Overwhelmed

We have arrived in China. I have been all over the world, but I was not prepared for China. There are many reasons for this. One of them is the food. They don't waste one piece of an animal. The smells are strange and wonderful. The people are so kind. And, I am so lost. This place is so big. I am so small. Culture shock has set in. Heather is loving it because it brings back so many good memories of her childhood in the Philippines.

We have also been overwhelmed by the love and support from our family over here. We arrived to a full pantry of "American" snacks delivered by our many new friends here. Let me tell you, those snacks are a luxury over here. They are expensive. And we are so grateful that they honored us in this way. It's amazing to us that these 20 or so people have been praying for us for months. We just don't have words to describe the way they have honored us over and over again.

This is Easter Sunday-our first meeting with our new friends. I pray that the Spirit speaks through me this morning. I have preached before, but to be honest, it was 18 years ago and I simply used bits and pieces of other sermons I had heard. This is different. I pray for a fresh word from the spirit-one that is relevant to us here, in this place and time.

I must also mention that Heather and I feel the prayers of our family in Amarillo. We are deeply thankful that so many people love us and care so much for us. We are still processing everything and there are still so many things that we do not know. If not for these prayers and our Father responding in kind, we would be lost here.
But, this journey is not about me. It is about our risen Lord, a Father who cried tears over our condition and sent a huge piece of himself to be killed so that we could be redeemed. We are redeemed-repurchased after we sold ourselves to the enemy. We have hope. We have life. Let's celebrate. He is not dead. NO! HE IS ALIVE!!