确定？

I lift my eyes unto the hills where does my help come from? My help comes from the maker of heaven and earth!

 

Day two:

Today, I had lunch {trust me, it only SOUNDS like its about food...its not} with a friend!! She asked me Sunday if I had time this week to get together and we decided to 'do lunch' Tuesday. And while out to lunch with her, I saw another friend who said we need to go out for coffee when we are both free!

 #ItsTheSmallThings

{I talk a lot!! If you do not want to read about my health or some really fun things I have been given, please do jump down and read what Father gave to me.}

Where to begin?

I don't want to make this too long and therefore boring. :/

Quick health update:

I CAN WALK!!! I am really happy, relieved, and thankful about this! My back is doing so much better, and pain has not woken me up or kept me from going to sleep for well over a week. The pain during the day is manageable, and has not been much of a problem at work or school. I am doing my best to be good. What I mean by that is that I have actually said no to doing some things that I knew would be a bad idea for my back, and I have quit taking the stairs at all either, even though it makes me feel like a lazy lump at times. I have also been doing PT as often as I can. {Meaning I do not have a set time everyday where I am doing it, but I sometimes start my day with it, other times I do some leg lifts while waiting for a show to buffer, then there are times when I am sitting at a desk at work and do some ham string stretches or knee raises while I am there.} It is looking now like I am going to make it through the rest of the semester just fine and I am not so worried about the plane trip back. {There is more to this story too, the plane trip 'worries' but that will come later}

STUFF!!

I have said it before, I have amazing friends and family! The other day, I was told that a package had come for me but had been delivered to the teachers housing. My cousins sent me a TON of drink mixes! Everything from tea to cappuccino, powder to add to water bottles to hot apple cider. It made me feel ever so loved! I love all the flavours and know this will help me not only curb my spending {not being so tempted to buy a drink at a shop because I have one waiting for me at home helps a ton!} but also will help with my weight loss, which is always a necessity for me given my back! THANK YOU!!

Then, its kinda a strange story so I will just say that 'something told me' to go to the Post Office. There I found a manila envelope with my name on it!! Inside was the coolest bag ever as well as a new white t-shirt with an elephant on it and a super cute pencil bag! What makes everything all the better, besides the fact that it was from one of my always spectacular BMH friends, was the fact that it was all purchased from a group called Freeset. 

Now, I had never heard of them before, but the tag says that they help women in India who were sold into the sex trade and gives them a second chance with a new job! How cool is that? I am now a bit afraid to wear the T-shirt cause I just love it too much and China is not so friendly to clothing of that tint!! haha!!

It was also such a fun coincidence that the shirt would have an elephant on it, since one of my friends here at school just came back from Thailand and brought me a beautiful scarf with elephants all over it! Never knew I liked elephants so much, but my two new items with the animal on it are some of my new favourite items so I guess I do!!

The WOW moment!

Sunday was our day to register for classes and get our accounts settled and such before school started back up. I went in fully knowing I would see them give me a disappointed look while telling me that I had not passed my exams, would have to stay in the same level, etc etc. So when I was instead met with a new schedule for the classes in the higher level, I was taken aback a bit. I explained that I was sure I was not prepared for any harder Chinese then what I had come from and that I for sure could not have passed. She looked at the computer in front of her and said that she could get me the actual grades later, but I had in fact passed all my exams. {I still am wondering if they added some points for something else to make sure I got a high enough grade! Haha. There is no class of the same level I was in before, so if I was to not have been allowed in the next level I would have had to go back a step further down and join those who are here in their first year second semester rather then go on with my classmates who are all second year second semester students.} I was later told that I got a 66 in my listening class, a 78 in my speaking, and 82 was my Intensive Reading/Comprehension score. {Note, please do not take my happiness over these grades as thinking these are good or perfectly acceptable! They are still way lower then I would like and I am not 'proud' of low grades, but an 82 where I thought I failed flat is a nice discovery!} After being registered for these classes and being reassured that they had ever confidence I would be able to handle the next grade the same as everyone else, it was time to pay my dues. I was told that in order to get my new books I would need to pay 300 RMB, which is not something I had been planning on, so I explained that I only had the cash for my room fee and the rest would have to wait a while, and that was agreed upon. She then checked my account and said “Oh, I was wrong....you don't have to pay.” I replied with “For my books?” she said “For anything”. I stared at her in disbelief. We went back and forth for a little bit, me asking more then once if she was sure because I had checked earlier in the year and was told I would need to pay again, and she said that my records stated I had a 0 balance.

I burst into tears.

My teacher {side note: lao shi 老师 is the term used for someone in a position of authority or extra knowledge in a certain area. Even if these people do not teach a class I am in, but work in the admin area or are especially skilled in the area of their job, we all cal them 老师 which translates teacher. Just to make sure everything is clear! Tee hee} My teacher was a little surprised at my outburst, but I'm pretty sure this is not the first time she has been witness to my being overcome with emotion! She giggled happily and looked again to say that not only did I have no room fee but also did not have to pay for books. 'Two good news today' she said. I tried to explain that there was no way she could understand exactly what that all means {while I have the money, there has been some concern on my part over a few future budget areas.} and just what an answer it was. Another teacher walked in and said “Hey!! Why is AnYaHui crying?! What happened?” It was explained I was just so happy and excited and all was ok. {He was not so certain and checked once more with me before he left the room} I was given my books and got ready to leave, but stood up to give my teacher a hug and asked once more “你确定？”{You're certain?} to which she replied “确定！”{I'm certain!}

So, what does this mean in the long run? Well, as I said, I had been a bit concerned with the flight back to the States this summer. My tax return will cover the majority of my plane ticket, but the one I found that was covered the most is a ticket I am really not comfortable with buying. The flight would leave Beijing at 2 in the morning August 3^rd, go 8 hours over to Qatar where I would wait around 3 hours before boarding a flight that was between 13 and 15 hours. Once in the States, I would either be stopping in New York and have to get myself from JFK to La Guardia in the overnight 13+ hour stay or wait in Washington for 6 or 7 hours before heading on to Michigan. The travel time varies between 32+ and 45+ hours. Now that I can use the money I would have paid for my room,for my expenses I can save my other expense money for a flight that gets me back to Michigan without an unnecessary 8 hour journey! {though I am feeling better, the less time I spend in the air the better, and the few take off and landings I make with a blown disc the better, in my opinion!!}

I had found out when we started back up at work that the ticket I returned in Beijing when I decided to stay at Shepherds Field had no money ever returned, and so I would not be reimbursed for the 300 RMB I had paid for the new ticket. While I was saddened, I did have a peace about it as I had been 'gifted' so much and always had the feeling that it was from Father as a reminder to just stop worrying. Never mind I had still been harboring some worry in regards to future living and returning expenses! As my friend said at lunch today, “This just makes you wonder why you ever worry in the first place, doesn't it?”

From a love of my own comfort. From the fear of having nothing. From a life of worldly passions. Deliver me!

I am still in awe over it all. The last time I was here for school, something similar happened. This is what I remind myself of when I start to wonder if they are going to come to me later and say “We were wrong!” I remember how I was walking up the steps of the admin building two years ago, talking with Father over how this was all going to work out, while “J Paid It All” played on my ipod. This time, I had just cut out the new decorations for my wall. The reminder of the song I claimed for this time in China: “Deliver me Oh G...and I shall not want” How true how true!!

Thank you to each and everyone of you who encourages me, buzzes for me, checks in on me, follows my journey, loves me, challenges me, calls me on my worry/fear/doubt, and supports me to always do what is right!!

Thats all I said I would update on, right?

Oh, yeah. I was also given a really sweet gift from an office coworker! They are a beautiful set of earrings, along with a card! She is such a joy to work with and I love getting to know her, so to know that she was also happy we have another semester together was really awesome!!

I have three new classroom teachers! Two of them are new to Sias all together, and one is someone I have worked with in the office but have never had as a classroom teacher. My schedule looks like it is going to work out nicely! In addition to Speaking, Listening, and Reading, I have on class a week that is Chinese {tourism} Geography. {This means that it tells us about the most famous places in China, and whats good to do/eat/see while you are there. We will also learn a little of the history of these places and attractions as we discuss them} I have no classes on Friday, which might mean I end up in the office all day, but I hope means that sometimes I can ask to have the afternoon off to maybe go do something for the weekend. {The foreign teachers all have Friday off. There is one group with the BMH club that goes to see kids on Fridays, or at leas they have the last few semesters. Especially because this is a home I have never been to before AND it is a home for BABIES....I want to see if I can get an afternoon off now and then to go with them!} I do still have a lot of back and forth as far as there being only one day where my classes are back to back. But because the office is now in the same building as the school.....it works out better!! {I also realized that it was Father's timing that had us move to the Castle when we did! Because of my injury during the break, I don't think I could have safely kept up with the 70 stairs two and three times a day!}

Also, I have a new roommate! Later, I am sure I will write more about her...but I have made this too long already. {She is from India!}

Bye y'all!