Dear Family and Friends,
It has been a little over a month since I left America and began a journey and new life in China. How I long for you each to come here and truly see things for yourself! It is the only way you will truly understand. Trust me when I say the darkness is so thick here. And, this week will be one of the stronger weeks for darkness as it is an annual traditional week for Chinese people to celebrate their dead ancestors and "remember" them. It began last week, but people celebrate it here a week later, so, I get two weeks of strong darkness. To put is shortly, be on your face for the people here! The Father of this world is mighty at work here and the government is aiding his efforts by feeding them lies, quenching the truth, and keeping them deceived.
So, what have I been doing? Well, this first month has been full of lots of traveling. I have traveled to some new places, visited students' homes and families, and moved twice already. I am finally in my home and have settled in. I have also been teaching (both formally and informally). The opportunities abound for those wanting to teach English! The government here would truly welcome English teachers because they desperately want their people to be fluent and world influencers in this respect. Because of the slower pace of life here I have also spent much time in the secret place and am being transformed. This last week especially my eyes have been opened to the real situation of things in China. It's bad, REALLY bad! There's so much bad to counter all of the good you hear. (This last part doesn't reflect my living situation or how people treat me -- please don't misunderstand. This last part is about the treatment of the "body" and the ch/hc situation.)
At the moment, I am the only white face among half a million Chinese faces. I think the county (Mexian) has about 3,000,000 people. So, that fact plus the enormity of the task to be a light has me feeling lonely. Part of who I am now is being a major people person. It's my personality, and lately I've been feeling especially lonely because the other Americans that would normally be around are elsewhere or still haven't made it back from America. Even my friends who know English have had great difficulty speaking English lately which has left me listening to a lot of Chinse rather than doing more speaking. I am looking forward to the beginning of school (Sept 2) and the return of my American pals. I think it will help me feel better.
The other thing I have been doing a lot of is spending time with HIM. He has given me so many new songs and a deep craving for His words. Lately my days have been filled with lots of talks that have gotten super intense as my burden for the people here has been super magnified! I have also been trying to learn more of the language. It is a must that I learn it. I can tell that I am very welcomed but very dependent upon others here because they know the language. This barrier is also holding me back from communicating about deep issues with my very close friends and brothers/sisters. Ask for an understanding and gifting of the language abilities. Some people here are even discouraging me from learning because they say it is too hard. The difficulty cannot stop me.
Most importantly, I need you to keep me upon your mind. Truly be upon your face for the people here. Ask for more workers. Ask for good working situations with the people here. In some ways this is still a struggle but that can be changed through His hands. Part of this stuggle is that I know that I am being completely changed so much so that my vision and the visions of the other C's are taking us on different paths. That's not bad because the body has many different functions and the work is here is so broad! Also, ask our Papa to make my focus stay on him and the work that is here. I still have many thoughts of America or even just what I would like to do after China. I really don't want to lose my focus and become distracted with the future. HE will show me those things when the time comes; I just need to wait and listen to HIS voice not my selfish desires.
PTL I am learning so much about the people and real situation here. PTL that I have friends here who are always willing to help me. Ask for wisdom to know what things to do and what things not to do. (I am always being asked to help this person or that person with English or to teach short-term at schools.) Ask for my deep cravings for I AM to not fade away but to become stronger. Ask for Jah's love to be poured out upon my students as I begin teaching them on September 2. Truly be on your face for the people hear and share as much as you can with the dry bones in America! What a wonderful gift you have though you make not even realize it back home! Don't waste your freedom to share and deny YAH his glory! Love you all!
Pressing on towards the upward prize,
Amanda
PS: If you want to write me in China get in touch with my mother. She has my address and can give you further instructions (sonjiaj@wfeca.net). Mail takes a month to go back and forth. As far as email goes with me, be patient; I can only check it once a week. My mom also has a website up where news will be posted (http://users.wfeca.net/sonjiaj/index.html). Remember to be careful what you write for my safety. Keep in touch! =)
