This summer, while in the Middle East, I learned to look at situations differently... I realized that difficulties, problems, missed buses, unfortunate circumstances, etc, are often just adventures wrongly considered. Thus, my motto was born: “things either go the way I planned, or I have an adventure!” ...My summer’s discovery had an immediate application once stateside as I embarked on this Adventure to China!
The journey to China has been anything but direct... The course has been one beset with obstacles, poorly marked paths, and detours. Initially when I setout on this adventure I believed myself to be Indonesia bound... Though, alas, as with most adventures, the purpose, aim and destination continuously shift.
It all started in December; well actually it started about 4 months earlier, but for the sake of conciseness I’ll say December. In December two foolish assumptions, (one that I had graduated from the University of Iowa, the second that I would be receiving a substantial pay increase,) lead me to make a few significant decisions. I decided to get a TESOL (Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages) certificate, and I bought a one-way ticket to Beijing which would leave in March. At the time my plan seemed foolproof. I had 3 ½ months to finish my TESOL certification, save up money, and find a job in Indonesia. I would then spend a month with two friends in Beijing before meandering south to teach English and save children from human trafficking... However, within a week I discover I was not graduated and my pay increase had been rescinded.
What ensued was a scramble to register for/con my way into enough half semester classes to satisfy me credit requirements, shamelessly stalk the only professor at the University who was qualified to give me the Hebrew equivalency exam I needed to graduate, study Hebrew, work on the TESOL certificate, continue to scrape together money, attend and strive to pass my 4 classes, and take care of the other innumerable little details like register for a Chinese Visa.
By February my situation was looking bleak. In all probability I would be penniless, degreeless, certificateless, jobless, homeless, and return-ticketless in China. WOW!!! Though, on February 8th, during a small break in between two jobs, I decided to argue with God, and make certain He understood the exact ramifications of my current predicament which He was entirely at fault! After a rant, I took a breath and listened expectantly. I felt strangely calm and instantly a story from the Old Testament came to my mind; the story of Jehoshapht from II Chronicles 20. I pulled out my little Bible and refreshed my mind with the particulars of the story; it had been a long time since I had read it.... In short, the story goes like this, Israel was facing complete annihilation with no hope of salvation, they freaked out, they prayed, they listened, and God told them to go out for battle, but not to fight... He told them victory would come, but it would come without any of their help. Sure enough, they arrived on the battle field and were confronted only with the corpses of their opposing army.
I don’t know how to explain it, but I became completely confident that I would not only be ok, but that all my concerns would work out, the biggest being my graduation! The only challenge that remained was to defend my confidence and optimism to well meaning friends and family who were determent to prepare me for my imminent heartbreak, failure, and danger, as well as to enlighten me about the imprudence of my choices... I had to defend myself up to the very end... and beyond.... My last two days in Iowa were spent camped outside the Professor’s office praying for a chance to take the Hebrew placement test. The chance came the day before I left... under 24 hours before my departure! That was close!
The next day, safely aboard my flight to Seattle, I felt like all the hardships where over and the only thing that occupied my mind was the excited anticipation to see my friends! However, one more road block awaited me! China with their retroactive visa policies had changed their regulations and I was prohibited from boarding the plane without a return ticket! I had exactly 20 minutes to figure this out without the aid of a cell phone, credit card, or internet... For 20 minutes I ran circuits between the help desk, the departure gate, and anyone who would lend me their cell phone, though all this was to no avail!!!
After 20 minutes of excited scurrying about, I watched my plane slowly pulled away from the gate. For a fleeting moment I contemplated whether or not I should cry or laugh, or if I should feel sad or apathetic. Though the moment was fleeting; I turned on my heels, and walked back to the help desk with a smile.
Call it stubbornness, sheer determination, or a gift from God, but I remained in good spirits and was more resolved then ever before to go to China... China had never been my goal. However, my love for a good challenge suddenly made China my destination of choice, even above the beautiful tropical paradise, Indonesia. I felt certain that China was where I was supposed to be and I knew I would get there!
4 hours later, I emerged from the airport with the needed tickets, strong friendships with about 5 delta employees, a place to stay for the night (provided by my wonderful sister Amanda and brother (in-law) Steve.) The next day I was able to board the plane, and 11 hours later I was in China! Happy day!
I’m still wandering through the mire of uncertainty as I search out my purpose in China. Though I’m confident of the fact that I do have a purpose here, and whatever it is, it is one worth the character building, faith testing, nerve racking, adventurous, twisty, uneasy, harrowing, exciting, journey that brought me here!
And so I wait and look to the future with an excited anticipation!
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