So far Beijing has been, well as the title says, quite the adventure. Today marks the the end of my first week here, and it was both way too fast, and absurdly slow. (my RR girls will understand) Surprisingly i dont miss home quite as much as i thought i would. Maybe thats just because in this moment things seem pretty good. The first day I will admit I was pretty homesick. Getting off the plane and meeting the CSA staff and such was all good, but it was when i got back to my apartment at the end of the day and realized it was just me all alone in there that i felt that first twinge of panic. Thats sort of what homesickness feels like to me.....like the beginning of a panic attack. BUT of course I remembered that I have sort of built in friends here and i was fine once i got settled in.
It is strange though, to feel lonely even for the briefest if moments, in the most populated country in the world. (or is it India now? either way theres a whole lot of people here!) But when your handle of the language is as terrible as mine is, talking becomes a bit of a challenge. And of course when you cant really talk with people....well its not all that fun. Its funny because Ive noticed english speaking people tend to gravitate towards each other. Something familiar in an otherwise completely foreign world i guess.
But anyways after the moments of homesickness and loneliness, things began to settle down a bit. Of course today was only the second day of classes (which are a beast in their own right!) so im still not set into a routine, but Im getting there and it feels good to feel a bit more at home.....or as home as a laowai (foreigner) can feel in china!
More than anything, I miss New Hope and my amazing family there. Im only a week in, but it is SO apparent how ignored Christ is in this country. Just the over all emptiness is strange and disheartening. I know Simi is a bubble and that most of the world is really like this, its just makes it harder and more in your face when I dont have a built in support at my fingertips. This week I will get plugged into the christian community though. I have an amazing feeling about it and seriously cant wait to meet and fellowship here in Beijing! Theres a college group on thursday nights and various other weekend services, OH and their VBS starts the day after my final for my first class so im hoping to help out with that!
There is SO much more to tell, but its 9:30 pm and i still have to finish my homework for tomorrow. Basically I miss you all at home, but am making great friends here and am over all having a blast. Please continue to pray for God to open up doors, not just for me, but mainly to the hearts of the chinese people!
Love you all!
Ephesians 3:20-21
"The steps of a good man (or woman) are ordered by the Lord, and He delights in his (her) way (Ps 37:23)."
ReplyDeleteI know the Lord delights in you and the steps you have taken by going to China. So proud and excited for the work He is doing and will continue to do in you and through you.
Know that I am in your corner as a prayer warrior.
Great verses Stac, Im praying God does more than you can imagine while you're in China. God blesses the way of a righteous man... Im so proud of you for following one of your dreams..<3
ReplyDeleteStacy, that was not rough at all...you're a blog pro!! I miss you too! Know that (thanks to technology) you still do have built in support at your fingertips! I've enjoyed our Facebook chats and am looking forward to many more of them! Love you! - Denise
ReplyDeleteYour post brought joyful tears to my eyes. I am so excited for you! I will be praying for you! God will sure open doors, He is so faithful with His words of comfort and wisdom. You did a great job writing this and we miss you too!
ReplyDeleteNew Hope Sister
Daisy :)
Hey Stac,
ReplyDeleteSweet Hat!!... Glad to hear your having a good time.. And that you're waving the Red White and Blue...(in your heart of course)..I MISS you!!