Made it Beijing!

Hello Family and Friends!!

I'm SO sorry that it's taken me this long to post again! With traveling, and trying to get internet, etc. it's been a whirlwind these last couple days. My goal is to post once every week, hoping to shoot for a consistent Sunday evening weekly post. (I'm telling ya'll so you can keep me accountable, although once I get settled into life in Harbin the day of the week that I post might change)
That being said, in case you didn't know, I made it safely to China!!! PTL For the most part things went smoothly, no missing bags or airport issues which is a huge blessing for the amount of us that traveled over here together!

Beijing has been great thus far! We are here for about 12 days or so to finish up our training. We are taking our Asian and Chinese Culture course here before we disperse into the cities in which we will be serving. The food has been as delicious as I've remembered it and the tea is even better! We've already trekked the Great Wall and have gotten to simply explore the city which has been SO fun!

As you can imagine I'm experiencing a myriad of emotions since I've been here. There is obviously quite a bit of excitement in being here, although I won't be living in the city of Beijing, China is now my new home for the next year of my life and there is a lot of excitement that comes with that. I'm slightly nostalgic due to the fact that I was in China last summer, under different circumstances (shorter amount of time, different people & responsibilities) I'm anxious to finally get to the actual city in which I will be living and teaching. I'm nervous to begin my job as a teacher. I'm feeling thankful that via partnership with supporters I'm able to embark on something much bigger than myself.
 But best of all, I feel affirmed in being here. The moment I stepped out of the airport and into the bus to take us to our hotel, the moment I knew-this is where I'm supposed to be. The country in it's entirety I had missed: the smells, the people, the food, the culture all of it I had missed and my heart for this place was reminded of the same love and compassion I had experienced the last time I was here. (Don't know if I missed the squattie potties but that's a story for a different day) The drive to the hotel was a heartfelt time for me, it was almost as if the Father personally spoke to me and said right now, for this time in your life, I want you here living among these people and serving them. I remember being at a conference one time and during the women's time we were talking about Esther, and contentment, and purpose (they all tied together I promise) I remember one big thing from her talk that "Purpose fuels contentment" I feel a total sense of purpose being here and it's fueling my heart towards a deep sense of contentment in resting in my Father and His great sovereignty. No I haven't "arrived" to this perfectly, school is starting for my friends who are still in college and I'm seeing all their posts and stuff and I would be lying if I said I missed them and all the fun they are having. But how gracious the Father is in drawing me back to the reality of where He has me and how good it is because He brought me here.

Blessings,
Alysse

Photo of the Week (I will be attempting to post a picture of the week with every post)

This is a simple picture which captures the beauty in the culture of the country I now call home: China.