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