A few weeks ago was one year since my Aunt passed away And really others have passed away in recent years. I use to be able to count on my hands how many people I knew who died. Now I don't believe that I can. This comes from getting older (I know I'm not old but when I get older it means those I love get older too) working on the mission field and other things.
Death has always been something that I was scared of. I remember being a little girl and running to my mom when my brother would say something like "you're going to die". I also remember many days of tears that followed after a dog of mine would pass away. I had three dogs die during my childhood. I can't say that I'm no longer scared to die. If I'm honest I still am. But I'm not scared of death. I know what happens and where my loved ones go.
This change did not come quickly or easily. I had to loose some people close to me to learn it.
The last time in Africa most of you know that I lost a sister and friend. This was such a surprise and for those of us who lived with Sarah devastating. I was away from the team at the time. (Actually for most of my loved ones deaths I have been away.) Being apart from it made me trust God and lean on him so much harder. I didn't have to be the strong one I was able to get and be mad. But it also gave me the time to learn and realize what death is. God and I had many conversations on the plane rides back to Port Elizabeth (that's where I was living I was on holiday in Swaziland at the time). I still remember him saying to me "Trust me". Which honestly was hard to do at the time. He kept reminding me that His plan was so much better and that He knew what He was doing. At the time it was hard to believe. Sarah was just 18. But in the weeks and months and even year that followed The Lord was good on his word. So many have been brought to Him through this. Because of one death hundreds have heard His words. She is still ministering and being used even in her death. And who knows maybe in greater ways than if she were alive today. I miss her so much but I am sure that she is where she is suppose to be. Up in heaven praising God and working right there beside him.
When I got home from Africa my Aunt Diane was sick with cancer and after a summer of fighting hard the Lord brought her home. The day He did seemed like a relief then reality set in. No longer would she be there to talk to or to cut my hair. She really was gone. But just like with Sarah I had to trust and believe that the Lord knew what He was doing. She was a beautiful lady who loved with all she had. Now
she gets to do that from the perfect place. She gets to hurt no more, she is HEALED.
If you have lost someone close to you and wonder how you can go on without them. Talk to God He is right there wanting to help you through this. Know that one day, God willing, we will all be with Him in heaven.
I am writing this from my new apartment in Traverse City. I was blessed this year with the ability to live with four other amazing ladies. After several weeks and a long move in day of getting everything lined up four of us are moved in.
I am excited to see what the Lord has for us this year. I will be in my last year of school and in the spring I will be a chef. After that who knows. I am already being asked and starting to "worry" slightly about it. But I know that my Lord has a plan and I cant wait to see what that is.
A little over a week ago I was blessed to be in the wedding of some really good friends. Two of my teammates from Georgia (Seth and Ashley) got married. It was a great time of reuniting. Five of the 6 interns were there for the wedding. Four of us were in the wedding. It was great catching up and laughing with old friends.
I am excited for Seth and Ashley and i know that they are going to have a great life together. Below are a couple pictures from the wedding. Taken by Crock.
Ashley and her Bridesmaids. Chloe, Connie (Crock), Molly and Me.
Intern reunion. Em, Me, Ash, Seth, and Caleb.
Me with the new Mr and Mrs. Seth Simonson after a wonderful wedding.
Im sitting in my hotel room in Nanjing China enjoying a little air conditioning before we start our day. Mom and dad went to the market to pick up breakfast and arent back just yet.
We have been here in China for a week now. The first part of the trip was spent in the capital Beijing with our sister Shan (she didnt live with us but she is a very close friend and calls mom and dad mom and dad) We did all the touristy things. Climbed the great wall (in the rain) walked thru the summer palace and the forbidden city. We visited the temple of heaven and the Tian'anmen square. Saw the olympic grounds and many other places. We ate Peking duck at the same place lots of famous people ate at. We also at traditional porriage, flat noodles, par taked in a hot pot. And also trid duck feet and a soup made from left over tofu juice. Shan loved ordering things that she didnt like to see us eat it.
We are now in Nanjing after a 8 hour train ride overnight. We have been here for a few days and are lucky to have our own tour guides. Tabrina is still in school so she has persuaded her friends to show us around. They are doing a wonderful job. Yesterday was moms birthday, the big 50, so we celebrated with a meal at Tabrinas home with her parents and grandmother. Then a walk in the park. Today her uncles driver is taking us around. Should be interesting.
China... Im not sure how I feel about it yet. I am slightly getting tired of being stared at. I am one of very few in china at this moment with light hair. We are asked to be in pictures all the time. I promise that next time I will have a better openion of it. I do love all the architecture expecially that of old china. I will put some pictures up when I return to the states so that you can see what time went into all the buildings.
So tomorrow morning early my family and I head off to China for a few weeks to reunite with past exchange students of ours and to see where they live and grew up.
I will try to update you on how the trip goes as soon as possible when I get home.
I have made it to the halfway mark in my internship at Southern Exposure this summer. I have completed 150 hours. Its been a long 150 and a busy 150 hours. I keep being asked by co-workers if I'm learning a lot. I am. Nothing like how to chop or temper or anything like that. But a lot about real life jobs. How to work with people of ever kind. How to not become like those who you work with.
The one thing that keeps playing them in my head is LOVE. LOVE is such a powerful thing. When you love some one who you don't agree with it stretches you and challenges you. And that is what this summer is about for me. When you work for someone who thinks, views, acts and believes differently than you the only way to get through it is to LOVE. LOVE God, LOVE them and LOVE what you do. This is a challenge of my everyday. But I try to live out 1 Corinthians 13. I try to be patient. Kind. I don't boast. I try not to envy or be proud. I refuse to get easily angered. I trust, hope and persevere. I trust God to help me to be a light to my co-workers. I hope that what I do and say makes an impact. And I continue on taking each day at a time.
I don't want to make it sound like I hate my job or everyone I work with because I don't. I have enjoyed it immensely. But like all jobs there are challenges. It has been a great experience so far and I know it will continue to be.
For those of you who dont know I am fulfilling my culinary internship this summer at Southern Exposure (SE). Its just north of Battle Creek Michigan. The best way to describe it is an on-site catering place. We do weddings, lunches, showers, birthday parties and whatever reason you would want to have a get together and eat yummy food. We also have workshops in the spring and fall.
I work mostly with two other ladies in the Kitchen, Chef Elsie and Maria. Chef Elsie has had no formal training but as she said "its in her blood". Maria came to Michigan 20 years ago from Mexico and is a sweet lady who gets to work early and picks and assembles our garnishes(all our garnishes are herbs and flowers). A Hard worker. The three of us do pretty good. Actually today we had a plated wedding for 63. It went well. We each did our part and it all came together.
I keep being asked by Curtis one of the owners if I am enjoying my internship. My answer is always yes. I am so glad that I am not in a restaurant with all the stress and high pace. As SE I am able to get to know who I am working with and sometimes who I am cooking for. Its a lot like what I want to end up doing. I have never been interested in the restaurant industry. I love cooking for those who I know and being able to see the joy in their faces after the meal.
So I have completed three weeks and two weddings and many more to go.
