The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: Anniversary (04/11/05)
7th April 2005
Today I submitted my resignation. I have a dream job, but all good things come to an end. Can’t the bustling crowds see that my world is undergoing major change … yet again? It is a glorious afternoon, sipping a cappuccino at a harbourside café in Sydney, watching the sun set behind the Harbour Bridge, and the ferries leaving their trails of white froth as they come and go. I sit here with friends, and we’re dreaming big! The focus of our dreams, and the reason for my resignation, is a small Chinese province of ‘only’ 1 ½ times the population of my homeland. It has been ten years to the day since I first left Australia to make a life in China. It’s all beginning again.
___________________________
7th April 1995
I gaze down on our beautiful harbour city from the air, feeling very small. Will I ever be back? Today is the culmination of years of preparation. The support of people is overwhelming. I feel as though I’m gently lifted up on a cloud instead of rocketing through the air on a jumbo. Yet at the same time, I fear bursting through the cloud, crashing to the ground, thereby disappointing so many good, generous people. My head tells me that I’m in God’s hands and need fear nothing. My heart already feels the icy grip of loneliness and the paralyzing fear of failure. Just hours ago, I was with family and friends, confident that I was about to change the world. Now I’m acutely aware that I’m just one little person out here in a very big world.

I strengthen my resolve. Today, not only do I give up my homeland of 27 years, but I also surrender coffee and the hope of a man in my life. Everyone knows that my adopted homeland, China, only has tea and Bible women!
__________________________
Ten years … everything is different and yet nothing has changed. Older and wiser, perhaps, I look back on a decade of being a little person in God’s hands - eight years in China, and two in Australia.

Chinese is a rich, beautiful language, and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed learning it. Much as I enjoy life here, though, at times it has been difficult and desperately lonely as I’ve struggled to fit into cultures not my own. Nevertheless, time after time, I’ve seen God provide friends, finances, visitors from home and even coffee!

When I left Australia one decade ago, I genuinely feared failure. Through living in China, God has cured me of that! After you’ve failed, life goes on.

I was determined to ‘become Chinese’. I’ve had to accept that I never will be an insider, although still aim to be as Chinese as a big-nosed, blue-eyed foreigner can be.

I was determined to ‘change the world’. I’ve come to realize, however, that I’m one little person in an enormous mass of humanity. The task is way beyond me. Yet God has given me the privilege of a small part in His work.

I was determined to be an exemplary cross-cultural worker, a modern-day Hudson Taylor. One day, I would write my memoirs as a guide to the generations behind me. I’ve had some interesting experiences, though, and through them, learned that nothing I do has any value outside of relationships with God and the people around me. Nothing!

Ten years down the track, there are several Australians on the verge of joining me in that exotic land. This brings a huge grin to my face. I still have doubts about my abilities, and fear letting down those who send me and those who will join me. I will certainly miss the relationships I’ve formed during these two years back at home. Yet I prepare to return, confident in God’s presence there as always.

I’m older and wiser now. I no longer have resolutions to give up coffee or men for God. In fact, they’ve built a lovely little coffee shop in ‘my’ town in China. You can even buy cappuccinos, served with a rosebud on top. I have no aspirations to change the world, or even my own small corner of it. The only thing to which I aspire is good relationships, first with God and then with those around me.

7th April 2015 – this is as yet a blank page. I wonder what words my diary will contain then? The next decade, as the last, is in our Lord’s hands – thank God!
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be right now. CLICK HERE

JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 1629 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Karri Compton
04/18/05
Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing it.
God bless, Karri
Lynne Gaunt
04/19/05
I enjoyed your trip through memories past and hope for what's yet to come. The bit about coffee is a nice touch. Good job.
Leticia Caroccio
04/22/05
Very nice article. Such growth in just 10 years. You show wisdom in your loneliness and in your longing.

I liked the lines:
"Everything is different and yet nothing has changed" It is very insightful.

"After you've failed, life goes on". Failure doesn't mean that we must stop striving. We need to get up and continue down this road.

Nicely done.
Judy Hollins
04/25/05
Great work Suzanne. I particularly like this piece, cos it tells so much and yet does it really descriptively and poetically (if that's how you spell poetically :P), and inspires through showing how human you are. I rate this one right up there with the Red Jumper piece you did.
Kathy Cartee
04/26/05
Suzanne this shows me your heart in a powerful way. this is a wonderful entry and I believe it should be a winner. Are you ready to move up to level three?
Marcell Billinghurst
04/27/05
What a wonderful testimony of service to our Lord and the people of China my friend. May God bless you as you continue to serve Him and His people. With love from your Australian Friend Marcell, now on my own journey amongst the nations.
Val Clark
05/06/05
Love the title! Concise insight into your life in China and at home. It's always good to be reminded that it doesn't matter where you are - home or away -it's Who you walk with that makes the difference.