Aka, my birthday. I may be the only person who finds that amusing, ha.
Birthdays are a special time to me. My life has been blessed ten-fold, and this is the one day specifically set aside for me to recognize the blessing that life is. It is on this day, 26 years ago, that God granted me this blessing and brought me into the world. I anxiously anticipate this day, my day to give thanks to God for all that I am and have. Thank you, Lord, for knitting me together so!
For anyone who knows me, you may know I not only like to celebrate for my birthday, but I insist that all my friends celebrate with me. Being so far from home, I was a little apprehensive about how this birthday would go down, but China did me good! My team was so amazing, showing me an abundance of love given through choice and not obligation. The kind of love that romances you, the kind of love God is teaching me about. This birthday was one I’ll remember for the rest of my life. I wish you could’ve been there!
Since you couldn’t, I thought I’d share a few pictures of the gifts I received from many of my new Chinese friends. . .
Alice gave me a panda face mask. . .
. . . and a stuffed animal turtle.
Two boys brought me a huge bundle of concord grapes and 7 apples.
Jackie bought me a beautiful arm bag.
Jordan and Shannon, fellow young missionaries, brought me a spicy, pickled chicken foot and a hawthorn berry fruit roll, and another girl brought me a box of cookie treats.
Kelly and her friend Daniel found my blog and created a cartoon depiction of my profile picture.
Steph, our contact, bought me a pedicure. It still looks beautiful, and perfect for the warm African weather! I think of you, Steph, every time I look at my toes. We miss you so!!!!!
Devin painted me a banner in Chinese calligraphy that says “Friendship is forever.”
The English Corner students cooked dinner for the party.
And this list doesn’t even cover everything! Man, was I spoiled! Levi gave me a wooden Chinese symbol that means “Righteousness,” which is also part of his Chinese name, Tian E. It is the symbol of the word “lamb” over the symbol for the word “you,” yay Jesus! Another girl brought me a bottle of Chinese red wine. My team left little trinkets about throughout the day: a bottle of nail polish on my pillow, earrings on my church seat, coffee for my morning, a beautiful scarf, a two-tiered cake! It was all way more than I deserve. Oh, how I am blessed!!!!
So this year, I had a whole slew of things to be grateful for. My heart can barely contain the blessing of these new people in my life, my new Chinese friends and my loving Team Nikao. I’ll never fathom the mystery of such a blessed life in a world with so much darkness. There’s just no rhyme or reason why I should have all that I have.
Current financial status: $9,547.36
Upcoming Deadline: $10,500.00 by December 1st !!
To my father, an ever wonderful example of God’s provision and love, THANK YOU! To my beautiful Jacqui and her husband, Russ, THANK YOU! To Aunt Mary, my namesake, THANK YOU! To my India travel buddy, Whitney, THANK YOU and CONGRATS!!!!
