Seat 54D - unless I chicken out and change it

I have a plane ticket!!!

The waiting is over and I AM OFFICIALLY GOING TO CHINA!

(well, provided China grants me a visa - but I think they will - provided I can figure out the application.)

I am sitting in seat 54 D, which for those of you keeping track at home is on the aisle but in the dreaded middle section.  My mom gave me a list of all the "perks" of sitting on the aisle so I am thinking I may try and be brave and sit in the middle.  Someone very close to me told me last year that I am stronger than I think I am.   We'll see!

Most of the team is traveling THROUGH Chicago.  I, on the other hand, am originating in Chicago.  It really is a blessing how God worked out the details.

We fly to Bejing and then on to Guangzhou.  I don't have the exact itinerary in hand yet but the plan is to hopefully visit three orphanages and two foster care centers in southern China.

Here is a look at one that I think we will be visiting.

 
Lifeline China Foster Center from Lifeline Children's Services on Vimeo.


It is almost go time!!! (and I have a lot to do so I'd better get movin'!)

Thanks for continuing to pray!

Past My Due Date

Waiting.....

Stillllll waiting!

I am still waiting to get the call that a teacher has joined the April China team and we can go ahead and get plane tickets. (A teacher who is hoping to travel with us is waiting on approval for time off from her bosses - please continue to pray!)

I feel like I did when I was past my due date when I was pregnant with Jacob. 

I wake up each morning with eager anticipation that TODAY MAY BE THE DAY!

But alas, another day goes by and no email or phone call.

I'm trying to not be anxious.

But as each day passes, it gets a little more difficult.

I know this is all part of God's plan to have me trust Him completely.  As my mom once told me, God sometimes asks us to exercise things we have (or thought we have) learned in the past.

I was eleven days past my due date when Jacob was born.  Day and night would pass and I couldn't figure out WHY I wasn't having this baby that I thought would actually come before my due date.  I know that God was teaching me that He does things in HIS time, not necessarily mine.

Lesson learned.....

so I thought!

But here I am again....wondering why a teacher hasn't been found, why we haven't bought plane tickets, why I don't have more to "hang my hat on" regarding the trip to China.

God is once again, reminding me that HE is in control and things happen in HIS time.

"Now FAITH is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."  Hebrews 11:1