Mrs. Wagmore

Two things. That's all I want. Well, that's all I want today anyway. Tomorrow I will want two more things. When I came home from China, I desperately wanted two things: to not be easily irritated by the life’s little mishaps and to never pray the same again. I thought I was O for O. I arrived home in the wee hours Sunday morning. I slept 4 hours then I was up for the Easter festivities. By mid afternoon, the irritability set in. Yeah, I know…jetlag. But I wanted to be easy going. After all, I had missed hearing my name called 40 times an hour…really! And prayer? All I want to do this week is sleep!

The connection in prayer our team experienced was unlike anything I have ever known. The Spirit was directing us and it was exhilarating. We saw the hand of God move in us, in others, in our circumstances.

I realize life is what happens while we are making plans. I am not all that disillusioned. And I also realize that ten days in a foreign country is stepping out of my reality. But I wanted to share this because I think it is significant. It’s so easy to be disappointed with how mundane daily life can be. But as I slowed down today I realized something.

I am praying differently. I am expecting more from my God because I have seen more than I have ever seen before. I don’t ever want to talk AT God. I will listen first to see how He will direct me to pray. After all, He is always at work and I want to get in on what He is doing.

As for the irritability, I am more aware of it. And I guess that is a start. Things don’t change over night. So I am thankful for awareness. Yesterday I saw this blurb: Wag More…Bark Less. Yeah, I think I can do that.

It's So Simple

Is it easier to trust God when you live simply? I would be willing to bet it is.

Last week I was enjoying the afternoon at the Laurel Ridge Farms. All the kids were occupied and I found myself alone. If I stood where the sun was shining, I could forget that it was freezing cold two steps to the left in the shade. I made a point to close my eyes, turn my head up and enjoy that moment. God quietly whispered, "You can always live like this if you want. You can find the sunny spot and step into it." He brought this picture to mind that you see here. This is my friend's apartment in China. For a week last summer, I helped her with her toddler and new baby. It was so simple. I did laundry on the balcony! Can you see the washer in the picture? Her dryer was on another balcony. When I stepped out there, I could see lots of other people doing life. It was easy to stand there and pray for the city as I observed people doing their own laundry, feeding babies, exercising, watching tv. I walked to the market alone and took in the sights around me. For a week I didn't think about anything stressful. Why bother? My problems and worries where on the other side of the world! (No, I am not talking about my family!) The following week I worked in the orphanage with Danny and Noah: get up, walk to work, play with kids, eat dinner, spend time with friends, go to sleep. It was simple and it was beautiful. Other than my annual silent retreats, I have never experienced that kind of mental rest.

So, I am soaking up the sun and the simple moment and God says, "Remember the simplicity you love and miss about being in China? I offer that here, but you don't seem interested." How do you expect me to recreate that? I ask. "Live in today," He says. "Remember Jesus' words in Matthew 6 that no one seems to take seriously? But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

"Focus on something else...MY kingdom. Not yours." God is saying. "Stop focusing on what you don't have. Stop trying to figure out solutions for tomorrow's unknown. Live in today. Be present in the lives of the people I have put in front of you. Don't squander these precious things about today (kid produced puppet shows, endless questions, doing your laundry indoors). If you can grasp the beauty in that, and fully engage in today, you will understand what I mean in Matthew 6." Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it?

Did I say I like an adventure?

The very next day after posting that, I got an adventure! I took a taxi to Michelle's all by myself. This is an island and by China standards it is small. But she lives in the city and it's a good size. Now I had the directions typed out in Chinese with a phone number. But when the driver pulled to a stop, I did not recognize anything. Businesses were closed this early so large metal doors covered shops that I thought I would recognize. I motioned for the driver to call the number. I talked to Matt. But I couldn't read anything to describe where I was. I finally got out thinking I could figure it out. Now I wish I had taken a picture because this area consists of many high rise buildings that look the same. The above ground basement area has businesses. The door we usually go in is between these shops.

The more I walked the more confused I got. I saw a guy in uniform so I took my paper to him and pointed to the address. After about 15 minutes of him and another guy trying to talk to me in Chinese, he took me into a building that looked like the right one. He took me up to apartment 702 and basically said here you go. The door was open and an old man was sitting inside. The security guard didn't understand why I wouldn't go in. But I knew this wasn't Michelle's. I was trying to say this is not the right building and this young man was trying to say that it was. He was trying to call Matt for me. What I did not realize was that when he dialed the number, he entered one digit wrong. Finally I convinced him to take me back downstairs. I was thinking, "If I just sit down under the building, someone will realize I am not where I am supposed to be and come back for me." In the elevator, someone said Hello. I asked if he spoke English. He was able to tell me that the building I wanted was next door. What a relief! The young guard wouldn't leave me at this point. So when we finally arrived at Michelle's I asked her to thank him for his kindness. He wiped his brow, laughed and left.

My next task that morning was to walk Vera to preschool. Luckily this is one smart two and a half year old. She could direct me if I got confused. I took Michelle's cell phone just in case! There were no problems. I felt such a sense of accomplishment! By the end of the week, I knew my way around pretty good because each driver dropped me off at a different spot.

I will post some pictures of the tourist island too. It is very different than the city. We had alot of fun there.

Snow Peas for Breakfast

This is day 5 of our visit. I just couldn't eat snow peas or greens again this morning. Though I have enjoyed them thus far. :-) Because I am helping at Michelle's, I haven't had as much Chinese food as the rest of our team. So I am not complaining! Last night we had hot and spicy fried green beans. They were awesome.

Tonight we will be reunited with the half of our team who went up north. It's hard to believe the first week will be over tomorrow. I can't wait to hear their stories of how their week went. The team in the orphanage here, had a fabulous time helping in the classroom. I can't wait to get my turn next week!

Playing House

Not able to post on my travel blog. Want to tell you all about my first day in East Asia. My friend, Michelle, came home from the hospital yesterday with her new baby boy, Kai. So today I am helping at her apartment by washing dishes, doing laundry, etc. I sometimes think of living here. So today is like playing house. Luckily, Michelle is here to help me figure out things like the washing machine because it's all written in code. :)

Here is a view from their kitchen. I'm out here putting clothes in the washer! It is really fun to look out and see so many people busy about their daily chores. Some are washing dishes, some hanging out clothes to dry, and some are wondering why I am videoing them!

Michelle went with me to the market to get something to make for lunch. But this week I will take her little girl to preschool...by myself! I like an adventure! This is really fun. I feel grateful to the more than 30 folks who helped me get here. I love what my friends here have committed their lives to doing. They are the ones who make this thing happen. They are living the dream. Serving them is a big blessing!

The rest of our team is busy around town. They had orientation this morning, lunch at the Good Service Lady, and now they are sightseeing and learning about this beautiful city. Tonight we will go over our teaching plans for the week. And tomorrow they're in the classrooms!

I'm in East Asia

I'm sitting in an Asian airport eating xiao long boa and taking advantage of free wifi. Long layover. So tired. But so happy to be here. More later when there is more time.

Digging My Way

Check out my new blog. Since I have so much free time, thought I'd try my hand at yet another blog. ha ha Seriously, I have created a separate place to talk about our upcoming trip to East Asia. Please give it a read and let me know what you think. This summer, Danny, Noah and I will be heading back to the orphanage we visited last summer. Our girls want to go so badly. I hope we can take them next time. The work being done by our friends there is truly amazing. A handful of dedicated and hardworking believers is transforming the lives of children forgotten by society. They are bringing hope, health and happiness to some of the most precious kids I have ever known. I am honored to play a small part in their story.

Little Boy

A friend who works with an orphanage in East Asia told me about a little boy. I don't know his name, but I ask you to remember him. She said she went to the orphanage yesterday and was shocked to see this boy, almost 3 years old, in the orphanage. He was supposed to have been adopted this week. But the parents would not take him. They said his head was too flat! All orphanage babies have flat heads! This child had been in a foster home. Now he is in the orphanage. I feel physically sick when I think about this poor boy! He had a foster family. Now he is sleeping in a strange room with 50 kids. The glimmer of hope is that the local foster family might want to adopt him. Please pray that they will. Please pray he can get back to them quickly. Tonight as my 3 year old Jett was going to sleep he wanted me to wrap my arms around him. He held my hand and kissed it. If he sensed that I was pulling away, he would hold me tighter. I cried as I thought about that dear little boy missing the hand of his foster mom. I tried to imagine my Jett in a strange environment not understanding what had happened to his happy family. That makes my heart hurt.

Israel in China

I have a list of significant events I want to blog and China is the biggest. But I know it will take me a long time to tell about being in China, and I never have an hour to type so I keep putting it off. So tonight I will start with what affected me the most.

His English name is Israel and he is 10 years old. I am not allowed to post his picture, so you will have to take my word for this: He is the most precious child! My first hour in the orphanage, I knew why God had allowed me to visit China! This boy needs a family and God wanted us to meet him and tell his story. I am currently working with our host organization to get permission to post his information. When I do, I will tell you more. For now, I will say that this child has made such an impression on us that we talk about him every day and pray for him each night. He is going to be such a wonderful blessing to someone. He is so kind to the other children and is very smart. He has a strong mind and would love to be getting an education. He is eager to learn and laugh and play. I praise God for the brothers and sisters in Christ who are making a huge difference in his life. But I sure would like to see him have a mom and dad, brothers and sisters.