For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Father, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come...to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the Father, "and will bring you back from captivity.”I love that the emphasis is on His plans, the plans He has for us! Plans to prosper, plans to give us hope, and plans to give us a future because without a hope in the Father, our future is limited!
This has been a week filled with frustration. Our plans have not prevailed, and it has been difficult to believe that the Father's plans are “plans to prosper and not to harm.” However, we cling to two truths: “many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Father's purpose that prevails,” and “in his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”
It is not about “our plans,” it is about the Father's plan to be found by us and to bring our hearts back from captivity!
Please think about us:
1. Unfortunately this has been a difficult week for all of us. Last Wednesday night we learned that all of the IECS English weeks needed to be canceled due to the swine flu scare. There were two confirmed cases in China last week, and due to this, all visas from Canada, Mexico, and the United States have been suspended. The loss of these weeks has hit us hard, as we have been looking forward to them all semester. For the team in Langfang, this is the third consecutive English Week that has been canceled.
2. With no English Weeks, all of the IECS teachers found themselves free during this past weekend. So everybody decided to meet in Beijing. It was therapeutic for all of us. We had all been dealing with the loss of our English Weeks separately, so the time together was encouraging. Newt led our Sunday morning meeting, and we had lunch together before we all returned to our separate schools.
3. Please also continue to think about Newt and Claire Hetrick. They have had to deal with the brunt of the chaos created by the cancellation of the English Week trips. Newt has been in China for the past two weeks (he arrived before the visas were suspended) and Claire has had to make all of the phone calls to the various teachers and airline companies. Newt will be flying home on Tuesday.
4. Last Monday, the city of Langfang was without power from 8am to 8pm. Luckily, Jessie was still able to give her final exams in a dimly lit classroom. However, the “English Association” English Club that was scheduled for that evening had to be rescheduled. Since English week has been canceled, we will now visit the “English Association” English Club this Thursday night.
5. Last Tuesday, Jessie and I went to Beijing for another Baby appointment. Naomi Faith continues to be perfectly healthy and in the proper position. After the appointment, Jessie and I decided to visit the Summer Palace since we had never been there, and many people have told us that it is one of the best places to see in Beijing. It did not disappoint! We had a great afternoon exploring the island, taking a boat ride across the lake, and climbing through the palace to the overlook on the main land.
6. The packing process has begun; we have started taking pictures of the walls, we sent a 50 pound suitcase full of books home with Newt, and I took our other suitcases out of storage earlier today. We return to the states on May 28th, I start lifeguarding on June 1st, and we have a job interview on the 2nd.
7. The heat is on! The temperature has been hovering around the mid-90's recently which has not made Jessie's pregnancy any easier. Our next baby appointment is Tuesday the 26th, two days before we return.
Living outside the boat,
Brad
