blessed beyond belief

I've had ideas for so many posts, but it seems like when I sit down to type lately everything disappears.  So, I guess I should apologize for never posting anything! 

Where to start…

I am so thankful that I was blessed to spend a month at home with my friends and my family!  It was a wonderful month full of relaxation and rejuvenation.  Some of the highlights of the month were a trip to the zoo with my dad and multiple baseball games, priceless visits with friends including the blessing  of going to Stacey and Bens wedding, a Twarek family reunion in Ohio, coffee with Suz and playing with Kristen, 5 amazing days in Utah with my brother, and lots of good food and sleep!  I was blessed so much by this trip and it really helped me realize just how blessed I am and how many things I have to be thankful for. 

Being back in China has been wonderful.  Today I was on my way to the airport to pick up Amanda, one of the yearlong facilitators who was also home during July and it just hit me how much I love China.  This is something that I've known for awhile now, but as I was listening to worship music on my iPod I was overwhelmed with this realization.  How lucky am I that God has sent me to this country where I am able to form amazing friendships with so many of His children.  How I, a sinner who messes up royally all the time daily receives grace and love that is so undeserved.  And how much He loves me and has planned my life so perfectly that I am now here in China, something I would have never planned for myself.   I am looking forward to seeing how He uses me and how I am able to fall even more in love with Him and this country that I am blessed to live in!

back to reality...

Vacation is over.  It was so wonderful though!  I enjoyed spending time with my parents and Grandma and it was really a huge blessing to be able to.  It was just an added bonus that I got to travel all over China at the same time!  I am so incredibly blessed to have an amazing family who I know will always love and support me no matter what, even when it means I am half a world away.  Check out the pics from the rest of the trip!  http://picasaweb.google.com/a.b.twarek/ChinaWithMyFamily#

In other news...we are starting a new session!  May brings session 36 and we have about 230 students waiting for us!  I am facilitating the amazing class A and I am super excited to meet my students and form relationships with them!  I can only imagine what God has in store for this month and and I humbled to continue to be a part of it.

My family is here!

My mom, dad, and grandma arrived last Sunday and it has been wonderful having them in China with me!  We started out in Beijing seeing all the sites and then left to go on a 5 day cruise of the Yangtze River.  It has been an awesome trip so far!  We are currently in Xian and saw the Terracotta Warriors today.  Check out the pictures from the first part of the trip!

http://picasaweb.google.com/a.b.twarek/ChinaWithMyFamily#

Easter

Easter was amazing.  There are so many things I could say, but I'll let the pictures do the talking :)

In other news....plane tickets have been bought so I am officially coming back next year :)

A day in the life of TIP

2 posts in 1 day...don't expect this often :)

This is a video one of my friends here made, and gives you a glimpse into my life at TIP.  :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDdKFk2UIyQ

Love you all and thanks so much for all of your prayers and support!

Grace

It seems like time always sneaks up on me here.  We are so busy during the session and focused on our class and all the work that needs to be done that it is easy to forget what else is going on.  Our latest session ended on Saturday.  It was filled with wonderful students, fun memories, lots of laughter, along with a few frustrations that are bound to happen.  With all of this going on I forgot what time of the year it is.  Spring is finally starting to slowly show itself in Beijing.  But until Sunday morning while I was laying in bed reflecting I was missing the importance to the season.

Palm Sunday, the day where hundreds of followers worshiped Jesus and proclaimed His name.  They laid down palms and their clothing, for the dirty ground was not worthy for him to walk on.  Maundy Thursday He shared a meal with His disciples, the meal we now remember as the last supper.   What they didn't fully realize was this would be the last meal they would  share together before the ultimate sacrifice was made.  And then, as we all know comes Easter, one of the most joyful days I could imagine, for it means a way has been made me for to have eternal life.

We are on a much needed break this week and I am taking the time to slow down and reflect on all this week really means.  On the significance of the enormity of the sacrifice and what it means for me.  On how I am supposed to take this and show His love in this world, how I am to show His love, grace, and mercy here in China.  

What I do know if I am thankful.  I am thankful for the blessings that are never ceasing.  I am thankful for  His plan that blows mine out of the water.  I am thankful that He sent me to China to open my eyes and my heart so I could see Him more clearly.  But mostly I am thankful that I am able to receive the gift of His grace, the gift that changes everything.

Grace: A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence

Wordless Wednesday

So, in an attempt to blog more I am going to try to do wordless Wednesday.  I will post a picture or two and maybe a sentence description.  My hope is this will help you get more of a glimpse into my life in China!

To start it off, here March Madness TIP style!