Fine Chocolate

Chocolate is amazing. I am not gonna lie- I love it in any form. But having your first test of a fine gourmet chocolate is something that sticks with you. You compare it to every piece of chocolate you eat forever. People compare it to a fine wine- how the first sip isn't something that you simply drink- it's something you experience. Thats how it was when I first tasted New Zealand chocolate. I have heard good things about European chocolate- but this- this was like gold melting in my mouth. Since then- every small piece has been compared.

I am 3 months away from coming back to the US and my boss is already starting to plan goodbye parties. My students are starting to learn their dances for our end of the year program and when I get back from Hong Kong in 2 weeks- they will start to learn their English lines. My roommate has made the decision to leave in August as well to pursue the dreams that have been given to her. The team that I have worked with, struggled with, celebrated with, worshipped with- our time is starting to dwindle and it is unlikely we will ever be in the same place at the same time in this life. It brings a certain level of sadness to our weekly meetings and Sunday fellowships.

But for me- with all the struggles that China presents, it has been my fine chocolate. More than a job- a life-changing experience. It's hard to remember my life before China. I am sure I was less liberal- in my friendships, in my giving, in my love. I laughed less. I forgave less. I cried less. I owned less. This experience has changed me. It has affected the way I view church, work, God, the world around me, family, myself, everything. I'm blessed to have had such an experience. Just like most people in the world don't have the luxury of clean water (much less good chocolate), I think many people don't get to experience life in this way, for this long. I have been irreversibly changed.

I'm not saying I won't have good work or church experiences again. In fact, I will probably have harder, more challenging with greater blessing experiences. But this time- these past 2 years- is probably what will be brought to mind in each experience.

I'm so thankful for this group of people- that trust me with their children, that listen when I ramble on about life problems, that don't judge my cooking skills- and this experience and the people who made it possible for me to come over at all. If I leave here with one emotion, it will be greatfulness.

So Thank You- to the kindergarten and language school, to the International fellowship, to the people in the US who believed in One greater and made things possible by praying and giving- for 2 years of fine chocolate.