Emotional Endings

Leaving East Asia was hard. There were so many people to say goodbye to. The entire last week was emotional. Not to mention since Michelle left two weeks early it didn't make it any easier. Kelley and I had an emotional goodbye in San Francisco. She was the hardest one to leave. I can't imagine not seeing her everyday. Sometimes I still wake up thinking I'm going to see her or Michelle.
San Francisco was exciting. I have decided that all American boys are cute (for the most part) and that America's smell is the best in the world. I haven't really hit reverse culture shock as of yet. Only when I'm in large groups of "foreigners" do I feel a little uncomfortable. Other than that, I'm loving it! America's great...and in other ways, not so great. I especially love shopping in stores that carry my size! That's exciting.
Last weekend Steven and Michelle came down to visit and Patrick even tagged along. It was fun to hang out. They even helped me present at church that Saturday night. I love sharing what God has been doing over the past year. However, I feel like no matter how long I share it will never be long enough. I don't feel like I can adequately describe the way that God has worked in my life and the lives of others in East Asia. Even when I try, I can't do it. I have learned so many things and seen God work in so many ways, it would take a whole year to explain it all. I guess that's one of the limitations of the human race. We cannot describe eternal things the way we want. Right now I'm reading Gilead by Marianne Robinson. And there's a line in there that I think really applies to this thought process. To preface, the book is a journal of a 70 year old pastor written to his son. In it, Pastor John Ames says, "I think the attempt to defend belief can unsettle it, in fact, because there is always an inadequacy in argument about ultimate things." I am seeing this become more true in my life. Maybe not in the same way, but through explanations rather than arguments. As humans, we have so little to define the Ultimate. And that is where faith steps in, when you can no longer explain and argue. Before this gets too theological, I want to add that I do think my faith has grown so much this year. If not for any other reason than I have seen God deeply and intimately and experienced Him in unexplainable ways.

It's been awhile

Sorry I haven't been blogging. My life is in an uproar. I just got back two weeks ago and have been extremely busy. I will try and keep you posted. Maybe. It's just that now I'm back in the States, I feel like I don't have as much to blog about. Exciting things don't happen to me everyday. I could make stuff up, but that wouldn't be cool. Or maybe it would...hmmm. Ok, I'll post more in other entries. This is my "I'm sorry for not posting" post. More to follow.