Our meetings have been slowly dwindling down. There are still about 5-6 people who have been coming each week. That will probably change this Sunday since it's a holiday and everyone will be traveling. I'm not super optimistic about our showing next week, but we'll see what happens.
Colonel had a chance at English Corner to invite some folks to our meeting. That was encouraging for him. Until now, he hadn't really had a chance to talk to anyone about it. I'm happy for him. It gets discouraging when you keep praying for opportunities, but none present themselves. It's too bad that our semester here is almost over and we're just starting to make progress. That's usually how it is though.
We have about 6 weeks left to make some progress here. We keep praying for God to move in this place, but it just doesn't look like now is the time. I don't know when the time will be. We'll just keep plodding along and continue to hope for the best. If nothing else, a lot of people are hearing the word. They may not believe the word, but at least we're teaching it. Perhaps they'll be converted somewhere down the line.
Our plans for returning home are still up in the air. Of course we know when we're going home, but we have no idea where we'll live, how we'll get transportation, what kind of jobs we'll find, or even if those jobs will allow us to live a life 100% devoted to serving God. Neither of us wants to return to secular work. In the past, we've found that it is super time consuming. Regardless of the fact that millions of Americans do it, I know that it isn't the best choice for anyone to work 40-50 hours a week. People feel forced to do it in order to "survive", but we're trying to do more than survive. We're trying to live meaningful, purpose filled lives. We don't really know how to do that in America. We only know how to do it in China. Living in America is going to be a huge challenge for our family. Most people we know really won't understand that challenge because it's been the normal thing for them. For us, that normal thing nearly tore our family apart. It wasn't until we realized what the root of the issue was that we were able to pull together, solidify our faiths, and move forward with God as #1 in our lives. I must admit to a certain bit of fear in returning home. I'll just keep trusting in God to guide us through this time of transition.
Colonel and I are still looking for other missions opportunities. Now we're looking at domestic missions. We'd like to stay in America, or at least close to it like in Canada or South America. There are 3-4 things in the works right now. We've spent several months on researching different options, praying through these choices, sending out resumes, having email and skype interviews, and just doing whatever we can to move forward in this endeavor. God is still guiding us. I can see him shutting doors as we go along. I don't know when a door will open, but my family will be ready when one does.
Please pray for us, the opportunities we're considering, and the congregations that may be involved, and ask God to guide us all towards the places, people, and opportunities that will allow us all to be most effective in serving him.
Well, that's all she wrote. Talk to you next time.