100 day report

Well, it’s been 100 days since we got back to the States. So much has happened since we returned that everything is literally a blur when we look back. So far, we have visited friends and family in 9 states and 18 cities. We have driven over 6,000 miles with most of those being in the new Jetta TDI. During all of this, we moved most of our stuff out of the long term storage facility into a nice, 2 bedroom apartment which we are slowly putting together. Did I mention the 10 pounds that I’ve gained? Yup, this American food is some kind of good!
Our trip back to the States was long but uneventful. Our planes were on time, the rides generally smooth, the airplane food was just that, and all eight of our bags arrived with us. My jetlag seemed to hang on much longer than what I was expecting. It was a full week before I began to feel “normal” again.
Although expected, our culture shock on returning was very real. The first time that we went to an American grocery store was just overwhelming. We were shopping with our daughter, Melanie, who didn’t need too much stuff which was really fortunate. Had we been buying for ourselves at that moment, we would have spent two paychecks and had to rent a truck to get everything home. It was just incredible to us that there could be so much “Western” stuff in one place. Another shock was the incredible change in cell phones and tv’s both of which have improved exponentionally since we left. You can buy just anything at an American Wal-Mart and Target store. We are still dealing with a few other things that are different here. Driving has been one of the real pleasures though. Having been without a car for two years, it has been really nice to go anywhere and everywhere at anytime without having to walk.
During our visits, it was so special to see everyone. Renewing relationships and just good old fashioned visiting were very unique and rewarding. Everyone had their own special foods for us and way of welcoming us back. I have not been anywhere close to being hungry since we got off of the airplane. Thanks everyone!! We returned the favor by not forcing too many folks watch our 5,000-picture, endless slide show.
We were blessed beyond measure when we were invited to tell about our experiences as we represented you on our trip to China. It was impossible to reduce our entire time to a short presentation, but we tried to show a little bit of what we had done to help spread the Truth in our city and into the “B” lands. It was incredible to be there.
Yes, we are glad to be back. It is nice to be an American again. We do, though, miss our Chinese friends and spending time with them. We wonder about them and what they are doing. What’s happening at the café? Are the coffee plants doing OK? Wonder what’s going on in the village. Is Adam doing OK? How is the church doing there? So many thoughts remain about what is happening there. You can not just walk away from those things that have been such a large part of your life. We think of them often.
So, what are our plans now? Frankly, we are not sure. This is the very first time that we have not had both short term and long range goals in plain sight. Had we been in this predicament two years ago, we would already have a brand new truck and RV parked outside with plans to hit the road this week. However, it just doesn’t seem smart in these times to make those particular plans. We have a year’s lease on this apartment so we will use this time to find a permanent place to live. Build or buy a house in this area is the plan right now. I’m sure that there is something that we should be doing here to help spread The Gospel even here in America.
The Asia Tracks web page and Flicker pages are still valid. We hope that you will keep in contact with us.
Everywhere we visited and spoke, we always gave everyone a great big THANK YOU for their support while we were over “there”. Let us do the same here. You can never really appreciate the power of prayer until you are the recipient of its wonderful effects. Your thoughts and prayers for us really did matter. We are and were, the objects of countless prayers which interceded for us in God’s Heavenly Throne Room. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH!! Prayer really does work, and we really needed it!! Keep praying for your friends, family, neighbors, and even your enemies who need it so much. CLICK ON TITLE TO VIEW RECENT PICTURES POSTED