California to Texas-One way!

I left California four days ago. I’ve been in Dallas for three days now, and I still am floored by the Hand of God in my life. Before coming home to America, one of my fears was not having God’s direct hand moving/shaking my daily life like in China. However, He has quickly eliminated these fears. What can we do? Our God is bigger.

So let me give you the run down on how BIG He has shown Himself to me recently! So last Wednesday, me and my mom set out Dallas bound in a car jammed packed with the whole contents of my room. That was a gracious act by God to use my dad’s incredible packing skills to somehow fit everything in! We drove all day Wednesday; no really, ALLLLL day. Stopped in Albuquerque, New Mexico for the night, then carried on in the morning to Dallas! For lunch, we stopped by the world famous (ok, maybe Texas famous) “Big Texan” restaurant. This restaurant advertises for about 200 miles before you arrive claiming the best steak, and it’s renowned contest of eating a 72 oz steak in under 1 hour= you get the steak free. Needless to say, after all the advertising, I felt it was necessary to hit this stop in Amarillo, Texas for lunch. So we did, and it was just a crack-up! A giant cowboy shoe and bull stand on the two edges of the restaurant with thousands of passer-bys’ names written on it. I scribbled out my own signature, and added my mom’s name for good measure. Then we ate the most delicious steaks I’ve ever tasted, and enjoyed the saloon type feel of the indoors. After enjoying the different scene, we put our cramped up limbs back into our car leading us down the last stretch of miles to reach Dallas by night. Once we arrived at Dallas, with the time change, it was late. We checked in to our hotel and rode to the 28^th floor to our room. Apparently something must have been mixed up and they mistook us for Taylor Swift and her mom, because we were put up in the Executive Suite! My mom and I were amazed at the huge living room that led to a hallway where the bedroom was situated off. Our aching driving bones were softened up by the fluffy pillow-top beds we somehow scored! Praise the Giver of Blessings!

Friday, marked my first day in Dallas. And by the looks of it, I was excited. Minus the whole freeway construction mess. Almost all of the freeways are being re-done, and to a new girl, there isn’t anything more confusing! As we woke up that morning, we were instantly energized to tackle the Dallas area in hopes of minimally and cost efficiently furnishing my new apartment. We met my landlord, and checked out the new apartment first. This began the feeling of “blown away” by God. The apartment is perfect! It is located two blocks up on the same street as the Seminary. (I can walk to school). It is located a few blocks down from Whole Foods (I can walk to get my groceries). And it is located a couple miles away from a small lake that has a running trail 10 miles around the circumference of the lake! (I can run). It is also a few miles from downtown Dallas. (city/country girl okay with me) Good start. The landlord is really nice, and was an original Californian. He also told me that his wife is a part of a women’s Bible study that consists of women living in my apartment complex. (He provided a group of community believers-something I prayed specifically for in my apartment complex). There are also several international Chinese students living in the complex (He never wastes any facet of our lives- here He gifts me with merging American lifestyle with my time in China!). After discovering all this, my mom and I seek out furniture shopping.

We bounced from one bedroom mattress store to another only to find super uncomfortable beds for too high of a price. After the frustration of not finding an affordable deal, we see a Subway. Deciding to stop for lunch, we begin to “re-group” ourselves in an effort to save the day from complete disaster. Before eating, my mom offers up a quiet prayer for God to just take control of our misfortune day. Following the prayer, sitting there, I grab my lemonade to take a drink, and somehow, (as the day would have it) the cup slipped and poured it’s entire contents all down my shirt, shorts, and rainbow sandals. I sat there in my sticky icey mess nodding my head. My mom looked on in disbelief as I confirmed, “Yes it’s that kind of day isn’t it?” We begin to laugh trying to find humor in our misfortune, but we still are overshadowed by the inability to find a good mattress. Can’t live in the Taylor Swift Executive Suite at the Sheraton forever!!

As I wipe myself off as much as possible with soaked through jeans, my mom spies two other mothers and their children staking out the corner of the Subway. She naturally walks over, strikes up a conversation, and asks where to find an affordable good bed. The lady is amazed because she just bought a great deal of a bed the other day. Giving us directions, she continues to ask us questions. We explain we just arrived to town, and I explain I’m not a grad student at the seminary. She instantly asks where I’m going to church, and launches into an amazing God-given ability for hospitality. She gives me her cell number, invites me to an Olympic watching party at her house that night, and for Thanksgiving! And she doesn’t really know much about me, except that I’m going to the Seminary! What a God-thing! My mom and I were amazed! We had prayed for divine intervention, and He was quick to use the gifts of a sister in faith to speak to some of my needs! Whoa is He good-and all in Subway!! J