A New Normal
Adjusting to Life in China
Going from shopping at Wal-Mart in America to shopping at Wal-Mart in China can be a challenge in itself.
But learning to adjust to close personal space and to a new language at the same time exacerbates the challenge...
...And makes it all the more fun. :)
This past month has been one of continuing adjustment. Praise God that I have finally found some daily and weekly routines to help life here seem a little bit more "normal" and predictable--if you can call life in China "predictable"!
For the past few weeks, my students and I have been exploring the Flood and the life of Abraham. Through their questions, I have been reminded of what a gracious God we serve. After all, a question like "Why didn't God just wipe out the entire universe? No one would have known any different!" begs the realization that our God is so faithful and beyond gracious. Faithful even in new countries. Faithful even in confusing circumstances. Faithful simply because He is who He is.
Praise God with me for:
Please pray with me for:
...And makes it all the more fun. :)
This past month has been one of continuing adjustment. Praise God that I have finally found some daily and weekly routines to help life here seem a little bit more "normal" and predictable--if you can call life in China "predictable"!
For the past few weeks, my students and I have been exploring the Flood and the life of Abraham. Through their questions, I have been reminded of what a gracious God we serve. After all, a question like "Why didn't God just wipe out the entire universe? No one would have known any different!" begs the realization that our God is so faithful and beyond gracious. Faithful even in new countries. Faithful even in confusing circumstances. Faithful simply because He is who He is.
Praise God with me for:
- A successful visit from the vice minister of education for all of China. This visit came as an enormous surprise to our entire school (and during a time when all of our administrators were at a conference in Hong Kong), but that is to be expected in China. Praise God that the minister and his entourage of 50 politicians/diplomats/administrators were impressed with the school.
- A dryer! Yes, a dryer is a big cause for praise--especially after weeks of having smog-smell on our clothing from air-drying.
- My TEFL training in Shanghai. Although the training was worthless in regard to actually learning anything, I am on my way to getting my work visa for China. In addition, God brought several other believers across my path who need fellowship. They are two of only six foreign believers in their city (at least that they know of). When they discovered that all three of us shared a common love for Jesus, they were overjoyed. That alone was worth the entire training.
Please pray with me for:
- A student who is facing serious depression. Although she is only in middle school, this student has been experiencing such deep depression that she refuses to come to school (our school or otherwise), locks herself in her bedroom, and refuses to talk to her parents. At this point, she has missed two entire weeks of school. She needs to be covered in prayer!
- Spiritual understanding for my students. Pray that the Holy Spirit will illuminate the Gospel for them and that they will respond to His call. Pray for wisdom for me.
Thank you all so much for your prayer support! I love you all!
In Christ's love,
Sarah Leichty
The view from our apartment on the 30th floor
The view from our apartment on the 30th floor
One of the reasons why China is not predictable: Translation doesn't quite always...um,...translate.
Scenes from the BiFengSha Panda Reserve
During our fall break, a group of teachers from the school went hiking at the panda reserve that sits about three hours outside of Chengdu. It was so refreshing!
Scenes from the BiFengSha Panda Reserve
We did not count the complete number, but it seemed as if there was a waterfall around every bend at BiFengSha.