Process of Elimination

Hi. It has been a while since I talked with you all. I have learned a lot since I have been back in China. I want to share some of what I have learned. But in order to share I am going to post one or two or three posts.

I know that many people use a pro and con list when making hard decisions. I have used this method a time or two but it actually doesn't top my list of helps when having to make a difficult choice. If you have read my previous post titled Future Assignment you would know the huge and varying options I have on my plate.

So I have been in what I thought would be a very long process of elimination with each of these work opportunities. So with out further ado here we go.

Before I get into the details, I have to tell you about one little thing that influenced lots of medical work here. The NGO, we will call Real Hope, that does and envelopes most of the medical work here in Kunming is going through a lot of changes. Their CEO's or higher ups or Western country representative are making some changes that involve funding only being given to certain kinds of projects. So, even though I do not know all the details, I have heard lots of concerns from people who currently work with them. Plus, I went to their company retreat to help with their youth program earlier this month and felt that those who were working with Real Hope were guarded to the inth degree. I did not feel welcomed or encouraged to want to explore being a part of their family. So lets look at what my options look like.

1. The doctor that goes to a different area of Yunnan and brings patients back to Kunming, his offer still stands and I plan to go and see his work at a future date. He is part of Real Hope.

2. The other doctor who runs the clinic in the north of Yunnan and had offered to let me come and see the work that he does up there, had not returned any of my attempts to contact him since I have been back. He also works for Real Hope.

3. The group that does out reach to the sex workers and mafia members has asked me to work on a program that would give sex ed and a moral relationship building education as well as encourage teens to have a healthy self image and self value. This program will also talk to a small degree about the dangers of trafficking and how to be safe conscious. I have accepted this role. So, I will be going to Vietnam in May to attend a training conference on these topics. This option requires the most comment because there is so much to say.

So in March when I first sat down with the director of this ministry I was impressed with the leadership and the organization's growth. When the director told me that the current two major needs were someone to organize their medical records and someone to put together and then lead an educational program for high school age teens all over Yunnan, I felt overwhelmed and in fact my first response was-I am not organized and I have never put together an educational program. When I shared this with her, she said that she had never started a company before either but if it was Father's plan He equips us.

So, I began to go to their jewelry shop and sit and talk with the girls as they assembled the jewelry. They are so lovely. I have felt very welcomed there. So as I have been talking to Father about the needs of the organization and the girls, I was able to sit in on one of the bimonthly health checks and witnessed the disaster that is their health assessment forms. I got to thinking about how easy a health history is if you have a good and thorough form. I began to google all the various forms I could find online. I sent emails out to former co-workers and am in the process of melding all these forms into one that addresses the needs of this ministry.

Then I recalled that my friends Rob and Joy used to be a part of the educational program called Wait Training-a program very similar to what the Director wants. So I contacted them to find out what curriculum was used in that program and was directed to their website which lists the dates of their training conferences. Gradually over four weeks I began to see that the tasks which originally seemed impossible and unaccomplishable by me (at least) were not as difficult as at first glance.

Last week I went and talked to the director about my feelings and told her that I was willing to get trained when I was next in the States. she informed me that the curriculum that they were looking at was one that was started in Australia and has already been translated into Chinese. She offered to send me to the conference if I would consider committing to being the foreigner involved in educating.

I went home and talked to Father for four days. I also talked to my family-both here in China, at home in the USA, and my faith family in the States. No one on this side of the ocean who were familar with the organization and director had any reservations, Everyone on both sides of the ocean felt like this opportunity is amazing as well as uses all my gifts and experiences. So, when I went back to the work shop this Monday I told the director that I was IN!!!!!!!

Your talks to Father and mine have been answered for the doors closed and the doors opened.


4. The Reconstructive Surgery Clinic: doesn't need any assistance right at this moment and the next time they do need help I will not be available. There are already two Chinese nurses that work there as well as a Doctor and between the three of them the daily needs of the clinic are covered. The only time they really need additional help is after a surgery clinic when they have additional patients. When I asked them about their current or future plans to do village visits they said that looks to be very seldom.This clinic is run by Real Hope.


5. The HIV research team down south in Yunnan have been open to me coming down and checking out their work. This project is run by Real Hope.

6. The medical team member who works for CWEF has also been unable to be reached.



Although, much of this information that I am sharing with you has been learned through spending time with people and listening as well as sharing. Some of my certainty about this future endeavor didn't come from information or research or pros and cons but instead from the spirit given to me from above.

I have been spending lots of time reading in the first two books of Father's Word and what I have learned is that Moses himself was given a task that was virtually impossible but with Father's help he succeeded. But Moses had a small task force to help him. His brother Aaron was his mouth piece, his sister Miriam was his friend, and I assume that his wife was his cheerleader.

Father has given me these things too. Xi Cui will be my team mate and translator, Amber will be my close friend, and my dear supporters, You will be my encourager. Thank you for all your thoughts for me.

Retreat

It is a Monday morning here in China and I normally would be at the jewelry workshop by now. But the workshop is closed due to Easter. So, I decided to give you a quick update on me. I and a friend, spent the last five days providing a youth program to 7 10-13 year olds. It was a lot of fun. I went swimming for the first time in like two years. We played Marco Polo, Sharks and Minnows, and Fresh. We also studied the last week of the life of Christ. We made palm branches and popsicle stick crosses, and discussed how we would spend the last week of our life.

I really enjoyed being with these kids and not just because of the fun games we played or the cool snacks we got to eat. Although for fruit by the foot I would do about anything. Mostly I enjoyed being with these young people because I could see Father working in them to change them. All of them are good kids. But you could almost see the growth of the Spirit drawing them to Him. The joy they had to play with each other and learn from one another was special.

School again tomorrow so I must prepare for class. In one of them I will be using GarageBand for the first time. My Medical Mandarin text book doesn't come with a cd of the vocabulary being spoken by someone who really knows how to say them. So my teacher and I are going to record the vocab and story for each lesson so that I can have correct sounds the compare mine to.

I am excited for this project. A little nervous-because I have never used GarageBand before but looking forward to trialing it all out. I will make sure to let you hear a track or two when we are done.

Easter

Did you know that on Wikipedia they list a various different histories of where the Easter Egg originated. One of which made me laugh out loud. Click here. The idea was that Mary Magdalene brought hard boiled eggs as a early morning snack to the tomb and when she met with the Resurrected Son her eggs turned bright red. This legend reminded me of the month after a Chinese woman gives birth to a child-the tradition is that they must eat hard boiled eggs from their home town. But what made me want to blog about this is the second legend on the Wikipedia page. Within the Family there is a tradition to greet each other on Easter with "The Son has Risen" and the appropriate response to this greeting is "He is Risen Indeed." What I love about this Wikipedia page is that the second story is that after Mary Magdalene had seen the Resurrected Son return to His home she wanted to help spread the good news and so she traveled to Rome and met with the Emperor and she greeted him with "The Son has Risen" and his non-typical response was "He has no more risen than that egg is red." and promptly it turned red.

This kinda absurd and funny story reminded me of the great comfort we have because He has risen. He is not dead. He is alive. PTL!! Many people trust in things not worthy of their trust. Items of gods that have no Real power. But we trust in One who has victory over death. His power saves us when all else fail.

He is Risen!!

He is Risen INDEED!!!

Future Assignment

I am happily back on Chinese ground. It has taken a little bit of effort to get back into the swing of things. I suffered a clinging cold and soar throat for about two weeks. I had a weekend of food poisoning and now I think I am finally back to normal.

As I have been getting acclimated to China and reacquainted with school and future plans things have been topsy turvy. As I told many of you while I was home my initial plans when I came to China have changed.

Leprosy work in China is still needed but the great thing that is happening in Yunnan is that many national believers have taken it as part of their service to Father to shoulder some of this ministry. The clinic and workers have been raised to a level of independence. My foreign assistance is not needed there.

This is a cause for joy and excitement but it has caused a complication. I now have no specific goal or purpose. However, I know that my heavenly Father has a purpose for me. Ephesians 2: 10 says: "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." I just need to be shown what that plan is.

In the meantime I am exploring some opportunities that have presented themselves. I would like to share them with you. 1. There is a doctor that goes to a different area of Yunnan and brings patients back to Kunming. He has offered to let me go on rounds with him. At this point I do not have a clear understanding of what He does or how I could be helpful. 2. There is another doctor who runs a clinic in the north of Yunnan. He has offered to let me come and see the work that is done up there. 3. There is a ministry in Kunming that works with prostitutes and mafia members who needs someone to work on a AIDS and moral education program. 4. The reconstructive surgery clinic sometimes does village visits. 5. There is a HIV research team down south in Yunnan. 6. The team that I went on a water dig with in 2010 has a new medical team member and he does village assessments both pre and post well placement.

So these are the projects that you may be hearing about in the future. This past week I have been going to the workshop where the ex-prostitutes make the jewelry. I have learned how to make two different kinds of knots and have been learning how to use tiny pliers to attach metal to make chain links for a silver and turquoise necklace.

At this point I am really enjoying forming relationships with the girls and hearing their stories. I know that there is a soft spot in my heart for this ministry but am unsure if it is the future Father has planned for me. I have been asking Him to shut doors.

Please continue to lift up these situations and ask Father to enlighten me as to the path I should be on.

Home Assignment Photos

December Newsletter

Here’s to the birthday boy who’s saved our lives it’s something we all try to ignore and put a wreath up on your door so here’s something you should know that is for sure Christmas must be something more. Taylor Swift (Christmas must be something more)

The months leading up to this Christmas have been very hectic. I have traveled to and fro to many different places for many different reasons. My research trip to Tai Yuan was fruitful. I now know a researcher who is doing active research and who is willing to teach me. I have talked to my team leaders and sketched a very general plan for 2012. I had a short vacation in Chiang Mai and had three cavities filled. I stayed with a teammate in Bangkok to support her while she was in the hospital and I have concluded my schooling until I return back to KM. I arrived in the United States in time for Thanksgiving and was able to celebrate with both sides of extended family. I have been busy but feel incredibly blessed. I have the pleasure of spending Christmas in the United States this year.

When I was in Chiang Mai I met a 33 year old man named Tariq. A muslim man seeking for Truth. Open to hearing but not convinced-not even in the faith he was raised in all his life until now. We talked frankly about many things but he was struck by the fact that Christ said that the way to heaven was narrow and that many would knock on the gates and would be told to go away for He never knew them. (Luke 13:24-30) This man sat in his flourishing shop and almost cried. He looked at me with troubled eyes and said, “that is so scary” I told him that I agree because we are taught our whole lives that we have to earn what we get. The grade on a test, the allowance, If we don’t deserve a good thing it is suspicious. Christ goes against our human nature. But when we believe in Christ we get to be heirs with Him in heaven.

Why do you celebrate Christmas? Because you have always done so, it is your family’s Tradition? It is your Safety Net just in case Christ really is the Messiah? Have you begun to ask questions? Fine ask your questions search out the Truth. For if you truly seek for it God will show it to you. Christmas nativities, singing silent night while holding candles, eating pie, and enjoying friends and family are all just small pieces of the bigger picture. Christmas is more that all those special moments. It is the powerful moment when God came down to earth to fix the broken relationship between Him and you. We don’t deserve this gift. But God wants to give it to us. Christ said in the same passage I read to Tariq that to follow Him one must count the cost. Christ requires All of you.(Luke 14:26-33) If you are only celebrating Christmas due to tradition or as a safety net in the end He will tell you to Go Away.

Please pray with me for Tariq that as he searches for Truth he may find it abundantly clear. I pray for each of you as you celebrate God’s desire for a relationship with Mankind. That you also would be seeking for and finding the Truth. And once Truth is found that you would be brave enough to give Him your ALL.

AS I spend the next few months meeting with you, talking more freely with you, and sharing with you about my last few years I hope that you will be encouraged. Not only in what you are each a part of but also to look for ways in your own lives to share the True Joy that you have with others.

November Newsletter

Thanksgiving is a time to give thanks. I know, I know I am always one for the obvious statements. My brother used to tease me about that. I think though that sometimes the obvious needs to be stated. For so often we let those most obvious truths be forgotten. They slip away or under or to the back of the pile because life gets in the way. Life pushes the simple truths away until they are forgotten.

So lets talk obvious. What are you thankful for? Have you been taking it for granted? How can you make sure that the obvious is not forgotten?

I am thankful for my family and my friends. Ben and Molly just had a healthy baby girl named Sydelle in September. Henry is growing fast and is so entertaining. My parents now live in South Dakota and are both keeping busy. Their constant support and skype calls keep me sane and connected. My friends both here in China and abroad brighten my days and give me reasons to press on.

I am thankful for my teachers. Each one of them gives me encouragement and empowers me to be better than I am. Their patiences and willingness to share their lives with me is humbling and impressive. I know that without them I would not be able to survive in this crazy upside down loop-di-loop world I trek around in. The laughter and enlightenment we share is special.

I am thankful for Father’s salvation, faithfulness and His Word. His ability to touch my heart with words written thousands of years ago is amazing and hard to understand but whether I understand Him or not the truth is that He does. Reading in Ezekiel last August there was a verse (24:15-16) that said that because Israel had forgotten Him, He was going to take away their most prized possession. It made me wonder what my most prized possession is? Are we willing to loose our most prized possession so that God will be important to us? Do I have to have my most prized possession taken from me before I will cling to Father? I hope not. I hope that This particular obvious statement will not fade away or be forgotten. Instead I hope that I cling to verses like Hebrews 10:23-24 “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”

Please join me in thanking the Lord for the blessings He has given us, the struggles He has sustained us through, and His patience and grace to us.

Lastly, I thank the Lord for you and your interest as well as your faithfulness to continue to ask for requests on my behalf. Thank you.