LA to Tokyo and beyond!

No matter how you look at it, 12 hours on a plane is a long time! I had a window seat. After a while, I could tell the poor Japanese chaps sitting beside me found my requests to get up a bit tiring. 

It was a great weekend in Laguna Beach. The resort we stayed in was probably one of the nicest places I've ever visited. I shared a room with Christie Borthwick and enjoyed getting to know her a bit better. Our balcony looked out over the Pacific. Humming birds would sometimes whiz by. Waves crashed on the beach and rocks below. We even saw a local rescue group release a young seal which had been nabbed by a fishing hook and was severely malnourished. The seal hung around close to the beach and then after 10 minutes or so, frolicked off into the deep, hopefully to be reunited with lost pals. It was nice enough weather for our group to enjoy eating several meals outdoors. Over two dinners, we watched the sun set over the ocean-spectacular! What a gift to my eyes and my spirit. Thank you Lord!

The weekend was sponsored by Partners International, a smallish mission agency based out of Spokane, Washington. In its beginnings, returning WW II GIs supported Chinese national, idigenous pastors which was a very radical idea at the time. Now, Partners serves around the world in some of the hard (least evangelized) places, supporting indigenous ministries/ministers who "already know the language and the culture and like the food." We heard from a Sudanese pastor, a female Vietnamese minister, and a Venezualan brother living in North Africa working with folks with physical handicaps. They are doing remarkable work, often facing persecution and suffering for their faith. Because they are nationals who live at the same economic level as those they minister to, it's amazing how little it costs to start a church ($1900) or support a worker. If Grace Chapel had money to invest right now, Partners would certainly be worth serious consideration. Besides, Paul Borthwick serves on their board so you know they have to be good!

This afternoon when I left LA, it was Sunday. Tonight, in Tokyo, it's Monday evening. The first leg was a 12 hour flight. Now, I'm sitting in a comfortable terminal waiting for the next, 4 hour flight to Beijing. 16 hours sitting on a plane is a long time. No position feels comfortable and sleep is erratic.

GC partner, Stephanie Diamond who teaches teachers for ELIC (English Language Institute in China) will meet me at the airport and take me back to her flat. She says her place is not far from the Olympic stadium nicknamed the "Birdsnest." How cool is that!

I've read a guidebook on Beijing on the last flight to help me understand a little more about Chinese history, culture and customs. I'm excited to be able to visit with our GC partners and see them in their homes. I'm looking forward to eating all kinds of Chinese foods-yummo! But, I've some trepidation about my language skills. Please pray that I'll know what to say when, use the right language and above all be "present" to listen to and care for our partners.

Thanks and more to come!