The Far Off Land of Asia is Just Around the Corner

I never would have guessed a month ago that I would actually be going to Asia! To me, it seemed far off, distant and pretty much like another world. It’s differences from my own seemed too different for me to even be able to relate to. In fact to be perfectly blunt, the very thought of me going to Asia never crossed my mind. My thinking has changed since then. Since being apart of these people I went to school with, I am finding myself excited by the interesting culture, the adventures we’ll undertake, the history of the country that made it what it is today, and most importantly the people who live there. In preparation for the trip we have been focusing on the main points of the negative worldly influences so that we can easier carry on conversations with them, gain their trust and make as many friends as we can!

I thought my home city and suburbs of Atlanta were crowded. It’s like rural farmland compared to the population of the people living in Asia! Because of the large population the government has expressed and basically have imprinted into people’s minds that they are too crowded. A law was actually passed that only one child may be born to each couple. It is actually legal to have an abortion at the birth of a child. There are approximately 25,000 abortions a day in China alone. The value of human life has been severally diminished. Especially that of girls. Since they cannot pass on the family name (among other reasons) they are not often kept by the parents when born. As a result, the orphanage population is about 30 percent male, and the other 70 percent female.

The plague of materialism is spreading quickly in Asia, making it difficult for people to get past what is seen “where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19) and realize that “what is unseen is eternal”(2 Corinthians 4:18). Money has become a god, and I fear that the western world’s example has not contributed to their rising love for money, busy work schedule’s and competition. The children and teenagers are even starting at an early age. Those in high school will go to school for 14 hours a day had then proceed to doing 3 more hours of homework, each and every day. How are they even able to get enough sleep much less cope with the changes that they are physically and mentally undergoing? What’s the point of living for material and status gain anyway, if we’re just going to lose it all in the end? (Matthew 16:26).

There is a high rate of prostitution in Asia as well. This, however is a problem that is also worldwide. Traditional sex values are eroded, and the relationship between a man and a woman has no deep foundations and are viewed as simple passionate flings. Most of the male population is involved in some sort of prostitution. As a result of giving freely this way, the AIDS rate is accelerating at a rapid pace. It is estimated that in just three years there will be 10 million who are infected by AIDS.

In Asia’s history there have been religious movements (cults) who have given Asians the view that religions from the western societies are to be avoided. Mass destruction of human life has been one of the results so it is no wonder that those living in Asia are wary of such things. Though some may profess that they are “men of science” they still believe in the old ways of the spiritual realms like fortune telling and horoscopes.

My friends and I will be spending most of our time in a large municipality with a population of over several million people. The “city” has at least 16 colleges or universities and many of the students are studying English. We can’t wait to meet up with people our own age and trade life stories since we are so different from each other. Many of them meet and talk in “English Corners” throughout the city where they can practice their English with each-other. In preparation for the trip the eight of us have already begun studying one of their main languages and some of their history so that we can better communicate and understand the Chinese people. Each of us has a responsibility within the group, from keeping up with finances, to finding food etc. I hope my guitar makes it ok too. I can’t live without a little music!

Please keep my friends and I in your thoughts as we go on this adventure and pray that God will protect us from any mishaps!

The Tollymore Forest

Last weekend, the staff of my school leaders treated us all to an outing at the most beautiful forest I have ever seen. It’s called the Tollymore Forest. Every tree is different, providing lots of fun trying to take pictures. It is practically impossible to take a picture that does any tree justice. Green moss covers the trunks of the trees and the rocks, which are placed sporadically around. Stone steps, bridges, and pathways made us feel as though we’d stepped into another realm. It reminded me of something…..Oh, right, apparently this is the forest where CS Lewis got his inspiration for Narnia! It also reminds me a lot of the scenery in The Lord of the Rings. It’s a spectacular, mythical and ethereal. It’s exquisite in it’s fairy tale like atmosphere. You just had to be there.

To see more pictures go to this link:

http://flickr.com/photos/ericalp/tags/tollymore/show/

Snow!!

It snowed today. It started early in the morning, just simple mere flakes making their way slowly down to settle daintily into the frost covered grass. Soon, it started to flow heavier and heavier. In half an hour the ground was covered in an inch of poweder. Many of us pressed our noses up against the windows admiring the beauty. A few of us had never seen snow before. The staff let us have some free time to play in the snow, which involved shrieks and the taking of lots of pictures and inevitable snowballs flying through the air. We soon got up a brutal snow fight. Even the speaker for this week joined in the havoc. We were soon getting snow out of the back of our shirts and our hair was soaking wet. It was a lot of fun, and was a releasing time away from our normal schedule. We definitely thanked God for the snow as a precious gift from above.

The Eye isn’t the Only Window to the Soul

Why do people act the way they do? What makes them angry? or happy? How do some people think and process information compared to others, and why? What does God have to say about it all? In a severely shortened version, I’ve more keenly realized that God has made me who I am for a reason.

Anne, the speaker for this week, talked to us about Identity. She taught about the complexities of the brain, personalities, character and human emotions. It is said by scientists that the brian is the most complex thing in the entire universe. Simply trying to comprehend the universe is mind boggling, then trying to understand our own brain is just as impossible. It makes sense that we couldn’t possibly begin to understand God. A girl in my DTS said “If I could understood God, He would not be God.”

At the beginning of the week, every student took the Myers Briggs Identity Test. The results were surprisingly accurate. Very accurate in fact. All in all, God revealed to me why I am the way that I am. I have evaluated how I process information, and in knowing this, am able to more readily and effectively work on the flaws in my character. He also taught me about others too. I have discovered why some people misscommunicate and some don’t. Some people process information through seven channels of the brain instead of five, like others. Some people think more than they feel. Some people use their intuition more than their senses. In relationships, learning these concepts can be very useful. It helps us to understand how other people think and work.

What’s amazing is that all of the new cutting edge theories about the brain and about personality can be found in the bible. The solutions of personality inconsistencies can be found in the bible as well. God knows us better than we do. He had the solution for us all along, and some of us don’t even know it. The bible is not just a handbook for how to live our lives, it’s a handbook on how to feed and care for your soul. The ultimate solution of course is God, through His Son. When we realize Him for who He is, it’s as if the world is turned on its head. And it can happen everyday for the rest of our lives, and be like new each and every time.