My heart is full

It's been four months since I first stepped foot in China. It is so hard to believe it has been that long. And it is amazing to me that my thoughts everyday are still so consumed with the beautiful kids we were able to meet and the wonderful team we had. Yesterday was especially hard. All day long I just felt this sadness in my heart. I wasn't sure what it was until I sat down to pray with Leslie and I picked up the big photo of all of our classes together in China. Then I realized that I had been feeling sadness for those kids - for each and every one of them who have no hope. They have so much pressure on them to succeed in life that they don't know how to handle and many of them end up depressed and suicidal. I was especially thinking of Morry and Asa. Their faces kept flashing in my mind as we were praying. My heart hurts to know they don't have the hope and joy that we have... and that there are very few in their lives to show them that hope - to help them see that they are worth far more than what they can accomplish in school or the marks they receive on a test. I so wish I could be there just to give them a hug. I was so sad for them - still am. Tears well up when I think of them.

So, that was all day yesterday. Then I got home and went to get the mail and found a package from two of my teammates - Becky & Katie. Inside were the videos that Becky had worked so hard at to edit and get out to us. I was so happy and excited - to actually see those students again - to see our team again! What a blessing that is! I won't make anyone watch the whole thing with me - as I know that it would be agony for anyone who didn't go on the trip with us, but I will show you a music video that gives you an awesome picture of these amazing kids and all we did with them. In fact, I'm putting that on my iPod so the next time you see me, make sure you take 5 minutes to watch it. If only to see what we did and to be able to see who you could be or have been praying for.