再见 Packing, Moving, & Flying - Zaijian

 Well, the time has come for us to return to the States for the summer. Today is packing day, after our Chinese classes of course. Tomorrow we move our things to our new home for the fall. And Wednesday we fly out. It's a strange feeling to 'go home' to a place we haven't seen for 9 months. Hmm.... I wonder if my houseplants will still be alive? I will try not to be disappointed if my 21 plants are 'on life support', as our daughter confessed a few months ago.

In the midst of packing suitcases and deciding what things stay and what things go, we still have opportunities to plant the seeds of Truth. Mark met a neighbor the other day and since then we have had her to our home three times and she joined the BBC lunch crowd yesterday. Amazing how hungry and thirsty some people are. We will connect her to others who will stay here during the summer for them to water and nurture growth.

We look forward to seeing our family soon. Time to be with our 'kids' who grow into adulthood. Who, we think, still need parents around to talk about life, about maturing, about the future. Yet at the same time we leave another family behind. A family that is also growing in maturity and the Xn life. We have 'children' here in all stages of life - some babies in the faith, some strong disciples and leaders, and some anywhere in-between.

So for the time being we say Zaijian to our family in Beijing. People use this to say good bye but it really means "See you again."