Day 1 in China!!

Hey everyone!
Blogger doesn't seem to be working for me right now so I'll try my hand at doing this remotely (if the pictures or words are messed up, then you'll know why!). This first day and a half in Ch1na has been *amazing* to say the least! I've done so much in the past many hours!

Here's the photo-by-photo playback of these past few hours:
Pictures #1 and #2: Waiting for my flight!
Picture #3: The view outside my window this morning...accompanied by lots of happy morning sounds like motorbikes rumbling down the road, a man singing in the orphanage compound, and birds chirping.
Picture #4: Shepherd's Field!
Picture #5: Joseph riding his bike this morning
Picture #6: Kathy (a SFCV visitor) and Irene (another intern) and I spent most of the morning wiping down playgrounds and a big bouncy house in preparation for tomorrow's Children's Day celebrations.
Picture #7: Getting ready for the big waterfight that accompanies aforementioned celebration :)
Pictures #8 and 9: My room at Shepherd's Field!
Picture #10: Charissa and Noel
Picture #11: Today's w0rship time with the kids. This is another intern, Philemon, doing the object lesson after a bunch of us led them in "Father Abraham," "J*s*s Loves Me," and "This is the Day."
Picture #12: Cute Connor!
Picture #13: Lucas (with Cody in background)
Picture #14: Jerak
Picture #15: Piggy back time!
Picture #16: Just to prove that I really did eat a chicken's foot! :)
Picture #17: Meeting my sponsor boy, Perry!!
Picture #18: More Perry...with many more pics to come for his waiting mama! <3

Goodnight all!

Leaving tomorrow!!!

Less than 24 hours now until I'm on my way...the surreal-ness is finally starting to wear off in the face of the reality around me...packing and weighing my suitcases (and re-weighing and re-packing and weighing again...stupid baggage weight limits! They kill me every time!), printing my boarding pass, laying out my travel clothes, and downloading last-minute additions to my mp3 player for the looooooong flight. I'm *really*actually*truly*finally* going!!!

Next time you hear from me it will be from my beautiful "heart land" of Ch1na. I can't wait to upload my first batch of photos for you (provided the internet is working!). Thank you again so much for all of your prayers as I leave....I am feeling them! You are such precious people and I am so blessed to have you following along on this journey.

Zài jiàn for now!!

Pr*yers and Praises

"And my G0d will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Chr1st J*sus."

-Philippians 4:19

With joy and thankfulness do I testify to the truth of this verse. G0d does see and know our needs and He does provide for them all through His abundance. This past month of support-raising for my China trip has been an unparalleled opportunity for me to witness G0d's generosity in action. I hoped to raise enough to cover my expenses directly with the orphanage (room and board, etc.) this summer, but realistically didn't believe it would happen (oh me of little faith!). I watched in awe as that goal ($1500) was met and then surpassed, allowing my personal expenses (airfare, insurance, and visa) to be fully covered as well, down to the last dollar.  Even in little things, He has provided as well. Extra shifts at work and last-minute babysitting jobs have popped up out of nowhere to help make up for the work I will miss in the next two months. In addition, He raised up numerous pr*yer supporters to meet my sp1r1tual needs now and while I'm gone. So it's with utter humility, awe, and gratitude that I look at all this, stand back from it knowing that none of these blessing have come from *my* hands or efforts, and say "G0d is good!" 

If you reading this are one of those who have supported me either through prayer or financial giving, please feel my deep appreciation for the sacrifice you have made on my behalf. You have been very visible instruments of G0d's blessing and love to me this past month and I thank you so much. May G0d richly bless you for your generosity!

Pr*yer requests for the next 22 days (!!!):
-efficiency and fruitfulness in all my packing and prep work for my English class (I'll be teaching the first two weeks solo before another intern arrives). Pr*y that everything will just come together smoothly so I'll be ready to go!
-peace and a quiet heart before G0d with all the last-minute details, stresses, and worries that come up before a big trip like this. In my past experiences of traveling, the few weeks before actually getting on the plane are when I'm most prone to be fearful or anxious about all the "what-ifs" (once I actually get to the airport adrenaline kicks in and I run on sheer excitement and anticipation for a very long time!). Pr*y that I would just be trusting God fully to provide for my preparation and traveling needs.
-a heart that is ready to be broken and spilled out in service for my King through loving on these precious orphans. Pr*y that G0d would be preparing me to face all of the things He has in store for me this summer, especially those things I can't anticipate or imagine, and to respond to all of it--happy or hard--in ways that bring honor and glory to His name.

Thank you all again for your love and support!

*note: you will notice that any rel1g1ous names or terms will be misspelled, abbreviated, altered, etc. This is intentionally done to protect my brothers and sisters and their work in Ch1na. Thanks for understanding!*