it will not lie.
If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”
Habakkuk 2:3 (ESV)
… and there sits little Luke Skywalker... looking awkward and confused and, as he said, STILL THERE for some strange reason.
WELL, THAT’S ME RIGHT NOW.
Now, any true Star Wars fan is probably going to say, “I don’t remember that scene” and that’s probably because it is not actually in the movie, but a clever kid-created reenactment by Kid Snippets (see 4:26) that makes me laugh every time I watch it. Yet, each time I try to explain to people where I am right now in the process of leaving for China... I feel just like that lost and confused little Luke Skywalker unable to process anything except for the fact that he's still here. He made his plans, prepared what he needed, went to leave and somehow he never actually made it out the door. It’s rough, man.
That being said, here’s where I am at the moment. My original arrival date in China was scheduled as JULY 29, 2017. As you are well aware, that day has sadly come and gone. At this point in time I am still waiting on my work permit to arrive from China. It’s really out of my hands right now. As soon as my work permit is issued I will be able to formally apply for my VISA which, if approved, hopefully should be processed with about a week turn around. Then, I’ll likely fly out the very next day.
But, we’re not there yet!
So... I find myself living at home (for the first time in eight years mind you), driving my parents and siblings crazy with stress levels and saltwater production working at extremely high levels, and staring at suitcases that are *kind of* ready to go. The school in China tells me that it’s actually pretty normal for teachers to be delayed and that I'm not the only one. Though this fact definitely makes me feel less at fault, it does little to ease the pressure I feel building. I want to yell, “COME ON CHINA! I HAVE LESSONS TO PLAN, A LANGUAGE TO LEARN, A CLASSROOM TO ORGANIZE, AND A TWELVE HOUR TIME DIFFERENCE TO ADJUST TO! HELP ME OUT A LITTLE!”
Still, there ARE positives to having been delayed. I’ve had more time with my family and my dog. I’ve had lots of time to take naps and get rested up before I hit the ground running in China. I’ve had more time to pack, and repack, and then start all over and repack again. I’ve felt the necessity to reach out to God for strength, comfort, and understanding. I’ve also had time to put into practice some of the leaving ‘strategies’ I learned at orientation. The most helpful has been building my RAFT.
- R = reconciling with people you’ve fallen out with
- A = affirming relationships/individuals who have made an impact on your life
- F = farewell, saying goodbye to people, places, and things
- T = think destination, think and pray about what lies ahead!
When I look at the big picture, I honestly can’t be too disappointed or discouraged by this delay. The truth is that I am confident that Jesus called me to go. Therefore, I know He will get me there in His timing. I'm praying really hard that I will not be arriving day before or especially after school has already started (August 22), but if I do, then it just means I’ll have no choice, but to lean on God 100% in order to not freak out and do my best... and if I'm leaning on Him, then I know I cannot fail.
I can only beg again for you to join me in prayer for the coming days!
Thank you for all your sweet messages and support!