Official Newsletter for December 2016!!

-->

"In the meadow we can build a snowman,Then pretend that he is Parson Brown.  He'll say: Are you married? We'll say: No man, But you can do the job, When you're in town. Later on, we'll conspire, As we dream by the fire To face unafraid, The plans that we've made, Walking in a winter wonderland."

Merry Christmas!

I hope that this year finds you surrounded by family and friends. But even if it doesn’t I hope that you have the hope that truly matters. A hope rooted on the life, death, and resurrection of the man whose human life we celebrate on Christmas day!!  

I am spending this Christmas with my family. It will be the first Christmas since 2011 that I have spent with them. I am so excited to be with them. I am excited to fill stockings for my two nieces and two nephews and to sing carols together. It is so exciting to contemplate being with those I love the most. 

This past year has been a very busy one. One that had so many surprises and changes. Last Christmas I was still going to the clinic that I thought may work out for me to be employed by. Last Christmas I was not dating anyone. Last Christmas I taught Biology at the homeschool co-op but I was not housing students. Last Christmas all five of my close women friends were still living in Kunming. Last Christmas I was on a team that was working on Permeate. Last Christmas if you had told me that I would be a year away from almost married I would have laughed in your face. 

This Christmas I plan to continue working with Eden and the Home School Co-op but don’t anticipate any medical work for the time being.  This Christmas I am engaged. This Christmas I am a teacher and a dorm mom. This Christmas all my closet women friends except one have moved out of Kunming. This Christmas I find myself on so many teams but there is no team for Permeate. This Christmas if you told that I would be a mother in a year I may actually believe you. 

There are lots of changes ahead-please continue to lift Luke and I up. I feel a little overwhelmed by all the possible changes. However, Celebrating the King of kings puts everything into perspective.  What changes are upcoming in your life? Please pray for me and Luke to continue to grow in favor with God and man, that we would seek Him first in all our ways, that we would trust and obey, and that we would walk humbly. Please contemplate what or who you are trusting in for your future. I pray that you also will trust in the King of kings to guide and direct your path. 

You will not get a newsletter from us until We have returned back to China sometime after Feb. 

Love and Merry Christmas!

Denise and Luke too!!

Official Newsletter 2016 November!!

Happy Thanksgiving! I have much to give thanks for this year. 

I am thankful for the company that I have been working with here in KM for the last 7 years. I have been supported by everyone in Colorado as well as anyone on any OC based team. 

As Luke and I continue to make plans for a wedding in January, We had to make some choices about which company to join. Last month’s newsletter, I told you a little bit about Luke’s team. 

Now I would like to tell you about Luke’s company, because we have made the hard choice for me to leave my company and join his. Which, if you desire to continue supporting the work that Father is having me do, will affect you.

Luke's Company is based out of Charlotte, North Carolina and has a long history of working cross culturally.  

Sudan Interior Missi0n (S1M)began in 1893. Canadians Walter Gowans, Roland Bingham, and American Thomas Kent had a vision to reach the 60 million unreached people of sub-Saharan Africa. Unable to interest established missi0ns—most of which said reaching the Sudan was impossible—the three set out alone.

Malaria overtook all three. Gowans and Kent, respectively died in 1894, and Bingham returned to Canada. Unable to return to Africa, Bingham sent out a third team. They successfully established a base 225 miles (364 km) inland at Patigi in 1902. From there, the work of S1M began in Africa.

Today, it is an organization that has joined many different agencies together. In the 1980s, Andes Evangelical Missi0n (AEM), Ceylon and India General Mission (CIGM) and Poona and Indian Village Missi0n (P1VM) merged to become International Christian Fellowship (1CF), and Sudan Interior Missi0n (S1M) joined forces to become Society for International Ministries: S1M. Africa Evangelical Fellowship (AEF) joined with S1M in 1998. In 2000, S1M adopted the trade name (or slogan) "Serving 1n Missi0n," for English-speaking countries, but our their name around the world today is simply S1M.

Although there are a lot of sad things about leaving My Company, OC1, one of the great things about joining S1M is they have experienced workers who have worked and served in EBOLA rich areas. For some of you, you are unaware that I have had a preoccupation with Ebola since early high school. These are people who love J*sus, love medicine, and want to help people live long enough to know J*sus themselves. I CANNOT WAIT to get to know these people and to listen to their stories as well as perhaps get to help out at some point in the future. 

However, never fear, I will not be traipsing off to the African continent anytime soon. Instead, I will be working in all the areas that I currently work in today, while providing member care to the members of Luke’s team.  If you want to do some research into SIM on your own please see their website. You can type in wwwdotsimdotcom.

I am currently going through the application and interview process with S1M and the plan for Luke and I is that we will need to be back in Charlotte to go through the acceptance and training processes. Then we will want to introduce one another to our support networks. You are a part of my support network.  We are hoping that we will be able to see as many of you as possible the summer of 2017.

If you have questions regarding our decision or how this will impact you please email me at denisejasmer@outlook.com.

Official Newsletter for 2016 October!

-->

Hi. Last Spring, I told you that I would be coming to America to do more fund raising-which did not happen. I wanted to share with you some of the reasons that I did not return this past summer as well as give you some information about my future. The main reason that I did not return home this summer was mostly to accommodate future plans and decrease additional spending. 

As the time approached for me to return to the States,  I encountered a new life situation. I had been dating my boyfriend, Luke, for a very short time but we had already begun talking about marriage. When my parents asked us what our possible timeline was and we discussed a U.S. wedding in January and then again returning to America in June for required training with Luke’s organization. My mom suggested, I consider not coming back in May and instead when Luke and I return in June of 2017 doing fundraising together. This allows me to be a good steward by limiting the amount of times I return to the states during this next year. I discussed this with Luke as well as my team leader and everyone agreed that this was a better use of funds and time.

By staying here this summer I was able to attend Luke’s team meetings and go with a short-term team to a village. At this point some of you may have already inferred that perhaps this means some changes for me in the future, and that would be correct.  It was not an easy decision, but after careful consideration and much discussion between us as a couple. I have decided to start the process of joining Luke’s organization. In many ways his organization is very similar to the group I work with now.  I encourage you to contact me regarding how to learn more about his organization.

I anticipate continuing the work that I am currently doing with the added bonus of being on a team that is actively working toward helping a people group have access to the Good News in their own heart language. 

Our wedding is planned for January 7, 2017 and we would love your petitions as we prepare things from a distance as well as for our future.  Joining a different organization not only includes many changes for myself, but if you give financially to me there will be changes that will effect you in the future. Since I am not yet accepted as an SIM employee and I don’t know what they will require I will try to keep you all informed. However, I am currently still under supported and could benefit from either 25 supporters raising their monthly support by $20 each or by 25 new supporters giving $20 a month. 

I am excited about the summer of 2017, not only for the opportunity to get to know his organization better but also for the opportunity to introduce you all to Luke. 

2016 September Official Newsletter!

September 15, 2009 was the day, seven years ago, I arrived in Kunming.  It was a day filled with expectations and hopes. The Kunming I landed in and the person who flew into Kunming are both very different today. I thought that is would be fun to look back and ponder the ways we have all changed. 

C-H-I-N-A-V-E-R-S-A-R-Y

Construction: With a subway under way and old areas under construction, the landscape is rapidly changing. Ask that as old buildings are removed that this would prepare hearts to hear the good news. 

Home: Moving from a sixth floor apartment to a first floor apartment, my life is more seen by my neighbors. Ask that I may be a witness that testifies to all that my Father has done for me and gives off a fragrant scent to my neighbors. 

Imports: Today, I saw a man on the street selling blueberries. Seven years ago, the prospect of finding blueberries was unlikely. All around me are changes like this. As western items are brought in to be sold, I ask that when the newness of the news of grace is brought into lives that it would also be welcome. 

Need: I truly believe that Father doesn't need me to be here, but I have come to realize that because I have chosen to join His work here that I have grown in my need for Him. I ask that when and if you join in what Father is doing around you that you will also find more of who you were made to be as well as more of Him. 

Academics: Moving from only studying to teaching as well as studying. Teaching both national students as I talk with them about how to make good choices and avoid being trafficked as well as expat students as I teach them Biology. Ask that I might continue to learn from the people around me  but that I may also be a clear and truth bearing instructor. 

Vision: I came to help leprosy affected people and that changed to working with women who had escaped sex trafficking and now I work mostly with youth-educating them how to avoid being trafficked. Ask Father to continue to make his direction clear. 

Relationships: In 2009, most of my friends were single women. I was privileged to start a youngish single women's small group. But as the years have progressed, many of those women have either returned home, gotten married, or moved to more remote areas. Please life them and what Father is doing in them up. These days, most of my friends are married women. I have learned a lot from them. Please life up women and families on the field. Especially, lift up their marriages and the stresses that are on them. Also, spend some time lifting up your own relationships. 

Supervisor: Moving into leadership roles. I am now the supervisor of a small team as we work on the trafficking prevention work. I have also been on the Permeate Planning team in the past but this upcoming year I will be heading the team up. Thankfully there will be others working on it with me but I will be leading meetings and delegating. Please keep this leadership aspect of my life in your petitions. 

Adjustable: In 2009, I had no idea the amount of flexibility and molding I would be subject to. I am thankful that I am less rigid and unchanging than I was before. China has a way of breaking you down. I have gotten used to it and I am able to go with the flow much more easily. Thank Father for His patience with you and with me and thank Him for the sanctification that you can see in your own life. 

Romance: Over the past four years, Father has really been speaking and teaching me about romance. I have learned that He desires me to long for Him more than I long for an earthly mate. I learned that I can trust Him in my singleness, He knows my heart, He sees my hopes. I learned that I love Him more than my wishes of a family and a husband. I have been adventurous and brave as I have followed Him through open doors that closed. He has given me peace in the place where I am at. I am dating a wonderful man and I cling to Jesus now as things seem to be moving towards a wedding and life together. Please ask that Father would make things abundantly clear to both Luke and I as we journey forward. That He would help us to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit and that we would choose daily to exercise them toward each other and to those around us.

Yoke: The team that I joined in 2009 was a much larger. My team has lost many members over the seven year. It has been a harder aspect of living here than I had anticipated. I had not predicted that those people would come and go. My team is now only one family and myself. Unless Father directs me differently before December, I will also be joining a second team, Luke's team. One of the exciting things about joining another team is the connections and networking possibilities that are available. Luke's team is working with a language subset where there are no know people who believe in the good work and life change that Father and His Son can do. I would be a part of supporting that kind of work. Lift up those doing language work as well as building relationships. 


Thank you for celebrating my CHINAVERSARY with me!

July and Aug 2016 Official Newsletter

Dear Faithful Supporters,

I want to first say that if you are expecting to see me this summer, I am sorry to disappoint you. I had a change my plans. I will be back in the States sometime within the next 7-8 months but that information is yet to be determined and will be communicated to you as soon as possible. 

I wanted to share with you some quotes from students of the home school co-op that I teach Biology at. I feel like I haven’t shared very much about this program. This is a program where most of the students live in remote areas of the country and come once a month for a week to take classes. So for one week each month they have class from 8-5:30. Then they return home for the rest of the month and work on their homework and do assignments that they then either bring back to class or submit via the internet.  This past year I had 7 Biology students. They were from six different cities and four different nationalities. All of these students’ families work in various areas of bringing the Kingdom to those areas of the world. If is very exciting to know that I am helping that work by teaching their kids. I hope that it will be exciting to see how your support of me is also supporting those ministries. 

The students were asked to share what this school program means to them. Here are a few of their statements. 

“I feel very thankful and blessed to be a part of MSG. I am very shy but by being at MSG, I learned how to open up and talk and participate with other people. I learned how communication is important when you want to build a healthy relationship with people around you.”

“MSG has positively influenced me in more ways than I can fit on a dozen of these pages, but mostly it has provided a better social environment, made me smarter (a lot), and helped me mature.”

“MSG’s most valuable contribution to my life has been what it has taught me about myself. One thing that I’ve learned from going to MSG is that you don’t have to be very similar to someone in order to be friends with them; you just have to be mutually willing to be friends. Every year, MSG brings together people from all different places with different interests and personalities, yet we all get along and are kind to each other.”

I have been very blessed to be able to be apart of these students’ lives and impact them both academically as well as character developmentally. Praise Him above for the parts that we get to play in his greater plan. Thank you for your part. 

June 2016 Official Newsletter!!

你们好！

Hello! 

I have been very busy with amazing things this spring. 

I hope that the new life that surrounds you highlights the new life that our

 Lord and Savior has given you.

I’ve been busy learning more Chinese, teaching biology, training and teaching women in Flourish, working with youth group girls, introducing my city to friends, planting flowers, and working with students in our trafficking prevention program.

I recently, learned how to play the famous Chinese game: majiang. It looks so complicated but once you have learned it, you realize that it is a lot like Rummicube.

Working with the Shine School Program English Corner, has proved to be a lot of fun as well as very rewarding. The kids are very receptive and the teachers are glad that WE are talking to them about hard issues.

I decided that I would teach Biology again next year, but May marked the end of this years term.

I gave Flourish graduation certificates to the girls from my home school co-op who participated over the course of this year.

We also had a graduation of Flourish leaders in April and it was a fabulous time of good food and good conversation.

I got to introduce my city to one of my best friends early this year. 

It is always a privilege to show my world to my loved ones. 

Feel free to visit anytime.

Please continue to lift me and these works up.

In my printed and mailed hard copy version of this letter I stated that I would be in South Dakota and Nebraska this summer. I have to apologize to those of you who were counting on that time with me. 

Some things came up that changed my plans. 

Know that when I am available to sit down with you in South Dakota or Nebraska I will let you know. If you would like to know more information regarding these change of plans please email me at: denisejasmer@outlook.com

March 2016 Official Newsletter!

Recently, I had the opportunity to open my home up to one of my friends. She called me frantically one morning and asked if her and her baby could come and stay at my home for a couple days. I automatically told her that she could, but after hanging up the phone I began to wonder if that was the right choice. My friend is a sister who has been struggling ever since her baby was born with loving her husband. 

We have had so many discussion the two of us regarding what does it look like to be a godly wife and how can she show her husband what she needs from him in ways that will be respectful and not challenge him. These biblical guidelines are vastly counter cultural. Her husband is a brother who from my perspective is just trying his best to provide for his family. This effort on his part takes time and energy away from his new family and it is precisely those two things that my friend resents. She feels unloved and uncared for by him. 

In my cultural experience, I would tell her to just talk to him about how she feels and if that isn’t enough maybe find a counselor. In this place and in this culture, those things are not very common. My friend told me that she texted her husband telling him that she doesn’t feel loved and did he know that she felt that their relationship was on its last leg. His response to her was to say that he thought everything was fine and of course he loved her. They didn’t talk about it again. This kind of communication lapse breaks my heart. 

So when she came to my house for an afternoon of escape I was glad that she didn’t take me up on my offer to stay with me. I had begun to worry that perhaps she was just running away from dealing with the miscommunication that was rooted in her home. My friend wants her family to be healed but she is very tired of trying so hard to fix it. 

This friend of mine is one I work closely with. Her interfamily conflicts affect my work in the schools. Please join me in asking our Heavenly Father to do a special work in her family. That the barriers of miscommunication would crumble, that pride would be laid down, that between the two of them they will find a way to put each other first. That both of them would seek Father’s will instead of their own. Please lift me up as well. I want to be a sister who encourages and uses godly wisdom instead of one who gets in the middle of problems she has no business in. 

This is the Eden Thanksgiving Party group photo. Can you find my little head? My friend and her baby are also in this picture. Please lift all these women up as they struggle to live more like The Son!

Thank you, Denise

January 2016 Official Newsletter!!

It's 2016! Let's Communicate!

We live in the age of multi-faceted communication: Many of you have already let me know that you would prefer email but many of you I only have your mailing addresses and I want to continue to communicate well with you, my partners.Please help me tailor my communication to you. Do you prefer communicating with me via Email? Paper? Skype? Let me know! 

Want to know how to contact me?

I love hearing from you. Check out the information below, listing the ways I communicate across all media. It’s a new year, a new digital age, and a new time to be in fellowship across the world! Please make some time now to send me a note. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

THANK YOU for being a part of my ministry & support team! This “reminder” is designed so we can keep in touch with each other, so please send your news and requests. 

                  

Well you are currently on it. Http://denise-in-china.blogspot.com

 I have one creative writing one as well:  http://grandindependenceofthesoul.blogspot.com/










Skype Name: denise.jasmer







Email: denisejasmer@outlook.com



China mobile: +86 1838-712-0105

Facetime or IMessage: meiroujasmer@gmail.com

WeChat: denisejasmer



My Facebook is currently active but it is not an ideal way to communicate with me due to censorship laws here as well as the difficulty to login.

Thank you to those of you who have already taken the time to respond to this January newsletter and let me know what is going on in your family. It really helps me feel more connected to you all. 

Denise

My Homeschooling Co-op Biology Class and Flourish Class!!

Official December 2015 Newsletter!

As Christmas draws near I am impelled to contemplate my life. I love this life that I have been living. It hasn’t always been easy but it hasn’t been a torture chamber either. Father has grown me and molded me into a bit more like Him through it. Not that I have become like Him. Far from it-there is much more for Him to work out. 

I am very thankful for all the parts that you have all played in the journey. Your love and support of the burden and vision that Father has given me is humbling and overwhelming. For the last 6 years the support I have received from you has not only supported my daily life and schooling, but has also given scholarships to Permeate youth, given school scholarships to leprosy patients’ children and grandchildren, and have allowed many young women who used to be prostitutes attend the Shine program. 

Currently, my support level is sustaining my needs. However, I have been using my excess funds. What happened was that over the years I generally don’t spend as much as I have been given and so each year when some of my supporters have needed to put their funds elsewhere I haven’t felt any lack due to funds that have built up over the first few years. I

am very thankful for this situation but as of the beginning of June 2016 I need to increase my support about 500 US dollars a month.

From Sept 2014 to Sept 2015 I had a total giving of $33,990 USD from my total support base. Praise to the Father for his faithfulness to me! Broken down to a monthly average the result is: $2,832.50 USD. This does not cover my monthly expenses. If you want a break down of these expenses, email me at denisej@worksmail.net and I will send you the budget break down for Sept 2015-2016. If anyone is interested in increasing their monthly gift even by  ten or twenty dollars that would be very helpful. Please let me know if you would like removed from this mailing list as well.

This situation is not urgent but it is going to become a bigger issue the longer it takes to raise more and if it becomes a larger issue I will have to stop ministry and return to the States to more intentionally fund raise. 

I know that you all get many petitions for your generosity during Christmas time. I know that any additional funds I receive or do not receive this year is subject to Father’s will. Who gives His children all good things in accordance to His good and perfect will. I want to thank you for your love shown to me in your current and past support position.  Whether that is through physical gifts or through your prayers. Thank you and Merry Christmas! 

Official November 2015 Newsletter!

Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.~ Julia H Johnston 1911

Do you ever get tired of hearing about it? I am sure that I have before, but in my current season I cannot get enough of it. The reassurance that I do not need to strive to earn Father’s love and acceptance is life giving. Last week we sang a chorus of: Your Grace is Enough. I started to think about whether or not I would still worship and obey Him if the only good thing He gave me was my salvation. 

What about you?

There are many terrible things that happen in this world. Just think of how many have happened to you. On the other hand, there are also numerous joys. How many of these have happened to you just today?

His blessings abound. Perchance not perceived by us as miracles in the day to day, but truly they are just as much His grace to us as Christ’s death and resurrection. For we deserve none of it. First Corinthians 1:27 clearly states that Father uses us in spite of us. I can clearly testify to His grace and the fact that He continues to use me in spite of what a disaster I am. 

Current Testimony: My e-bike has been such a gift to me in so many ways. Recently,it has constantly given me reason to be thankful to Father for His grace and for the grace exhibited by others. 

I have left my keys in the trunk at least seven or eight times. How foolish. I haven’t learned from the first time? Each time I am convinced my bike will not be there once I return. Twice I returned to find my keys gone but the bike still there. Once it was missing, only to be found in a special safe place. Each time I am resorted to praise. This last time I felt impelled to tell you all about it. I only hope that I would still praise Him if I don’t find my bike ever again. Like my friend, Liz, who has had eight bikes locked up and safe stolen. Frustrated? Of course, by never forgetting that those bikes were not her’s to begin with, they were a gift from her Father. Do I keep not having my bike stolen because I have been wise and  smart and cautious? Obviously Not!! Does Liz keep getting her’s stolen because she is dumb and a terrible person? Certainly Not. We may live in a world that sometimes seems to operate on karma. But honestly, I am so glad that God doesn’t. 

He loves us too much to let us get what we deserve. And if that were only applied to heaven and hell it would be enough. But I am thankful that that would be too small a matter for such a great God. And so, He lavishes us with His special gifts. Like butterflies, e-bikes, sun showers, unexpected change in pockets, and random notes from good friends. 

Your grace is enough, Your grace is enough, Your grace is enough for me.~Matt Maher 2008

Official October 2015 Newsletter

Hello to all my State Side Friends and Family,

I know that as I have been extremely busy so probably have you. I hope that your summer has been safe and full of fun.  I have news. Lots of news. AS things seem to be in a constant set of motion over here I want to let you in on some of the changes in my world.

1. Meet Ms. Jasmer, the new Biology teacher at MSG. MSG stands for Modular Study Group it is a private non registered international school in Kunming. The reason that it is called MSG is that we don’t have school every day. The students are mostly from rural areas where there are no international schools. This program allows them to be homeschooled but have teachers and a student community. They travel to Kunming once a month and have 5 days of intense class with a teacher and other students. Then they go home and do most of the work from home. Please lift me up as I teach these kids. First time teacher. Life time learner. Lover of Science. 

Denise with fellow teachers

Denise with students

2. Meet Nurse Educator Jasmer, the new volunteer and educator at the Sanford International Pediatric Clinic. This opportunity arose suddenly and may evolve into full time work. At this time I will be working along side Chinese nurses and may be involved in teaching them some small professional improvements as well as medical English.  

3. Meet two of my new teammates. They have recently moved to Kunming and I am in process of training them how to run the program. As I get more involved at the clinic they will take on more responsibility. 

4. Denise is moving. She has enjoyed a rare and delightful situation to have lived in one place for 6 years. Now she is moving to a first floor apartment that has a front and back patio. The last few years I have wanted to have more greenery and nature in my home and Father has given this gift to me.  

In the moving process

5.The SPP is changing once again. Our government partner has notified us that we need to change the format from an assembly to an English Corner. So, the two new teammates plus Angela and I, will all be working this fall to change the curriculum. It is exhausting but worth while. 

 Please join me in thanking Father for the fruit, the growth, and the opportunity to plant.  

Fruit: SPP is still effective and desired by schools and by our gov’t partner. My neighbors are sad to see me go.

One of my junior high girls from last year

Growth: new positions mean new learning opportunities, new leadership positions are stretching and cause us to rely on Father more, the ability to use the gift of hospitality to a greater degree. The SPP is gaining new workers. 

Hosting more groups 

Planting: new friends, co-workers, and neighbors are all someone who can hear the good news from me. Saying goodbye to old neighbors opens a door to tell the good news. Real plants give joy. You are welcome to visit anytime!

front yard

back yard

This is my current junior high small group

Official July 2015 Newsletter

Since the last time I updated you a lot of things have happened,  in April, we went to the same school twice with plans to go another time before testing in June. This school has been very open to us so we are keen to continue going there, teaching more and more students. Our hope is to build a solid relationship so that every year we can teach their students. 

Last time, one student asked me a difficult question. This question puts the Chinese student dilemma into a larger perspective.  He asked me: The upcoming tests we take in June will tell us whether we can go to high school and beyond.  How is my life valuable if I don’t pass my test and cannot go on to high school? What do I do with my life? China’s school system is complicated and the hard fact is, unless you have money, the only way to advance to high school is by your test grades. Some kids are not equipped to pass tests--without a high school education, future options are limited. 

These questions speak to the heart of every kid wanting to do their best but knowing that they have limitations. Realizing those limitations will affect their futures. I had just finished telling them that their future and their dreams were important and if they worked hard enough and believed enough in them then they could accomplish them. Is this true? I reminded them that how the world defines significance is in making money. I told them that if you have lots of money but are not happy or satisfied inside--what kind of a life is that. On the other hand, the man who has little education but who is a handy man and comes to my home regularly to help me and to fix things, may not be rich or “successful” in anyone’s eyes but he is blessing my life and he is happy to bless others by helping them in little ways. He is always full of joy and has kind words for those he works for. I know he is a success. There are lots of ways to make a living that blesses others as well as brings satisfaction. 

 It was hard to answer. But I hope that I was able to influence that class in regards to what is a significant life.

I love speaking into young lives and giving them deep truths regarding what is significant, but at times it is also hard. Please continue to lift me up, asking for wisdom and for the students and teachers stuck in this system.  I would also ask that the hearts and minds of both students and teachers would be affected by the new ideas that I present and begin to view their world in slightly different ways.  Thank you so very much for your support and love. 

Official May 2015 Newsletter

(Written March 2015)

Happy May!

I hope that your spring is growing into a more warm season. I know that many of you have survived a rather harsh and cold winter. Historically, I have used my May newsletter to recap the highs and lows of this past year. So, holding to tradition, I seek to share with you the past year. 

May of 2014 saw my very first birthday spent in Kunming! Every other year I have been someplace else on my birthday! The end of May brought me to America for my second Home Assignment period. 

June, July, August, and September were whirlwinds of catching up with friends and loved ones, catching planes, helping people catch my vision and hoping that the good food wouldn’t catch up to me. 

October, found me enthusiastically returning to KM with the high hopes and great desires to dive into school visits. But the reality is that what happens in one part of China greatly affects the entire country and the activities that began September of 2014 in Hong Kong created a closed atmosphere within the government in allowing foreigners to be involved in many areas of education. So when I attempted to schedule school visits I was put on the back burner. 

November, was filled with good food and good fellowship. My time of waiting for “work” continued but I found that there was lots of little things that I could do for and with other people while waiting.  One person who blessed my life during this time was a woman who was a substitute foster mom for an adorable little girl. During this time we also began hard core planning for Permeate 2015. 

December, happened to be one of my best Christmases here. I was able to spend several days with close friends, including Christmas Eve night and waking up and doing stockings together. It was so lovely.  New Year’s was also an event filled with family feelings. There was maybe eight or nine families together playing games, knitting, talking, laughing and celebrating. So much fun! 

In January, we ran a Shine course with the new women who had recently stopped working as prostitutes. This course was so very good for me personally because it seemed to signal the beginning of starting “work.”

February, Driving license finally obtained I drove into the Permeate rush and ended in an extended stay in Thailand for routine medical checkups and getting pages added to my passport. 

March, started with going to the South of China to train eight sisters in facilitating Shine. It was a marvelous time of growing as a trainer. From there I went to Vietnam where I was trained on how to facilitate and train others in Flourish, a program similar to Shine. This was exciting because I got to see the differences between Shine and Flourish and see where each program could be used to its greatest potential. 

Since it is not quite the end of March yet I can tell you my plans for the rest of March and April but cannot guarantee that I will accomplish everything I set out to do. 

I have been greatly disappointed to visit no schools until recently. At the current writing of this letter no schools have been visited since April 2014, but we do have plans to begin visiting schools starting the end March and running on a weekly basis into May. We also have been asked by a couple contacts, who work with migrant communities, how and when we could come teach at their schools. So the hope is that by the end of March or beginning of April we may be “back in the game!” 

At the end of March a colleague from a different city in China will come and visit to see if she is a good fit with our team because she is very interested in the prevention program. I have high hopes for her to be one of my teammates. 

So all in all my 34^th year of life was a busy one. Not everything went as I planned but Father orchestrated many things in order for His plans to be carried out. I have learned much about myself and about Him as I continued the path He set before me. Thank you for your involvement and your thoughts for me as I continue to follow Him.

Happy 35^th Birthday to Me!!