Spring time means heat time

On Sunday I did the normal activities of getting up, and preparing to go to church. I was amazed to find that the heat was back! It feels like it has been cold for months, I don't do cold--at all. I got to wear a skirt and a short sleeve shirt, my excitement was through the roof! After church the normal crowd went to lunch after, one of my favorite activities here. It was so nice we could sit outside and have that company. I got to take every form of transportation on Sunday...which is rare, but exciting. Metro, Taxi, Walking, Motorbikes and an auto rickshaw.

My friend Rebecca and I had a genius idea to go up to the country club and go swimming, best decision ever. Needless to say I got sunburnt, but it was totally worth it. I will call it my base coat for the Philippines and summer.


My life here is going normal and is exciting and He is working in so many ways. I was asked to return back to the school next year, so the decisions are being made...I have till Friday to sign or not sign my contract and so that is overwhelming in it's own. So please continue to pray this week as I figure out what is best for me, this time around.

I have been taking Chinese lessons more seriously this semester as well and my new teacher wants me to take the proficiency exam, I call her crazy...but it might be something I end up doing in a month or two! I enjoy the language and I am slowly actually remembering how to read the characters in chinese and not in english--which is so hard for my brain!

I decided also that I needed to be more healthy in life decisions, mostly in exercise. I have started going to the pool to swim laps and plan on 2-3 times a week, so far I am doing a great job with it! It is weird how much better you feel after working out, the endorphins are amazing! I have fallen in love with the pool that I get to use at the club...it's gorgeous and no one is ever there!

new favorites place. ever.

Everything is going well...planning a trip to HK to go see the Hunger Games...my excitement is (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and everyone is probably annoyed of my excitement, but I can't wait! And I get to be a full-time sub next week to grades 5, 6 and 7...so I get to be in charge, weird concept! but I am excited to do it, the kid's are great and the support here is very helpful when I need it.

Also some CUI folk will be here this weekend and I get to go to dinner with them. I am excited to see them and get to talk to them about summer and just what is happening back home!


Highs:
The weather being perfect!
Being asked to come back next year
Getting closer to the women here at work
Getting to travel soon

Lows:
Figuring out my decision about next year.

Prayer requests:
That I power through these next few weeks before Spring Break!
For my decision this week.
Strength in my friendships back home, feeling really discouraged right now.

With love,

Ashley

Traveling is in the air

Since moving to China, I have really wanted to be able to travel. Traveling was something that got shut down pretty quickly, when I got kidney stones and decided to go back to America-- until they were gone. I am now healthy and the trips are back on track and I am excited!

First up, volunteering in the Philippines and then a little bit of a beach break right at the end, soon. I am excited for this opportunity and so excited to do some service work! I will get to work with an orphanage and with street children. SUPER excited!! I am really looking forward to a break, away and in another country.

Second up, a trip with my friend Mary who lives in Vietnam! She will be coming to China to see me :) and then we will take a train up to Beijing and do the typical Beijing things, The Great Wall and hopefully zip lining it, as we have heard they do that. After Beijing we will be going up to Mongolia! We were watching a documentary about a year ago, on Mongolia and we both made a promise that we would not go without the other, so we are going this summer!!! Crazy how dreams become reality. I miss her and I am excited to see her and get to show her mainland China, since she has never been here.

More trips will be planned and more trips will change my life, I can't get enough of this traveling. I love seeing the Light in people's faces, showing them the light and just being friendly with everyone I encounter. My heart has been overtaken with traveling-- I can't complain.

It seems like India will be in my semi-near future as well and I am stoked :D

Things at school are going well, busy as usual! We have been having fun and the students like me, or at least I think they do, but that doesn't really matter. After school EFL is a lot of fun with the kids, on Monday's I have 6 pre-graders, whoa are they a handful! but super cute and you can't help but love on them!

I am working on finding a motorbike, yes a motorbike. I am ready to brave these streets, everyone thinks its a great idea :) I have decided that it would be a great thing to have this summer, since I will be here doing summer camps the whole summer. Makes sense to get around on my own, and to avoid taxi's, because they can't seem to find my school to save their lives, even with directions written in 3 different forms and someone speaking Chinese to them. So I am resorting to my own modes of transportation. yes!

I am enjoying it here a lot right now.

Highs:
Trip with Mary getting planned
Philippines coming up
Students being amazing
growing closer to my new chinese friends at the school
growing closer to other expats


Lows:
Caught a little bug last week.
Not being organized enough.

Prayer requests:
For some of my friends here, mostly for their families back home.
Stay healthy!
Power through an awesome semester
That I can become more organized and give my all to everything I have committed myself too.
Thoughts about next year, what am I being called to do...

with love,

Ashley