Boy... leaving this here for 2 months made it that much harder to attempt to catch up... so much to tell you!
What an amazing time i had with mom and nell! I had to start my 2nd week of school without them yesterday... just not as much fun without visitors! :) They were such a blessing in my class, and sucha n encouragement.It was so sad to see them go, but we made such wonderful memories and I was able to share so much of my life here with them. All of it was an adventure! More to come on that... but a few pics below for your perusal :) .
For the first part of chinese new year I was home for 10 days... Surprise! :) It was a great time and relaxing; I so needed that time of connection with family and friends!
AFter the states, I got to go to a place that is forever imprinted on my heart. I loved Israel with a passion! It was absolutely incredible - every moment, every place we got to visit. My time in the book now draws me to tears it is so real and happening like a movie before me - I can't get enough of the truth and reading about all the places that I stood, or reading about the Jordan that I touched or the Lake of Galilee that I floated in... it's just incredible. Gd so got ahold of my attention in that country - I'm forever changed. I came back with a week to decide where to teach next year... and on Monday was set that i was going to Israel next year. After more prayer and listening, He said that I'm going - but not next year. So i get to have a year to prepare support, look into options, and possibly lead a youth group trip there next Chinese New Year! That country has gotten under my skin, and I have such a desire to go there to learn, to share the news (less than 1% know the truth), and to have a new avenue of ministry. So another year for China... and then if he opens the doors... to the middle east! :) I'm so stoked! Here are some amazing pics for you - i'll post some more, but these are my favorites.
Mom and Nell's visit to see me! :)
I even got them on my scooter together! It was awesome - the icing on the cake! Danny was even running out of juice so we were singing him home! :)
My kids loved having visitors... other than the fact they couldn't get away with anything becuase they always had someone watching them!
They didn't want Nell or mom to leave... group hug time! :)
We saw water buffalo everywhere in Guanxi province! :)
Every mountain was just breathtaking... i couldn't believe the beauty existed in China!!! Can i take SMIC to YangShao? I'd move in a heartbeat! :)
We earned this picture - it was a hike up to the top of Moon Hill - but a blast and worth it! :)
TAking a river cruise down the Li river, and back up the river... that's another story... but it was beautiful! :) on our way to the greatest town of YangShao... beautiful... alsmost like Dr. Seuss land! :)
DAD swung by for dinner on m and n's last day in SH... it was a great 1 1/2 to be together! :) and we have a picture to prove it! :)
HOME!!! :)
Got to surprise the parkers - it was a blast to see those kiddos! They're growing up so fast!
Was so blessed by getting to see my sisters !:) I couldn't have chosen greater encouragements or special individuals to get to spend the rest of my life hanging out with! How good he is!!
Great times with the bros and sydney! :)
She's not pregnant anymore - but Alyssa and I had a blast catching up - seeing her baby room. Now she's a momma - crazy how fast time flies! :)
At Amy's shower - getting to see their bellys mad the whole trip home worth it! :)
ISRAEL !!!
We got to be in Jerusalem for Shebbat - the Sabbath - and got to see all these Jews pouring into the western wall area. All of these youth would be dancing in a circle - excited and singing - jumping around - and then would get all excited and then move in a group towards the western wall. It was very amazing!
Standing on THE mount of olives - Temple mount behind me, kidron valley between us and Jerusalem. From here Jesus went into Jerusalem on Monday of Passion week on a donkey, and up here was the garden of gethsemane as well. Amazing to be touching olive trees that grew up from roots of trees that would've been giving shade to the savior!
Guess what? he wasn't in the tomb! He's risen! (This is a 1st c. tomb - not necessarily where he was - but somewhere near here! We had communion here and reflection on our last afternoon in the holy land. Great place to end and I can't wait to spend Easter there in two years! :)
The most touching place of God's presence in Jerusalem, besides the tomb. All of the worshipers at the western wall were crying, putting notes into the wall, very worshipful. I was drawn to tears and couldn't believe that i was touching stones that king solomon had placed there! It was here my heart for these people, devout Jews, yet unbelieving, started to form.
HAving fun galivanting around Jerusalem shopping in the muslim quarter - we were quite the experts and getting around down. Danielle may be going to Israel next year; I'm going to stay with her when I visit! :)
WE had a great group of girls to hang out with from our school/community - here we are floating on the Sea of Galilee- sun setting - floating to the spot where jesus reinstated peter - gave us goosebumps as gd asked each of us - do you love me more than these? and commanded us to feed the lambs he placed in our care.
So i wasn't quite expecting the camel to kneel so frequently... :) Had an awesome passover seder meal here in Abraham's tent complete with a camel ride.
Capernum - the synagoge where Jesus began his ministry - the sea of G. is just right behind me, and Peter's house is in between. Heart of J. ministry - a beautiful area - and the area that really spoke to me. I could totally just imagine J. wandering these hills and cities while on earth. I was sad to leave here to go south...
This was the synagogue in Nazareth at the Nazareth Village - which is one opportunity i'm considering for next year - to be a tour guide to teach about the parables of J. through the recreated houses and agricultural area to look like it would've in j. time. Amazing ministry opportunities are here in Nazareth too - jews and arabs meeting together, youth worshiping together, a peaceful area.
And gollee.. but the time i got done writing this, i'm ready for bed just thinking at all the places i've been and the people i've seen! I guess it has been a full couple of months! :) But such a blessed two months - praise him! I wouldn't have changed one bit of it! If you read this far - you get a gold star ! i'll post some more pictures too - these are just the highlights !;) more to come...
