China has been a month of joy.
China has taught me what it means to let go and live in the moment.
China has brought me a variety of children who come from different backgrounds and experiences, but have one thing in common: joy.
10 joyful moments in China:
1. Ordering our last family style meal in Mandarin Chinese!
2. Watching as a once-orphan-now-daughter runs into her now-mother’s arms, shouts “mommy”, and gives the biggest smile. At last she is going home to America to meet the rest of her family.
3. Going to an international worship night and worshipping with missionaries in China from across the world.
4. A few of the homeschoolers convincing me to show them a very embarrassing rap video some friends and I made in high school for chemistry class. Afterwards I say, “I’m glad you guys are still my friends after seeing that.” To which one of the 13 year old boys replies, “Are you kidding me?? We’re even better friends now!”
5. Walking back from English conversation corner in Beijing and stumbling upon a group of people dancing in the streets. One of the ladies reaches out her hands and asks me to dance. I look like a fool trying to dance with her, but we laugh through the awkwardness.
6. Playing video games with some of the English conversation corner children out on the streets. Everyone on the street is watching as one of the children, Bill, teaches me how to affectively shoot down zombies. When we are done he comes up to me and says, “I’m so happy!”
7. Going to the children’s English teacher’s house and playing ball with her three year old son. Although we only played for half an hour, his mom translates that he says, “You made this my happiest night!”
8. Cleaning the patio of the foster home with a hose and scrub brushes with a few of my squad mates. As I spray the water on the concrete, slug-like creatures begin gushing out of the hose. We scream and then just laugh as we scrub the patio floor with slug water.
9. Meeting two American women at the foster home who had just gotten back from a trip to North Korea (Legally on a choir trip). Their joy was emitting from them as they explain how they got to pray and sing over North Korea during their trip.
10. Conquering my fears of heights at the Great Wall by riding a ski lift up, climbing ladders on the wall, and tobogganing down.
Thank you God for this month!
