Part 3: Where I am now

Ah, back to real life, the life as a post-graduate and alumni of ISU. Well, not quite, as I haven't had a job, and for a while, a place to stay permanently.

While I wouldn't say I was what Christ described as "the least of these", I was definitely in need when I got back. I had my part time job at Cornerstone (where I spent a week catching up on my hours), so I needed to stay in Ames. Several friends offered their dorm rooms or houses to let me spend the night, but I really hated imposing on them; I don't want to be a burden! I also reached a point where I needed to apply for the Food Assistance Program; talk about a low blow to your pride... But, thank you God, the body of Christ stepped up and blessed me abundantly. I had a friend who, when she found out I didn't have a regular place to stay, commanded me to stay at her place the rest of the week and left her debit card with me for any needed expenses I had that I couldn't cover. God, bless her!

After a week, I moved in with Justin and Sarah, and it's so amazing. I really am so grateful to them! They've been a huge blessing, and are so great to live with!

Then, God opened His blessings door, and provided me with the job we've been praying for for months! LisaGrace is moving to Iowa City in the summer and asked if I wanted her position. After talking with her bosses, she told me they'd like to start me immediately instead of in June!

God, You are holy and so sovereign! You knew all along!!

I'll start this week, and am so excited to start paying off debts and building a strong financial foundation for myself! To help guide me and make the right financial decisions, I started the Financial Peace University class today. I have such a desire to honor God with what He has given me!

About a week ago, I spent an hour looking back through my posts and seeing how far God has taken me this past year. A lot has happened! I realized my purpose and where I want to ultimately end up in life (in missions), I battled over and over again to guard my heart (sometimes failing, sometimes winning), I was forced to trust God on several occasions to provide for me in difficult situations, I finally became content with my singleness, I did a rather spur of the moment trip to China, and SO MUCH MORE. Since choosing to follow only Him nearly 2 years ago, I have grown emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. I know what I need and love and hope for, and I love who God is shaping me into (as I let Him...). Which brings me to my 2010 goals...

I know I'm doing this a month late and all, but I had more important things to deal with than resolutions (job, where to live, how will I buy food?!). I've always been terrible with them, but I have a new vigor for them now. I've been inspired by a few friends, and I have a true desire to move forward with where I am now! New year, new decade, new rules. And to help keep me accountable, I've given you a list over there.
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I'll add to it and update as I go (and if anyone knows the html for the 'strikethrough', I'd greatly appreciate it!)

And, to solicit more comments, what do you think of the new web-do?

Part 2: Don't ask, "Why, China?"

Man is it hard not to do this... So many times, things would happen that made NO SENSE, but there's no point in asking. There's no answer anyway.

For example...

A intersection has 4 stoplights, all pointing in different directions - pretty normal really. Except there is also a traffic cop in the middle of the intersection directing traffic.
or
China has the delicacy (which I use VERY loosely) called "stinky tofu", and seriously, they're not joking. Every time I caught even the slightest whiff of it, I would gag. I feel ok saying this (knowing that Chinese might read it as well) because they, too, can't stand the smell of it. And yet it's popular enough to have it near any large group of Chinese people (and, um...it's China. Large groups are the standard.)
or
The incessant need for prevention of diseases (face masks everywhere), and yet the creation of split pants. Children in China are not potty trained (more or less), so instead, they'll slit the back of their pants so when the kids need to go, they can squat and go in the streets. You NEVER leave anything on the ground and you certainly don't sit on it either. Everyone knows what's been there at one point or another.
or
The need for traffic signs. There are no traffic 'laws' in China; only suggestions. 60 kmph does not mean you cannot go 100 kmph in the middle of town. (next time you're in your car, check to see how fast 100 kmph is.) More on this later...

By the time Christmas rolled around, we were kind of Chinese food-ed out, and needed something American. That morning, Mike texted us: "Hey, wanna go somewhere fancy for lunch like TGIFridays or Papa Johns?" Amazing. And quite honestly, that is 'fancy' in China. We chose the former, and I had my first TGIFridays in China. :)

Early on, I learned a few Chinese words to help me get around. However, just because you say it confidently does NOT make it right... I went around telling Chinese people thank you in Chinese for their service saying "Shway shway". I got funny looks, but I didn't think too much about it. A few days later, someone corrected me: xue xue (she-a she-a). I had been telling everyone "sleep sleep" the previous few days!

Towards the end of the trip, I tried to learn more phrases (and probably annoyed a few teammates as I repeated them over and over again :)), and for some reason, thought it was a good idea to practice in the taxi. Never practice your Chinese in a taxi. He thought I spoke Chinese, and halfway through the trip, he started a conversation with me. I have no clue what he was saying, but he was quite persistent the rest of the way home. Yikes... All I could say was, "I am American, and I am awesome. This place, bread truck."

We had a ton of interesting taxi rides, and several reminded me of car chase scenes from action movies. Our final night in our town, we watched Bourne Ultimatum. The chase scene there was a yawn - we see that and participate every day in those thrill rides. And just because the Chinese streets are 2 lane doesn't mean that 3 cannot fit, though it is a squeeze. Just sayin'... At no point do motorbikes, bikes, or pedestrians have a right of way either. On several occasions, we had REALLY close calls with running people/bikes over. A few times, I was that person. (I swear, the taxis come out of nowhere!)

If you ever go to China, be ready to be stared at. You really feel like a celebrity; people will openly gawk at you and even take pictures. Those who are especially bold with ask to have their picture taken WITH you. We went to one campus and ate at their cafeteria. While our friends were ordering us dinner and we were sitting at the table, a group of 5 lunch ladies came and stood at our table, just looking at us and smiling. We laughed awkwardly at their own lack of self-awareness and Kimberly took out her camera to take a picture. As soon as she had the camera out, they all scattered VERY quickly!! How funny that they have no problem openly staring at us from less than 5 feet away, but heaven forbid we catch them in a photo!

There's more "ah, Chiner" stories, but I feel like this is enough to tie you over for now. Part 3, coming up next!

Intro + Part 1 = I'm tired of writing.

Ok, fine. You got me. It's been __ weeks since my last post. And, as one might guess, a ton has happened. So much so, that I've dreaded writing because SOME OF YOU decided to move overseas and I can't tell you personally about everything that has happened and you're really the only one who is clueless at this point. A lot of work for 2 people....(cough-jess and mike-cough)

But since I love you and miss you (man, do I miss you), I'll write you a freakin' blog. 3 part series, like I suggested a few days ago. I even thought about what my 'parts' would consist of. And, just like me, I forgot. Sooo here goes on-the-fly thinking.

Part 1: Serious Chiner.

Part 2: Funny Stories Chiner.

Part 3: Post Chiner.

Thus begins my story.

China was pretty awesome, but probably in a different way than you think and one that I really can't explain. It was really sweet to see a completely different country than I have never experienced in any fashion before, but I'm not sure what my true feelings toward China are. The best way to describe it, at this point, is that awkward place when a guy and girl are maybe thinking about a possible relationship but they're just not sure if they're ready or if their heart is truly in it. Funny, I've been back 2 weeks and couldn't figure out where I was, but that's a pretty accurate description...

So anyway, in case I didn't tell you (and I don't care to bother to look at previous posts to make sure), we hosted Christmas parties the first week and shared Jesus with over 500 university students that week alone (INSANE!). The following week and a half was spent doing follow-ups with those who seemed interested in knowing more.

Nearly the entire trip was g0-g0-GO! which was really good; God blessed us abundantly with the energy needed to build a lot of relationships and hold out patience for the communication barriers. Surprisingly, our last party was just as energetic as our first, and that is ONLY by God's grace.

At one point, I was able to share a part of the gospel using a few Chinese words I had learned; I loved how their eyes lit up when I (attempted to) use Chinese! Granted, it may have been because I had tried to use their language, but I know that greater work is done in their hearts when you use their heart language to speak truth to them.

The biggest lessons I learned while in China didn't come through interactions with the Chinese people or even through China itself; it came through realizing my own shortcomings and dealing with the sin issues that resulted.

On this trip, I lost a lot of possessions; it seriously seemed like every other day, I either lost something, or would have lost it if it hadn't been for team members saying, "Danielle, do you have your hat? Gloves? Bag?" I swear, I'm not that irresponsible! (But see?! Even there, you can kind of see what sin issue I have...[yes, the ONLY one ;) ]) The climax came when I reached into my bag and realized that I had lost my portion of the trip money. Oh my word, I just wanted to collapse and cry. How could I, the ACCOUNTANT, lose money?! My team was amazing and said nothing of it. "Danielle, really, it's ok! It's better the money than you. Don't think anything of it." But no consequences? No punishment of having lost so much already and then losing the money?! I couldn't accept that, so I punished myself by consistently guilting and beating myself up. Go figure, team unity wasn't too strong at that point. But God laid it on thick the next morning during personal time.

1 Peter 5:5-7 "Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.' Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

Thank you, Jesus. My teammates were extending grace toward me and wanting me to be free of the guilt, but my pride wouldn't allow it! Dang, it's one of those sin issues that, if you think you don't have it, you do. And just to drive the point home, God gave me this one the next day:

Philippians 2:3 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."

Touche. I considered myself better than my teammates because I was the co-leader, and the oldest at that! I am better than that. I'm above losing things, like some 5 year old. Ahh, but then, there's that nasty haughty spirit, another facet of pride. Darn you, Satan!

So yeah, lesson learned. "Thanks, God! I'll be on my way..." Nope, He had more plans and lessons on humility. More on that in part 3 though. (Gotta have the draw! Ya know?)

I also learned more about what ministry I'm suited toward as well. (This is it, I promise. I know long blogs are hard. :( ) I adored Kosova and really am indifferent to China; in Kosova, I did more philanthropic work and manual labor whereas in China, it was ALL evangelistic. Makes sense if you look at my list and ratings of spiritual gifts; serving/helping hands is at the top of my list and evangelism is quite low.

In the past, I've struggled to reconcile the fact that if, Lord willing, I go overseas for missions work, that I'd be in an office doing accounting; it seems to me that if I'm a true missionary or working in missions, what I'm doing should be hard or it doesn't count. But God equips us with different gifts for a reason; we can't all be evangelists or accountants or technicians or teachers. Evangelism is definitely not my area of skill; I felt like regardless of how many times I practiced sharing (remember... the gospel was shared with 500 people. Lots of practice.), something just wasn't clicking in their minds and I wasn't being effective. That's ok though; God can use anything, and I'm only responsible for planting the seed, not forcing it's growth. Wherever I go and whatever I do, I'll share. But it's comforting to see, with finality, that it's ok to be an accountant.

(lol, that last sentence just sounds ridiculous.)

Stay tuned for part 2