7 years ago
Jun 30, 2007
I'm going to China in three days. Two, depending on how you count. I leave for Yantai, in the Shandong province of China on July 3rd. I'm going there to teach english. That's about all I know. I'm not an official missionary, I didn't go through any organization. I got in contact directly with the school will be teaching at. I told them I had an unaccredited associates degree in theology and offered my services to do something I've never formally studied: Teach english! And what's crazier is that they hired me! 0.o
I'll be out there for at least one year. That's how long my contract is for. If I like it I won't come back.
I mentioned I'm not a missionary. You may be wondering if I have lost my mind. You thought I was saved! haha. I see the missionary title as more of a burden than it's worth. So I haven't gone out of my way to be official by the western church's standards. That said, I'm just like anyone else who loves and serves Jesus with a desire to see other's lives changed by Him. I'm just a Christian who is going to live in China ? like many Christians who live any other number of places around the world. You can call me what you like, but I would prefer just a Christian living in China. Or better yet, a follower-of-jesus-whose-path-is-taking-h
Whatever you call it, my drive for service is undeniable. So I'm praying that God will use me as effectively as possible. I'm praying that He will bring me one or two people to disciple. I hope that I can use my music and share love songs with people in coffee shops or the equivalent. I also pray that I can help at an orphanage, but I fine that improbable (but then I remember luck 1:37). And I can't wait to see what He will teach me through a different people and a different culture.
But my duty first and foremost is to be a witness through my work. So pray that I am the best darn english teacher China has seen! That Christ would shine through all my conversations.
I'm not going to send out news letters. They are a thing of the past. I will, however, continue to update my blog. The url has changed and I now use blogspot because it's blocked less often in China, or so I've heard. The url is:
engrafted.blogspot.com
Bookmark it!
I don't think many of you have my email address. If you want it it's the same name as my blogspot url @ gmail . com. But please don't email me with Christian jargon (i.e. Jesus, God, Christ, Pray, etc.) or anything about the Chinese government. Everything in China is filtered and I don't know how strict they are in Yantai. But no one in the country takes kindly to that sort of thing. I'll know what you mean if you say I'm in your thoughts, or the book says, "love your enemies", etc.
I think that's just about everything. I may not update my blog often, but I'll do my best. I'm praying that I will not have internet in my apartment. What a stupid distraction this creation is.
You all have been a great community to be a part of. I hope to keep in contact. And I hope that your journey with Jesus is as awesome as mine. Though I'm sure it is!
