This Great Work

I do hope that when we get back home, our brushes with fame go back down to zero.  But for now it's what we've got. I know that they are so frequent because it's Heavenly Father's way of spreading Jesus Christ's light. Last week we had the opportunity to go to an event to teach foreigners about Chinese New Year.  It was held in a historic home in Green Fruit Alley.  We were taught the history of the celebration, had an artist show us how to paint calligraphy and had the opportunity to paint some ourselves, we cut window decorations and got to dip some fruit in candy coating.  Journalists were all over interviewing for radio, newspaper and TV.  Then we left with way too many goodies.   We'll start with my photos of the event: Here is the portion of the newspaper article that we are in: Now.  Just for the record, I did NOT say that!  I said that people were kind and waved back at me when I waved to them.  But here in China the media says w...

Our shipment has been a complicated math problem. While complicated, it might simply be expressed simply as  s=d I'll define the variables:  s=shipment    d=drama Every few days a new point on the graph is added.  On again.  Off again.  Up a little.  Down a lot. Up a lot, down a little.  The plots on the graph definitely reflect a roller coaster ride rather than a smooth glide on a serene pond.   Here are just the highlights of the plotted points. 🎢Point A:  While still at home:  review the long list of prohibited items to be taken into China.  Unpack many things we had wanted to take.  (mostly food items and seeds for herbs, tomatoes etc.)  Re-itemize every single item that goes into the boxes (tedious!!). 📈Point B:  Fly to Dallas and only after obtaining permission to fly into China do we summon the movers to pick up our boxes. ⊶Point C:  Make arrangements for the shippers to meet Chandler at h...

When I first heard the youth theme song for 2021 I was impressed that that was to be our purpose in China.  That song got me through a lot of difficult pockets of doubt, insecurity and fear.  It moved me to tears nearly every time I listened to it.  A few of the words really spoke to me:       There is a work to do      that was prepared for you     long before the world was made .     You have the  strength you need     to cross the stormy seas     that you will find along the way.....          This is a great work that we’ve been given.     This is a  part of His grand design .     So don’t be weary.  He will be with you ,     And He will lead you through the night     in this great work. This great work.  This is a great work . There were times on this journey that were filled with great disappointment....