aida

i bought my plane ticket yesterday.

for october 15th - march 5th

even though the consulate said they were only sending a 3 month visa... just pray i can get it renewed while there. eh?

so in this next weeks mail, i can be expecting-

my plane ticket [because apparently they do it that a way, it being international, and all]

my visa, including my passport that was sent out with it

my tevas i left at aleah's in portland

and a hammock i got off of amazon for 15.50

something happened this morning, that might not be that big of a deal to anyone else... anywhere else in the country.

but for me, in utah...

i was thoroughly blessed by it.

so... at work a couple pulled up to the drive through window that is our coffee shop, and we got talking, and they were from central california. i told them i just moved back to utah from murrieta after going to bible college for 2 years, and they asked what i was doing now... and i proceeded to tell them how i'd be moving to china in a month, and continued on making their drinks.

as i handed it out the window to them and as they were driving away, the wife in the passenger seat yelled across how they would be praying for me in china.

i know it's really not THAT big of a deal...

but random encounters with other christians in utah that offer to pray for you... without even knowing my name, at that, DON'T happen.

i just love how we are the FAMILY of God.

ya know?

ivan and i went and saw Aida tonight at my old high school

of all the shows i saw on broadway those 4 years ago,

aida was my favorite.

so i knew it'd be a tough act to follow...

it wasnt BROADWAY, but tuacahn sure didnt disapoint.

it might just have something to do with the atmosphere.

where we saw aida tonight is in an amphitheater, and sitting outside at 9 at night, with not a single bug bothering us due the dryness that is St. george... isnt something i'm going to have for too much longer.

today was a good day.

preparation

I got my last 2 shots today- Flu, and the final hep b shot.

The consulate called and said they were sending me my 3-month visa.

I picked up more insulin, malaria, typhoid, thyroid, pro-biotics, doxycycline, and minocycline prescriptions.

I transferred money from my savings into checking, so when it goes through I can buy my plane ticket.

Hey.

I’m moving to China.

it's fall time.

I’ve found a new appreciation for my front yard

And have been spending a lot of time on the porch lately.

Be it curled up on the rocking chairs reading to kill a mockingbird,

Sprawled out on blankets on the damp grass listening to iron & wine,

Or stretched across the front steps, conversing with my beloved cat, Dixie.

Though she is rather pretentious, and exchanges generally tend to be relatively one-sided.

Whatever the case be, 9-11 front porch occurrences in this 82 degree, full moon, cricket chirping nights have been more frequent, and more enjoyed, as of late.

And it couldn’t have come a moment too soon.

i hate this time of year.

the time the sun spends out is getting shorter and shorter,

while my work hours get longer and longer.

Fall is starting, summers coming to an end…

And I’m always saying goodbye.

You’d think I’d be better at it by now.

I hate over emotional dialogue so filled with sentiment it makes you want to puke.

So I’ll try and keep this short.

I miss you.

Not you,

but the idea of you.

And knowing you’re just…

there.

Or would be, the moment I called.

And for once in my life it’s you that’s gone, and I’m here.

I guess I’m starting to see how …

alone

I really am.

And it makes the world seem a whole lot bigger.

And makes me see how much I truly do need to be relying on my God, and solely Him.

Yeah Dixie, you’re right.

We’ve still got a whole lot of learning to do.

.transient travels.

transient-adjective

lasting only for a short time; impermanent, transitory, temporary, short-lived, short-term, ephemeral, impermanent, brief, momentary, fleeting.

[psalm 39:4-5]

...and what is the measure of my days, that i may know how frail i am. indeed You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapor...

travel-verb

to make a journey, typically of some length or abroad. journeys, expeditions, trips, tours, excursions, voyages, treks, safaris, explorations, wanderings, odysseys.

[psalm 39:7]

and now, Lord, what do i wait for?

my hope is in You.

this life of mine;

nothing more than a transient travel,

leading up to eternity.

first timers

well, i guess this is officially my first blog.

initially i planned to set this up for when i go to china for easier documentations.

but apparently, looks like i'll be getting a head start.

i just arrived back in utah on wednesday from a little road trip to seattle,

and over these last 2 weeks was reminded of how the Lord does want me in Utah,

at least for the time being, despite my animosity towards it, and it's lack of excitement.

i trust that God has given me this zeal for life for a purpose.

use it for Your glory.

and not merely myself building a name for... myself.

i'm not ok with a mundane life

i want to make a change for the gospel...

wherever i go.

i want to leave an impact on people...

whoever i meet.

is this free spirit merely immaturity that i'll one day grow up, and out of?

this adventure seeking thrill does drive me so.

these dreams and desires to travel,

& see,

& meet,

& taste,

& smell,

& experience... are they from You?

if this motivation for a lively stimulation is compelled by anything in and of myself,

please.

beat contentment into me.

but if this eager intensity and ready anxiousness for change,

for Your sake,

is from and of You... please. let it soar.

i dream big.

and truly believe that i can do nothing in and of myself.

but honestly know that in my Jesus,

i can do literally anything.

and plan on doing just about everything out there there is to do.

at least what my God has for me.

yeah Lord, i think i'm ready for my next step.

for our next step.

whatever step it is you have for me.