33 days left...

It's been the weirdest feeling knowing that I'm leaving so soon. Even though we have been so busy (More than the usual if it's possible) I can't stop thinking about how fast time has flown. I look back and laugh at my first journal post upon arriving to Hong Kong, and the nervousness portrayed in what the year would hold. Would the youth like me? Would I be able to do this job and school? Would I be terribly homesick?

It's amazing to see how far I've come and how much God has truly molded me this year. I feel like a new person with a new life and outtake on what 'missions' really is. I realized that my world view was so small, and God used Hong Kong to wake me up. I learned that it's not about 'missions' but doing life with people who happen to live in a different envoirnment I am not used to. After living here, I can't imagine a life inside the US for too long anymore, and I cringe at the thought of routine and being complacent, and worry that others wont understand my experience here. I will never forget praying that God would reveal to me if living overseas and doing missions as a lifestyle was His will for me, before I came. And I can truly say he did reveal that. :)

I felt like this year was a test of my faith, and my heart's true desires. I guess you can say that God definitely answered that with the growth in my passion for people, and different cultures. There is so much that I have left out in this blog, so many ways that the Lord has truly changed me, so many stories of his Grace and how he has used me, and so many thoughts that I have wanted to share. I'm sorry that I was not as frequent as I wish I could have been, but all in all this year was a 'growing up year' for me in a lot of ways.

I have learned a lot about the Church, and I've seen how hard it is to work at a church, and how rewarding it is at the same time. I am so thankful for our pastors here who have encouraged me to read books and study God's word. Theologically and Doctrinely I have learned so much that I may have never known had I not been here. Working with youth and different families, I have seen what works and what doesn't. I know now the importance of Discipleship in the home and truly investing in a child. More than that I have learned what it would be like to be on my own, in a foreign country. In a lot of ways I feel like I'm out of college, ready to start the next phase in my life, but next year I'll be going back to finish up my senior year.

I really feel like I have made Hong Kong my home this year and I'm very saddened to say goodbye to the friends, family, relationships, and ministry that I have poured my heart into this year. I still have 33 more days, but It feels like I only have 3. There is still so much to do this last month as well! We have our youth camp in July for 10 days in the Philippines, and are spending as much time as literally possible with the youth! I'm going to miss them the most!!!!!!!!!!!

Everyone keeps asking if I'm ready to go back home yet, and I'm not. I'm not done here yet, and maybe when I'm on that plane home, then maybe I'll be ready.

"Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with action and in Truth" 1 John 3:18