T Minus 2 Weeks...

It'll be 'go time' in 2 weeks and i'm not exactly sure how i feel about it.  As the day looms closer and closer, my desire to stay grows stronger and stronger.  I am excited to return my family and friends, to a 'normal' society, a comfortable life, a culture that i at least was used to, but i feel like i'm at a place now where i just want to tarry, to just forget the deadline and relish in what He has blessed me with here.  Sure it'll be nice to have meat as a main course, take regular trips to the gym, eat home cooked meals, shop in familiar and spacious supermarkets, and take personal transportation that doesn't involve standing for an hour or being packed into a train to the point of being unable to raise your arms.  It'll be convenient to understand what people are saying to you, to read signs again, to not be stared at everywhere you go, to be expected to perform and judge at every event you attend and to be mistaken as an english dictionary willing to share your vast knowledge of the language and culture at every inopportune time.  I'm looking forward to being comfortable again, but i gave up my comfort when i decided to follow Him and drink from the cup He put before me.  What He has shown me here, who He has brought me into relationship with, and the places where He has taken me are unforgettable.  It moves me thinking i may never see my students again, my coworkers, even my teammates.  I came to china one person and am leaving another.  Though it was hard, terrifying, and despairing, the fruit of it far overshadows the pain it caused.  I know that soon it will be time to leave and my time here done, at least for now, but i wish i had just a little longer to say goodbye.  I know that when i look back i will see changed lives, but i will also see a work in progress that must be continued by those who will take my place.  And when i look back i am faced with that horrible question, "could i have given more?" to which i must give the answer i know all too well.  There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, but can i say i ran this leg of the race hard?  Will i hear "well done my good and faithful servant"?  I'll say goodbye to dear friends, brothers and sisters, but i know i leave them in His hands.  For now, i'll savor the times i've spent with them.

I've been spending more time with my buddy going to the gym and going out to eat.  Just last week he sent me a list of things he wanted to do together and told me i had to add at least one thing to it.  I'm gonna miss the guy a lot.  I'm going to miss everybody a lot.  Last weekend i went to a chinese theme park/normal park with some of my students.  I think chinese roller coasters are scarier just because you're not sure what kind of safety checks are performed on them.  It would also be more reassuring if i could fit into them.  We threw the frisbee around to which they took a liking to once they figured out how to throw it.  I've been trying to spend as much time with my students as possible, and with one more week of finals left, i'm seeing how little time i really have.  This week i will finish listening to 180+ students speak in English for about 4 1/2 minutes each.  There are quite a few other things i can think of that would be more lively than that.  It's kinda cute though.  Some of these kids get so worked up and nervous about speaking in front of me that they just don't think straight. Last semester i had a guy start crying.  That was rather on the sad side, but he did earn 1 or 2 pity points.  At the end of class this week and all of next week i'm going to record video of my students saying goodbye so i can show everybody back home how awesome my students are, and how best i am at treaching engrish.  Like last semester, i'll bring in my guitar and play a few songs so all of my students can take their phones out and get video of me.  It really doesn't matter how bad you are, if you are a foreigner and at least try to perform you're gonna feel like a rockstar.  I've been thinking how this has affected my ego since i've been here.  It's going to be hard getting used to not being the center of the universe.  China does wonders for your self-esteem.

There has been a lot that's happened in the past month.  A few of us performed at an english competition that another student was hosting.  We all sang "Your love is strong" by jon foreman and i attempted to play the guitar.  It was pretty fun, even though we were all judges.  About two weeks ago, most of our team went to a play that was put on by our organization's 'chinese language program' in the center of the city.  The children of these families performed 'oliver twist' which was pretty cute to watch.  A month ago i attended my first chinese wedding and watched my beautiful office mate say "i do," or something of similar relevance.  It was quite an experience and one in which i won't easily forget.  This weekend i have another wedding i'm going to in which an american friend is wedding a chinese national.  It should be an awesome shindig in which i hope to boogie down and let the good times roll.  We'll see if china is ready for what i'm about to drop down.

Most importantly, i want to update you on the condition of my cancer-diagnosed teammate.  After returning home, visiting the doctor and running tests, and visiting the doctor again and running more tests, there is apparently no sign of cancer in his body and is cleared as 'cancer-free'!  Praise God!  Even after the biopsy done on the lump on his neck, another bone marrow test, and more blood work, the results show that dave was healed by the Living God.  That was a huge pryr answered and we're so excited to see His kingdom come in love and power like that.  Thank you to all of you who took time to lifting him up.  Now he has more time with his home fellowship like he wanted and can post on his resumè that he had cancer for a month.

He is good and delights in showing His lovingkindness.  I am so thankful for His work in my life and in so many others.  Though i don't understand it all, i trust in His goodness and faithfulness.  I'm still unsure of where i am going to be in a few months but i know He's got in His hands.  As 'go time' looms closer i ask myself more and more why i'm leaving, but when i step back i feel that this is what He wants me to do.  It's been difficult to hear His voice and feel His touch, but He's been bringing me back to the simplicity of following Him.  To love him with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  All else comes second.  It's simple to state, a fierce battle to live out.  But in all of it He is showing me again who He is and reassuring me of His character and His love.  Man, He's all that's worth living for and i don't want to keep getting distracted with the unsatisfying pleasures of this world!  I want more, and you better believe that He can deliver!

I'll try to write one last post before i leave.  Thank you for taking an interest in my life and His work over here in changchun, jilin, people's republic of china.  I look forward to seeing and catching up with most (if not all) of you guys when i get back.  Love and affection from chiners!

-jo

chongqing lu - a major shopping strip in the city center

childcare at the local fellowship

my hero