Just My Luck

So.... 


Devra + Chinese cell phone + Chinese bus = disaster....

1st bus ride my phone was stolen. 
Second bus ride, i lost it....
Is god just trying to send me a message or something?

Living in the Moment

So I have started reading a new book called Seizing your Divine Moment by Erwin McMannus.  In case you can’t tell by the title the book is about knowing your dreams and taking advantage of the moment to make them happen. 

It is an appropriate book to read this summer because China is a part of my dreams for my future.  Right now I have the opportunity to learn about the culture and learn the language.  I have the opportunity to develop my walk with the Lord, to prepare spiritually and physically for the school year.  I have the opportunity to learn more about being a parent as I live with a family.

This summer is a moment to prepare for the future, but it is also  a moment to seize itself.

Here are some quotes:

·         “Adventureà an undertaking or enterprise of a hazardous nature.”

·         “The quest is to live the life God created you to experience.  The journey begins now-in this moment. And whatever you do, don’t underestimate what you may find.”

·         “The most important moments rarely come at a convenient time.  Sometimes you wish that God would check your calendar first.  The ironic part is that our schedules get so packed with the mundane and ordinary, and we become irritated with God when He interrupts us with the miraculous and extraordinary.”    

·         “Moments carry the momentum of the past and fuel the momentum of the future.”

Switching Gears:

Anyway, I have been having a blast.  I have met hilarious people, and I live with adorable kids.  The best is when Gabriel, the 5 year old boy, gives me a kiss or something because I can tease him about how my boyfriend is going to be jealous.

Or when the kids play hid and seek, they don’t quite grasp the concept yet.  Especially not Abby, the 2 ½ year old who runs out of her hiding spot screaming. Lol.

How about the awesome “you lunatic foreigner” looks I get when I go running around the river outside my apartment?  I tell you what, the Chinese have that look mastered.  I thought I knew what it was to be stared at, but then I came to China, and then I went running in China. 

Great moments when I chase down a Chinese teenage and “ask” (in my non-existent Chinese) to play with their soccer ball or ride their ripstick around.  I love the look on their face… I can just hear their thoughts “Oh no the crazy foreigner is running up to us… wait, she wants what?  I can’t wait to see how this turns out…”

Laugh if you want, but that has happened many times.  One time I chased three teenage guys down the road at like 10 at night to juggle their soccer ball for a few seconds.  My friends were cracking up, and the three Chinese guys… they didn’t know what to think.  I bet they still look like a deer in the head lights.

Fun Fact:  you can ask my mom for confirmation, but I am forever getting something on myself.  I try to avoid wearing white because I know that item of clothing is doomed. 

SO, imagine me with chopsticks.  I mean I am fairly proficient, but still noodles and such are hard, and the spices turn everything red.  I made a bunch of tie dye for this trip… good thing, because the splash stains don’t show =). 

Right now, at this moment, I am trying to make the most of the little things because I am coming down off of literally climbing a mountain every day.  It is an interesting transition to make back into normal life, but the refreshment from the last few days is still with me.  God is good, and I am loving being here.

Well that is all for now, I will have tons to share after this weekend hopefully. =)

Over and Out,

Li Ai

Ps… if you like kettle corn, move to China.  The popcorn here has a nice sweet aftertaste. But if you are a fan of movie theater popcorn, then steer clear. 

Rest, Relaxation, and Warfare

You know how refreshing it is to take a shower?  If you don’t let me assure you I am personally acquainted with the refreshing quality of a shower because I just took my first one in (over) four days.  It was one of the best ever, in the whole world.

That refreshed, rejuvenated feeling is a great picture of what this last week, and especially the little road trip I just went on have been for me. These last 4 days I spent on a trip to see Kate and Alex’s friends from Georgia- Josh and McKinnley.  The 3 of us and Lydia a German Girl went to a city that is the beginning of the Tbetan plateau.  Talk about beautiful!

While we were there we hiked mountains, had times of worship, time to fellowship on a deep level and to goof off.  We shopped for souvenirs, tried new food, hiked some more, toured the monastery, met people, ministered, taught English, and most importantly we worshiped or Creator and waged some spiritual warfare for this city trapped in such darkness.

This city is nestled in the middle of the mountains and is at an elevation of about 9,000 feet.  Foreigners aren’t allowed to live permanently because the government doesn’t want any more riots in that area after the ones that happened there a couple years ago.

It is home to a huge monastery that houses around 2000 monks, not to mentions the ones who travel there to pray. 

Here is a little tid bit about Buddhism:

Buddhism is very regional.  Chinese Buddhism is different from Thai Buddhism, which is different from Tbetan.  I have been exposed to all three, and in my opinion Tbetan Buddhism is the darkest form.  This brand is down right scary at times. 

First there are over 1000 Buddhas and then there are the guardian gods (talk about some freaky pictures). 

There is only reincarnation for the people who achieve the status of lama which is a living Buddha.  To reach that you have to be a monk and then a master, and honestly hardly any reach this status.  When we asked our monk tour guide he flat out told us that when you die “that’s it.”  

Talk about a depressing religion.  These people go on pilgrimages to temples to pray, they spin the wheels countless times, rub their prayer beads, hike mountains to prayer places, scatter prayer cards all over the place, bring offerings, and walk around the temples literally thousands (10,000 is best) of times… and all for what?  For naught.  To still be destined for hell.

The darkness is thick, at times I could feel it when someone would look at me, and other points I literally felt as if my skin was crawling.  Luckily, “God didn’t give us a spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.” (2 Tim 1:7).  And He told us that the darkness can’t overtake the light (John 1:5).

Compare and Contrast:

I am so glad that when I look at the mountains around that city that I am driven to worship the One True God, the Creator who spoke that majestic place into existence.  Simply spoke it.  Not only did He first imagine it, but all it took was His word to come to be.

I am glad that when I see the size of the mountains I remember the size of my God and I hike to their tops to gain a greater appreciation of who my Savior is.  I hike those mountains and am freed as I revel in God’s power and grace.

When I climb I climb with God, worshipping as I go, and climbing by His power because the oxygen is VERY THIN when you get to 14,000 feet… in shape or not, you need oxygen. lol.

Not so for the Tbetans….

When they climb those mountains they go to the tops because they think that is where there gods reside. 
They climb to spend hours in devoted, fervent prayer to something that doesn’t exist so therefore has no ears to hear them.

Their religion that defines so much of who they are and what they do, and it is hopeless. They live and die in darkness. These people live and die most likely having never heard the Gospel. 

Prayer:

My prayers in that city were bold.  We encountered spiritual warfare just from the darkness of that religion, but we also encountered sickness and lost cell phones.  We waged war in the form of worship and living as lights while we were there, but also through prayer.
Please join me in my prayers that those high places of worship would be torn down and replaced with worship of Jesus.  Pray that the monastery that is such a hub of spiritual darkness would be transformed into a place that educates and sends out ministers of the Light instead.  Pray that people would come with the Gospel to this place- that their feet would be beautiful on the mountain tops because they bring good news (Is 52:7).  Pray and war for these people.  They really are going to hell, because when we die it’s not “that’s it”; it is eternity in one of two places… pray that they are presented with the opportunity to go to heaven.

Rest and Relaxation:

All of that being said I am sure you are wondering “why on earth did she include Rest and Relaxation in the title of this?”  Well, I think that it depends on your focus.

On this trip I rejuvenated a spirit of worship in my life.  I poured out and was filled up.  I was stretched a bit, but also I had a ton of fun.  When you are with like minded people, and you are living for the Kingdom’s glory there is a relaxation and refreshment found there. 

Jesus is the living water, so nothing is more refreshing than Him.  When He is your focus no matter if it’s hiking, hanging out, ministering, sleeping in a sketchy hotel, or interceding for the people perishing in darkness His living water sustains and refreshes you.

The last four days were amazing, but now I need some physical rest.  Stay tuned for more updates!

Over and out,

Li Ai (aka Devra)

Ps… for those of you who know me, yes it is Jesus who sustains and refreshes not coffee.

Prayers and Pictures

Prayer Requests:

1. Safety when I travel because we are here, there and everywhere right now.
2. That I would learn some more Chinese so that I can talk to these people.
3. That THE Light would shine in this darkness.  
• Honestly, pray some crazy big things... that all these mosques would be emptied and torn down, that they would go from somewhat nominal Islam to whole-heartedly worshiping the Living God. 
• Pray that the Temples on the mountain tops here would become places where the Lord is worshiped, a place where beautiful feet that bring Good News stand.
4. The family that i live with, that they would be unified and filled with love. A place where God is glorified and His love demonstrated both in ministry and in the relationships there.
5. I need humility, patience, being a learner, and having a servants heart.
• I want to learn about the people, the culture, how/what it takes to be here.
• I need the right focus--> God's agenda and not mine.
• I want to be a blessing to the people here.  
6. Joy, peace.... Basically all the fruit of the Spirit
7. That I would develop the Father's heart for the Chinese and Tibetans, see them through His eyes, and gain further insight into God's calling for my life.
8. That I will continue to find rest.  
• Rest physically in the form of a good night's sleep no matter where I am. 
• Rest emotionally. 
• Rest spiritually because I need to rest in my Creator.  Sit at His feet.  Be filled up so I can pour out.
9. To maintain relationships with people at home, but not to be homesick, and to find a balance between maintaining relationships a home and being fully here.
10. Pray for the seeds that have been planted in the lives of some of the people that we have met with, students at English corners, the two Tibetan girls, and a girl named Vicky that i met at KFC.  Also pray for the believers i have met that they would be strengthened, discipled, and be Jesus just in Chinese skin.
11. Lastly, that this summer would prepare me for heading into my senior year and "growing up."

some pictures: 

Most of them won't upload but here are some random things that i experience here.

Me and Gabriel :-)

Chinese microwave popcorn.  

ps... the pink and red bags are better

Skype date with my mom (and my dad on speaker)

The Rewards

Disclaimer:  I was told not to use real city names so bear with me.

My schedule this week was quite ridiculous.  On Sunday evening the wife, the kids and I got on a train (my first Chinese train ride!!!).  And we went to LanJ.  We spent a day and a half there working on visa things, staying at a friend’s house, saying goodbye to our South African friends, and meeting with other foreigners. 

From there we went to LingS.  LanJ has 2 million people in it and is rather large, but this city was much smaller.  It has many Tibetan people.  The drive there is heartbreaking… seeing how they farm and seeing mosque after mosque after mosque, and some Buddhist temples too. 

Anyway we spent the night there and the next day went back to LanJ and I hopped on a bus back to XiN.  And I have had many adventures of my own and am about to have many more. 

Ok now that you have the skeleton outline let me elaborate on this past week. It has been crazy.  Traveling with the family was a battle for joy and proper focus.  While it is a great opportunity to learn about the people, the culture, what other foreigners are doing here, and what it takes to live here, it is also very stressful and draining to never know what is next. Plus travel is hard on children, and therefore hard on the ones that are helping with said children. 

But God is so faithful in the midst of that.  Here are the highlights of what I have gotten to do:

Last Saturday I had lunch with a girl named Vicky.  She and I will hopefully continue talking… I hope to be able to share the Good News with her this summer, to at least plant a seed. 

Also last Saturday I had the chance to go to an orphanage and hold kids who have cerebral palsy and little babies.  That was a blessing. God poured so much grace and love into those kids that day, and I got to be his instrument.  That was amazing.

On the train I sat with a bunch of Chinese girls who are in university.  We played cards and just had a great time.  That was a fun opportunity to learn a few new Chinese words, and fellowship with the people that God has placed on my heart.

Since I have been back in XiN, I have been able to go to an English corner where I met a Chinese girl who is part of our family and pray with her.  Random fact about her… she is an amazing beatboxer and her boyfriend is also part of our family.  

Kate and Alex (2 girls from GA) and I had the pleasure to go to her school and help at their english club yesterday…. That was SOOO Much fun!

I met up with a team from Texas who are here for a couple weeks and they were great.  That was some very refreshing fellowship.  I have been able to hang out with Kate and Alex more as well which is very refreshing, encouraging, and a source of joy. 

Lastly last night we had dinner with two Tibetan girls.  We were able to share the Good news with them.  It really seemed like Dad was touching them, softening their hearts to His word.

So the lesson I have learned is that if your hearts focus is right, things aren’t so bad.  God gives grace to make it through and if you will just hold on He has something great waiting on the other side for you. 

Comparison, focus, worship, negativity, homesickness, patience, and a need to pray are all things that I am dealing with right now.  Last night I got to spend time with a woman who is here long term, and she shared how what I am experiencing now is just a taste of what people who are here long term experience.

I am getting ready to go on a trip with Kate and Alex to meet with some guys from GA in a city that is quiet Tibetan.  First i think that we are going camping. lol.  But this week will be an experience.  Wednesday I meet back up with the family, and resume life as not-so-normal.  So we will see what Dad has in store!

Like I said before this life is NOT GLAMOROUS…. But hard work and a lot of prayer opens doors.  Doors that need to be opened.  There are so many Chinese who have yet to hear about THE Savior. 

The Challenges (in a nut shell)

A lot has been happening this summer, but at the same time it feels like nothing at all.  I don’t know how else to put that.  It is hard to feel like what you are doing is significant in the kingdom and hard to feel like you are accomplishing anything when you are taking care of kids all day.  When you are just helping a family keep track of their children as you go here and there and do this and that. 

This summer is a short-term trip. It’s the longest short-term trip that I have been on, but still it’s only for one summer. The difference is that it feels more long-term.  I am not living the super-hyped, on spiritual steroids, boldly sharing your faith and constantly feeling like God is just pouring out through you like you do on a short-term trip.

The hard things are that my fellowship with others similar to myself is limited.  My quiet times generally have fussy kids as the background. My life has to be very flexible, and unscheduled. I have to have patience (not my strong suit).  I get homesick every so often.  I can’t talk to the people that my heart has been filled with love for and tell them the Good News because I don’t speak their language… yet. 

It is hard because all I want to do is minister to these people. 

It is also hard because I have a lot waiting for me at home as I will be returning just in time to jump head first into a crazy busy senior year.   I literally have to come home and hit the ground running because I have soccer starting just a couple weeks after I get back to America.

So these are some of the things that are challenging.

G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S. Not.

So week two is swiftly drawing to a close and this is what I have to say.  This is life, this call isn’t glamorous.  It isn’t a constant high.  It is real life. It is normal life, just in a different place.  Being a missionary isn’t about flying across an ocean; it is about what you do with the time you have.  It is about your focus.

This isn’t glamorous.  It is just real.  Yes, I love taking the bus, and having humorous taxi rides.  I like adventuring, going to new restaurants and cafes, taking pictures, and meeting all sorts of other foreigners with similar passions.

Yeah I see weird foods (and avoid them), I have to use the occasional squatty potty (that really doesn’t faze me at all), and the language barrier makes for a lot of awkward laughs and some frustration.  Also, I think I know exactly how the little frog in Frogger feels.  No joke.  The only difference is that I control myself, it might be better if someone had a bird’s eye view and was controlling me from a giant Gameboy when trying to cross a Chinese street. 

As amazing as it is to see God’s grace and favor displayed in powerful ways, it is also scary to think that your friend could get fined or kicked out of the country because their visa was expired for a few days.

This life is real.  The people here are real. The spiritual warfare here is real.  The bondage from Buddhism, Islam, spiritism, and other cultural things is real.  The people begging on the side of the road, they are real. The kids both happy and sad, well provided for and needy are real.  The smells are real.  Difficulties with the internet are real.  The struggles of being a foreigner and being part of a foreign family trying to do ministry here, all of it, every part of life… it is real.

It is real, and it is not glamorous.

BUT…. Real is better than glamorous. Real is more rewarding.  I don’t know what the rewards from this summer will be.  I have no idea what all I am going to walk away from this summer with, but I know that what I am experiencing is real life and not a temporary high.  To be honest I am not on a high at all and that is something that I am actually very glad about.

My heart is beginning to break.  I see these people and I pray for them more every day.  BUT I can’t do anything about it.  I wish I could talk to them… I am here, but I can’t talk to them, all I can do right now is pray as I see them in the bus and on the sidewalk and all around me.  It is starting to be a little heart wrenching… I just want to be able to see the word of Is. 9:2 come to pass here “the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has a light dawned.” And as selfish as it is, I want to be the one who’s feet are beautiful because they bring the Good News.

But I am learning a different lesson right now.  I am learning that this life is about resting in God and serving in a way that you are a blessing to others. It is about smiling at people in the street, distracting fussing kids, helping old ladies across the street, and praying.  This life is about blessing and supporting those around you.

This life is real.  The only glamorous parts are when God says to hide in the rock and look upon His glory as He passes by (Ex 33:17-34:7).  The only glamorous part is God.