Chapter 4: 2 More Weeks - More Or Less

I’ve been in Kunming for two weeks, and after less than two more I’m moving to Wen Shan… o.0

Time feels slow in the moment, but it’s amazing how easily it slips by then comes back and pokes you in the side to remind you a week has already passed.

There’s not much new to report, only that it’s nice not having to go to school except to go for a run and sometimes throw a baseball with friends. Daddy up above is good and faithful, and I know he’s growing me stronger each and every day.

Oh, and there's a knight in shining armor outside fighting the curse of the mosquitoes... his steed is Roller Blades, his sword called the Electric Mosquito Racket - zapzapzapzap. MY HERO!!!

I hope you all are doing well! Blessings :)

"Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson"

here's the sunrise from our apartment

Chapter 3: Home

We’ve been in Kunming for about a week already, and it’s been really sweet to be here. The jet lag is finally starting to wear off, and we’ve settled back into our apartment really well.

This week I met with one of my future roommates for our apartment in Wen Shan. She is about 10 years older than me, a Californian, super down to earth, and a really unique person. For your reference I’ll simply call her LA. I enjoyed the conversations we had and am excited for the few plans we’ve made for our apartment life. The other roommate I have not met yet, but LA says she is Chinese and awesome. (It’s pretty cool that all I’m hearing about the people in Wen Shan is that they’re awesome.) Daddy is so good and I can already tell that he is truly going to bless me through these two women and others.

The other neat thing about this week is I have been able to reunite with old friends and grow closer with new ones. It was a bit difficult for me in the beginning of our time back because I was worn down with feelings of loneliness… but there have been some really sweet encounters and encouragements that I am a part of the community here and have friends to invest in. Thank you, Daddy, for that sweet blessing.

The only downside for me this week is I have noticed some signs of rashes and bug bites showing up on my arms and neck… and they itch like crazy sometimes. As I’m writing this I just remembered that yesterday while I was running by the school my wrist rubbed on something fuzzy, and when I tried to get the fuzzy stuff off it sort of stuck… I got most of it off, but now I’m realizing that must be why there’s a rash there…. Still, there’s other little bug bites I keep finding on me and it’s slightly annoying. Our house seems to be attacked with mosquitoes every night, so pryers that they stay away and that we’re all relieved of the itches would be super appreciated. But more than anything, think good thoughts and hopes for our hearts and attitudes, because that’s where the healing starts.

PS I love comments little checks in the responses! :

Chapter 2: First Stop

After 14 hours of soaring through the air, fitful sleep, and the featuring of "The Adjustment Bureau" and "Inception," (which are both very good movies - I encourage everyone to see them if you haven't already), we finally have made it to ---- Hong Kong. So we're not quite there yet, but hey, we're almost there. I think I can handle waiting a little bit longer, as long as I'm not sitting on that plane anymore.... So right now, I am currently trying to pass through our 6 hour layover as quickly as possible by blogging.

Our plane took off at 1:00 AM Pacific Time, so it was good that I was tired enough to get *some* sleep. I think altogether I got about 7 hours, although it was tough fighting for them. But all in all, the flight went well. I did all the sleeping I could, then fiddled around with the private entertainment center on the back of the seat in front of me. I watched the movies and it helped to pass the time.

It is currently 7:15 AM in Hong Kong, and there’s another 5-ish hours left until our next flight. What’s kind of whacked is my body thinks it’s 4:15 PM… so I’m dying to have a cup of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream or a McDonald’s chocolate milkshake, both of which are super close in range… but of course, they’re closed. Figures… ah well, maybe I’ll go get some fried chicken from Popeye’s.

Talk to you all later!

Chapter 1: The Embarkment

Soooo today is August 10. In about 24 hours my family and I will begin our journey towards the airport, and thus to China. :)
The time has come, once again, to say "See you later" to the gorgeous Sunny California, to my friends and family, and to embark on the next episode of Chinese adventures.
It's been a little strange having to go through this process again... I have little to sacrifice compared to the last time. And yet to some, so much more...
Being away from California and in China really sifted through my perspectives and showed me a whole lot about the amazing friends and family I have in my life. I have so much to be thankful for in how Daddy has blessed my life so generously. What a privilege it is to live in this wonderful place called the Bay Area, (let alone America). So why leave it again? Why give up all the chances I have to build a life up for myself here to go to China?
Honestly, I've realized I couldn't be more excited to return to that beautiful country once again. She has so much more to show me than I could ever learn in California, America - my comfort zone. Daddy has a bigger plan for me, one more crazy than I'm sure I could imagine. It'll be an adventure. I'm willing to take a risk and give up everything to gain something fresh and new. I've done it before... so why not go bigger this round?
Good thoughts for our flight would be awesome. I love you and miss you all!
Blessings :)

Prologue!

Hey Everybody! This is going to be my personal blog I will use to document my time in Wenshan this next year. I'm mainly using this as a chance for people to get updates on how I'm doing and how everyone can be thinking good and hopeful thoughts for me.

Right now I'm in Crescent City with my family. We're taking a week long break from reality - which we desperately needed. The reason being is this particular week is the time we have left until we hop on the plane to China... August 11th. Summer went by so fast!

It was so awesome returning back to California and our church and community after the first year in China. It's amazing how much has happened in our renewal and preparation for this coming year. It's been quite a roller coaster, but I know our Daddy has done it all simply to prosper my family and I. The only strange thing is we've been a family unit so long - now all of a sudden I'm breaking loose. I'm starting my own way. It's a little intimidating, yet thrilling to think of all the possibilities and chances I have yet to discover and take. (Good thoughts for wisdom on that score would be highly appreciated...)

So, here's the mark to the beginning of a new story. Be ready, people: it's gonna be intense. ;)

Chapter 1 is coming up next!