Three Years...

July 29, 2012

Dear Ones,

One little heartbeat at a time

    This past week five of us living here in the Big House had the opportunity to share with a visiting student group the story of God’s calling in our lives and how we had each ended up living here in this family so far from our homes.  I listened as the others shared and considered the uniqueness of our callings, of the way our Heavenly Father so orchestrated our being here in this place, at this time, for this purpose, weaving the tapestry of our lives into a beautiful picture of the work of His hands.  It was good, it was really good- so often we do not sit and consider the journey’s of others, the paths that intercepted, the past that brought each of us to this point where we are placed very much so into one another’s lives to learn the lessons that God has for us at this place in our journey, for this time in our story.    I sat sharing some snapshots of my journey, my calling, my story and you all came to mind.  If you receive this e-mail, read this blog, have mail delivered then you are part of my story, the story that God is writing my life into and I am so incredibly grateful for each of you!  Three Years…Today marks my three year anniversary of life in China.  You have been there, many of you since the very beginning of my life and journey, some of you I have just met and others I do not know personally you have simply chosen to come along side and encourage me in my walk.  Thank you.  There have been mountaintops and deep dark valleys, laughter, tears, driving lessons, schooling, nursing care, love, anger, compassion, frustration, kindness, staring, strange food and stranger streets, an ever growing list of names on the wall and stories of children in their forever families.  There have been crazy drives and long train rides, and language lessons, shopping trips, sightseeing trips, and letters from home, visits from friends, faithful support, skype chats, pictures, and packages of everything imaginable and then some.  You are the ones who have encouraged me not only over the last three years but so many of you further back than that, you have counseled, cried with, laughed with, listened to my heart, and loved me through all of the many flaws and faults, the “Ideas,” the activity, the exciting, the heart wrenching, and the heart thrilling.  I like Paul can say, “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.  For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 1:6-8)  Thank you for being the body that allows my hands to work here, for by God’s grace He has given you to me, for such a time as this.  That this pile of stones would be a reminder to all who ask, “What is this pile of stones?” That His Story might be proclaimed.  I love you all!

By His Grace- Securely Held Fast in His Hand,

Mariah