One World

I watched the Olympic Opening Ceremony tonight. I always love the excitement of the opening ceremonies: so much to see, enjoy, and learn about the host country and all of the countries represented.

Tonight I was taken by the colorful costumes of so many of the countries,  and the traditional dress and flags of each country. As I looked around the arena, I saw so much diversity, so many peoples, so many heritages, all come together as one world, to celebrate and unify.

Does the amount of diversity and difference in the world ever strike you? Each country, culture, language, family and person is so totally unique. What could be the joining factor among us all? Our planet, for one. Some of us share a language; others share a continent of a political ideal. A few of us share a religion. But what, aside from our humanity unites us?

That’s just it though: our humanity. We can all unite and admit that we are human. What makes us human, though, is our Creator: God.

I know, not everyone reading this (or those I imagine might read this, if my words were better spread) agree on God, if He is there, or who or what He is. I, for one, believe, no, exist in Him. And I see in our Olympic games, in our diversity, in our Humanity, I see a reflection and an image of Him.

Let’s go with this idea for a minute, and act as if we all follow my train of thought, as if this were a world created by a God. This God, well, he is all about love. Is love something that a unified humanity projects? I believe it is.

I saw love in the Opening Ceremony, people joined together across a city, a nation, and the world, for one event.

I saw love as each constituency walked by, proudly waving their flags for their homes, their people, their families.

I saw love, as those dressed in white, advocates for peace, carried the Olympic flag to the Tor.

And I saw love, as nations joined together in a ceremony of peace.

Isn’t it amazing that love can do that? Could love do that if it were a human creation, something that randomly happened among people? Would people work for it, achieve great things, if it were something we could make up? Love is, well, LOVE because it is greater than us in our humanity. Love is of God.

God created each and every one of those people at the ceremony tonight. He planned their cultures, knew their futures and their plans (even that they would be at the games!) before they were born.

When I see diversity, I see God, because He isn’t some static being who lives in a whitewashed church room. God is the God of diversity, who has every culture, every nation, everything within Him. Could we have all this diversity if He were now diverse Himself? There is "one God and Father, who is over all and in all and living through all."(Ephesians 4:6 NLT)

In my travels and experiences with people from around the world I have seen this to be true. From Oklahoma to China, Mexico to Australia, New York to Japan, we are all very different, but our Creator unites us in Himself. He is beyond understanding or explaining, and He is love.

Enjoy the Olympics. I know I will.

{Amen}

Memories of Kyoto 京都市

I remember, walking down the dark, quiet side streets of Kyoto, hair damp, waiting for the bus. Having just been to the onsen and discovered God’s sculpting job of the human figure. Trying new sodas from the corner machine, “I wonder what this one tastes like?” ¥150. “Hmm rather like the last one, like Pocari Sweat.” Sleeping on the bus, hair still wet, towels in our laps. “how many more stops?” passing our stop and getting off at the station, because we knew that we knew the way from there. Past Kyoto tower, past the French deli (how many were there in Kyoto? More than in France, that’s for sure), around the corner past the Lawson and a left past the Honda place. I remember the cool dark air of japan, peaceful in its way, a refreshment after the heat of the bathhouse, where my sunburn prevented me actually getting in. “this one feels weird, there’s an electric current!” “what do we do?” the good-intentioned Japanese woman pantomiming what to do with the buckets. Figuring out how to shower, bathe and shower again. Being the only Americans and the only ones neither ancient nor brand new. Finding a strange but pure new appreciation for God’s handiwork in women. A new closeness with my new friends; shared experience; shared intimacy. “It’s okay, we were at the onsen together.”

Walking during the daytime and trying to find our way back—“where were we? Just keep walking towards the tower, we’re that way.” “can’t we stop for lunch? How about here?” salmon and rice. Gyoudon. Coffee-water, or was it tea? おいしい、アミっちゃん！So much walking.
Daytime bus passes, nighttimes wandering, trying to find the right bus, but we couldn't read the stops. Asking in Japanese how to find the arcade and shopping street, teasing amy about her Japanese “boyfriend.” More rice and salmon. Onigiri, yum. Jazz before bedtime in the hostel bar. Conversations. Candy corn.“I can’t find my train pass.” “Well, do you have it?” “No, I can’t find it…” Boarding the train to Tokyo, not knowing what awaited there.

Warmth, friendship, family.
The time I became best friends with Amy B.

Life in hong kong

Unfortunately, I havent been able to blog from China. But now I'm in Hong Kong! So! Here's an overview of my trip thus far:
We started off by staying in Beijing for 2 weeks, at Capital Normal University. It was really cool to see all the ancient Chinese sites such as the forbidden city and the temple of heaven, and also get to live like a local student, eating at tiny local restaurants and going to lectures each day. We also visited some more modern, urban places, such as this really awesome art district called 798(look it up) and the zoo(PANDAS!) After Beijing we moved on to Xi'an where we spent a few days in the inner city and a few days staying with farming families!  We saw the TERRA COTTA warriors. Be jealous. At the farming village we danced with the villagers at night, awesome. Unfortunately I also sprained my foot on the stairs at the farmers house. :/ I had to go to a Chinese doctor who didn't look at my foot and said it was fine, and gave me a prescription for Chinese herbal pain killers. Luckily it's almost fine now and not broken(I think). 
I am now in Hong Kong!! I have a cold too so I haven't done a ton of fun stuff yet. We did go to Kowloon park today and on a junk boat ride (think Asian pirates in POTC)! I keep getting sunburnt though cause I'm so white and forgetting sunscreen. 

In conclusion, here are the top things I've learned in China. 
1. "Not everything is as it seems" -Chinese missionary
2. Always carry tissue/toilet paper
3. Only shake right hands
4. Babies don't wear diapers but just have a slit in their pants to go on the street. 
5. Handicap stall=western toilet. Steal it from a granny she's been squatting her whole life. 
6. If you are short and white, or just American,  then you are "very beautiful."
7. Engrish=hilarious
8. Rice is your best food friend.
9. Squattie potties are from the devil and I always end up peeing on my shoes. 
We leave for Japan on Wednesday, yay!!