July 12, 2009

Today was awesome!We had breakfast and listened to a great sermon podcast by my leader's pastor.It was one of the most convicting sermons I have ever heard and I loved it!He taught out of Acts 17:16-29 on the importance of sharing the gospel and being concerned where people are going to spend eternity.Paul was teaching in Thessalonica, but he made the Jews upset by sharing the truth about where they would spend eternity if they were not saved so they chased after Paul trying to kill him.Paul was then sent to Athens, which is where verse 16 takes place.The city of Athens was full of religious shrines, polytheistic beliefs, and deceived people.Paul's heart ached for the people for how deceived they were.Reading that really convicted me!Shouldn't our hearts ache for those who don't know the truth?Here I am in a city who majority have never even heard the truth.Shouldn't my heart ache to share with the people of Beijing?Paul was not ashamed of the gospel and he made each day intentional on sharing the gospel.It made me really think on how I pray for opportunities to share, but how many days do I actually take the opportunities that are presented to me?The pastor asked "shouldn't we love Jesus enough that we MUST share His word?"If we really cared about others and what the truth means, wouldn't we share it?Two philosophers that argued with what Paul was saying was Epicurean who believed things happened by chance, that there was no after life, that you only get one life to live so you should live it up (agnostic-living for the pleasures of this world); and Stoic who believed that people were God (Pantheism).They both believed Paul was a philosophy wannabe and not very educated, even though Paul was very educated, probably more than the philosophers themselves.Paul went up to Areopagus, which was one of the highest places in Athens.Trials were held on that hill and it was where the philosopher Socrates was tried.Paul stood on the hill Areopagus and preached the truth showing the people of Athens that God has made Himself known and evident throughout His creation.The bible has made it clear that God has made Himself known.He is ruler over all.He is sovereign.He is the God people seek for.God created us with the desire to seek the truth and even the deceived are searching for the truth.Jesus is the truth!Some people and/or philosophers mocked Paul, but some wanted to hear more and asked questions, and some believed.Through this passage we see that as we share and live our lives not enamored by the things of this world people see that and are drawn to the light in us.In Athens as Paul shared, questions arised and this is the same with us.When we share the truth, questions arise and hearts begin to stir.Many people are deceived, but we are all seekers of the truth by nature and we are called to share that truth.I was just so convicted by this passage because I know I don't spend every day purposefully and intentional on sharing the Word, but it is my prayer that on this trip I do so.I have an amazing opportunity that God has placed in front of me to share with my T.A.s and students.I didn't come here by chance or by accident, I have been specifically called here.I felt led to share this with ya'll and for a personal reminder for myself.We were meant to live, not just exist and I want my time here on earth to be intentional.I love my Savior Jesus Christ and I want people to know that He died for us so that we may live!

"So we fix our eyes on not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:18

This afternoon we got to go to our school and meet our T.A.s!My T.A.'s name is Nicola.She told me that her favorite actor is Nicholas Cage so that is why she picked Nicola as her English name.She is as precious as she can be!She is about to start her 3rd year at the University here in Beijing and she is 21 years old, which means she is above the age of 18, which means she is fair game to share!She already invited me to see her University.I'm so excited to get to know her better and to pour into her!She helped me decorate and set up my room for tomorrow morning!I can't believe we start teaching tomorrow!I'm soooo excited!!I don't know how much sleep I will get tonight.We just got back from downtown.We had our first night of freedom without our quarantine masks!We are officially done with quarantine!Praise God!Grace, our guide, took Cameron, Kevin, Melissa, Alyssia, and I to a five story mall to get tickets.Haha I had asked Grace where I could get tickets for my kids because I wanted to use them for my kids to save up for prizes.She said the only place to get tickets was an arcade so she took us there and bought 500 tokens and all I needed was a maximum of 800 tickets and we ended up getting over 8000 tickets.We had so much fun with all the games and I got jackpot twice so that's part of the reason we got so many tickets because with each jackpot you get an additional 700 tickets so we got 1400 tickets in jackpot alone.After the arcade Grace bought us all starbucks and took us to see Teinemen Square which was beautiful.I look forward to going back during the day and taking more pictures!Tonight was so much fun!I think we had been cooped up so long in the hotel that we all went crazy getting out.I hadn't laughed that much in a long time.We really did have a great time together.Grace is such a huge sport to take us so many places!She actually wanted to take us to karaoke tonight too, but we still had more lesson plans for tomorrow to finish.She will take us another night sometime soon she said.She spoils us so much it's not even funny.We will all need to pitch in and get her something really nice for all she has done for us.She goes and gets our meals every day, and pretty much gets us anything we need.I better go though because at this point if I went to bed I would get 4 ½ hours of sleep…I'm still wired on the starbucks that Grace bought us.For those of you who know how I get when I have coffee, especially my co-workers and roommates, coffee REALLY affects me.We have to be up and ready for breakfast at 6am.The girls are in our room right now doing last minute plans and decorations.We are all pretty excited about tomorrow!Tomorrow we won't really teach until the second half of the day 1-3:30.The first half of the day we will be testing the kid's fluency, assemblies, grading tests, and games.It is going to be so much fun!I can't wait to meet all my kids!!I met one my little girl's today.Her name is Sonny.She is too cute!I know all of them are going to be so precious!I will be sure to take lots of pictures of my class and my classroom when I am done decorating.The classrooms they have provided for us are very nice and very spacious!Well, I better get some sleep, if I can!Hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend!!

"I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task of the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 21:24