I'M IN ASIA!!!

I’m in Asia!  Believe it or not, it’s almost July here!  We’re 13 hours ahead of Central Time.  About seven hours ago, we hopped off our 14-hour plane ride—I slept for about 8 hours of it after being awake for 25 straight—and entered the large (and humid!) Hong Kong International Airport.  After loading all 100 or so of us onto three large buses, we drove up winding, scenic roads to a small YWCA in the midst of mountains.  

It’s currently pouring, but that certainly hasn’t stopped the humidity a small YWCA in the midst of mountains.  It’s currently pouring, but that certainly hasn’t stopped the insane humidity or excited spirits from filling our campsite.

The five other girls on my team and I met our team leader—Amanda, originally from Pella and Dordt—and she led us to our small hotel-like room complete with eight bunk beds!  Our team met together, did some general introductions, and then planned a short skit/rap song to perform to introduce Team Ming Yin to the other ENGAGE teams!  We’ll grab lunch soon, then spend the rest of our time here (until Friday morning) doing several other training activities and discussion/instruction-like meetings.

Now that you know what I’ve been up to, here’s how I’m doing:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.      I’m super hot and sweaty all the time, but I’m pretty sure I’ll get super used to that.  Thanks to Iowa for teaching me what it’s like to walk outside and need a shower almost immediately from the humidity J

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.       <!--[endif]-->I’m exhausted.  I have some excited energy left, but quite a bit of that was used during the couple of hours before boarding our flight yesterday and on the plane ride over here.  It looks like we’re done with training around 9-10 PM every night, so I should get over this jetlag pretty quickly and rest up.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.       <!--[endif]-->I’m overwhelmed.  There are SO many people, many of whom are much more outgoing and energized than I am.  Remembering that I am here to be used in the gifts I have been blessed with is going to be a necessity.  Looking at others and instead seeing my own limitations is way too easy and natural.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.       <!--[endif]-->I think I might already be a bit homesick.  When I think of the fact that I’m in Asia, I get incredibly excited.  When I remember how long I’ll be here, I get tears in my eyes.  My team’s bonding well already, so I’m confident this will be a wonderful help.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->5.   

    <!--[endif]-->Among that all, I’m also excited.  This week of training is a bit daunting, teaching is even more scary, and spending so much time so far away from home is more terrifying than I thought it’d be.  However, the passion I see in my team leader, teammates, other students, and other staff is so encouraging.  YOUR excitement all along is SO encouraging.  Great things are going to be done in Asia this summer—I’m confident in that. 

Major concerns to think of me for:

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Rest and Jetlag

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Homesickness

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Team-bonding, for all teams, not just mine.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Continued excitement, energy, and passion for the work I have been called here to do.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->·         <!--[endif]-->Constant servant mindset

On my way!

Good afternoon!!

I’m currently chilling in a Mariott a few blocks from LAX.  I met up with another girl (from Springfield, Ill.) who had an earlier flight, and we decided to take a tour of LA together--see Hollywood, a beach, etc... It's not every day we'll have 10 hours of a layover in LA!  We just met and have hit it off well so far! We've been chatting with our moms on the phone, sending updates, and talking to the nice hotel workers.  

We have to meet in the airport with all of the other China-bound college students at 10 PM.  I’ll take off for LAX in a few hours, and I have to check in at 9 PM for my flight to Hong Kong.  I’ll arrive early Saturday morning China time, or around 6-7 PM on Friday night Iowa time.

Now that that little update's said... The purpose of this update is to let you know about communication guidelines—if you’ve received my support letter in the mail, there was an insert regarding them enclosed in the envelope.  However, if you didn’t get one or misplaced it, here’s a refresher:

• ·      Don’t mention anything about evangelism in China.  A big no-no for their government.
• ·      Limit the use of “Christian words” (God, Jesus, Bible, etc…).  Example:  Replace God with Him or Father and Bible with Word.
• ·      You’re more than welcome to use Bible verses, but keep them to a minimum.  Including references to passages without actually citing the verse is the best way to do this.

I would LOVE to receive emails and comments on my blog, especially in these first couple weeks.  My team leader told me the first two weeks are the hardest.  She says it’s exciting for about two days, then most people start missing home and feeling the cultural differences the most.  Sometimes it’s like that for a week or two, but usually students settle in by week two or three.

Thanks for all of the encouragement and prayers so far.  As I was finishing up some packing last night, I was thinking about all of my supporters praying for me, then realized that with every other student having prayer supporters too, that’s thousands upon thousands of people lifting our summer in China up to the Lord.  That realization was a great reminder.  All over the country (and in Asia too!), people I don’t even know are praying for my next five weeks in China. Wow.

That all being said, keep praying! Pray for my team leader as she completes her leader training today.  Pray for my team and the rest of the college students as they’re all traveling to meet at LAX tonight! Pray for safe travels, successful luggage transport, and our much needed rest on the 14-hour flight.  Finally, pray that God will provide us with the energy and wisdom to begin our full week of training.

Reality is slowly hitting me that I’ll be in Asia SO SOON. I think it’ll come crashing in when I step off the plane in HK for sure.

Have an enjoyable Thursday!

Kristin

PASSPORT FOUND!

I forgot this little detail. Visa and passport secured in a safe place, I WILL be traveling to China for sure now :)

Checking it off the list!

There are so many little details that go into planning for a trip like this. While lifeguarding every day in either Hospers or Orange City and still scrambling to finish unpacking from moving home from Dordt (oops!), I haven't even had a chance to begin packing for China.  The bad news is that I'm gone all day Friday and Saturday and work at one of the pools every other day until I leave.  The good news is I'm getting some of those other details crossed off the list.

1.  The second batch of China letters are JUST about finished. I'm hoping that they'll be ready to send out tomorrow. I have about 50 stamped, addressed, and sealed, another 15 that still need stamped and sealed (I ran out of stamps.), and another 30 that need to be sorted into the mailboxes over at church. However, they are ALMOST DONE!

2. My email group is almost complete for the group that I'll send all of my updates to from China.  Unfortunately, I can only create the group on a computer at Dordt, so finishing that might need to wait until early next week.  I have about 20 more addresses to look up and add to that list. If you've asked to be a part of it, you can look forward to getting your first update SOON! If you'd like to be on it, send me an email at krstnjns@dordt.edu, so I can add you to it!

3.  Three thank-yous from a weekend trip have been written, stamped, addressed, and sealed.  These will join the 60-ish other letters I'll be dropping in the mail tomorrow.

4. LA Planning. Since we're flying out of LA late, another co-Engage participant, Jessica, asked if anyone wanted to fly in early and explore the city with her. I jumped at the chance, so we're trying to decide what's the most efficient (and cheapest) way to see the sights! So far, only In-N-Out Burger is in the plans. We've never been, and I've been told that it's a must-do.  We have about 10 hours to explore, so any other suggestions are welcome :) Some relaxing at the beach might be a great idea, too.

That's all for now. I've got 9 1/2 hours between the two pools tomorrow, plus a skype date with my team leader after work tomorrow night.  With letters to finish in the morning before laps and water aerobics, sleep is a must!

CHINA IN EIGHT!

PASSPORT MISSING.

My passport is missing.  I can't remember if I had sent it into the organization I'm serving through.  They have no record of having received it. We can't find it anywhere in my house. China's in less than two weeks.  Getting a new passport rushed here in time could cost between $300-400.  Prayers would be great. Pray, pray, pray.