SOOOOOOO - - - - -

YES....

I'm moving to China!

Thanks for all your fun responses to my surprising question!  I wish I could say that this dashing young man has swept me off my feet and is taking me off to a faraway place where we'll start a new life together... but no.  I have to tell you though, the thought did cross my mind to change my plans and move to some of those other places you suggested!   But --- you can't change where God calls you!

It's been an ever developing story - my involvement with China and BMH - but the climactic moment was about three days before I left China in August to come home.  David was talking about how God was showing 

him that he needed to move to China and start a children's ranch.  (Basically a foster home for orphans in China)  I had heard him talk about it before and had always thought that would be a fun thing to be a part of, but it didn't hit me 

like it did that afternoon.

As we sat with a couple other people in that small apartment room talking, I was overwhelmed by this peace that settled over me and God saying "You need to go".  From that moment on, I knew I was heading to home to tell my family I was going back.  

So, contrary to my utter sadness in leaving the country last year, not knowing when I would return, or even if ever, I got on that plane in Beijing with a resolution and peace in my heart that I would be back soon.  It was so exciting to come back and get the amazing support from my family with my decision!  And tho' it's probably gonna be one of the toughest things I ever attempted in my life, I am excited to see what God will do through it all!

As to what I'll be doing.... I - along with the other Americans who are going with me - will be starting - in a sense - my own little foster home.  It will be me, a Chinese intern, and two kids, ages 16-20.  We will be living together in an apartment in the general area of Kunming, China.  We will be settling in together after camp, somewhere around September first.  We will be there until December fifteenth.  (I coming home for Christmas!!!)  

During the three months we are together, we will be teaching the kids life skills, character building, devotions, English, relationship skills and more.  The goal is to provide them with the three most basic needs in life; Jesus, a family, and education.

It's gonna be an amazing time, not only with the kids and interns, but also with my American friends.  I know God has great plans and lessons to teach us all and I can't wait to see what He has in store.  

But this brings me to the sad part of leaving my family and friends my home country.  There will be lots of adjustments and I covet your prayers!  Also be praying for David and the others that will be on the team.  Pray that God will hand craft the group of people that should be a part of this first foster project.  Also being praying that God will provide the funds for me to live there for six months.  There are lots of little details to be put in order in the next nine months, but I know that the God who is writing this life story of mine is well able to provide!  One other thing you could pray about would be that of trying to learn the Chinese language a little better.  I've gotten a little beginners kit for speaking and reading Pinyin, but it is EXTREMELY OVERWHELMING and I get discouraged when I think of trying to master it.  I am just trying to get the tones and words soaked into my thick brain! ;)

Lastly, thanks to you all for the support and friendship you have offered me... I think also of you blogging friends out there who have been an encouragement to me.  I want you to know I appreciate your comments, emails, and prayers!  That's what helps to carry you when you are off in a foreign country alone.  I will be counting on you all to keep me up to speed on what happens around the homeland while I'm gone!  

Until then... I'm looking forward to getting back to here -

And doing lots more of this -  

: : : : 

:: And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endevoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them ::

Acts 16:10