Late Nights, Early Mornings

China is happening in just over 2 weeks. I am still in a state of awe and wonder that I am actually going. Monies have been turned in. Meetings have been held. Plans are still being made. Flights booked. Hotels secured. And? Things are still unknown. How many children will we be working with? What are their needs? Will we even get to go to the orphanage? And the small things: Can I figure out before we go how to get my new travel French press to make good tasting coffee? 'Cause, you know, caffeine. Will we be able to pack everything we need? Pretty sure there's not a Wal-Mart anywhere near our city (I've looked). Can I fit all *my* stuff in a carry-on and personal bag so I can have a checked bag available for supplies? All these questions fly through my mind, but I can rest in the knowledge that my God has gone before me already and has smoothed the way and has already taken care of everything we need. Isaiah 45:2 says "I will go before you and make the rough places smooth; I will shatter the doors of bronze and cut through their iron bars." I know that I will be changed when I come back from serving orphans in a foreign land. My prayer is that I will be so changed that I can't sit here in my comfortable home and do nothing when I come back. There are hurting and lonely people here. There are orphans, widows, and foreigners here who need to know someone cares. God may call me back to China or another country in the future, but it's not enough when my own backyard has people in need. I want to love those people, too.

I haven't yet decided how I am going to share my experiences with anyone on social media. There's always Facebook groups or the blog. Or there may be just my handwritten journals shared over time. Either way, there will be advocating for forever homes for these children.

Tonight, our larger team broke down into our 2 smaller teams. I am partnered with a group of 7 other ladies. Three of us will be doing crafts and games with the kids. One is a doctor (my roomie for the duration of the trip!) and a couple others are in the medical profession (my mind is blank as to what they do...) and we'll have a photographer. God has truly knit our group together as far as where our talents and strengths are. I am anxious to see how well we work together in person.

So, half marathon training is not going all that great. We run. And walk. And run. And walk a lot. It's good to have a running/walking partner, though. Unfortunately, our Hilton Head plans aren't going to work out. Had some things come up at church that have changed our plans for that weekend. The overnight on Friday will still happen, but in Savannah instead of HHI. It is what it is and it's for a great cause.

And on that note, I must hit the hay tonight. Kids must be taken to school in the morning and then I have a 2 hour run planned. It's gotta happen...