SUDDENLY! Sleepy in Seattle….and beyond: The Best is Yet to Come!

Now more than 10 hours ago, I left Beijing after what seemed like the 10 months I spent there had lasted about 10 minutes, but had also somehow been more like 10 years. How so much adventure and fun and amazing, supernatural work could get packed into such a "short" time on this incredible journey of joyful uncertainty that has officially come to a close has only one explanation (see also below). I have a lot of unpacking to do when I get back, and not just with my luggage. So much was packed into these last days and weeks and even the final minutes of my time that I am thankful for and want to unpack with words here, which I will. My original connecting flight home was even canceled and let me have some bonus face and talk and prayer time at the airport with one of my great friends, Kyle, who had already returned from his faithful time on the journey in China with TIP.

For now, before my laptop battery dies as I cruise the last couple of hours to Dallas at 40,000 feet above the earth, enjoying the free in-flight wi-fi on Alaska Air, I want to share the lyrics to a song new to me that my great friend, teaching partner in TIP, and amazing sister in Christ, Dorothy, shared with me moments before I boarded the plane in Beijing. I can’t imagine a more special message to receive during my last minutes in the place where I enjoyed so much of what God is doing in the great land and people of China. I got to listen to and read them for the first time in the Starbucks where we were supposed to rendezvous before we even knew each other, but didn’t, when we both first arrived last August 5th in Beijing Capital International Airport. So amazing to consider all that has taken place since then….I’ll write it about all of it more in the coming days.

Praise God that He allowed me to participate in all that took place this last 10 months! I will never be the same.

To all my friends in the TIP family and all my friends all across China, I have so much I could and want to say, but for now this is my parting wish for each of you:

"I Wish You Jesus" by Scott Wesley

I could wish you joy and peace
to last your whole life long.
I could wish you sunshine
or a cheerful little song.
I wish you all the happiness
that this life could bring

But I wish you JESUS
more than anything.

I could wish you leaves of gold
or may your path be smooth.
I could wish you treasures
so that all your dreams come true.
I wish you all the paradise
that every day be free.

But I wish you JESUS
more than anything.

For when I wish you JESUS
I wish you everything.

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