“...a sweet friendship refreshes the soul...” ~Prov. 27:9 (the Message)

In Wednesday night ladies Bible class, the lesson was about being thankful for friends. As we read scriptures about friends and talked about where we make friends and the random friends that come across our path, I couldn’t help but smile. A smile stayed on my face throughout the remained of the lesson as I thought through all of the different friendships that have made and impact in my life. Some friends that I may never see again. Friends met on airplanes, trains, buses, who served as friends in transit, in times of confusion, in times of peace. When I needed a friend, a friend was provided. Friends that I’ve known my entire life, without whom I can’t imagine what life would be like. Friends from high school, college, grad school, jobs, family friends, my parents’ friends whose impact I have inherited. How can I not be thankful! What would life be like without these relationships? I pondered all this with a smile, realizing that I don’t have to wonder what life would be like, because my life is rich with precious relationships! Yes, I indeed have plenty to be thankful for.

I have just passed my halfway point for my 13 week contract in Front Royal, VA. Already God has blessed me with some life-long friends here. Some of you may recall I had a bit of a rough start with this placement, but it is these friendships that have made a difference and changed my perspective about my experience here. This will be another place that I recall fondly. I will have reason to come back here for a visit. This isn’t my home, but I have found a place and a purpose here. I have a family here.

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art… It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival.” - C.S. Lewis

Shenandoah National Park

"God's fingerprints are everywhere..."

Last weekend I was blessed to be able to attend the wedding of a dear friend in East Tennessee. I realized that this is the 5th October in a row that I have attended a wedding. Apparently October is the month for weddings in my circle of friends. It was a refreshing break to get away for a couple of days and be among like-minded friends. The wedding was beautiful and although I was busy for a good part of the preparation and ceremony, I was still soaking up the fellowship. Following the Saturday wedding, Sunday morning we had a small church gathering at the home of the bride and several hours of sweet fellowship followed. The group included several missions-minded, God-seeking individuals and that is what I needed to be around. I was encouraged by conversations I took part in and those I just listened to. I felt like I was among family even though I wasn’t close to very many of the attendees and I am related to none. But that is one of the joys of being a part of God’s family, being among family even when you are surrounded by “strangers”. I returned to Front Royal with a renewed sense of self and of purpose. Going away allowed me to gain a refreshed perspective on my time here and step back and get a glimpse of what God is doing. Even though I may not be able to relate to the community of believers here as easily on some levels, they are still my family, and for that I praise God. In my work, I am feeling a greater sense of confidence and purpose as I fill the role that I have been put here to complete. And as far as friends go, I am humbled by how God continues to provide for me despite my worrying. This weekend was a great example of that.

As the end of the workday approached on Friday, I was scrambling to make weekend plans to explore a new area or go for a hike. No one seemed available or interested and I have been strongly advised not to hike alone in these parts. In a last effort, I left a sticky note on the desk of the traveling PT. She is from Texas and being a fellow traveler, I know she is trying to make the most of her time here. She and her husband were more than willing to do something this weekend so we decided to check out the Luray caverns on Saturday. As we were making plans, a friend from church contacted me about the weekend and she decided to join us as well. The sights were amazing both below the ground and the fall colors above the ground. I continue to be overwhelmed and amazed by all the beauty and creativity that God put in this world! After our fun explorations we went out for a dinner filled with great conversation and lots of side-aching laughs. It was a Saturday well-spent and I was laughing at myself for feeling so pessimistic about having “no one to hang out with”. 

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19

Virginia is for Lovers

Upon entering Virginia by any of the interstates there are three signs that greet you. First is the friendly “Welcome to Virginia” sign complete with a cardinal perched on a lovely dogwood branch. Following this beautiful sign is a small black sign which reads: “RADAR DETECTORS ILLEGAL”. Okay, that doesn’t bother me because I don’t have one and I knew they were illegal in some places. But then there are these large black intimidating signs which read: “SPEED LIMIT ENFORCED BY AIRCRAFT” wait...WHAT?! Aircraft? I quickly scanned the sky. I’m not sure how this works, but almost as frequently as speed limit signs, these signs line the highway. Being black, I tend to take these more seriously, glancing up at the sky and in the rearview each time I passed one. Virginia has a nationwide reputation as being the strictest on traffic laws. I only saw one cop from Dallas to Johnson City, TN. I saw at least four along Interstate 81 in Virginia. 

Here is a hilarious photo I found on another blog which captures the image
I had in my mind as I monitored my speed and kept an eye on the skies.

My first two weeks in Front Royal have gone fairly well despite a few bumps in the road with work. I wasn’t able to work for the first two days because my state SLP license had not yet been issued. The time off allowed me more time to get settled in and get a feel for this place where I have landed. I live in the lovely home of a generous and kind-hearted retired couple. During the week they keep their 6 year old grandson in the evenings. This sweet little guy seems to think that my sole purpose in being here is to play with him. He knows I’m only staying until Christmas, but I think he might be heart broken when I leave. Tonight he told me that he loves me. 

Today was Front Royal's annual Festival of Leaves. My morning started with a grueling 5k on the most hilly route I have every run. I was grateful for the encouragement and companionship from a co-worker who agreed to run it with me. I caught the tail end of the parade and then perused through the booths lining the downtown streets. It was the typical festival lineup: candles, canned preserves and sauces, face painting, a few local artisans, local charities, and of course funnel cake and BBQ. There was some decent live music and then there was this other guy lip syncing Johnny Cash with a broken blue guitar. My afternoon was spent exploring the Skyline Drive, Front Royal's current claim to fame. The family I live with showed me some beautiful views along the drive through Shenandoah National Park. It was a beautiful day and one well-spent. 

The people here are friendly and have not made me feel unwelcome, however the longer I am here the more I feel the distance between myself and this culture. This is a small town and I am an outsider. The vast majority of residents here — at least the ones I have encountered — have deep roots in the area. Being 26, single and childless seems to ostracize me even more. Frequently conversations are centered around opinions on what so and so did or does or doesn’t do. I’m still trying to process it all and figure out what my response should be, if any. I want to be a positive influence, but frequently the begrudging runs deep. I want to shed some light, but I am an outsider, what do I know. My life feels so disconnected from the world I have stepped into here. In previous places, I have felt needed, I have felt used by God, despite being a “short-timer” as one previous co-worker called me.  Here I just feel like a foreigner, welcomed, but uninformed. I am learning from this experience and I hope I am being used. It is not a bad experience, just a new one. 

Shenandoah National Park

"Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:6

F.A.Q.

It has been about 3 months since I finished my last job in Colorado Springs and I’m about to begin another in Virginia. Three months of traveling. Three months of catching up with friends, making new friends and answering some of the same questions over and over and over again. I’m not really bothered by the questions —except that is takes away from other conversations that we could be having about life and world events— I recognize that it’s all part of the package that comes with living such a “fascinating” lifestyle. I would be asking those same questions...sometimes I do ask the same questions of other people in similar situations. So I decided that since these questions are so common, it must be interesting enough information to post for all to read. I have narrowed it down to five of the most common questions:

#1. “How long are you going to be doing this traveling thing?”  Let me offer you this perspective: How long are you planning to be a teacher, nurse, lawyer, preacher, stay at home mom [you fill in the blank]? Do you plan that out with an end date? It’s a slightly odd question in any “normal” context, right? I don’t have it all planned out, I have visions of what direction I would like to go, but I am just prayerfully taking it one step at a time. I’m traveling. This is what I do right now. (It is a legitimate question, though). Through this I have found that because my location and job changes every three months I am faced multiple times throughout the year with the sobering question of “where am I going with my life?” Each opportunity to travel or take a new job is a chance to stop and re-evaluate and seek the Lord’s guidance in my life. It isn’t the easiest way to do things, but it is a frequent reminder to be mindful of what and Who I am living for. Short answer: I don’t know, but He does.

#2. “Isn’t it hard having to change your routine all of the time?” Yes. Just about the time that I am finally feeling more comfortable and confident in a routine of sorts, I realize I need to start saying goodbye and packing up. Working out, daily time with the Lord, journaling, consistent weekly time with friends — these are all things that suffer when there is no routine. However, another perspective has also been brought to my attention through this experience. With a constant disturbance of daily routine there is freedom to live each day without your own agenda, but seeking to be open to God’s leading. I’m not very good about this, but I’ve just seen the potential that could be with this routineless lifestyle. The biggest key for me to keep some sanity, despite the inconsistency, is to work hard to build relationships and to get into a routine of sorts as soon as possible. The sooner I get into a routine, the sooner I feel more at home and more productive and purposeful with my time, while at the same time I try to leave myself open to God's redirection each day. 

#3 “Where do you live?” I believe that I have been blessed with the perfect upbringing to prepare me for this transient lifestyle. I’m certain this is not what my parents had in mind when we moved from home to home on furlough and when we hosted people in our home, but this is an example of putting into practice the lessons I learned from those experiences. There’s a place for all the mushy stuff about “home is where your heart is”, but practically speaking, I have come to believe that your earthly “home is where your stuff is.” Yes, I realize how shallow that sounds, but ultimately heaven is home (see first blog post for more thoughts on "home"). So I have found the closest thing to my earthly “home” to be the dear home of the Selby family who have graciously welcomed me into their family and their home for several years in my times of “homelessness”. For over a year now, boxes with my earthly belongings sit in a closet in their beautiful home.  A stop at their house is on the way to everywhere for me. I stay at their home (in “my” room), I am a part of the family, I unpack, I repack, and I leave again. Repeat.  When I am on a job assignment, I have the option of finding my own housing or allowing the contract company to cover housing with a cut of my paycheck. My first assignment I lived in a hotel (see blog post) — not a bad experience, but I have found a better way. For the last two assignments I have contacted one of the local churches asking if anyone has a room to rent out. I would rather be in a home than a hotel and as I learned growing up, the church is my family. In the previous job and for this current one, I have not known the individual or family I would be living with prior to my arrival, but both have been wonderful experiences (so far). Thanks, mom and dad, for teaching me how to comfortably and respectfully make myself at home in any home. 

#4 “You should write a book!” Okay, this isn’t a question, but a comment that I have gotten enough to put it on here and respond to publicly. If you stop and think about it, you'll realize that I don’t have enough drama in my life to make for an interesting book. It would just be a series of adventures and events...that sounds kind of boring to me...unless it is published in blog format...voila! This will do for now.

#5 “Where are you going next?” I arrived in Virginia to a warm welcome from the family I will be staying with for the next three months. Not more than 10 minutes into our conversation, I was asked this question. Later that evening another person asked me the same question shortly after introductions. I have found the frequency and consistency of this question amusing. The answer: I don’t know. I have a few ideas, but generally speaking, going into each assignment, I haven’t had a plan for the next step. I’m just glad to be in one place for minute. 

Where am I?

There have been a few times on this trip that I have had to stop and think about where I am. That’s pretty bad, when you’ve hit so many places in a short amount of time that you wake up trying to remember what country you are in, where your going and where you came from and it takes a good 30 seconds for it all to come to you. “I’m in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, I’m going to Bangkok on Tuesday”, I rehearsed silently in my head. When I arrived in Bangkok 3 and a half weeks ago, I remember being surprised by how normal it felt. This was my second time in Thailand, but I can hardly count my brief 3-day visit 5 years ago. For practical purposes this was my first time to experience Thailand. And when I arrived I realized that experiencing new countries is becoming...old hat to me. Really? Did I just say that? Not old hat in a bad way, but in the way that it’s more comfortable than it is new and exciting (like a familiar broken in, old hat). Part of me is proud of that, and part of me mourns the naiveté I once entered new cultures with. This is not to say that I don’t still appreciate cultural variety, nor am I implying any expertise in variations of cultures. I am still fascinated by it, it’s more that I am not shocked by crazy drivers dodging tuk tuks and motos or strange “hairy” fruits or noisy street vendors lining the road at night — I’m not shocked, but I still enjoy it. To be clear, I still love and desire to know more about the variety that God has allowed to flourish in this world. Maybe I should say I appreciate it at a new level.

I have mentioned before that when leaving a place, I don’t ever leave thinking that I will never return. When I left Cambodia 5 years ago, I felt certain that I would return again someday. Ever since that 10-day visit, Cambodia has stood out to me. Returning in the same way I entered the country 5 years ago, through Siem Reap, was somewhat surreal. As we descended I admired the rice fields and canals we had meandered through on our boat trip to Battambang. I had forgotten how flat it was here. The airport routine was exactly as I had remembered it — a line of about 20 officers seated behind a continuous row of desks that pass your passport down the line, each completing his special role in the visa process (I’m told there is one guy that just turns the page). This trip was different from the last one because I was not coming as a tourist (though I had hoped to explored Angkor Wat again). I joined Katherine Gould, a friend and co-worker of my parents in China, to visit some of the street kids that she had built relationships with through a short-term mission trip in March. We spent 5 days hanging out with, loving on and just having fun with some of the street kids from Siem Reap. Many of them are the kids that go around selling postcards and bracelets to tourists. We tried to provide a chance for them to take off their pitiful vendor hat and just be kids. By God’s grace, I think we somewhat successful. With the older kids we enjoyed some good quality time, lots of tut tuk conversations and rounds of Uno. A few of them even joined us to serve at a local orphanage, and even more came to church with us on Wednesday. It was a blessing to spend time with them, but in some cases it was hard to see the reality they live in each day. I want to look away and plug my ears, but I can’t ignore it. I want to protect them, but I can’t. All I can do is continue to encourage, and to pray.

Following Siem Reap, Kat and I parted ways, she on to Singapore and I boarded a bus to Phnom Penh. I arrived in Phnom Penh, not exactly sure what I was doing there. Good friends from Harding, Chris and Casey, had invited me to come stay with them, so I had accepted. I wasn’t really interested in being a tourist in Phnom Penh (there’s not that much to see and much of it is heart wrenching reminders of the pain the Khmer Rouge inflicted—don’t care to see that twice). I arrived praying and hoping that in some small way I could be a blessing, at the very least, not be a burden to my hosts. I enjoyed spending time with this sweet family and sharing experiences from my MK background. Chris and Casey are doing such a great job raising their three children to love the Lord and the people around them. I was taking notes. Saying goodbye at the airport was hard for the kids, and it made me wonder at what point I began to understand and be okay with goodbyes. (I’ll have to ask my mom how I handled goodbyes at 3 and 5 years old). While in Phnom Penh, I also had the opportunity to observe and serve with a nutrition program that brings food and education to surrounding villages daily through GRACE for Cambodia. I also taught a 2 hour beginner English class on my last day.

As I finish this post up, the last of the passengers are boarding our B747 to Tokyo. When I boarded, I couldn’t remember if it was morning or night. It was dark outside and after sleeping in the airport, I was a little disoriented. The sun is just starting to brighten up the sky, confirming the time of day for me. It will do me good to be back in a routine, but I’m not sure when that will be as I still have at least 2 weeks of travel ahead of me upon my return to the US.

Reunion

When my brother was in college he observed that it was amazing how you could be in a room filled with good, loving Christians (such as Harding’s chapel or church), yet feel so alone. I have had similar experiences particularly when going through culture shock and feeling like no one knows, cares or can fathom where I’m coming from (...the plight of a third culture kid...). But as I have gotten older, I have also found this to be true — being in a room filled with complete strangers yet who share a common passion for the Lord paired with international experiences, and feeling quite at home. The Asian Mission Forum is an experience I tend to fit into the later category. Although this year there were far more people present that I actually knew as compared to previous years...giving it in many ways, more of a reunion feel.

The team in Chiang Mai, Thailand hosted an excellent 50th Annual Asian Mission Forum with a focus on the faithfulness of God throughout the years and the legacy of early missionaries that lead the way in Asian missions. This was the largest forum yet. I enjoyed the key notes (one of which was my father) and the classes, but my favorite part was the conversation and time spent with like-minded global nomads. It was refreshing to hear people share perspectives much like my own and be reminded that I am not alone, there are people that can relate to my story, there are people that share a global view of the world and understand what it means to have lived or grown up in another country. There were some present that my family has known from when I was very young, there were friends there that I had only just met last year, and there were new friends that I met for the first time this year. I cherish the time I was able to be in their presence and value the work that they are doing around the globe. To God be the glory!

Following AMF my parents and I, along with some good friends of ours traveled south to explore and vacation along Thailand’s coast. In our group we have four Chinese, four Americans and one stinkin’ cute Chinese-American baby...we are one big happy Chinese-American family! I am enjoying the time with both my parents and this “extended family” despite my limited Chinese. It is a blessing to have family around the globe and to get to spend time with them and travel with them.

Trains, planes, and a baby

This post comes to you from Cusco's Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco Astete. The skies are surprisingly quiet for an airport as only one airlines appears to have the technology and skills to land and take off in the drizzle and cloud cover that is hanging over this ancient city. Every time we hear an airplane there is a pause as everyone looks longingly out the window in hopes that it is an incoming StarPeru or Taca flight, nope, just another LAN flight. The food options are becoming scarce as the airport's eateries are scrambling to accommodate for the crowds of frustrated travelers. StarPeru has given us reason to think we may have a flight today. The situation is clearly out of their control, we are appealing to the only One who is in control. "Your will, not mine Lord". Who would have thought that out of all the forms of transportation we have used on this adventure, the flight would give us the most trouble.

After our peaceful visit at Lake Titicaca, we headed north hoping to make it to the base of Machu Picchu in one day. We traveled by taxi, combi, mototaxi, bus - repeat. We made it to Ollantaytambo, a lovely cobblestoned town where we found accommodations for the night. We caught the first train out of Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, situated near the base of Machu Picchu. I had heard that the train ride offered amazing views, but that is an understatement. As we meandered through the valley next to a rapid river, we were awed by the steep peaks that were revealed as the morning clouds lifted. We began to notice thicker and more jungle-like vegetation as our train approached the destination. While taking in the sights, Megan and I had a delightful conversation with the two gentlemen across from us. Taka is a Japanese geologist living in Houston and traveling Peru and Bolivia for a month. Paolo, an Italian whom we had initially understood to be a professional clown, is taking a few weeks vacation from pursuing his degree in education. We were disappointed to learn that he just has a desk job, but he does have the personality of a clown. 

Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes we dropped off our bags at the hotel and began hiking up Machu Picchu. Despite being at a lower elevation, we were challenged by the climb. Frequent rest stops provided opportunity to soak in the breathtaking scenery. Once at the top we enjoyed exploring the maze-like ruins and taking picture at the classic "I was at Machu Picchu" photo spot. I'm not sure what I expected, but I was blown away by how large and intricate the ruins were. The clouds passing between surrounding mountains made for a majestic backdrop. We opted to avoid the slippery steps down afterwards by taking the bus as the rain set in again. While waiting we noticed a bus that had just arrived was drawing a crowd. Soon we heard rumors that Jim Carrey was onboard. Before boarding our own bus we caught a glimpse of the distinctive Jim Carrey smile before he disappeared into the mob of body guards escorting him through the gawking crowd and into Machu Picchu. I would not want to be a celebrity!

Early the next morning we boarded a train back to Ollantaytambo. On our car was a large group of Japanese tourists and a few other backpackers. Last to board was a woman who looked to be in pain and two men accompanying her. All other Peruvian locals were in the other cars except for these three. Megan and I dozed for the first part of the ride, after we were served a snack and hot drinks I noticed that there was a small commotion around the Peruvian woman 3 rows up whose pain had clearly escalated. The conductor was calmly asking passengers nearby to move back a few rows while one of the men traveling with the woman put on surgical gloves. "I think she's about to have a baby!" I told Megan in shock. While we were still trying to grasp the situation before us and determine whether or not our assistance was needed, the woman was moved to the floor, a few loud groans, and then a baby's cry! Some of the passengers gasped, some began to clap, most were starring with jaws dropped thinking, "did that really just happen?!" We weren't given very long to be shocked before we had to start reacting to the amniotic fluid that was running down the aisle of the train. The conductor brought out handfuls of paper towels and toilet paper as passengers scurried to move bags off the floor and stop the fluid. After the situation was more under control, the proud papa paraded his newborn down the aisle while the Japanese tourists oo-ed and ahh-ed and, of course, snapped pictures of the precious baby. Yes, we got a picture as well. As we rolled into the station, the parents sat proudly and calmly admiring their little one latched on to mom's breast. An unforgettable train ride, to say the least.

From Ollantaytambo, we caught a combi to Cusco. The fields and pueblos that had been glowing in the setting sun on our ride in were coated in a light blanket of snow and it continued to fall until we began our descent into Cusco. Despite the rain in the valley, we tried to enjoy Cusco as best we knew how. Our hostel was conveniently located near the city center, making all of our destinations walkable. At the Cathedral, we did the audio tour which helped us understand much of the artwork and symbolism. I had two primary reactions to the decor of the Cathedral: first, appreciation for the attempts at cultural integration when Christianity was first brought to Peru. The artwork was full of slightly humorous cultural nuances, for example: llamas instead of camels, local dress, a Guinea pig on the table of the last supper. My second reaction was one of sorrow for the extensive presence of seemingly polytheistic influences still strong in the Peruvian Catholic church which draw away from the power and relationship with our Lord.

From the time I began compiling this post to now, much has happened. We boarded our plane last night, only to find out that it was cancelled. After hours of waiting we were finally given our checked bags and told to return in the morning for a 6am flight. There were no more buses to Lima by that time. Thankfully our hostel had two open beds. At dinner we had a delightful conversation with our waitress who inquired about our faith after seeing us pray before our meal. This morning we were the first people at the Star Peru desk at 4:40. By 5:30 our fellow passengers from the night before were lined up waiting for our promised 6am flight. It wasn't until about 5:45 that we were checked in and told we would depart as soon as the weather cleared up a bit. Security was late in opening and by the time we were through, they were giving a final boarding call for our flight. "Really? Are we actually leaving? No more false alarms?" The plane departed at 6:45, and there was cheering as soon as we lifted off the ground. Not long into the flight, one of our flight attendants noticed us reading the Bible and shared with us bits of his story and interactions with church and scripture. After he collected the trash, he stayed and chatted with us for the remainder of the flight. We weren't sure how much of his motivation was from talking to two American girls and how much was from talking to believers, but either way he was excited to give me his contact info to be passed on to the missionaries here in Lima. We praise the Lord for our safe arrival into Lima and for our warm welcome into the home of John Mark and Tara Davidson. God is present and active in the hiccups of life, I thank Him for reminders like this to trust in Him.