Wednesday August 19, 2009

We made it home safely. We had a full day of travels—24 hours. We arrived in Seattle Monday afternoon about 1:30 pm and once we got through customs and security we had about two hours until we needed to be back for our departure to Dallas. We quickly bought our bus tour tickets and we went to downtown Seattle. It was beautiful! We didn't have much time so we saw as much as we could. We got to see the fisherman's market, the pier that looks over the ocean, the first starbucks, the mariners and Seahawks stadium, the famous Sleepless in Seattle building, and then we got back on our bus to head back. We had not yet got our boarding passes so we quickly got those and went through security one last time. They told us we had six minutes until they were going to close the doors, for we missed our boarding time, and we were six minutes from the scheduled departure time. We sprinted to the gate and all got on with two minutes to spare-thank you Lord!The flight from Seattle to Dallas went quickly and we arrived in Dallas at midnight Tuesday morning. I got back on DBU campus about 1:30am and my sweet roommates had stayed up to welcome me home! They made me a welcome home banner, blew up balloons, and baked me cookies. I enjoyed sharing pictures, stories, and what amazing things God had done with them. I was so appreciative for them staying up even when they had to get up early the next morning for work. I am very blessed to have such wonderful friends!

I was able to go to sleep around 3am and I woke up at 8:30am to unpack and pack again to go home for the remainder of the week. I went to see my brother and sister in law at work and we had lunch together. I gave them their gifts and shared my pictures and videos with them. It was really good to see them!

I headed home later in the afternoon and got home about 6pm. Traffic wasn't bad and the Lord kept me awake and alert. It was so good to see my parents! I took a nap and then my mom woke me up for dinner. After dinner I got to share with them all about my unforgettable trip, give them their gifts, and show them the first two weeks worth of pictures. We will continue looking at pictures tonight.

I think my body is still adjusting to time. I woke up at 3:30pm today and that was only because the phone awoke me. I could have gone back to sleep, but I needed to get up and get things done. For the last hour or so I have been returning emails and posting the remainder of my blog that I didn't have time to post last week. I have been listening to Jimmy Needham in the midst of the emails and blogs and it has reminded me so much of China because my roommate would always play him in our room. It has been so weird not seeing my teammates everyday and I think today it is really setting in that the trip is over and I may never see the people in China again. It is good to be home with my family, but I really do miss China and all the people. I want to know how my kids and Nicola are doing.I have heard from a few T.A.s and parents, but it is going to be hard for a while. God has given me peace and comfort in my sadness and I know He will continue to because He is faithful.

Thank you so much for following me in my amazing trip and for all of your prayers! Every bit of our trip was a blessing and I know the prayers of many were involved! Now that the trip is over I ask that you will continue to pray for the kids and T.A.s in China. The seeds have been planted—please pray that God will continue to send people to harvest. I also ask that you will please pray for our team as we adjust back, that we will continue to seek God full-heartedly, take the opportunities God provides for us to share, and rely on Him and Him alone as we get back into our busy schedules of school and work.

Praise God!

"I will exalt You, my God the King; I will praise Your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise You and extol Your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and I will meditate on Your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and I will proclaim Your great deeds. They will celebrate Your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of Your righteousness. The LORD is gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and rich in love. The LORD is good to all; He has compassion on all He has made. All You have made will praise You, O LORD; Your saints will extol You. They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might, so that all men may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made. The LORD upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food at the proper time. You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made. The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth. He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them. The LORD watches over all who love Him, but all the wicked He will destroy. My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD. Let every creature praise His holy name for ever and ever!" Psalm 145