41...

Exciting news............... my Chinese visa is officially in! So I'm legit. I chose to sport the traditional "Chinese pose" while taking this picture. Show Hope Team Girls - this is for you!

T-41 days until I leave for China. The to-do list is growing by the hour and the time is slipping away from me in lightening speed. But I'm trying to stay motivated and focused so I bought a tiny planner to keep in my purse. (it basically is full of list's of to-do's and not so much of a planner) This is my attempt to stay organized and to make my purse absolutely back-breakingly heavy.

Last night was a great night. I lead a junior high bible study with some of the best girls known to mankind. I love each and everyone of them and it's going to be really really hard to leave them all. But last night I was given the chance to talk just talk to them about where I'm going, what I'll be doing and why I'm going. And in between me rambling off random China facts I got really excited because the girls were really listening and asking questions about China and it's orphans. It's seems silly to be excited that people are actually listening to you while your speaking but we are talking about girls between the ages of 11-14. They are very easily distracted by anything and everything! (especially shiny things) But through me answering questions and trying to give them a picture of why I want to go back they decided as a group they want to sponsor one of the kids I will be working with! Isn't that awesome? So the 6-8th grade girls RCG in Broken Arrow, OK will be sponsoring a orphan half way across the world because they want to make a positive difference in the lives of the Chinese orphans. I am super excited about the whole thing! All it takes is for people to listen and to respond. The girls last night responded because the Jesus in them wants to show the Children in China Jesus through love and financial support. It's honestly that easy!

I sent out postcards this week to friends and family giving everyone an update of when I'm leaving (march 4th) and where I am financially. For those of you that are looking at my blog for the first time because of my postcards, I'm so excited that you decided to check it out and I love you!

Again keeping the 41 days in mind I still have $5,500 to raise before I will be completely funded for one year while volunteering in China. I don't think anyone will ever know how much I hate bringing up money. Let it be said again, trying to raise support for yourself can be an absolutely humbling experience but it is vital role. The last thing I want to do is sound like a "nagging missionary" because I don't believe that everyone is called to support me by financial gifts. God calls his church to play 3 roles in missionaries lives, one be a missionary yourself, financially support those that have heard the call on their lives to move over seas, and finally some of you are called to be a prayer and emotional support system to those over seas. (which is equally as important as a financial supporter to me) But I was thinking about the money I needed to raise and I thought about this. All it would take to help me reach my financial goal to be completely funded for one year volunteering in China is for 9 people to commit to sponsor me for $50 a month or 20 people to sponsor me for $25 a month. So please continue to pray that the money would come in for me and also my roommate Julee.

Please also pray for me as I continue to live out daily tasks such as work and commitments that I have here in Tulsa. (especially work) I don't know how to describe the challenge of carrying on a "normal" life while waiting to move to a country that you left your heart in. The emotions alone of exhausting. China has my heart but I still have commitments that I need to honor with my full attention until I leave in March.

Love, Chrissy