Wuhan = the South

    Just got back from eating some lunch (which was really spicy and I wasn't quite prepared for but very good) and some shopping at the IGA which is so very close to us and I love the fact that pretty much you can walk to the store, Walmart, or Aloha Diner (so tempting when I pass). I am glad that they have Gatorade here on days like today. I swear I moved back to the South and not the China today felt like a typical hot and muggy Florida day in August. The only difference is that not every place here uses A/C so you sweat a lot (yay for deodorant the gift that keeps on giving).

    We saw the pirate ship (yes like the Black Pearl) on French street behind Aloha. I will put up pictures as soon as Amber can upload them to my computer. I wonder if I hang around the ship if I will meet Jack Sparrow that would be so epic and very random but TIC (this is china) and the most random things happen pretty daily around here. Like crossing the street which is a daily adventure all by itself..let's not even start on bus and taxi rides.

     I finally and officially bought my own set of chopsticks and they have happy bunnies on them I love them they are so me...I am excited that we maybe moving in tomorrow so I can buy more chopstick as well as dishes and stuff for my new home. Sometimes I still can't believe that I moved to China I never do super impulsive stuff like that I always carefully plan and set everything in a timeline. This has been by far the craziest thing I have ever done! I am still pretty blown away by the fact that I live in Asia and that my new apartment is in a building that looks like a castle!! I get to be a princess in a castle now if I could just find my prince who gives me a library ;)

     I"m not sure what we are doing tonight but I have to say that life here is a new adventure everyday even when you just want a random normal day you will never find that in China. Like Alice always said "I give myself very good advice that I very seldom follow" Well I finally followed some of my own advice and grabbed my ship and went for a ride across a very large ocean.

蕃茄鸡蛋和米

       So I just got back with Amber from a restaurant not far from the hotel we are still living in. They speak no English at all so it was a bit of a challenge but we ended up with some really tasty food. My favorite so far is the tomato, egg and rice. Their green beans are cooked in oil and garlic and are very tasty as well.

This is the eggplant and green beans its Amber's favorite!

         I ate dinner last night over at Aloha and tried a new burger called the Aloha Burger it was amazing, Red Robin fails in comparison to their burgers. It is the patty then ham, grilled pineapple, teriyaki sauce, and then cheese, lettuce, and tomato. With fries this meal is pretty solid in filling you up and making your tummy really happy. I am going to Aloha for my birthday it's that amazing!

       So I am learning my way around Wuhan slowly I know that to get to Trevor and Inga's and Fellowship you take the 585 or the 208 bus and get off at the second stop after the turn at the light. So things are getting better....I'm still not used to the lack of planning that is driving me a bit buggy most of the time. I still don't know when we are moving in or even if we officially start teaching in Saturday or the middle of next week...TIC (this is China).

        Thanks for all the 'thoughts' they have been felt. Please continue to 'think' about the food and that my tummy grow accustom to it quickly, that we get to move it soon (running out of clothes), and that I will learn the basics of language soon. I have a very strong community here that is helping me adjust and they are all so kind with helping you with anything and everything. I am excited about going eventually to the crazy market with Inga to get material to take to the tailor  to get my winter coat made and some Chinese tops and maybe a dress I have been toying with the idea of a Chinese dress.

      So for now I will say 再见 (goodbye) and write to you my faithful readers when I get a chance!

ps the title is tomato,egg, and rice in Chinese characters that is my favorite dish so far.

The Friend is Always my Home

      So I am not moved in to an apartment yet, they are still working on them so Amber and I are in a hotel until further notice. I have walked all over China (which I wasn't really prepared for). It's very hot here and you sweat so much you wonder why you took a shower, but it has been a stretching exercise to put it mildly. My flights here all had turbulence and were not so great. When we arrived at LAX you have to walk outside around the airport to go from domestic to international all while carrying very heavy luggage. That flight was an hour shorter (14 hrs.) which was good because my lack of padding on my southern end was starting to be a problem. I slept on and off but with the turbulence it would wake you up.

      So when we got to China it was hot like over 100 degrees hot and here they don't really use AC so your sweat a lot!! I had some food in the beginning of training that I really didn't like but now the food is getting better. Please keep 'thinking' about my digestive system changing for new food. I did get an upset tummy today after lunch and got to use my first hole in the ground. This was my biggest fear and it wasn't that bad. The Friend  really helped me and showed that there is nothing in this life to fear, He is always with me and as long as He is there I am always home because He is my home. There have been times this past week when I have questioned why I am in China and moments I was ready to just lose it-- but His peace has so surrounded me that I ask "who am I that You are mindful of me?" In every hard moment whether it be physical or even spiritual (this is a very dark oppressed place you physically feel it) He has taken such good care of me more so then human parents do for their own children. I am in awe of Him and how He has changed me so much even in this past week.

     I know that once our apartments are ready we get to hike up 4 flights of steep stairs with extremely heavy luggage that He will give me the strength to do it. His love for me amazes me. I am becoming very grateful for so many things we take for granted in the States. You have to boil the water here before you drink it, you can't flush the tp down the toilet because their plumbing is rotten here, we have no ice cream yet (Taylor is working on starting a business with Aloha to serve ice cream, I love you Taylor) and I really miss milk. We have milk here but it taste a lot like sour milk and they serve it hot. Everything here is served hot, only Americans like cold food and drinks. I am shedding my Western mindset and realizing that the Father is the Father of all people and nations no matter the culture or language barriers we are all His creation and He is madly in love with all of us.

     I am learning to be salt in light in a dark world, maybe not change the world in 10 months, but that's not my job. I can't change anyone only the Father can my job is just to be an nightlight and let the Light shine through, so the people here see that the darkness is not the only way to live there is another way. The darkness has been here for so many years, we passed a fortune teller on the street and my heart broke there are practices here that have been in practice for centuries. I ask for your 'thoughts' the people of China need the light but most do not realize it. Sometime I feel like I am not really making a difference here, but it's not really about me making a difference but the One in me. There are moments that I really want to go home but I know for now this is where the Father wants me and that the Friend will always have my back He will never abandon me.

Jet Lag

         Well to all my readers I have made it to China. I am in my last day of heavy training. I haven't really had time to blog sorry about the delay. My flights over were not awesome a lot of bumps along the way. I am getting used to different food, culture, language (which I'm awful at), everything. There are times when I have wondered "why did I come to China" and other times I am excited for the future. I have greatly appreciated your "thoughts" they are really helping me so much! This is a very dark place and there is a lot of warfare going on I can feel it.

       I would ask for your "thoughts" in my health my back muscles don't always want to relax and I end up feeling it in my ribcage and my head. Also that I would learn the language its a level 5 language so its not easy, but it is possible! Hopefully after I am settled in my apartment I can give a more detailed blog about my trip and week of training. It's been a journey, but I know the Friend is with me and taking very good care of me. I just hold on the the line in Jer. 29:11 that he will not abandon us, so glad he came with my on this trip!!

     By the way jet lag is the worst thing ever, not really a fan of waking up at all hours of the night and then being exhausted all day. In cases as this a good milk tea (big drink in China) is always helpful). Until I have internet again I say good bye and thank you for your 'thoughts'.

I know the Drill

       There is a song by Owl City called Dental Care yeah its a great song and it applied to me today. Nothing says welcome Monday morning like having a filling replaced. But I am grateful that I am blessed with the means to keep my teeth healthy. I cannot believe that I only have 6 days left in the States till I leave it's a bittersweet emotion. On one side I am very excited about my new adventure and on the other I am sad that I have to say goodbye to some close friends and not see them for 10 months...not to mention football season just started and I won't be here.

        I watched the Jets first preseason game and thought Tebow did great, was he perfect no, but he still had a terrific game and good learning experience. Of course all the media got out of it was that he threw and interception...lame. In college ball its fan day at the Swamp the day I leave for China my heart will be with you Gator Nation even if I have a hard time watching you with my odd schedule. I feel so torn I want to watch my football but some of the games are at 1pm here in the states which means they are 1am in China and I have to teach that morning sooo who's gonna win football or sleep...it's a draw we will see.

       When I am done with this post I am taking a lovely nap. Its rainy and dark outside and having my alarm go off at 6:30am to go get a filling done was not my idea of a good morning, snuggling under the covers a little deeper was a great idea but my alarm clock kept thwarting that idea. I am not a morning person in any respect, I become one when I have too but given the choice I rather sleep during the day and be up at night "Carpe Noctem- seize the night". Again my blog is a random stream of thoughts barreling out in no real order. To those who actually read my blog get used to this you read more blogs like this. My thoughts come out often times faster then I can type so keeping my blog flowing and having it make sense at the same time can be hard.

        Anyway thanks for your "thoughts" I appreciate them and am heavily leaning on the One that loves me truly because without Him there is no way I could do what I am about to do. I am learning to give my life away extravagantly for that is the only way I will ever find it. So besides teaching my wonderful students I am going to give my life away letting go to the things that hold me to this world because really I'm just passing through this isn't my final destination.