Last summer, it was like the jigsaw of my life so far was put together. The experiences, reasons behind situations, the passions i have, the people I've met, have all been leading up to a moment where God gave me a very specific task and vision. And that was to join or mirror a charity like International China Concern or New Hope Foundation. This has overtaken the majority of my thoughts, my prayers, my emotion and my heart and I'm pursuing this stage of my life in the light of this. I knew that i desperately wanted to return to see these babies, but i was battling with the idea of going back alone, the finance and whether it was genuinely God's will for me. Billie Thaw ( who epitomises "living by faith") said this to me. "if you feel as strongly as you feel for Rebekah, the other children you met on your first visit and the work that charities like ICC and Hope do, in 6 months time then you know this is something real and something to pursue. My current position, is that this is what I dream of and long to do, and with God the impossible is possible (Matt 9:26) so i hope that the heart and vision i have, will bring to fruition in His perfect timing. Some people, when they ask what i want to do, think i'm crazy when i tell them, but i think its crazy too so thats okay!
During my time at Hope Foster Home, Robin Hill who owns the home said that if i ever wanted to come back and help out at the preschool i should email him. I did, i took a step of faith knowing that i would be flying almost 5000 miles alone, knowing that i wouldn't see my family or Jamie for 3 months and not really knowing how i would pay for it all. For a while, there was no response. And i'm not really very good at being left in the dark or hearing a "no" ( as my mum will know!) But this was a time that the Lord God was testing me and encouraging me to pray and trust in Him, to talk to Him about how much i loved His children and to tell Him i was pretty scared about the whole trip. Within 3 days of doing this, i had an email back saying "come back" and that all my costs (apart from flight) were covered! So i'm going....
1) For three months
2) To try, not in my own strength, to be the hands and feet of Jesus to His children.
3) To teach a pre school that is inside the home - crafts, numbers, alphabet, songs etc
4) To teach in English to children who are only little and speak very very basic English
5) To be surrounded by nannies who love their babies but also speak no conversational English
6) To hold as many babies as i possibly can with the two arms i have (why don't we have more arms!)
7) To learn and observe a fully functioning, wonderful foster home and the amazing selfless team.
8) To take three months out to meditate and grow closer to Jesus.
9) To tell each baby how much they are loved!
10) To miss my family.
I'm beyond excited not just to go, but share in this adventure with my friends and family.
There are a few practical things that i would absolutely crave your prayers for!
- sorting out renewing my passport
- applying for my visa
- getting an excitement and uni work balance!
- that God would prepare my heart - quiet times/conversations
- that i would practice selflessness
- for the babies at Hope and ICC - their health and happiness
Love you all x
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