Week 2!

I apologize for it taking me so long to make another entry into the blog! I can honestly say that just about everyday I think “I really need to update my blog” but somehow it doesn’t happen! As you can imagine, many things have happened now that I have been here for about 2 ½ weeks. I can’t believe it’s been that long already! I have to admit that when I first got here and told everyone I’d be here 4 ½ months, it seemed like an eternity. Everyone told me it would go quickly and I didn’t believe them but I do now. Now that classes have begun and friends have been made, the time goes much more quickly and the homesickness is more few and far between.
It took me quite a while but I finally have my classes under control. Although I’ll be getting credit for them, not one will count towards my major! Haha Oh well, I’m excited though because I really enjoy all of them and am already learning so much. My schedule includes International Business, Introduction to Mandarin for Non-Chinese speakers, Modern Chinese Society, and Hong Kong and the River Delta Survey (a class where we get to take some field trips!). The classes are formatted a little differently here and the grades are basically made upon an individual paper/presentation, a group paper/presentation, and a final exam. The final is 40, 50, or 60% of the final grade in each of my classes so I will definitely have to take them seriously :) I look forward to being able to speak to you all in Mandarin when I get home! Haha
I’ve gotten to get some cool stuff since being here as well. Two weekends ago I went on a hike of Lion’s peak a couple subway stops from the campus on Saturday with some friends. Then on Sunday I got to do the same hike but further with my dad. I’ve also just enjoyed meeting some of my dad’s business friends. Last weekend my dad and I went to dinner with his friend Ivan, his wife, and son up on Victoria’s peak which is on Hong Kong island (actually a separate island from where I live on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong). It was beautiful looking over at all of the buildings in Kowloon and also across the bay at the ships and boats at night. Two days ago I also got to go out on my dad’s friend Tian’s yacht into the China Sea! It was absolutely incredible to be surrounded by all of the mountains and islands out in the ocean! Tian even let me drive the boat a little although it scared me to death haha and my dad and I did a little skiing. (Well, I did a little skiing and my dad did a lot :). Last night was actually the last night I get to spend with my dad before he heads back to the US! It is sad but it’s been a blessing to have him here for a bit and to get to make some memories together in Asia.
Apart from the incredible experiences, meeting some great new friends, and starting class, a big thing that’s been going on involves my relationship with God. In the past couple months I have struggled some with God being very real in my life. I felt like I was seeking His face a lot and His will for my life but He always seemed very distant and it’s been a big test of my faith! I know that having me come to Asia alone and completely out of my comfort zone has definitely been in His plan. Since being here I’ve discovered how He really should be my only dependency in life. There was nothing no one and nothing here to make me feel better at 1am when I felt completely alone and homesick in my dorm room … except my Savior. He truly has comforted me though and given me strength through some tough times. He’s also completely broken me to the point that I’ve seen how everything in this life is completely meaningless if not for Him! The mountains and beautiful views I see mean nothing if I can’t see His work and love behind them and my relationships here have no meaning if not to share God’s love with others. Everything in this world will eventually pass away. I am really striving to learn to make God my everything and my strength everyday! I praise the Lord for how much he has already taught me and I am looking forward to what will come in the next few months! I thank you all for your prayers and support and miss you very much! Don’t forget to also let me know how your lives are going :)

“Turn my heart toward your statues and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things; Preserve my life according to your word” Psalm 119:36-37

With Love in Christ, Deborah

ps. I am going to put photos on soon, i promise! I just need to get them on my computer first!