Reflections

I have been reflecting on a lot of things in the past couple of days. 7 weeks ago we left all we knew. Our country. Our city. Our language. Our family. Our friends. Our comforts. We were excited. We were scared. We were sad. We were happy. We were nervous. We were at peace. 

We are here. Some amazing things have been going on. We have been blessed beyond measure. A wonderful flat to live in. Furniture to sit on. A team to connect with. A team to support us. A team to come along side and help us. New relationships. New friends for all of us. Comforts away from all we knew. Peace. 

There have been some things that we've had to learn and adjust to. No vehicle. Busing it everywhere. Shopping at multiple places for all our needs. Being followed at some of those place because we are white. Language barrier. Stares from locals. Locals trying to take our picture (with or without asking). Callings out of 'guoren' (foreigner). Callings out of 'si heiza!' (4 children!). Food. Yet there is still peace. 

We have seen more of our children in the past 7 weeks then we have in the past year (maybe an exaggeration, but you get my point). Im loving it. My children have amazed me. Their willingness to adapt. Their willingness to 'go with the flow'. The way they accept things. The way they are accepting the people (locals and team members). Home schooling. Hanging out together watching DVD's. Family meals. Breakfast, lunch and supper! Smiles on their faces when they play together. Big kids making meals. Everyone helping out with cleaning. Less fighting, more cooperating. Laughing together. Smiling together. Sad together. Talking. Really talking. Growing together. 

Gd is showing us how to be a family. Showing us what is important. Showing us what we can do without. He is giving us all we need. And its not always what we thought we needed. He is there for each of us. Drawing us closer to Him. We depend on Him like never before. Our dependence isnt always evident, but in our quiet times you can see us leaning on Him. He is carrying us. He is holding us. He is guiding us. He is giving us His peace. 

Gd is teaching us to be flexible. To be content. To be accommodating. To listen. To talk. To follow Him. 

We are continually being asked if we have started working yet. I have expressed this to various team members. Those who have been here for a while. Those who know the 'ins and outs' of living in China. The same answer is given time and time again. We ARE working. Working is more then just being in a project. More then just being with the ICC children day after day. Working is figuring out how to live in China with 4 children. Working is building relationships with the team. Working is ensuring paperwork is in order. Working is doing our Team Life Coordinator/Coach things. Working is language classes. Working is exploring Changsha. Working is parenting our own children - Gd didnt call us here to work with abandoned children and to abandon our own to do it. Yes, working is being with the ICC children, but its more then that. 

Although we have been working in the capacity above, we also worked with ICC children last week and are on of a plan for the following weeks. Andrew will be working with the boys in the Lighthouse on Thursday mornings. He is going to build relationships with them. Once he knows the boys better and they know him, Andrew will be taking them out to MaiDangLao (McDonalds) for lunch on Thursdays. This was started by a team member who left about a month ago. The kids loved it! Andrew hopes to continue this outing. This not funded by ICC. It is supported by ICC. 

I visited VTC and the Lighthouse last week. This week I will be visiting En quen yuan (EQY). I will be assisting the OT with some play therapy with the children. The plan for me is to spend 1/2 day at each of the 3 projects each week. I been asked to introduce painting to the VTC group. To get some new activities going for them. At the Lighthouse I will be working with Josie and the preschool children (ages 4-6). I will be following her lead. And then at EQY doing the play therapy with the OT, Christy. A somewhat regular schedule should be in place next week. 

So, in response to if we are working. The answer is a huge YES. Without a doubt. 

 Looking at where we have come. Where we have been. Where we are going. All points to one thing. Gd. His peace. His glory. His will. This is still an adventure. A journey. Filled with good times and not so good times. But in the end, if we have His peace and are doing His will, we will survive through it all, good and not so good.