long time, no see

"Long time, No see" I remember saying to a former Chinese student whom I hadn't seen in a while, after spotting him on campus. "Waaaa!" (Chinese for "Wow") "We say same thing in Chinese!" he responded with surprise.

In China, I made friendships and developed relationships that will have a lasting impact upon me and in some cases, I am blessed to be able to maintain said friendships/relationships. As I look back, I am profoundly grateful for a rewarding (and equally challenging) year in China. I remember having "those days" where China seemed to be the bane of my existence, this amorphous thing that frustrated me on a continual basis. However, as I sit at my dining room table and think about "China", I see faces. The face of that random drunk guy on the train I talked with in broken Chinese for two hours, of the Naxi man I paid 5 kuai to take a picture with, of my five students all named "Susan", of my Chinese brothers and sisters, of my teammates, of fellow foreign teachers, the list goes on and on. Some of these faces I will see again, others I will not. This is a fact that I must learn to face both practically and spiritually.

After looking back on my post "barriers and boldness" and meditating on the cultural challenges and obstacles I encountered in China, I see where knowing the language would really begin to tear down some of those perceived challenges and obstacles. Almost ten years ago in Mexico, I blended right into the culture but I believe that part of this was due to the level of proficiency I achieved in their "heart language". I could barely speak English after arriving! (and sometimes still can't) So, now, I think about my experiences in China and my mind is drawn to being a full-time language student because of my love for language-learning and desire to communicate Truth on a deeper level. I am currently seeking and Asking where He would have me go, and some doors are closing and some seemingly staying open...

"And when He got into the boat, he who had been demon-possessed begged Him that he might be with Him. However, Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you.” And he [the man] departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis all that Jesus had done for him; and all marveled." This passage hit me like a ton of bricks when I heard it the other day. The Son did not permit the man (who was so incredibly thankful) to be with Him, but commanded him to go to his friends and tell them about what had been done for him, that they, too, might be blessed by the healing power of the Sun of Righteousness.

So now, I'm seeking where He would have me go... and my mind is drawn to China, to those faces, and more importantly, I think, to the faces I've yet to see. [If Father wills...] So be it.

*Consider joining me at 10:02pm (from Luke 10:2) everyday as I ask for our Father to thrust forth laborers into the harvest (including myself), asking that He would show me, specifically, where to go next*