Happy New Year! It is the dawn of 2012, a year brimming with potential and possibility. Although transitioning into a new year can sometimes be a bit bumpy, I do love to start afresh and anew, believing that God has so much more in store as I learn to walk deeper with Him.
We spent New Year’s Eve at the beach, and whenever I wasn’t splashing through the waves and avoiding stray jellyfish tentacles, I was on the shore, reflecting on 2011 and recounting God’s faithfulness through it all. Rather than a lengthy narrative, though, I thought I’d summarize with two Top Ten lists… my Top Ten Noteworthy Events from 2011 and my Top Ten Resolutions for 2012.
Top Ten Noteworthy Events from 2011
10. 37 flights (27 of those were before the World Race began). Too bad most of those flights weren’t with frequent flier mileage programs. On a side note, that was eleven countries, six states, and Lord knows how many towns and cities. Pretty ridiculous for someone who hates flying as much as I do.
9. Driving a manual transmission (stick-shift) truck, with 15 passengers, on the left side of the road, in Thailand. Dare I admit that prior to driving a manual transmission in Thailand, I had had no more than 30 minutes of on-the-road driving experience with a stick-shift car in the US…on the right side of the road.
8. Celebrating my seventh year as a teacher. It doesn’t seem that long ago when I was wrestling with God about the fact that I didn’t ever want to be a teacher. But the joke is certainly on me, and I’m sure He’s still getting a kick out of the fact that I absolutely love teaching now and see how He crafted me to be one from the moment He first formed me. Go God.
7. Nearly drowning in the Nile River while whitewater rafting in Jinja, Uganda. Videographic evidence can be found HERE.
6. Traveling around China: from the Hakka Tulou buildings of Fuzhou to the limestone karsts of Guilin, and from the grape valleys of Turpan to the glacier lakes of Kashgar along the Silk Road. China has everything from lush tropical weather to deadly deserts that border some of the highest peaks in the world. It was certainly amazing to see God’s incredible creation throughout China.
5. Unexpected medical emergencies: Yes, plural. After a nasty allergic reaction to my Yellow Fever vaccine last April, I’ve had recurring lung infections that have required numerous visits to the doctor. At the end of June, I had a painful back episode that left me flat on my back for a week and unable to fly home. I’m so thankful for my gracious friends, the McCorkles, who took such wonderful care for me when I could barely roll over, much less sit up in a chair.
4. Visits with each of my parents and my brother: My dad and brother traveled with me to Xinjiang (northwest China) and Guilin (southern China) in March, and then my Mom arrived at the end of April for a weeklong visit. Family time is a blessing no matter where you are, but I have to say that having each of my family members visit me in China was an extra special treat this year.
3. Fire evacuation: At the end of June, the day I was supposed to fly home, my hometown in New Mexico was issued a mandatory evacuation due to a forest fire burning in the nearby mountains. That happened to be the same day I threw my back out while visiting friends in Reno. Either way, I wouldn’t have been able to go home that day, even if I had wanted to. God has an ironic sense of humor indeed.
2.Saying farewell to friends, colleagues, and students in Beijing. This was probably one of my hardest farewells to date, and I definitely miss the wonderful community I had during the three years I lived there. I don’t know if God will call me back to China, but there’s always the possibility. Meanwhile, I’m so thankful for Skype and e-mail.
1. Embracing God’s newest adventure for me: The World Race. Needless to say, the World Race has been one of the biggest, defining bits of 2011. From taking a leap of faith in believing He would provide all of my financial support (which He did, praise God!), to flying across the Pacific to meet my squadmates for the first time at Training Camp last May, to finally leaving on August 1st, I have been amazed by the continued certainty I feel that this was God’s calling for me this year. We have five months behind us and six months left to see more of the Lord’s hand work. I can’t wait!
Top Ten Resolutions for 2012
10. Floss. Daily. Let’s be real, the dentist says to do it, but the only time I pull that waxed string out is when I’ve got something stuck between my teeth that a toothpick or toothbrush just won’t reach. But after getting two cavities filled in the Philippines, I have decided to finally heed the dentist’s instructions.
9. More Water, Less Caffeine. It might be tricky to wean myself off of coffee and tea altogether, but I would like to try to consume less than my usual two-to-three cups a day. Being on the World Race has not really facilitated this, though, as we were drinking tea daily in Africa and had access to brewed coffee 24-7 in the Philippines. Throw Thai Iced Tea into that equation and the honest truth is that caffeine is a daily temptation that I far too often succumb to. But, for the sake of health, I’m going to give eight-glasses-of-agua-per-day a try.
8. Run. And maybe actually grow to like it. I love walking, but I first started jog-walking while we were in Rwanda. When we reached the Philippines, we had a beautiful soccer field and a hilly path by a monastery where I was able to run each morning. In Thailand, we have a reservoir dam nearby that has been a gorgeous, albeit hilly, place to run each day. Dare I say that I’m becoming a runner?
7. Further develop my photography abilities. I love taking pictures. I spent nearly half of my monthly budget in college on developing film (yes, it was the pre-digital age). On the Race, I have been learning how to use the fantastic digital SLR that my Dad gave me last Christmas and thankfully getting better day by day, with the help of a fellow squadmate who has the same camera as well.
6. Make it to 30 and love it. Yes, I’m officially joining the big 3-0 club on April 26th. How will I celebrate? The Lord only knows, except that I will probably be in the Ukraine. Not such a bad way to usher in a new decade.
5. Write a song. Or more. I have only written a handful of songs in my life, most of which were gifts to friends for one occasion or another. God has been growing my heart more and more through worship and praise this past year, and I would love to write songs that reflect what He’s been teaching me.
4. Write. Period. When I was eight, I decided that I was going to be an author. I even voluntarily took summer school classes so that I could learn how to be a better writer. The dream faded in high school crushed by the discouragement of several of my English teachers. In recent years, however, several people have challenged me to consider writing again. So, I figure, why not give it a try this year?
3. Rest, God’s Way. Again and again on the World Race, God has been teaching me about the power and grace found in His rest. One of my teammates reminded me that I don’t ever have to DO anything to earn God’s love. He loves me unconditionally, whether I do anything or not. My worth and value is not found in what I do, but in resting in my identity in Christ. So this coming year I want to live in greater confidence in that identity, living my life out of dwelling in God’s rest.
2. Read the entire Bible at least once before the end of the World Race. It’s Day 4 and I’m a quarter of the way through Exodus. Still 64 ½ books of the Bible left to go!
1. Living God’s adventure for my life…for the rest of the World Race and beyond. I still don’t know what life beyond the World Race holds yet, but I trust that the same God who will bring me through these eleven months has plans for all that is yet to come. As my family often says, we can only take life “one day at a time, one moment at a time.” I choose to live each new day in the light of God’s glorious love and grace.
Whatever your new year holds, I hope and pray that it would be filled more with God’s presence, love, hope, joy, and peace. God bless!!
