Flowers and Festivals

I'm learning that small town living means there's a festival for just about everything. And the term "festival" can mean a variety of different things :) A recent rhododendron festival was more of a craft fair than a festival, but the flowers were really beautiful. You had to drive about 10 miles up a mountain and beyond the festivities to reach the flower gardens, but the view was worth it:

And two photos from a recent hike off the Parkway. I'm really enjoying discovering new sites and the beauty that is His creation:

African Joy

About a month ago I visited Africa for the first time. While I certainly don't have Asia figured out, it is an area of the world that has become familiar and comfortable. I enjoyed experiencing a new culture for the first time and learning along the way.

For example, when I saw a bunch of trucks with people crammed into the back, I asked where they were going to work. Because in Cambodia, where I was earlier this year, women pile into trucks and head to work at garment factories. But in Africa, those trucks mean a funeral procession...

My favorite thing about Africa was being so close to uninhibited joy all the time. Of course, I don't think you have to raise your arms or dance to worship (because I certainly can't dance. At all, as I learned in Africa). But there's just something about seeing people worship so freely and expressing their joy so visibly that made me smile. And I smiled a lot.

The children came to churches hours before the outreach event and waited patiently for us to arrive. They sang nearly the whole time-while they waited, during the event and after the event. They sang and shouted for joy. The villages we visited were poor and the people have very little material possessions. Yet, their joy for the Lord didn't waver.

I'm excited to share these two videos with you. You may have to click on the arrow, and then click again for it to play (I don't think they will play on mobile devices). The quality isn't great and it's shaky because I did it on my phone. The first video is children singing a popular song about how He is our Number One. The second video is in the local language, and it means "All things are given by God."

Amazed

For all the places He allowed me to travel in the past two years, some of the most incredible things I've seen have been in my own backyard. I still can't believe He allows me to live in a place of such beauty.

This weekend I explored some of the sights on and off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Amazed at His creation:

Sunlight bursting through blue skies.

Our reward at the end of a hike. The top of this old
 fire tower gave incredible 360 views. 

You know you live in the mountains when swimming and
ice skating are listed on the same sign.

Minutes from my house. 

Lush and green views on a hike.

Parks and trails off the Parkway. 

After the Boxes

Earlier this month I returned from three weeks in Southeast Asia and participated in a number of shoebox gift distributions. I packed these boxes as a child and continued to do so as I grew up, never imagining I'd one day see what happens on the other side. 

Attending these distributions and meeting the children was a tremendous blessing, but one village and one distribution in particular grabbed ahold of my heart. 

I met 11-year-old Peter the morning of the distribution. Peter lives in a poor village on the outskirts of the capital city. The village has no electricity or clean water. Peter has to ride his bicycle more than an hour along bumpy, dirt roads to school. 

When we met he was very polite and even tried to practice English. When I asked, “How old are you?” he responded, “I’m fine, thank you.” Blame it more on my southern accent than his English. When he received his gift he called me over so I could see what was in his box. 

I was so glad we returned to his village later in the week. All afternoon we played games with the children. Peter taught me his country's version of Rock, Paper, Scissors and we jumped rope and played catch with a soccer ball. 

Peter and the children made us feel so welcomed it was hard to believe we'd only met them a few days ago. 

Peter is one of the sweetest kids I’ve ever met, but at age 11 he’s got a tough road ahead. He told me he’s lonely a lot because his parents leave early and return late from work. They work long hours and still earn little income. 

The shoeboxes helped introduce us to Peter and the other children, and showed them that people really did care about them. 

After all the excitement of opening gifts I saw what comes after the shoeboxes. It’s love. Love that crosses language barriers and cultures. 

Love from children who let me play tug-of-war and try to teach them about basketball by dribbling a soccer ball in the dirt. 

I'm asking that these children will never forget that afternoon and that we love them. And I'm asking that they will come to know Him. 

A few scenes and faces from our trip: 

Three Months

Living overseas I learned the importance of recognizing and celebrating small victories. In the spirit of continuing that tradition, here's to three months living in North Carolina's mountains! In three months I've moved to a new town, moved into a new home, started a new job and even made a three-week trip back to Southeast Asia.

I'm grateful to Him for providing and I don't want to forget that He is the one who has provided every step of the way.

Sometimes people still ask how I'm re-adjusting to life in America. My adjustment is nothing compared to my friends who have recently moved back after living more of their life in another country than in America. They've really got a "re-entry" phase awaiting.

Having said that, it is interesting to see how quickly you can adjust to living somewhere completely different and how quickly the newness of that culture just becomes normal. Sometimes it's still weird to wear my shoes inside, especially at work or in someone's home-it feels rude. I can't go to 7-Eleven and pay my bills and I certainly can't pay in cash. In the mountains you can have four seasons in ONE day. Southeast Asia has one season: Hot.

I enjoy having a dryer and consistent hot water in the shower. But I miss fresh smoothies on every corner and fun markets to buy gifts.

They say once you've lived overseas you'll never be the same. That experience humbled and challenged me in ways that can't be forgotten because those experiences are part of me. They're still helping shape who I am and who I want to be.

As I give thanks for His provision over the past few months, I also give thanks for my time in Asia and its continued impact on my heart.

A Timely Reminder

Tomorrow I'm leaving on a long trip to Asia. I had no idea when I moved back to North Carolina I would head back to that part of the world so soon.

I think I've been more anxious than excited about the trip because it's so long and it's my first one with a new organization.

But God in His kindness gave me a timely reminder one day last week during staff devotions. The message was brief and the point was that we shouldn't worry. We should trust Him. If He gave up everything for us, do we really think He isn't for us now? God knows what we need before we even ask.

"The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Blowing Rock Legend

At 4,000 feet in elevation and overlooking the Johns River Gorge the "Blowing Rock" was declared by Ripley's Believe-it-or-Not to be the "only place in the world where snow falls upside down." That's because the gorge creates a flume through which winds sweep with such power that if you toss an object over the Blowing Rock the object is swept upward over the gorge. I'll have to wait a few months to try it out for myself-too cold today!

The Native American legend has it that a young maiden sitting on the Blowing Rock spied a Cherokee brave wandering in the forest below. She shot an arrow down below to get his attention. The two fell in love, and one day an omen brought the couple back to the Blowing Rock. The brave decided the omen meant he must return to his own tribe, yet the maiden begged him to stay with her. The brave, so conflicted and torn between his sense of duty and his love, jumped from the Blowing Rock. Then, one evening, a great gust of wind blew the brave back onto the Blowing Rock and into the arms of his grief-stricken maiden. From that day onward, mysterious winds blow up onto the Blowing Rock from the gorge below. 

Can't wait to see this view in the spring and fall!

 

Tropics to the mountains

Just a few weeks ago I was getting ready for "winter" in the tropics and temps of about 70, maybe 60 in the morning or evening. Now, I'm stocking up on real winter gear and preparing to move to the mountains.

It's been a whirlwind since my term finished in Asia and I moved back to the States. It's still a little surreal, but God has so faithfully paved the way and provided a job in North Carolina.

I'm grateful for His continued grace!

My new home.
Beautiful, even in January.

Journey to Carolina

Two weeks ago, right about this time, I was boarding a plane headed from my city to China, then to New York, and finally to North Carolina. I got to the airport super early to check in so I could try to avoid the dreaded middle seat in the back of the plane (and, for any flights to China, you have to arrive super early to beat the long lines of Chinese tour groups). As it turned out, this particular airline wouldn't check me in all the way through, so I couldn't get my seat assignment for the fun-filled 15-hour journey from China to America.

When the woman sitting on my row (open middle seat, yes!) boarded I noticed her American passport and asked if she was headed home. She said yes, and she'd actually just been visiting her son in a country I'd traveled to several times. She was also headed to New York, on her way to Virginia. We talked most of the flight and then navigated the transfer desk together. And then something happened that's never happened to me before and may never again: FREE upgrade to business class for the 15-hour flight! Merry Christmas to me!!

We arrived in New York about an hour early, which was great because I was a little nervous about doing immigration, customs, re-checking in, etc. in the time allotted. The porter who helped me with my four huge bags not only got them all for me on the cart, but took me through customs, to the bag re-check and then checked me in for my next flight. He went beyond what he was "required" in order to help me.

The woman I'd met on the first flight was assigned a boarding gate right next to mine, so we got breakfast and she let me use her phone to call home since there was no wifi, at all, in the terminal. When my flight was delayed she came over from where she was about to board and told me to call home and let them know.

While waiting for my last flight I met a woman who grew up really close to the town where I went to college. Another friend to chat with and help pass the time.

With every leg of every flight, God provided more than what I could have thought to ask. Friendly passengers, people willing to go the extra mile to help, early flights, FREE upgrades.

So thankful for His grace in every moment!

Last leg of an amazing journey!

Oh Holy Night

Last week was a big week for outreach among the S People. Christmas parties were celebrated on three different nights in three different villages. Believers in my city, locals and foreigners, came together to host the parties. We sang, played games, shared gifts and snacks, and of course, told the Christmas story. A fourth party was held in another village this week, as well as a small party for children at the S People school.  

A believer from a S People village shared her testimony every night at the parties. She told how in recent years God had changed her life. For a long time she was the only one in her village to believe. Her husband often beat her or locked her outside because she believed in God. After sharing her testimony all week, others in her village had finally had enough. They've threatened her and her husband to the point that they're soon moving out of the village. Pray that this woman's husband will turn from Buddhism and trust in God. Pray for the woman to continue steadfast in her faith, and pray that the many villagers who heard her testimony will also believe.

I was only in town for one village party because I moved back to the States that same week. It's hard to believe my time living overseas has already ended.

But, what a great way to spend my last night in Asia:

You can't really tell, but I'm squatting down over
on the left and acting as one of the sheep.

Students at the S People school hearing the
Christmas story. Most had never heard about
the birth of Jesus.

Mountain views

Today was a day off for most people as the country celebrated Father's Day, which coincides every year with the King's birthday. Since we had the day off a friend and I drove about an hour and a half outside of town to a famous national park with the "King and Queen's pagodas." The King's pagoda was built in 1987 and the Queen's in 1992, to commemorate their 60th birthdays.

Looking toward the Queen's pagoda

The weather was a little crazy. These two photos were taken less than 30 minutes apart. One minute we had blue skies, the next it was foggy and misty-and cold!

These clouds were amazing:

We didn't have blue skies at the waterfall, but it was still beautiful:

Thankful for a day off to enjoy His marvelous creation!

Day four

When evening came on Day #4 I was sleeping under a mosquito net and using a yoga mat as a cushion against the wooden floor. The family had turned off the generator (no electricity) and I was hoping my latest outhouse run would be enough to last till morning.

The day had been long. We'd rode in the truck nearly five hours on roads that weren't kind to my tendency to get car sick. When we were almost at the house the truck got stuck, again, in the mud and this time wasn't budging. So we gathered up all our stuff and walked a mile or two in the dark to the house.

I was already exhausted but we were far from time to sleep. After dinner the family and friends who'd gathered shared some of their stories with us. One woman told how she'd left her nearby village with her daughter, in the cover of night on their small wooden boat, to move here after being forced out because she was a Christian. The others told similar stories of standing firm despite opposition and pressure to turn back.

Please ask that these families will remain strong. They are very poor in terms of our earthly standards.

Here's the house and viewpoints all the way around:

And my favorite, because it has a "Little House on the Prairie" feel and we got some sunshine:

Boat making

This week tons of tourists have invaded the city! It's the annual lantern festival. Lanterns are decorated all over the city and people will release lanterns into the nighttime sky the next few evenings. Some people believe that releasing lanterns is a way to release their sins from the year.

The festival also includes making "boats," or kratongs, to release into the river. The boats are made out of banana leaves and stalks and they're a way to honor and thank the river goddess. Today at the school where I help teach English the children made kratongs and invited us to join them. Let's just say arts and crafts is not my thing and the kids laughed more at my lack of artistic ability than they did offer to teach :)

The boats and lanterns are beautiful. It's a fun festival with lots of food stalls on the streets, fireworks and a parade. But it's still a Buddhist holiday with people putting their faith into lanterns and boats to take away sins and appease gods. Pray that they will come to know the only God, the Living God, who can forgive sins and give peace and joy.

Village life

Last week I made my third visit to a nearby country, and this time to the northern villages. I still can't get over Southeast Asia's beauty:

We drove for hours to get to these villages. Narrow, winding mountain roads that were sometimes more like a dirt or gravel path than an actual road. In one village we met this 83-year-old woman who had moved from her village to a village farther up the mountain in order to share. She moved there with her husband when she was 24, and although most of the villagers hated them because they were believers, they didn't give up.

Upstairs in her bamboo home, sitting
near the fireplace. 

Some villages were completely on the water. Their "streets" were the waterways in between the floating gardens and they had no cars, only boats. If you want to visit your neighbor, you jump in the boat:

In the villages (and even in my city) a breakfast meal often looks the same as a lunch or dinner meal. There's not really special breakfast food. This was my breakfast one morning:

On the way out to the villages you never know what you might find. We had to pull over when we saw a group of workers out in the fields:

More village homes:

The people we met were incredibly kind, gracious and grateful. But most don't know Him and are firmly committed to Buddhism. When they do believe, they're often persecuted by others in the village, including family, and some are forced to leave the village. Ask that He will open many hearts, and that individuals and families will have the faith and strength to stand firm in Him.