Wow, soo much has happened since I last sat down to write an entry for this blog. I keep saying that I'll post and it just hasn't been happening- hopefully now is the time to be serious ;)

Since the last entry, Steve and I have celebrated a few more anniversaries, we welcomed our first little girl, who is now 17 months, and I am expecting our 2nd child in early July. We have finished our first term in Northern Asia, and hope to head back for our 2nd term later this year.

We have failed, we have won, we have laughed, we have cried (alot), and time and time again, have seen God's faithful provision and guidance in our lives.

This life is not always an easy one, but it has been so rewarding. We have loved reaching and pouring into people both on the other side of the world, and here, back in Wisconsin.

We have grown up more, we have experienced more, and we have been learning more and more, what it means to really rely on our father God.

This is all I have for today, but hopefully I'll be back to post more soon.
Until then,
May His hand of blessing and provision also be very obvious in your lives :)

-Rachel

Somedays it’s the little things that just make life feel great! Like on my way home when I stop to talk to our shopkeeper and understand most of what she says to me. Or how our apartment complex guard sees me coming toward him with my arms full of groceries and he opens the door and smiles at me. Or my favorite of all- when a grandma, who is outside watching her 1 year old granddaughter, sees me and tells her granddaughter to say hi to “auntie”. I stop and play with the little girl for a few minutes and as I walk away my heart is happy and full. More and more, this place is becoming home and there is no other place I would rather be. 

Happy Wednesday everyone :)

Soo fun spending a week in Wuhan with the Mills!
We got to see some of the neat teaching and training opportunities that they have, eat lots of yummy southern (aka extra spicy) Chinese food, and little 3 year old Kennedi fell in love with Steve. :)

A great week!

The Time of Thankfulness

It finally happened- the moment where I truly felt I was celebrating the holidays with family. I was standing in our large school cafeteria- surrounded by kids running and screaming all over the place, parents happily munching on holiday treats and chatting up storms, and the smell of apple cider drifting towards me. "This is it", I thought to myself, "This is what I so badly wanted to feel this 1st holiday away from the familiar". The closeness of friends being together, laughing and sharing life's up-and-downs, and the joy of sharing the holidays with those who HE has brought us to be with. In the week leading up to Thanksgiving I wondered if I would truly "feel" as if I was celebrating the holidays or if it would end up being just a lesser substitute for what I had left behind, but HE gave me just the right moment to realize that I can and will still enjoy these special holiday times, no matter where HE takes us!
And that is what I am most THANKFUL for. :)

Test day!

So today was the big test day! I took my very 1st chinese exam that covered the 1st book that I have been studying for the last 3 months. I was kinda nervous going into it and not quite sure what to expect but lo and behold- these things are never as scary as you think they will be. The written part of the test took about an hour and a half and the speaking and listening only took about half a hour. It's amazing as I look back over the lessons that first had me ready to cry and now I breeze over them with ease. Sometimes you just don't realize how far you've come, until you look back :)

Studying hard in China,
me

New Experiences

YAY! Finally made it to our new home after a looong 2 flights and layover in Seoul. We got to our new apartment and started the unpacking which means now that items are strewn EVERYWHERE and its practically impossible to find anything when you actually need it! :-P (only 10 left to put away!)

So some new things we are learning about living here:
1. its HOT...temperature has been over 100 degrees so far and this Wisconsin girl has been sweating buckets daily :-P
2. Pedestrians do not have the right-of-way. When you cross the road- you simply HOPE to make it to the other side in one piece :)
3. The people are very curious and friendly- already we have gotten lots of looks and smiles as we try to wander around and find things!
4. Food is soo tasty- the real deal Chinese food is amazing and we have been eating tons of it!

We are so glad to be here and start adjusting and acclimating to this exciting new place!

Visa madness

Well, it only took about 4 hours, a few sodas, and some hair-pulling to finally get all our visa info in the mail. We should get it back mid-late next week and then can buy our plane tickets!! Hooray!
At this point, I will be happy to simply make it to Northern Asia in one piece. :-P