Gone Camping

Some of our favorite family memories with our children revolve around family camping trips.  As the kids grew up, we enjoyed many different camping experiences. State parks, national parks, RV parks, KOA campgrounds, rural campgrounds. In the mountains, near lakes. In a tent, in a small motor home. Close to home, far away. With friends, by ourselves. So many fun memories – and not so fun memories. But all together they create a life of stories to tell and lessons in flexibility.

I have often related our experience in Beijing to that of camping.  In a sense it isn’t really because we live in a megacity. But washing dishes in a small sink reminds me of camping.  The day the hot water went out and we had to decide if we wanted our morning shower reminded me of camping.

Our trip to another city reminded me of camping. Camping with walls. No inside heat in late fall. Chilly nights, pleasant days. Wear flipflops in the bathroom. Don’t let anything fall to the floor in the bathroom. How good the hot shower feels on a cool morning. How to sleep on a hard surface (layer lots of comforters on top). Spending unstructured time with friends.

I thank God for His grace. When I first arrived, I dreaded the four nights.  We flew so we couldn’t just leave.  That in itself was God’s blessing. The lesson? Never give up.  Embrace flexibility. God has given grace to be with other brothers and blessed the time. We have talked with them, shared our hearts, listened to their hearts, laughed with them, played with them, eaten with them, and practiced Chinese with them. We are one in the body of Christ. Pray for Chinese Xns.