been praying and asking the Lord whether she should mention it to me or not. Well, I guess the Lord told her she should, because she decided to tell me all about it, and ask whether or not I'd be interested. She e-mailed me the application, etc. within the next week. I had it complete by Feb. 18th or so, and bought my plane ticket by Feb. 26th and also went to my first American-Chinese Fellowship meeting the same night I bought my plane ticket! I was IN! Going to China to teach English..and who knows what else!! :)
I will write more..computer about to die. And I'm tired..To be continued!
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