I have one word to describe my two-day trip to rural China… overwhelming.

The first day, an eight-hour car ride through China brought me lots of sadness. I watched countless villages and cities; simple brick houses with the elderly sitting on their porch and abandoned multi-story buildings passing me by. Yet, I did not recognize a home.

Home is where happiness shines through the front doors of each household and on friendly faces. You can sense the love and care of the people who live there.  A home shows character and personality.

When I arrived at the city of Yu-lin, which will be my only connection to something familiar (a society) in a few years, my eyes swelled with tears. Turns out, this place is not the place of comfort, as I thought it to be. Instead, it brought me a great fear, and unhappiness. I saw hundreds of sad-faced strangers just treading through their lives and only looking out for themselves. God was showing me a city I did not belong in. I cried out to Jesus: why has my spirit been sucked out of me? Do I really want to serve others for the rest of my life? Am I… Aren’t I supposed to live here happily ever after?

On the second day, we drove through the rural villages of Yu-lin. I was nervous about what God might reveal to me. But, as I stepped foot onto the orphanage I was excited to be there. As I watched the children sing welcoming songs to their guests, I knew God brought me here for these children, to serve them and to love them. On this day, I saw a happy and affectionate home made of homeless children. I knew this is where I belonged, just the plain-old average me.

No, I can’t afford to put clothes on their backs, a roof above their head, or food in their tummies. But maybe, I could be their teacher, their care-taker, or their guidance counselor. And then one day they will grow up to get a job in the city and support them selves. They will live just like the sad-faced strangers I saw. How sad!

The truth is, either everything matters and Christ is real or nothing matters at all. They need joy, they need love, they need God.

-Lily Hsu

God works in absolutely weird and awesome ways. We had a whole suitcase filled with medicines donated by our supporters. As always I was nervous crossing the China border/immigration. However, we had accompanying us on the trip a Hong Kong pop star that decided she wanted to visit the orphanage as well. So, we ended up hitching a ride with her (ask me if you want to hear the details). Lily and I rode in her luxurious vehicle and was treated a free ride to Yu-Lin; but more importantly, given that the border patrol knew her (so many people asked her for her autograph on the way there, at the rest stops) they let us through without checking any of our bags!

As we arrived we spent day #1 in the city, meeting the orphanage staff and other “important” people at dinner. I couldn’t wait to get to the rural area and orphanage on day #2…that is why I came! As the next day came and was about to head to the orphanage (Lily and I were planning on staying the night with the kids), we were told by the orphanage director that there was a big change in plans and that the pop star wanted to only visit the orphanage shortly and head back to Hong Kong that very afternoon! Keep in mind it’s an 8 hour drive from HK to Yu-Lin. I was devastated. She was our ride.

We got to the orphanage and Lily and I had a great great time. We got to spend some quality time with the kids and staff. Even though the kids were also devastated knowing our trip would be cut short, I would have to say this trip was worth it, even if it was my shortest to Yu-Lin. Lily and I learned a lot about each other, learned a lot about Gods vision for us, and learned together how beautiful Gods children are and how much we want to be a part of His plan here in China.

We set up a small pharmacy for the orphanage and taught them how to utilize it, with plans on replenishing the medicines every time I can go back. We raised, thanks to you, enough to purchase THREE bicycles for the orphanage! However, given the hectic schedule I couldn’t go buy the bikes and even forgot to give the money to the staff. Alberta is going there next month so I will make sure she get the bikes then!

I know this may seem silly and obvious, but I want to just say that…Lily and I truly appreciated and even grew to adore the “pop star”…she was so nice to us and truly had a great heart. However, the biggest lesson we learned was that God is the true star and that he is awesome and that he is SO needed in Yu-Lin.

Looking up with great anticipation,
Dan

NOTE: Pictures coming soon!

Tomorrow will be day #1 in Guang Xi, China for Lily. Man oh man I am nervous (though I know she is even MORE nervous than me). We are going to step on “home ground” for the first time, together. This is where we’ll be in less than a handful of years, together. This is where we will raise our family, together. Never have I been so scared and excited at the same time! We’ve been praising God this entire trip…because we know as uncertain as we are about our future together, He has walked before us already, and paved the road, and will be walking with us this entire journey.

Thanks to all our supporters! Our goal was to raise $100 for medicines and another $100 for two bicycles. We had nine amazing individuals and two 6th grade classrooms in Mississippi pledge a total of $411.75 for this trip. Thank you! We will update you on how the extra money is used to support the Yu-Lin orphanage.

Looking up with great anticipation,

Dan