as many of you know, china is very special to me: the birth country of our youngest child and the place where—9 years ago this summer—bella first entered our arms.
it is time to go back. in the past year God has been nudging me along and i have felt His encouragement to return to china and serve; to give a little back to this country which gave us our daughter.
sunday evening, june 2nd (through the 15th) i will travel with a small “go journey” team to an undisclosed area of eastern china. we will be serving in an orphanage on a special floor for medically fragile children. giving the regular nurses and nannies some time away, our team will be providing 24 hour care for these children. we are working with a christian ministry, but, of course, as this is china, that must be kept a bit quiet.
i’ll be honest, i am overwhelmed. my gifting has never been in things medical. when we adopted bella with her serious heart issues, i was certain i couldn’t do what God was asking. it was too big, too much, too medically challenging for this woman who struggles so to locate a bandaid. yet, we know God often leads us to places outside of our comfort. and like with bella’s adoption, i’m so glad He did!
now, He leads again, and i am reminded more than ever, that as unequipped as i might feel, He will equip. as weak as i seem, He will strengthen. and as anxious as i am, He will calm.
though feeling quite challenged about the task before us, more than anything, i am humbled by the opportunity to go and in a small way be the hands and feet of Jesus. and though i am going to serve, y'all know this return to our daughter's birth country is going to be messy for me. i'm certain to become all weepy the moment our plane touches down on chinese soil. how could i not?
before leaving, i wanted to reach out and ask if you’d be willing to support me (and the team) with your prayers? i won’t be able to share pictures or write posts about what we are actually doing in china, but i will try to relay something “safe” each day on social media … whatever i post won’t tell the story of what is happening on that floor with these fragile babies, but it might serve as a reminder to keep us in your prayers.
please pray for …
1. safety as we travel to and navigate in a place so far and so foreign.
2. stamina and good health as we care for these children.
3. peace and strength while we hold these fragile babies which will break our hearts.
4. protection for our families while we are away from them for two full weeks.
5. extra encouragement in this land which can feel so void of the love of Jesus.

but He said to me, "my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." therefore i will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ~ 2 Corinthians 12:9

with much love and gratitude, jody