Friends visiting! (Part One)

Jiang and Kun came to visit us for five days last week. It was such a wonderful blessing and treat to have them here! To have my best friend and her boyfriend here to hang out and spend time with just after I moved here! It was great!

Our friends wanted to go visit the local Three Self Church with us. It was in Min Nan Hua, the local dialect spoken here (click here for wiki page to learn more about it) and then translated into Mandarin

网友！(Online Friend). In China its very common to talk with strangers online and become friends and then meet them. There isn't the same stigma here as there is in the States about it, its also a very common way of 'matchmaking' and online dating.

Our friend Kun who came to visit us had a 网友 here he wanted to meet. She and her husband invited all of us to her home, cooked a big meal, and then found out she is in a similar line of work as David. A few days later she went and toured the factory David works at.

Fresh Steamed shrimp, chicken feet, chicken and carrots, and soup for dinner!

They are so much fun!

Kun's first time to play in the ocean!

She knew I was gonna get her into the water and there was no way of getting out of it!

The Desert Song

A song that has sustained me throughout the last year and meant so much to me

The Desert Song: Click here for the video

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow

(thank you Amber and Emma for sharing it with me and the many times we've sang it together)

Trip to the States!

Spending June in the USA!

Some highlights!

Hiking!

Deb had written a letter to me many years ago when I was in college and stashed it in a box on top of this mountain! Four years later I've finally had the chance to hike up, dig up some rocks, and I found it! It was so special getting to read it and all the other notes and letters left behind in the notebook starting from students at my university at USF to all over the world that have hiked up and written in it. Letters to loved ones, friends, family, prayers. Thanks Deb for making that so special for all of us.

Time with friends in CO!

I somehow failed to take pictures when I was in Nebraska! :(
Thankful I got to see my good friends: Rach, Sean, Jenna, Clarissa, April, and meeting Amanda).

Chicago pizza, the Bean, and spending time with my family in Chicago!

My brother's graduation from the Navy!

So proud of my little brother!

Visiting my family in Ohio! Tubing and skiing with my cousins!

Spending time with this wonderful girl! Katie!

Seeing a Cincinnati Reds Game!

Catching up with old friends from high school!

Time with Victoria (and shopping with Lisa Meyer!)

Time with David when he came to visit my family and I in FL!