English Camp 2011: Departure

My 2010 English Camp Class

At precisely 11:10am tomorrow (July 14) I will be Hong Kong bound, en route to entering a country closed to the the Christian gospel. This will be my fifth trip and fourth English Camp. The trips have ranged from two weeks to six months. This trip is only three weeks (return Aug 4).

I would like to make note that, except for possibly the first couple days spent in HK, I will not be in contact. For starters, Blogger and Facebook are blocked, so that's not even an option. Second, it's just best not to risk tripping the firewall.

I would also like to ask all of you to PRAY! Not everyone can go or give but everyone can pray! Here are some things you can be lifting up:

For the team: safe travels, health (physical and spiritual), bonding, flexibility

For the camp: building of meaningful relationships, that they learn English but also something about Christ whether this is merely though having the chance to see and interact with Christians or through conversation, FLEXIBILITY

For returning team members: the chance to build upon previously established relationships

For long-term missionaries: that the camp continues to give them increased stability in remaining within the community

For the community: that a church will be raised

For me: health (I would prefer not to visit any more of their hospitals and to come back with all of my organs!), endurance/strength (I like to be social but camp can drain it right out of me!), quick recollection of language skills that are a bit rusty, ability to be a leader, ability to teach, sensitivity to the needs around me, wisdom, discernment

The Peak, Hong Kong: Some members of the 2009 team.
One of my favorite spots in the whole world.

"Father break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your Light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me"*

"Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the brokenhearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me you heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see"**


*Matthew West "My Own Little World"
**Brandon Heath "Give Me Your Eyes"

Daydreams

"Finishing is better than starting.
Patience is better than pride...
Don't long for 'the good old days.'
This is not wise...
Accept the way God does things,
for who can straighten what he has made crooked?"
-Ecclesiastes 7:8,10,13

This makes me think of one of the few journal entries that can actually be found in a journal I used to try to keep. It was a poem that ended in “I don’t know/ How to let go.” In the midst of moving things I’m not really sure where it is at the moment, but I can tell you that it was sometime in the graduating from Longwood/arriving in China for a “year” time period of 2009. Now here I am in 2011 leaving Longwood once again, but this time for a year in London.

It amazes me how much we as human beings are willing to get lost in daydreams and then when they actually happen we still want to cling to the familiarity of our present reality. Maybe it’s because in our daydreams we control everything. We see our daydreams as safe, controlled environments because those worlds fit our ideals and our friends and family behave as we hope and wish. It becomes our so-called perfect world, whether it be the “good old days” of the past (even though they, too, had their share of troubles that we conveniently “forget”) or our unrealistic future.

We escape into these worlds. But this is not “safe” because in reality we can’t control everything. People don’t always do what we want and events don’t happen as we imagine. Then we become disappointed in reality because we’ve created an alternate reality that can never be true. We’ve created what we believe to be the best and perfect life for ourselves. We’ve created a world where we are God. And this is dangerous.

Satan wants us to do this. We heard this on Sunday: “The enemy focuses on the things you don’t have instead of focusing on what God has blessed you with.” He wants us to “long for the good old days” so that we become depressed with how different today is. If we’re depressed with how different today is because we’re longing for blessings of the past then we miss the blessings of the present. And there ARE blessings of the present. There always are. Just like there ARE blessings of the future. They are better than we can imagine for ourselves because God dreamed them. And if we can’t see them, God is yearning for us to ask him to show them to us.

So is all daydreaming bad? I don’t think so. Daydreaming WITHOUT God is bad. Daydreaming WITH God is good.

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.” – Joshua 1:8

“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers. But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.” – Psalms 1:1-2

This word meditate comes from the Hebrew word hagah, meaning to imagine, to study, and to muse. This is contemplation, reflection, and trying to discern the meaning or significance of something. Christian meditation is not the transcendental meditation found in many other religions. It’s fixing your mind on things of God. It can be dreaming with God.

“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” – Philippians 4:8

Basically, “longing for the good old days” and daydreaming about unholy things (including controlling our own future) boil down to a lack of trust in God. It’s saying, “Hey God, I don’t think you have anything else good for me” or “Hey God, I don’t think you can do any better than that” or “Hey God, I know what’s perfect for me more than you do.”

Biblical meditation is filling your mind with Biblical truths. This can mean dreaming with God about how they have played out, are playing out, or will play out in your life. Daydreaming with God about what he thinks about your life and what he wants you to do is a good thing.

So as I look at my departure date I have three options: long for the good old days and get depressed, try to plan out my ‘perfect’ year and get stressed when it doesn’t happen that way, or ask God to help me understand his dream for this chapter in life and rest in his perfect plan and wisdom. I’m thinking the last one is the better option! So if someone catches me in the other two, please knock me to my senses!!

Running Etiquette

Yesterday was a nice relaxing 4th on the Sowell family boat, anchoring on the Potomac with a perfect view of the Washington Monument, the 14th Street Bridge, and FIREWORKS! And delicious gluten free cupcakes and cookies thanks to my fellow glutenologist Kelly... perhaps you had to have been there ;)

But that's not what this post is about. I came up with the idea for this post during my morning run before getting on the boat. It occurred to me that running etiquette in Northern Virginia and Farmville are different. And then add China to the list and, well, you'll see...

Running Etiquette: Farmville
1. Thou shalt wave and greet everything that moves. This includes vehicles of all types, coming from any direction (unless you are within the three or so blocks of 'downtown'), as well as every person that gets a visual on you, whether they look sketchy or not.
2. Thou shalt run onto the shoulder when facing an oncoming car, not because there is no room on the road but because the driver has not grasped the concept of moving to the middle even though there are no lines or other traffic to be seen.

Running Etiquette: Northern Virginia
1. Thou shalt wave or greet other pedestrians, or if in a crowded place only other runners. Do not wave at vehicles unless you specifically know the driver. If someone looks sketchy, ignore them.
2. Thou shalt run onto the shoulder when facing oncoming traffic because there is always traffic coming from the other direction as well and they can't move over. This is usually not a problem though because of the infrastructure of sidewalks and bike paths.

Running Etiquette: China
1. Thou shalt look straight ahead and ignore all manner of person and traffic. This is best achieved as a foreigner by wearing sunglasses and head phones. Then you don't look open to conversation and they don't see that you're looking around and you will be able to accomplish your run.
2. Thou shalt force all manner of traffic to conform to you. Do not change your trajectory or speed to avoid a vehicle. This will cause them to hit you because it is expected for you to ignore them even if they are blaring their horn. The horn is a warning that they are coming in your general direction, not a demand to get out of the way. This is only not true if it is a bus. Then you move.




**I will be adding to this list later. But for now I must digress...

Reflections

As this 'Farmville Part 2' chapter of my life comes to a close, I'm finding myself reflecting on it. Never did I imagine I was coming back here! I'm not saying this in a 'I dislike Farmville' sort of way but rather in a 'that wasn't the plan' sort of way.

"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." - Proverbs 16:9

Funny how that happens. Being open to change is so important and I'm so thankful for the relationships that have been built up over this last year and a half, both old and new.

For one, I'm incredibly thankful to have been a part of Longwood Chi Alpha once again! Getting to see those that used to be the new underclassmen when I left rock out the leadership roles has been awesome! Then add others that were not even freshmen yet, seeing them grow into the community and also becoming my friends, and you've got another round of awesome!

It's weird to think about Gil and Lindsay leaving at the same time I am and realizing that their seven years of ministry at LU have been my seven years at LU. Sometimes I think the two of you know me better than I know myself! I'm very glad you're in my life!

And Michelle I'm glad that you've been a part of Farmville Part 2 as a sister and friend :) I'm also very excited for you to take care of Chi Alpha. And thank you thank you thank you for letting me stay at your house!!

And Annette I'm very thankful for the mentoring and friendship that you've provided people who have been mentors and friends in my life. I know it has indirectly made my life better and am glad to have finally really met you the somewhat mythical figure!

John, you didn't come from Chi Alpha (though you later integrated), but you were definitely a God-send kind of a boss and friend! I learned a lot from you!

Basically, pretty much everything that is awesome in Farmville Part 2 came directly or indirectly from Chi Alpha (much like Farmville Part 1) because of its focus on community and relationship building (I wish you were here! lol). Seriously though, I am so very thankful for Chi Alpha and all that has come with it. I know that I have gained many friends for life and am happy that it once again became part of the plan!