Utter Delight.

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

An Announcement...

I have been trying to think of the best way to tell all of you friends out there some really big news...  and since I couldn't come up with anything great, I thought I would say it like this.

I'M MOVING.

(Can any of you who don't already know... guess where and why???)

Our Program...

Here's some pics from our little program we pulled off at the Kalona Fall Fest...

Wal-Mart Fun

David and I were talking today about completely work related things when he started telling me these random things to do in WalMart.  It was our comedic relief for the day!!!

Have you had yours???  

• Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute 
  

intervals.

• Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice, 
  

"Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away."

• Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&M's on 
  

layaway.

• Moved a "CAUTION - WET FLOOR" sign to a carpeted area.
  

• Set up a tent in the camping department and told other 
  

shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets 
from the bedding department.

• When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying 
  

and screamed, "Why can't you people just leave me alone?"

• Looked right into the security camera and used it as a 
  

mirror while he picked his nose.

• While handling guns in the hunting department, he 
  

asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.

• Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming 
  

the "Mission Impossible" theme.

•  Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, 
  

yelled "PICK ME! PICK ME!"

• When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he 
  

assumed a fetal position and screamed "OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!"

BIG CHANGES!!

Hey Friends...

We have discontinued our 'iowatelecom' email addresses, but in the process failed to save everyone else's email address.

I you think that I had your email address before and you'd still like to hear from me... can you send it to my new account which is

nicolechmelar@gmail.com

Thanks!!

On the Subject of Humility

"Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.  Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.  Let Israel hope in the Lord from henceforth and for ever."

Psalm 131

* * *

- If I can try a little harder and do better why do I need God??

What Iowans Do For Fun In The Fall.

WE PLAY IN CORN!!!

A Random Lil' Photoshoot

John and Sarah

This morning the seven of us kids woke up at the crack of 4 am to head off for the Eastern Iowa Airport where John McCain and Sarah Palin were speaking.  We arrived at 6 am and proceeded to stand for five solid hours.  It was well worth the wait, hunger pains, thirstiness, and exaustion for the front row standing room we got.  Each of us got to shake Mr. McCain's hand and would have gotten to Mrs. Palin if the over-protective dark-glasses-dudes wouldn't have taken her the other direction.  

Regardless, we had a fun time watching history unfold before our very eyes.  Let's keep praying as we have only 47 days left before the election!!

Huddling for a little warmth...



Waiting...

Their here!!!
This girl's a little fireball!  (And she calls her husband the 'First Dude' of Alaska! :P

This is how close we got!!
And here's the hands that shook his! ;P

Brave Cuteness

*Don't they look like they should be on a cd cover?! :P  (This is a roof by the way... thus the bravery)

Operation 'Office McDonalds'

In search of any location with wireless internet so my new jobs can be accomplished, I have decided McDonalds is a great place for the newest Bring Me Hope office.  With food, drink and climbing toys for when I get bored, what more could a girl want?!

Welcome to my pad!  :P

Old Maidhood

So as we may have mentioned multiple times before, Tiff and I are housesitting for going on two weeks now.  It has been fun trying out 'Old Maidhood' ... and we're having fun doing it -- at the moment that is.  (Preferably not permenantly)

Here's what happened around the big house today.

Tiffany texting and feeding her face.

Me... well, what can I say.  I was working.  Emptying and filling the dish washer, 

making tea... and doing all other sorts of odd jobs.

It's a good day.

:P

Butterfly Garden

Somebody had a little something on her back... and here's what she thought!  :P

WHAT??

NICOLE!!!!

Humakua

Tonight Tiff and I went to volunteer at a youth center in Washington called Humakua.  It's Hawaiian for 'Breath of God'.  

I don't think I'll ever tire of watching what a little loving attention can

do for kids.  There were a bunch of teenagers hanging out there and of course they were talking about what all teenagers talk about; who likes who, who's hot, always trying to show the next person they're better than the next.  They were boistrous and flirty... but when things started to settle down and kids starting leaving, there were only two boys left.  Tiff and I started playing games with them.  We played Ping Pong (which I stink at), Foosball, and Air Hockey.  They became different boys.  The one in particular.  He looked like a rough kid, long hair, skull sweatshirt, and earlier the other kids were joking that his mom didn't even care about him because he didn't have to be home 'til 10:30.  The more we played, the nicer they got...the one kid even let me beat him in Air Hockey.

I wonder what these seemingly confident kids think in the quiet of their own room at night.  Do they feel all empty and alone?  Do they really not feel like their parents love them?  Do they wish they didn't have to be the 'tough guy'?

There is so much hurt in our world.  So much pain.  So much sadness.  Thanks be to God that we know where true happiness comes from.  True peace.  True joy.  True love.

And may we never get too busy to pass it on to those around us.

'But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with

healing in his wings; and you shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.'

Malachi 4:2

Going To The Park