Cheesecake, Pandas, and Men's Apparel

Lets see.  I feel like I have lots of random updates to make.

Last week I got to visit an orphanage!  The biggest downside was that it took me over three hours to get there, however, I loved every minute of getting to be with the kids.  All of the kids at this place have special/medical needs of some kind, and may be transferred back to another orphanage after they've received some sort of surgery or treatment, or ideally, adopted.  I loved to be with them for the short time that I had there, to play with them, smile at them and love on them.  I'm realizing how much compassion and caring are part of who I am, and how much joy I'm filled with when I use the gifts God has given me!

Not this weekend as in tomorrow but the weekend after that is our first long travel weekend!  My friend Alyssa and I met in the Seattle airport, sat near each other on our 12 hour flight, and in this time had a discussion about our enjoyment and appreciation of panda bears.  In our first days at IES we discovered that there exists such a place where you can hold, yes as in your arms, a baby panda.  After lots of scheming and planning, we (along with our friend Marytha) will be heading to the city of Chengdu in Sichuan province to hold pandas (and do lots of other cool stuff).  I am really, really excited.  I just love to travel more than just about anything.  Can't even explain it.  Besides seeing the pandas, we're planning to see the world's largest Buddha, maybe do some more hiking and visit the sights around the city.  I'm hoping to meet up with one of my Hope classmate's family as she is from Chengdu.  It will also be our first time flying domestically in China!

Since holding a panda will probably be on the list of coolest things I have ever done, I just can't let the travel vibe die out right?  Tickets aren't booked yet, but the following weekend is going to be Xi'an, where the terra cotta warriors are.  Time for another China train adventure!  And maybe this time I'll actually take some pictures of that...

Tonight I checked out a small group through the international church I have been going to.  I didn't really know what to expect, I just chose the group on the list that was closest to me!  Countries in the room were: the Ukraine, UK, Guyana, Barbados, India, China, and the USA (including three of us from Washington... say what?).  Most of the people were older adults besides two guys who were also students, yet community in Christ is community in Christ.  We talked about Romans and prayed for each other.  I got to encourage one of the women, and that encouraged me!  It was so good to be in an atmosphere so familiar and away from campus for a few hours.  AND THEN WE HAD CHEESECAKE.  Yes, the hostess made homemade cheesecake and it was delicious!  I feel like I found a piece of what I've been looking for this whole time, and my travels will conflict with the group a lot, I would definitely go again.

A super cool God story from tonight: the Bible that I have here with me is super awesome and in Chinese and English, yet its pretty big and heavy (because of the multiple languages).  Therefore its just not practical to travel with, and its in King James too.  I was planning to head across town to the Foreign Language bookstore at some point and look for a little Bible.  However, we were gathered around the table and our host says, hey, by the way, we have this stack of Bibles we just don't use anymore.  Right on top, sat this adorable TINY  little bright blue Bible, that I quickly made mine!  THANKS JESUS!!!!!!

Oh and I went shopping on Wednesday, and I am not built like a Chinese person.  I bought two shirts.  At H&M.  From the guys section.  Yep.  Not my most successful venture, though they are super soft and will probably hold up better than girls shirts anyways.  Shopping in China can be done at markets or at a mall.  Markets are super cheap and malls are expensive, there's really no middle ground, not to mention I do not have the coloring or proportions to pull of a lot of the clothes.  I wish I could have a Goodwill or Target here!  H&M's prices were at least the same as at home so I don't really feel like I'm overpaying too much.  I might start liking scarves even more than I did before this trip.

Anyways, this is whats been up recently.  Thanks for reading!