"I'm Here Because..."

I think one of my favourite things about being a white girl in an Asian country is when people ask me why I'm here. People look at me and ask why I'm sitting in this park or people ask why I'm on this university campus where I'm not a student.

My answer has become simple: "I'm here because I love Jesus so much that I came here to tell you about His love for you."

That generally catches people off guard; yet it opens a door to a whole new conversation. Lots of times, Christians simply try to convert people. "You need Jesus because you're a sinner." Even though that may be true, I don't think that's how Jesus would start a conversation. In John 4, Jesus meets a woman at a well and asks for a drink of water. He's Jesus. He knows her sins, yet he just has a regular conversation with her. He tells her about His Father and what He can do for her. It isn't until the end of the story that Jesus calls this Samaritan woman out on her sins and tells her to change.

I want to be like that. I want to act like Jesus. He tells people about what He wants to radically change in their lives. But at the same time, he calls them out and says, "In order for this change to happen, you actually have to be willing to cut the crap out of your life." (That's not a direct quote!)

When I enter into a conversation, I don't start it thinking, "I have to get Jesus into this conversation however I can." I start conversations wanting to talk to people and see who they are. Then, after I've had a chance to get to know them a bit, they usually ask me about myself and I get to share who God is in my life and how He has made me who I am. That is my favorite part about being a white girl in an Asian country.

Appreciating This Life

We got to go on an adventure today to 100 Islands National Park in the Philippines. It was beautiful! There are more than 100 islands in this cluster off the shore of the biggest island of the Philippines. We got to do a lot of swimming, as well as cave jumping and enjoying the amazing ocean!

While we were swimming off the third island we stopped at, I got to the point where I was tired and just wanted to stop. Thankfully I had a life vest on and could just float for a bit. But as I was swimming, giving all my energy, I could hear Dad in my head, "Keep your hands cupped. Make big motions to push yourself forward." I could see all of us in the pool at Mr. LaRue's house splashing and having fun, sharing the snorkels and goggles but not really knowing how to use them. I remember jumping off the diving board for the first time. Or how we would go swimming and be exhausted afterwords, just wanting to go home and eat dinner. We had to be careful to not drip as we walked through their house and the office to get to the car.

Or also today, I hit my head on a rock. Yi Sin was calling out behind me, "Heads!" but I didn't register he was warning me and proceeded to knock my head into the rock. I was reminded of the time when we were running around outside and Annie hit her head on the post that fell from above the gate next to the utility room. Mom made her stay up late and not sleep so she could make sure there was no concussion.

Basically, through an adventure that involved a boat, three sailors, numerous islands, jumping into the ocean in a bat filled cave, snorkeling, and time with friends, I was greatly reminded of little memories through my childhood. Yet nonetheless, each little memory is something that can then tie my memories being made in the Philippines back to my family back home. It reminds me of what Benedict Cumberbatch said as Sherlock Holmes, something about a mind palace. All our memories are accessible, you just have to know where to find or store those memories in order to reach them.

Every memory I have is something that helps make me who I am today. My parents, my sisters, and my best friend all playing huge parts in those memories. That's not to say all those memories are happy. By the time they reach 19 years old, everyone has some negative memories to go alongside their positive. Friends leaving, making bad decisions, and simply the things of life that can effect people. But I am thankful to be able to stand and say proudly that through the tough times, through wanting to go home or cut off my legs because of itchy bug bites, God is still bigger and I have been blessed hugely by the people in my life- even before I knew I would recall memories (from before I was 10) on the opposite side of the planet from home.