Chinaversary

My 6 month China anniversary is a mere 2 days away. On July 28, I stepped onto a plane in Colorado and arrived in Beijing on July 29.

I am excited to mark this milestone because it means I can liberally throw around my made-up word, "Chinaversary." Chinaversary, Chinaversary, Chinaversary. Tell me that's not satisfying.

I am also happy to celebrate this anniversary because it means, by God's grace, I've survived:

• Overnight train rides that I thought would never end
• Eating animals and plants I didn't even know existed
• Living alone
• Building relationships in a culture very different from my own
• The blockage of almost all my favorite websites
• The 60th birthday of the PRC
• A brown Christmas
• Standing in front of a classroom 4 days a week and trying to bring something valuable
• Going deeper with students
• Cooking without cheese
• Baking without butter
• Leaving my community of family and friends
• Relying on my tiny team for fellowship
• Saying goodbye to efficiency and logic (but only sometimes)
• Carrying on my most valued relationships by Skype and e-mail

This anniversary also means, by God's grace, I have been blessed with 6 months of:

• Teaching 190 sweet, motivated, delightful students
• Learning something new daily and weekly
• Indulging in one of my loves - studying language
• Visiting with a few good friends from home
• Eating gan bian gan lan whenever my little heart desires
• Seeing something every day that you don't see every day
• Having my assumptions challenged
• Care packages -- thanks!
• Seeing God's word through fresh eyes (not mine)
• Being the fastest bicyclist on the street instead of the slowest
• Celebrating new holidays
• Faithful supporters back home
• Making new friends in my organization
• Laughing at Chinglish
• Joy, purpose, and satisfaction

Many of you have lived this half year vicariously as you have prayed, given, and kept in touch. Thanks for sticking with me, and I hope I've been able to give you a little taste of life in China.

Here's to the next 6 months. Happy Chinaversary!