A New Beginning. (一个新的开始)

This post happily comes to you from my cornfield hometown in northern Illinois... a day before I leave it again for ten months! I've been home for two very busy and quick months but will be heading back to China for Year #2 tomorrow afternoon.

This decision didn't happen easily, and my heart has definitely struggled with the commitment all summer. You see, this last year in Yinchuan was a truly unbelievable year -- but for many different reasons, it wasn't necessarily the happiest year for me. Thrown into the deep end of a very foreign, traditional, and -- compared to most of China -- rather underdeveloped city, I really struggled with finding a sense of peace. Most days I felt alone, uncomfortable, and psychologically torn. I chose this path out of confidence in m¡ss¡on and in fa¡th; why, then, was my heart often filled with such melancholy?

I was no fool; I knew that my year would be hard, I just didn't know how it would be hard. I wasn't prepared for the how. But it's not about the how -- it's about the why. It's about bringing the hope and light of our Father into the lives of those who have been living in darkness. It's about using this time on earth to make the biggest possible guest list for our glorious family reunion in Hea¥en one day. It was that why that kept me going last year, and it was HIS strength that helped me to persevere.

I recently read a Paul Tripp devot¡on recently where he talked about how we can keep confidence in times of fear and doubt. He said the following:

Your fa¡th must not be tied to your daily circumstances, but to the Loπd, whose eternal presence, promises, and provisions are never altered by daily circumstances. Living by fa¡th means that no matter what happens, you have reason to continue. G0d is still the same. His commands are still valid. His promises are still true. His provision is still abundant. His presence has never left.

Those days when I felt like a lonely outcast because of my face, felt threatened by my then roommate's choice of questionable houseguests, felt disrespected because I am a single woman, or felt sickened by the worms coming out of my bathroom floor (seriously), I knew that I could find comfort and strength in my Loπd. My challenges and situations change every day, but my gracious and loving G0d does not change.

It is this certainty that gives me the courage to try, try again.

Tomorrow begins my journey to the "city of eternal spring": Kunm¡ng, China. It is the capital of Yunnan Province (the southernmost province in China), and a popular tourist location in China for its lovely climate and flowers that bloom all year long. "With a history of more than 2,400 years, it was the gateway to the celebrated Silk Road that facilitated trade with Tibet, Sichuan, Myanmar, India and beyond. Today it is the provincial political, economical and cultural center of Yunnan as well as the most popular tourist destination in southwest China" (ChinaTravelGuide).

Instead of being way up north in the small, desert city of Y¡nchuan, this year I will be way down south in the beautiful, larger, ethnically diverse and (a bit more) Westernized city of Kunm¡ng. I am hopeful that this location will be a better fit for me and my personality, that I will be ever-strengthened and uplifted to serve HIM better and better each day, and that this experience will be better than the last -- especially since I will actually have teammates this year!

My year in Y¡nchuan was long and sp¡r¡tually + mentally grueling. But it was not for naught, certainly. I grew in fa¡th, B¡bl¡cal understanding, and world experience as I faced challenges every day and brought them to the L0rd in pπayer and confession. I learned valuable lessons in humility, constantly being reminded that I cannot do this life without help from friends, family, strangers, and my Redeemer. Most importantly, I made connections and planted seeds of fa¡th that I pπay the H0ly Sp¡r¡t will nurture for years to come. I pπay that the Big Guy will guide me to focus more on this good work instead of on my own selfish wellbeing. That being said, I am human, and I do believe that I will do my best work if I am comfortable and happy.

So here's to making the most of my second year in China, and here's to a new beginning. Thank you all for your support, strength, and pπayers. Talk to you soon, and stay tuned for new adventures!

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Mandarin Word of the Day: restart
Chinese characters: 重启 (重 = heavy, repetition, layer; 启 = to open, to begin, to enlighten)
Pinyin pronunciation: chóngqĭ

复活节快乐! Happy Eas†er!

After living and teaching abroad for seven months now, I have seen many, many cultural differences between Ch¡na and America. Some are traditional and ancient, occurring only in Ch¡na and having no American equivalent. Others are customs that outwardly seem the same in each country, but their respective meanings are anything but. Take whistling, for instance. In America, we whistle to accompany music, to convey thoughts, or simply to express that we are in a good mood. In Ch¡na, on the other hand, whistling has a history of being used as a command in potty training. Ch¡nese moms will hold their babies and whistle, and the children will instinctively do their business through the perfectly-circular holes in their trousers — often right onto the ground. Pretty big contrast, huh? This simple action of whistling happens all over the world, but it has the potential to mean something very different, depending on where you are. (Don't even get me started on the stares I get when whistling in a crowd of what is probably a group of formerly whistle-trained adults.)

There is one thing, however, one fact that rings the same profound truth no matter where you go or with whom you speak: Je5us died once for all.

“For Chπ¡st also suffered once for s¡ns, the righteous for the unr¡ghteous, to bring you to G0d. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Sp¡r¡t.” (1 Peter 3:18)

This Easter, it doesn’t matter that I am immersed in a distant, foreign culture, away from my family and friends, unable to w0rship with them at chrch on Eas†er morning. It’s a bummer, for sure, but it’s not important. For no matter where I am, no matter the language in which I pπay, no matter the people with whom I gl0rify HIS name — it happened. Je5us died. Our perfect Sav¡0r took on the s¡ns of an imperfect world so that we might have salvat¡on. “Chπ¡st was sacrificed once to take away the s¡ns of many.” (Hebπews 9:28) Because he loves us. All of us.

Salvat¡0n in Chπ¡st means the same thing all over the earth. Its significance does not change depending on local language and culture. It does not apply in one country but not the other. It does not have conditions, disclaimers, or an expiration date. It is universal. Just as our G0d is omnipresent and eternal, so too is our salvat¡0n in Chπ¡st Je5us. “The death he died, he died to s¡n once for all,” explains Paul in the book of Romans. “But the life he lives, he lives to G0d.” (6:10)

Wherever we are this year, may we remember the empty tomb on Easter morning as a guarantee that Je5us lives, and so do we. Let us live to G0d as Je5us did during his time on earth so that “we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed — in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.” (1 C0rinthians 15:52)

All glory to the G0d and Father of our Sav¡0r Je5us Chπ¡st! In his love and mercy he has given us new life through the resurrection of his Son from the dead. H0sanna!

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Mandarin Word of the Day: substitute

Chinese characters: 代替 (代 = taking the place of, to substitute, to replace; 替 = to substitute | replacement) 

Pinyin pronunciation: dàitì

Faith and Improv. (是和)

“Do you have everything you need?”

I looked up with tired eyes. Mom was standing in the doorway, searching for a way to help while I reorganized my suitcases. It was 2am, and I only had one more day before leaving to teach English and spread the Gospel in China.

I sighed. “I don’t know.” Looking at my suitcases, I knew I would never feel completely prepared. Shrugging back to my mom, I said, “I’ll find out soon enough.”

That was six months ago. Since then, I have been adjusting to life in a foreign city so remote and so far north that even Chinese people believe we get around by camel. I have mastered the art of communicating through gestures, successfully fumbled my way through the bus system, traveled internationally by myself, and have seen firsthand how great an impact one disciple sharing the Word can have on another’s faith. I’ve come a long way, both literally and figuratively.

And yet, I still feel unprepared.

Before coming to China, I worked in Chicago for 5 years. When the initial glamour of landing a job in the big city wore off, I decided to spice things up again by trying my hand in improv comedy. Between 2012 and 2014, I laughed, I cried, I mimed, and I found pieces of myself I never knew were there. It is an invigorating adventure, to go out on stage without a plan – without words, without any idea of what’s going to happen – and to know that, no matter what, no matter how badly you think you fail, you’ll be okay. This is because of that quintessential improv truth that – spoiler alert! – is also a truth we can enjoy as children of His light: we have everything we need.

In improv, it’s not about trying to make people laugh (although a few chuckles wouldn’t hurt). It’s about making honest and organic connections with people. No matter the audience suggestion, you are equipped with your own experiences, your words, and the undying support of your teammates to help inspire your scene. In that sense, you are prepared.

Against all earthly odds, we, too, are prepared on this great stage of life. We have the Word of God to guide our paths and direct our teachings; we have the constant love, grace, and forgiveness of the Lord, who “Yes, Ands” our every prayer and gives us faith; and, among many other things, we have the perfect example of our Savior, the value of which far outweighs any practical knowledge or ability we could ever develop. For it's not about what we need to do, but about what Jesus has already done for us.

Thinking back to that night of packing six months ago, I remember secretly thinking, “No, Mom, I don’t have all I need.” I don’t have a great memory to help me recite all the kings of the Old Testament. I don’t have any idea how I’ll get along with my roommate if she doesn’t speak a lick of English. I don’t know how I’ll ever start a family if I’m living in such a transient, fluctuating lifestyle. I didn’t have a clue, and it made me weak in the knees.

But the Lord said to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” HE is enough for me. Instead of gambling with my imperfect qualifications, I can depend on God’s grace and feel prepared for the mission ahead. I have everything I need, because I have Jesus.

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Mandarin Word of the Day: to be at ease

Chinese characters: 放心 (放 = to put, to lay; 心 = heart, intention, mind, center, core) 

Pinyin pronunciation: fàng xīn

Adventure! (冒险！)

This post comes to you live from the 6:27am Yinchuan train to Beijing!

While waiting for my train to begin its 11-hour journey, I thought I would write a quick (and wildly overdue) post summarizing my recent travels, and give a preview of those on which I am about to embark.

On Christmas Day evening, I made my way to the Yinchuan airport (all by myself, no less!), caught a plane to Beijing, spent the night at a friend's, and left again very early the next morning with another friend, Thomas, for the main Beijing Railway Station. We had a delicious McDonald's breakfast before boarding our 6am train. Seven hours later, we found ourselves in China's winter wonderland, Harbin, home of the annual International Snow and Ice Festival.

Over the next few days, Thomas and I saw a whole buncha things. We walked up and down Harbin's beautiful Walking Street, Zhongyang Street, lines with shops and restaurants; went skiing in China's largest ski resort in Yabuli, two and a half hours away; visited the Siberian Tiger Reserve and saw dozens of gorgeous tigers...tear apart a couple lambs; and we walked around Zhaolin Park, marveling at the ornate and impossibly detailed ice sculptures that lined the sidewalks. All the while we'd occasionally stumble upon some old Russian church or building or restaurant, which was pretty neat to see. Harbin is so far northeast, it is has close proximity to and great influence from Russia. All I all, Harbin was one of the coolest places I've ever visited, both literally and figuratively, and I'll never forget it.

On December 30 I returned to Yinchuan after two separate train rides (from Harbin and from Beijing, respectively), and the next very early morning I set out for the airport once again, this time headed for warm and beachy Nha Trang, Vietnam. This particular trip was a somewhat annual thing for my boss's family and my co-workers. The training school at which I teach is so small, the staff is very close and is more like another family to each other than anything else. Many of my co-workers are around my age, but their families live in another province entirely. So, my boss and his wife, despite not being much older than their staff, have become parental figures to many of my co-workers. And what do mom and dad do when their kids have done a really good job at school? Take them to Vietnam, of course! They were kind enough to treat us to plane tickets, although we had to cover the rest of the expenses. It was way more than I would have spent traveling on my own, but I figured it would be a good bonding experience.

Ever wanting to make things more exciting, I definitely forgot my Vietnam visa the morning of our flight out to Nha Trang. Dohhh. That was pretty annoying, but it was a good opportunity for me to remember how blessed I am with resources to make my life easier and people who are so eager to help me. Anyway.

There were exponentially more Russian people in Nha Trang than there were in Harbin, which I thought was a little strange. Nha Trang is a huge vacation spot for Russians, apparently! New Years night we went to our resort's NYE Gala. It was by far one of the weirdest and most unintentionally hilarious parties I've ever attended. Over the next week, I worked on my "tan" at the beautiful, white sandy beach; ate my weight in fresh and flavorful Nha Trang lobster, crab, and snails; drank authentic cà phê sữa đá, iced coffee with sweetened condensed milk; explored the bustling city center and caught a colorful glimpse of local Nha Trang life; and found my way to a few local religious sites, including an old Catholic Church and two aged and impressive Buddhist temples, all of which had incredible views of the city once I walked to their top levels.

On my last full day in Nha Trang, I was hit with some food poisoning that kept me pretty stationary for the second half of the day. Before it got too bad, though, I took a pleasant, long solo walk along the Cai River. At one point, as I was admiring the colors of the boats on the water, I passed an opening in the railing and saw some stairs leading down to the river. A man was peeing in it. I quickly averted my eyes once I realized what he was doing, but not before he turned his head, noticed me, and said, "Oh, I'm sorry!" I smiled and shrugged it off, keeping my eyes on my path and never breaking my step.  Then, somehow deciding all hope was not lost to have a conversation, he added, "Where are you from?" His voice trailed as I kept walking. He had been peeing into the river for the entire duration of this interaction. I thought it was all very amusing as I chuckled and continued on my way.

On January 6 (2017!), we all flew back to Yinchuan. I was hit with a rather large wave of culture shock upon my return; I think I was surrounded by English speakers and Western-er life for just long enough that I grew too used to it after growing so used to the rhythm and differences of life in the very traditional, old school city of Yinchuan. It took a few weeks of teaching and busy bodying, but I eventually readjusted to Chinese life..... Only to leave again today! This morning marks the beginning of my Spring Festival travels. Today is leg 1 of 7: headed to Beijing. After that I'm off to Hong Kong via Shenzhen; Singapore; Chiang Mai, Thailand; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and finally back to Yinchuan. It's going to be a busy couple of weeks, but I'm so excited for the adventures I'm about to have!

It's at times like this when I catch myself thinking, "Megan...who ARE you?!" Ha. I just can't believe how blessed I am to be where I am and to have the opportunities that I have. This life definitely has its hard days (srsly so hard sometimes, you guys), but if it allows me to explore new places and meet interesting people and serve the Big Guy Upstairs all at once? Then yeah, it's worth it. It's all worth it.

Apologies for the lack of pictures in this post, I'm not really sure how well that would work over my phone browser. There will for sure be pictures next time, though! Stay tuned. Until then, Happy Chinese New Year, and see you soon. ^_^

Culture Shock is like... (文化震惊)

I was thinking about it, and I have decided that culture shock is *kind of like growing your hair out.

First, you make the move: you get your hair cut. It looks GREAT. You don't have a change for the future...you just want to make a change. People compliment you on the big move, ask how you feel. Everyone is excited for you. YOU are excited for you. You milk this feeling for a while, not even noticing how you can't put your hair in a bun anymore or style it as easily as you always have.

Before too long, though, the hair gets just a liiiiiiittle longer...and becomes a liiiiiiittle less easy to style. Less natural. It still looks good, feels good -- but YOU know that it's different. You figure eh, it looks good, I think. You're still milking that flashy new 'do, that exciting move. The only difference is that now you have to try a little harder to make things work.

Then...you reach the awkward length. You can't go a day without noticing the difference between how hard you have to work on your hair now versus how easy and exciting things were with the new 'do weeks or (for those slow hair growers) months ago. Every stinkin' day you have to try so hard to do anything with your hair -- just to make something work! Some days you don't even try. Other days you try and you get so frustrated in the process. It's. Just. Hard. Nothing seems to work. Your friends know you're having a hard time, so they try to help, give you tips, lend you some hair spray. You appreciate their help, even though you know this is your battle. They don't know your hair like you know your hair.

Thankfully, you soon reach this miraculous period where your hair looks...okay! You can put it in a small bun with a few bobby pins, or you can wear it half back and it looks pretty nice...why, you can even let it dry by itself and it won't look half bad. You don't have to try as hard because you know what to do now. You know what adjustments you can make when things aren't working. With this renewed confidence you have a renewed, positive attitude. With every day you get more and more used to your ever lengthening hair -- heck, you almost look forward to the challenge of working with more hair.

Over time, your hair ebbs and flows between awkward lengths and okay lengths. Some days you feel great and everything looks normal, feels natural. Other days you have to try a little harder, or even really hard. The hard days are never easy, but with each one you learn a bit more and you think more critically about how to make things work -- where to make adjustments, how to deal with the flyaways, and maybe when to make the next big change. No matter what, though, even on the most impossible, most painfully frustrating, difficult days when nothing seems to work, you can have confidence, and you can have hope; for with each passing moment, big or small, your hair is growing, and so are you.

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*I said "kind of." I.e., not exactly. Obviously there are some exceptions and plotholes to this theory -- "what if I'm balding?" "what if I have alopecia?" "what if I'm going for a Sinead O'Connor look?" -- but, as someone who got 10 inches cut immediately before moving to a foreign country four months ago, I am fairly amazed at the how the sequences of each "phenomenon" line up. 

And, if you were wondering, I am growing my hair out. 

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Mandarin Word of the Day: (head) hair
Chinese characters: 頭發 (頭 = head, chief, boss; 發 = to open up, to send out)
Pinyin pronunciation: tóufa