Well looky here.

Here's just a few pictures from our trip/journey/adventure through China and Thailand.

To see more pictures (and I added captions to tell some of the stories you can click below:

China Pictures

Thailand Pictures

Terracotta Warriors - Xi'an, China

PANDA'S - ChengDu, China

Thai Ronald - Chiang Mai, Thailand

Purchasing Forgiveness - Bangkok, Thailand

Traditional Night Market - ChengDu, China

Back in Action.

A few things I came to realize or notice as we move back further north: the semi-familiar western faces dissolve into a more concentrated Asian population. The heavier concentration isn't just shown in general skin-tone of the crowd but the density also. It's time to get close to your neighbor again as the level of your personal space drops with the temperature. I had forgotten how temperature didn't really matter anymore as to what you wore but more about the calendar. Stepping into the shuttle bus from the plane in ShangHai, I took inventory of all the other Chinese nationals around us wearing sweaters, jackets, down-coats or a mixture of the 3, and then looked at Jordan, standing next to me, in mesh shorts and a t-shirt. I laughed. Granted, it was 45-50 degrees and we hadn't changed or began the layering process but the sufficient amount was not the overkill that our Chinese comrades were rocking out.

After traveling around Asia for this past month I don't feel the overwhelming sense of inadequacy and the hanging fear from the first semester when I tried to...do anything. (take a bus, get groceries, ask for directions, navigate myself even a little, attempt to order food at a restaurant, or buy/bargain for clothes/presents/anything). As Chinese manners dictate you should take care of the foreign friend (whether he's been here for 1 day or 1 year or 31 years) and so that often means over-serving them and it kind of makes me feel like I'm sometimes 5 years old again. It's meant to be good and I appreciate the help, but because I can't communicate doesn't mean I can't think. Unfortunately, it is another world and not even a different train of thought but a different mode of transportation altogether. As you are treated like you can't think, and held by the hand for so long, you start to believe and act like it. --- I know that I'm an American and that we value our independence... and I'm more of an independent American on top of that, I realize this. But this trip that allowed me to explore, make my own choices, take care of myself, and have options and information...and probably just control (or the false sense of it) was really good and encouraging for me. It helps me think and be creative and process things out.  I felt extremely refreshed. I felt like I could breathe again and I understood... something. I enjoyed getting to communicate with people in Thailand in English and talk to strangers again. (yeah, the thing that your parents tell you not to do, I find really fun and interesting - getting to meet people and share with them and love them and just care for them by listening and talking with them.)


As we were away for a few weeks but yet...still here. It helped me step back and reevaulate better. I'm still swimming in arguments for both side as to what next year will hold or where that means I will be, but I could see other things, I could set goals. It's hard to set goals and have an idea for what you want to see happen when you have no idea what tomorrow's gonna look like or what to expect. My goals for this semester is to lesson plan faster (although, I just found out that I have to write an extra LP a week for the first half of the semester), I want to spend more time with my students, I want to spend intentional time learning Chinese, I want to try to incorporate art of some kind into my week (it helps me process and it's what I do naturally), and improve my teaching. I have goals for the classroom too.

I was fighting alot of lies or thoughts at the end of the semester. One of my biggest fears is that if I went home right now, they would just remember me as funny. I don't want to be rememebered for being funny. I mean, yeah that's nice, but when they think back to their foreign teacher Mr. Abram, I don't want "he was very humorous" to be what comes out of their mouth. I want them to know that I love them. I want them to not just know it but feel it. That they would feel loved. That they would somehow know that there is something different about me, something special that somehow they feel loved greater than ever before. That they are loved more than humanly possible. I just want to love them. I want them to know they're loved. More than being funny, or having fun in my class, whether it was easy or hard, even further than how much they learned (which I really do want them to learn alot and succeed), I want them to know that they are Loved and Loved greater than humanly possible. I want them to know that I care and I want them to know why I care and where this Love is coming from.

So yeah. I'm still swimming a bit in uncertainties and new concepts coming from the culture, the language, teaching, and probably more actually from what I'm learning in the Book and with Him. I am extremely thankful for the Thoughts you sent up during the past month for me and my team and our safety and travels and rejuvenation. They were heard and answered.  Oh man, I can't begin to describe. It's funny that to look at it from the outsiders perspective, I just traveled through parts of Asia, met people from all over the world, ended up in Thailand and spent 3 weeks there (one on a beautiful island), but the parts that stick out to me and were the highlights of my trip were the conversations that we were able to have with these people. The people we were able to Love with Truth, and deeds, and Vertical Thoughts and just listening and caring. Oh, I feel like I could tell you stories for weeks as to what He did and let us do. I posted a few along the journey, but there are 2 stories that I'd love to tell you that I'll write up and post in the next few days. They both prove that I am definitely not the Hero of the story and it was made blatantly obvious that He was doing everything.  I'll give you a taste with the next two titles "I lost the argument, but He loved through food." and "I've never went looking for a prostitute before, but after all, it was Valentine's Day and someone needed some lovin." (before you freak out... just wait and read - I think you'll enjoy.)

We made it back here last Sunday and have been unpacking, cleaning (spring cleaning at 34 degrees!), getting stuff ready for next semester and adjusted and we start classes on Monday, Feb 28. I hope to have pictures up on Facebook by Monday and I'll post the link on here so that you all can see the pictures and stories from our trip. Some requests I'd have that you lift up (I feel selfish just asking for help all of the time, but there's no way I can do this without you all and I'm being honest. I also want to be lifting you up too, so let me know how I can - you should have my email.) I really would like to have more time, that means being able to LP better and just take care of things quickly, I know everything takes longer in China, but I feel like with some supernatural help I'll have more time to spend with my students and to do some stress-releiving activities so I can be sharp and bright longer. Also, I ask just for joy in teaching (oh and that I would be better at it and know what to do for them and with them) and a joy and energy just in life with Him, I dont want to be worn out all the time and having just enough to make it through. Lastly, clarity, trust, and surrender in what I'm learning and the new decisions that are coming up before me. I want to be obedient, but to be honest there's alot of things that straight up scare me. (I've also learned there's a difference in worried about and being scared of something). So - more time, joy and strength, and clarity and surrender. Thank you soo much. I can feel the difference when you lift me up. There is a difference, I promise you, I can tell. I love you all and I am just too blessed to know you and be Loved by you. Thank you for loving me and being my friend.

Times

I love music. I'm really glad He created it. I'm not big on just putting up lyrics without anything else, but here, this afternoon, I understand these lyrics a lot. I am in between making my decision and sorting through a dump truck of happy meal sized toys of thoughts trying to understand what the common thread is. What He's trying to teach me, why He feels distant, what is real and what is unseen real, and what is a lie, why can't I think straight or have a continuous train of thought, and what the crap I'm supposed to do now, and .... well you get the picture. So for now, here's some lyrics to a song that I sometimes connect with. (Tell you what, I dont know how pregnant women deal with all these emotions and mood swings.)



I know I need You
I need to love You
I love to see You, but it's been so long
I long to feel You
I feel this need for You
And I need to hear You, is that so wrong?

Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

Now You pull me near You
When we're close, I fear You
Still I'm afraid to tell You, all that I've done
Are You done forgiving?
Oh can You look past my pretending?
Lrd, I'm so tired of defending, what I've become
What have I become?

Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.
Oh, oh. Oh, oh. Oh, oh.

I hear You say,
"My love is over. It's underneath.
It's inside. It's in between.
The times you doubt Me, when you can't feel.
The times that you question, 'Is this for real? '
The times you're broken.
The times that you mend.
The times that you hate Me, and the times that you bend.
Well, My love is over, it's underneath.
It's inside, it's in between.
These times you're healing, and when your heart breaks.
The times that you feel like you're falling from grace.
The times you're hurting.
The times that you heal.
The times you go hungry, and are tempted to steal.
The times of confusion, in chaos and pain.
I'm there in your sorrow, under the weight of your shame.
I'm there through your heartache.
I'm there in the storm.
My love I will keep you, by My pow'r alone.
I don't care where you fall, where you have been.
I'll never forsake you, My love never ends.
It never ends."

Times - Tenth Ave North

Happy New Year China!

Two days ago it was the Chinese New Year (aka Spring Festival). It's as big culturally as our Christmas is. Everyone goes home, big food, lots of family, presents, etc. So, I came to China and I celebrated THE Chinese New Year...in Thailand. Bummer, I know, but that's how our travel plans worked out. Jordan and I did get into Bangkok at 4:45 am and made our way to the train station to wait for our train to leave that night. In the process, we walked around Bangkok and actually into China town! WOO HOO! Celebrating Chinese New Year in China town... in Bangkok.

Welp, it was a little different than I expected. There were security guards everywhere as we approached the big Buddhist temple there. (I found out later via one of my students that the Thai Minister and Princess were in China Town to "wish happiness to Chinese people." But happiness is not what we found...

The temple with some of the police out on duty.

It was awful. I cried, multiple times I started to cry. I was physically sick after we left the temple. Granted the temple itself, if looking at it architecturally was pretty cool, very ornate and trimmed in gold. But it broke my heart to see these people and these religious chains and know beyond a doubt that they aren't going northward. Ah, it's easy to pretend with Americans that maybe... But with them and seeing all these monks around, knowing, that they have spent their whole life as a waste. Seeing them spending tons of money to buy relics and bells and incense to burn and just seeing this...it... it hurts. To be honest withourselves, we say it alot and can muster up our minds to think how "awful" it is and about their fates. But I've been asking more and more for His heart, and to be broken for the same things that break His and I was literally sick and mad and numb to so many other things as we left. A taxi almost hit me and I started to turn and yell at him without even thinking, "there are people dying here, can't you see?! Dont you care?!" It's like I was in a war with people being shot around me and someone is talking about the new movie that Brad Pitt is in. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I just wanted to snap! One of the things that just spelled it all out was this sign (english is the bottom red part):

There were people buyign these relics, and statues, bells to write their pr's on. Buying these monks clothes and giving it to them with requests for them to mediate on, the Monk would "bless" them and pr over them sometimes. It hurt. It sucked. It ahh. I just wanted to fall down and cry right there.

Like, I said, I left physically ill (no exageration). I told one of my friends about it and she commented about how sick and heartbroken and worn out He had to be all the time from what He saw. I mean, He's referenceas as a "Man of Sorrows" so I now start to see why. Both of us were just out of it after that. Not really hungry, or looking forward to seeing anything. We passed a few stores all filled with incense in them and you know they paid for this to please whoever. It was draining.

We found a C-Ian fellowship nearby and spend the next couple of hours there. Pr-ing. Resting. Writing. Asking for intercession. And so on. It was good. They came in and kicked us out saying we weren't supposed to be in there...oops. haha. Oh well. It was very nice though and needed to have any sort of energy, especially because the day before I had had a two hour convo with a guy from Michigan on the bus. We talked about world religions and apologetics stuff and all and he knew a good bit, probably more than I did (something I realize now that I need to learn more about) But it wore me out, drained me physically and supernaturally. I didn't want to argue, I just wanted to talk through it, and He wouldn't take any thing I had and... well I'll tell you the story later because it did end really really well, but left me worn out and like a squeezed sponge, I was gasping to be rehydrated. It was well needed.

Afterwards, we made it back to the train station and got on our train and got to talk to a pretty cool couple named John (from Turkey) and Sesil (from Chzeck Republic) who met in a work camp (not concentration camp - it's a good thing - I asked.) a few years ago out of high school and now they meet up and travel with each other over breaks. She's taking the semester off and traveling through Thialand and he met up after his semester was over. They shared the set of bunks with us and we got to share a bit with them. It was a much better ending than it previously was. So oddly, the best part of the Chinese New Year ...wasn't in China or Chinatown, but in a nearby building with a plus sign on it. :) Happy New Year!

Sure...well go with that

We woke up Friday morning in Bangkok, not knowing where we were going. Only that our check out time was at 12. About 1030ish we started looking at places. It looked like Krabi was the cheap, friendly place. The place to get tickets was the bus station, (off from every other part of the city) only one bus went there, the 507. Our hostel owner wrote it down in Thai for us and we went to wait at the stop. Buses came and went. 30 min past. Is this where were supposed to go? I saw thr 507 on the other side of the street. Ok. I'll take that. 45 min past. I Asked it'd really be nice to talk with someone in Enhlish to make sure this is right. 2 min later- where are you going? A man said ih yes the 507 is the only way.

Man on bus said last stop then walked us to the ticket counter to help us get tickets. He would point at part of it and we would thank him then move on. He would catch up to us and take us further along and repeated it until we got to the counter. We told him tHank you and G bless you and he jerked a little either by surprise or the same sentiment. 

As we waited in the bus station we sat down in the massage chairs until they kicked us out and sat down next to a middle eastern woman with her sleeping child. I smiled and said he's cute. She responded with "thank you."  Her husband showed up and so I got up to offer him my seat. He refused, but I just went on a little walk so he would sit down. When I got back I switched Jordan seats and my new friend offered me chips until I accepted them. Turns out his name is Arif from Pakistan who worked for BP and spoke good English. They were there on a two day training in Bangkok then spending a week in Puket (a family friendly island off the mainland). He asked where we were going we said Krabi "oh, which part?" he responded. We don't know. "Oh you should go to Phi Phi. It's the 4th most beautiful island in the world. " Sounds nice...but expensive. He broke out a 50 page packet of times charts prices for nearly every island in thialand. "wow you're organized." "well, it's because I have a family now and have to be." I felt as if our time was appointed, but we didn't get to share anything.

Sweet lady on bus told us, "get off. There's free rice" in the middle of the night so we scrambled off and got food.

Pr for direction when we got here because were showing up to a hub of islands and beaches with no plan at 6am in the Morning and the driver pulls up and they tell the two foreigners this is our stop. Ok sure. He stops and it's right infront of a travel angency. Nice.

I used the bathroom and when I got out, we found out there was 400 baht to get a taxi to the ferry and the ferry to the island, Phi Phi. We could get a small ferry to the back of the island where it was cheap and away from all the people.  Sweet! So we realized he was lining things up, we should go. The taxi left at 8 and the ferry to the island at 9. So we signed up and met a girl named Laura from Germany whose about our age studying Business Administration in ShangHai going go about the same place.

We got to this fantastic island and became bombarded by taxis and boat offers and etc.  We walked down the beach by all the boats looking for the 50 baht one promised by our travel lady and found the cheapest price at 150 a person up to 400. We kept walking. At the help of an Australian dive guy he pointed out an area of cheaper accommodations. We were shooting for and budgeted for 300 baht a night. We hiked for about 10 min and found The Rock- a backpackers hostel that a few had mentioned. 300 a night but horrible conditions. There were probably babies made there and smoking and drinking all around. We ate lunch then headed out. 
We walked through a barrage of shops and stores randomly asking questions about the other side of he island, if it was expensive, if there were places to eat and such. The prices of local ones were either topping 2000 or were full. The few cheap places were booked and looked like party places. It was hot and we were still trekking around our huge backpacking packs. Laura gave in after about an hour or so as we were leaving civilization. She said, "I want to be back in Germany" and went back to the Rock. 

We decided we should probably just stop and pr again as we had been going at it and the only free spots were over 3500. Our options were: walk back through, try the other side, the Rock, or sleep outside. We decided to trek over to the other side. It seemed as if He had lead us here and navigated us to this spot and was signaling us over, so we went. Singing. "I don't think I'm in enough shape to sing and hike" o complained. Jordan responded with "oh come on. Paul and Silas were beaten and could still sing." so off we went with "Here is our King" by David Crowder echoing through the forrest.

We took a few stops along the way, asked the very few people that drove by, many if them were clueless as to the city on the other side and even more bumfuzzled about if this road we were on lead us there. So again we stopped and asked for directions.
Somehow about an hour in we found the reservoir and the water bottle filling factory.  A man on a scooter wizard by and asked where we were going, we told him the city on the other side. He said we were on the wrong road. We took a wrong turn that we didnt even see.  He said the roAd we were on lead to Long Beach. We asked for cheap accommodations and he said Long Beach is better. He said 3-400! In our price range!  He also suggested Long Beach Resort would have it. Smart man. His name...Solomon. No lie.

After a few more turns we saw the opening of the beach! So beautiful. We Asked for more directions and about 2 min later a man walked through confirming the way we were going.  We saw parts of the island that only a few locals will ever see. So incredibly beautiful. Literally, the more we sang, the prettier the sights got. We passed a field of buterflies.

Jordans foot was hurting (from 2 hours of hiking with a 30-40lb pack on) and the recovery from surgery. We were talkin about how Good He had been to us and how impossible all of this had been apart from Him. We stopped again to thank Him. Then, as obvious as it seemed, "wanna pr for your foot?" "yeah!"  so we did. RecogniZing it was all by His power hat we were where we were, hiking on a remote trail on he 4th most beautiful island on the world, pretty much by accident. Then we asked Him to complete His testimony by taking away the pain in Jordans foot...and He did. "oh man! It feels really good right now" Jordan sId as he took a few steps. "praise G." 

Finally, we made it to the bottom of the hill and onto the beach.  (I remembered when i used to ask that i would be following Him so much that He would take me to places that if He didn't come through I was screwed. ...I pretty much found it. Homeless without really a place to stay on a party island without knowing where we really were. And not enough money exchanged to be able to pay for anything too expensive. But i laughed because i knew he was going to come through.) We looked for the Long Beach Resort (even though it sounded expensive- that's what the messenger said and that's what we looked for.) we showed up and asked of they had any rooms. Just 1000 and 1200. The other 400 rooms were full. One lady sitting nearby stated they were leaving tomorrow and theirs would be free. So we took the 1000 baht one which turns out is for the room and not a piece like the other ones. So it's only a little more and we reserved he 400 one for the rest of the nights so it balances out to less than 300.  Plus, it's on the beach, and we asked the lady next door with scuba equipment and there's a reef 100 yards off the shore with supposedly sharks there that we can go swim with.

We are so over blessed and so overwhelmed. We listened and sought Him. We took stupid acts of f8th, asked for help alot, became very humble, praised Him alot, prayed even more, were very blessed.

I mean you know this isn't us based on the fact that we couldn't make up our mind when leaving the hostel yesterday, to the fact that we took a 2.5 hour hike over the mountain to end up a 30 min walk down the beach. He has been very good to us. Very very good. This trip is an example of His goodness and how He treats His servants. It's all Him. All about Him.  

I'll leave you with this quote: 

A vacation does not mean a break from being a light, it means you don't have to do work and all you have to do is get to love people and focus on being a light and truth to them. 

Homeless in the Xi'an Airport

We've made it to Thailand and now have Internet access on my iPod touch so I wanted it share one story of our journey so far and how He's taken care of us. I wrote it on my iPod so the formatting may be off and there are probably more typos, but enjoy!::


Turns out if you get up at 4:15am to make it to the airport in time
for your flight, and you find out your flight doesn't leave until the
next day, they still won't let you get on the plane. Yes, ...somehow
that happened to us. All of our plans were written down and based off
of this one schedule, but somehow when we made the schedule the date
was wrong. Our hostel is booked for the next city. Haha. So we got our
flight changed to instead of 7:30 am to 6:20 pm. So today we lived as
homeless guys in the Xi'an airport.

It started off by finding nice cozy massage chairs to sleep in until
they woke us up and pretty much said pay or leave 15 min into our nap.
We went exploring to find a seat or some breakfast and somehow ended
up at the staff only cafeteria. We realized it as we were watching
them all pay with cards and suddenly realized they all had a uniform
of some sort on. We thought, "eh, what's the worst case...we lose some
face? We'll give it a try." So we motioned to one lady if we could pay
with cash? She relied no, but then bought us pourage with her card and
ended up getting us a full Chinese breakfast. Super sweet Chinese
Angel. (I got a picture with her and he other ladies).

 Next it was upstairs to sleep on a bench for 10-15 min at a time.
Went on a walk, found a nearby KFC and we took our homeless selves
there for a bit. But we got some good G time in and went on a little
walk. Jordan and I got to spend some time clearing up somethings and
pr-ing together so it worked well. After a 4 hours or so we went back
and finally checked in...to find our flight delayed another 40 min.
Good news was when we went back to our gate at the new time there was
a huge commotion and arguments over who knows what. I checked the
angry peoples tickets and thankfully they had a different flight
number.

At the same time there was a shoving match going on for the freshly
delivered meals (I suppose due to the delays- I don't know but we
pushed our way in and got one too. It was like bringing
food/shoes/anything out in Africa, people just went crazy. But some
Chinese student helped us get some, so we were blessed with our second
free meal of the day.

Finally getting on our plane (which was delayed another 30min) and I
saw one guy over on the side sitting down with his head on his knees.
I felt like I should go check on him (who knew if he spoke English,
but I've used that as an excuse too much lately) so I sucked it up,
got out of line and went to talk to him. No reply at first, he just
blinked. Then blinked again the second time I patted him on the
shoulder, he jerked up and yelled "thank you" in Chinese and ran off
to board the plane. Dude was out like light bulb, had fallen asleep
while waiting.

The flight happened, found our bus to yet city center. From there we
tried to hail a taxi, to no avail, then got directions and advice from
a random girl about taking the subway instead (found out later she was
drunk but yet she still gave good directions and had impressive
English.) Subway stopped 7 min before we got there so we headed for a
bus stop.

There we met 2 really nice guys who tried to help, one spoke Chinese
and the other came to help when he realized we didn't. Another man
pitched in to help and got much more involved when he called his
friend/girlfriend to talk with us in English to ask if we wanted to
take a taxi with him. Long story and more confusion but the man (Alax
- an insurance salesman for New York Life) and Edward (the second guy
to kick in in English - whose also a pharmesutical rep) decided they
would walk us to our hostel which was bear where they lived. Turns out
to be a 30 min walk with one pit stop at a McDees for one of our
friends who had perhaps a bit too much to drink. They walked us all
the way to the door (at 11:30pm) and then made plans for lunch or
dinner tomorrow...maybe with his company (I think the New York Life
company anniversary -but we don't have dress clothes)... and/or dinner
at his house... I dont know really. We'll see what He has in store for
tomorrow.

Finally, into our hostel mixed room with a girl named Emily who is
studying art and film and another guy Lou3 yuan4 who is just visiting,
and a guy from Mylasia. We also met another American in our hostel
whose teaching English in the south.

Needless to say, we finally made it to ChengDu, He has blessed our
ignorance over and over again and is setting up some really cook
opportunities to share Him and Love His (soon to be) people. It's
amazing. I can hardly wait for tomorrow...or stay awake. But I just
thought I'd share another adventure in China.

Abram

Abram

I love you but I won't be back for a while.

Ironically, enough that's kind of what He said.

We officially started our break last week and all the students finished leaving on Friday. With all the students gone and teachers gone or leaving too, we have the opportunity to take in some more of the culture and language.

Each year our organization has a conference for professional and also supernatural development and rejuvenation in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Our conference is in the middle of February, so we have from now until then to get there or do whatever we want. We have a travel allowance for us to get to the conference and combined with some of our own savings over the year, we're going to travel a little bit.

My teammate Jordan and I are leaving in about an hour to head out. We're going to Xi'an first (home of the terracotta warriors) then after a few days, we'll move onto ChengDu (famous for the pandas) and after that we'll go to Kunming (the "spring city" - as it's supposed to be 70 all year round). It's kind of exciting to hear about spring as we've been dancing between single and double digit negative's for the last few weeks. We'll end up going to Thailand and spending a few days in Bangkok (hopefully we can find a place to serve and help out there for a few days) before we take a train north to Chiang Mai.

All of this sounds wonderful, as I plan and expect it to be, but it's also a little scary as neither Jordan or I speak Chinese. We've got our hostels lined out at places they all speak English and are going to semi-touristy locations where English will be more common. I was a little freaked out yesterday before I remembered that He sent them out by 2's without an extra pair of shoes or coat and He's blessed us with backpacking backpacks and some warm clothes. haha. Part of that's a joke, part of that is serious. We're really forced even more to count on Him over these next 6 weeks and I'm very excited to see how He shows up and how we are lead to serve and really soak Him in. I'm looking forward to a little break and the rest He is going to provide in this process. I look forward to draw closer to Him.

All of this to let you know that I won't be blogging over the next few weeks. I'm not taking my computer for safety reasons, but I should have internet access at the hostels I'll stay at. My brother got me an ipod touch for a Christmas present before I left and it's quite handy. I've loaded books, Chinese dictionaries, some Chinese lessons, and music onto it for our trip. I can use it with wireless to check my email if you want to email me, but I'll probably be even slower than normal in responding to it.

I wanted to let you know and ask for your Thoughts as we head off. For strength, for patience, for wisdom and discernment, for increased language ability, and for obedience and opportunities to Shine if He see's fit.

I thank you all very much and look forward to sharing stories when I get back.