A day of Peace

Today was a beautiful day. The runner club skipped our morning run in hopes of finding a few more minutes of sleep. However, my roommate and I woke up at about 5 am bright eyed and bushy tailed! Thank you jet lag! Consequently, our running crew regretted skipping our morning run today! Thankfully, we were able to take a forty minute walk to our main office building in Beijing to check out one of the schools and have more meetings. The morning was veryyy slow with meetings but then we got excused and jetted for lunch! We went to a really good restaurant with one of our teammate's parents (who are in town for the weekend)! It was so fun to have them as our guests because they are Chinese and have served here in the past but now live in 1000 Oaks! The food for lunch today was amazing!! We had this one bread/tortilla looking thing that was delicious and very filling! I'm kinda in Heaven because its almost like I eat at PF Changs every meal!! wOO hoo! Anyways, after lunch, we found a field and played a game of ultimate frisbee! Luckily it had rained during our morning meeting and so the humidity had decreased and instead of soaking through all of our clothes we only felt half-drenched! haha but it was really fun to just get out and be active after the morning of sitting! We also had the most amazing team time this afternoon. We shared life stories, where we have seen the Father's faithfulness, and what the road to here has looked like. We found many threads of similarities within our individual tapestries and we are anxious to see how that is blessed and utilized in the year to come. During that time, my heart was softened greatly for those that sat at the table... the faces of my teammates, sisters/brothers, and who will become family. I almost began tearing up at how our time together in this exact setting is limited. Goodbyes will be hard. But I am so joyful at the provision our team has already witnessed... it will be a sweet year for sure. Towards the end of the day I was lost in my own thoughts and I found myself in a very sweet state of thankfulness. My heart is truly overflowing with where I am right now. There is such peace and contentment covering my spirit. After such a difficult year that many of you witnessed and walked alongside me in, I find such relaxation in the arms of the Giver of Hope. I find tranquility in my present place in life. Without a doubt, I believe with everything in me that this is exactly where I belong right now. I am saturated in this confirmation as the days pass... I continually lift up this point of grace I sit in knowing it will not last- I won't always feel this confident in His Will. There will be times of frustration, sadness, and homesickness this year, but He is faithful to use our amazing memories to show us the glimpses of the good to push us through the bad! I am so thankful for this day today... not worried about tomorrow, not dwelling on yesterday. He is so good and I love experiencing Him. May we never lose the passion to experience and enjoy Him. I am lifting you all up! Please e-mail me with what's going on in life!! courtney.dixon@elic.org (And be mindful of the comm. guidelines!)