Another Week Down...WOWZAH!!!

I finished another week of school today; technically my last week and day of school. HOW CRAZY!!! My time in China is quickly ticking away. I have one more weekend here, an exam, 2 papers, one day to pack, and then I'm back to the States.

China has been absolutely fabulous. I've had a lot of time to think about who I am, who I want to be and who I am called to be. I know, without a doubt, that God has great things in store for me. As sad as I am to leave, I'm ready to get back home and see my loved ones; ready to be able to talk/see my family and friends any time I want to; ready to take the next step in this journey that is life knowing full and well my God and Savior guides my every step. Time in this vastly non-religious country far away from home has reminded me of what is most important. First and foremost, God; may I never forget His will, His majesty, His daily presence in my life, His grace and mercy, Him. Second, God's call on my life. I've come face to face with the necessity to serve as Christ served, give, bless, and live not for myself but for my neighbor. I've realized that, for me, to serve is life and is the very thing that gives me purpose and reason to continue on living. Lastly, I've learned to appreciate the loved ones God has placed in my life. Selfless love is a prized gift. Previously, I've never said enough, showed enough, or reciprocated enough to the people in my life who love me above themselves and who would sacrifice themselves for me. This type of love and this type of person are more valuable than the biggest houses, most expensive diamonds, and best careers. May I remember such and love and appreciate them as I should upon my return to the States.

God has given us life so that we can live it; and not just live but live to the fullest. I earnestly pray that daily and hourly I remember God, His promises, His call on my life to serve, His call to place others before myself, His greatest sacrifice, and the freedom from this sacrifice that allows me to truly live.

May God Bless You in this Joyous Season of Our Savior's Birth,

Kendall Kash

"'For I know the plans I have for you", declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'"--Jeremiah 29:11

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."--John 10:10

Sisters...you don't know what you've got til their gone

Wow!!! I haven't posted in a really long time, but no worries. The last 3 weeks have been really busy for me. I'll just give you a little overview of what I've been up to over the last 3 weeks.

Sunday, November 23rd Kate and Kels arrived in Beijing to visit me for a week!!! I was absolutely thrilled. The week proceeding their arrival had been tough, frustrating, and exhausting, so I was really happy to see them. I met them at the Beijing Capital Airport, and we all headed to their hotel. After arriving, the girls decided they were hungry, and we went out to find something to eat. Kate informed me that she wanted some food that was gonna fill her up and not make her sick. Guess where we ended up? Yes, McDonalds. Kate and Kels's first meal in Beijing was good ol' American McDonalds...Haha. The flight had exhausted them, and afterwards they went to bed.

On Monday, Kate and Kels went sightseeing while I was in class. They hit up the Forbidden City, Bell Tower, Summer Palace, and hutongs (ancient alleys of Beijing). After class, I met up with them, and we all had some time just hanging out, being sisters, and laughing a ton. It was a really nice change from the normal weekday evening agenda. Tuesday, the 25th, the girls went to the Great Wall. After already climbing it myself, I knew they would be exhausted, so I left them to their hard climbing and then rest.

The girls and I met up after my morning class on Wednesday. We went to Yashow Market, a smaller, less frightening version of the Silk Market. Then we went to a Kung Fu show. Kung Fu is a pivotal part of Chinese culture, and the show was really fun and interesting. It's really amazing to see small 5 year old children doing Kung Fu, as well as men in their 20s and 30s. Thursday was the 24th, Thanksgiving. The girls came to Beijing Language and Culture University, my school, that day to have a look around at where I lived. They quickly discovered that I hadn't been exagerating about my room, dorm, and classmates. We ate at my favorite cheap, dirty, little Chinese restaurant, went to a DVD store to buy the most recently released films, and visited a Super Market to compare and contrast with Western super markets. After all this, we returned to my dorm to waste 3 hours playing "Save the Kitties." If you want a good example of how lame the three of us are, you should ask about "Save the Kitties." Since it was Thanksgiving, my assistant director had arranged a Thanksgiving dinner for all of us. My classmates and teachers got all dolled up, and we went to a African themed restaurant to eat our American style Thanksgiving feast prepared by Chinese chefs. The food, actually, ended up being a lot better than I expected, and Kate and Kels got to meet my classmates and teachers.

Friday was the girls last whole day in China, so we had a lot to do. During the morning, we went to the 798 District, the new art district in Beijing. We spent some time looking at galleries and walking around. From there we headed to the Silk Market to bargain for a couple items the girls were looking for. We did quite well bargaining our scarves down to 1/3 of the original price. One of the my father's favorite places to talk about in Beijing is Wangfujing or as he calls it, the weird food street. I couldn't let the girls leave without taking them to Wangfujing to taste some of the "delicacies" that my city had to offer. So we made our way there for Kelsey to partake in a little tourist food tasting. Although I tried to convince her to taste everything, she wasn't exactly willing. Kelsey did, however, eat a scorpion, starfish, seahorse, honeybees, and centipede. It was disgusting, thrilling, and hilarious. I don't know who was having a harder time, Kelsey who was actually eating the food, or Kate as she filmed Kelsey eating these little creatures. On Saturday, December 29th, Kate and Kels were supposed to meet their guide at 1 to go back to the airport, so we just hung around the hotel for awhile, took a quick stroll around the block, and then said our goodbyes. It was a really, really, really fun trip for them and me. I was so glad to get to share my experience, my life here, and my city with someone so close to me. The week passed in a blink, and before I knew it, I was bidding my lovely sisters adieu.

At the same time my sisters were returning to the United States, I was supposed to be flying to Bangkok, Thailand with Xandra, a friend from University of Illinois who is currently studying in Hong Kong. However, the protests at the Bangkok airport kept us from doing so, and my plans quickly changed from Bangkok to Hong Kong. So on Tuesday, December 2nd, I left Beijing on my way to Hong Kong to hang out and relax for a couple days. Hong Kong was beautiful and SOO different from Beijing/mainland China; I almost couldn't believe I was still technically in China. Not only was the weather 40-50 degrees warmer, but everyone spoke and wrote English. It was really wild! Xandra had prepared a whole list of things we should do, and on Wednesday we set out to accomplish some of them. She showed me around the city, and we went to a little beach front area to eat and hang out. Wednesday night we went to a horse race with some of her friends from school. It was so fun. I'd never been to a horse race before. It wasn't nearly as sophisticated, but it was still a real experience.

On Friday, Xandra and I decided we would go to Disneyland in Hong Kong. There are only so many Disney's in the world; and I figured if we were only miles away from one, we should def go to it. We had SOOO much fun! After deciding to go to Disneyland, Xandra came up with the idea that we should wear costumes...and so we did. Xandra went as Snow White, and I was Belle. We took the subway from Xandra's dorm to Disney, which is a REALLLY long ride. It was amusing how people looked at us. But we didn't care. We're young. We were just living life. The costumes ended up being totally worth it, because the workers at Disneyland adored us. We totally got preferential treatment. At Disney, we got to meet/take pics with Mickey, see a parade, ride a bunch of rides, and eat theme park food...YUMMY! Our little day trip made me totally want to go back to DisneyWorld with my family...oh the memories. We left Disney and made our way to Kowloon, the main shopping street/area in Hong Kong. We spent some time looking around shops and such, wasting time until the Kowloon light show. Every night at 8:00pm in Kowloon on the river, there is this enormous and phenomenal light show...I think the biggest in the world or something like that. Anyway, all these huge skyscrapers and important buildings time their lights to music, and the lights kinda tell a story. It's kinda like those houses hung with Christmas lights that would flash to Christmas music a couple years ago that became really popular on the web....if you remember that...We watched the light show...AMAZING!

On Saturday, Xandra and I went to the main "downtown" area of Hong Kong, ate really good American breakfast (s0mething you can NOT find in Beijing), and hung around for awhile. Nothing big or too exciting. After our day at Disneyland, we were needing a chill day. My flight left on Sunday afternoon, so Xandra, a friend, and I got some tasty Italian food at a really nice little restaurant called Wagyu. It was a delicious end to a couple fun and relaxing days.

I got back to Beijing late on Sunday nite and have been super busy with school work since then. I have a big Chinese final and speech, a Sociology paper, and a film paper that I need to all have done in about week, along with daily Chinese homework. I know it doesn't sound like much compared to what students at many universities in the States are doing. But after having so little required of me during the rest of the semester, it's exhausting to suddenly be expected to actually work. Oh well, I'm sure I'll get thru it.

So this has been my life over the last 3 weeks...a whirlwind of sisters, friends, fun, and school. I leave Beijing in 12 days to return the to the States. It's really wild to think about! I simply can't believe I'm actually, really going home. The closer I get to the end, the more I find myself in a total heap of emotions. I'm so excited to return home and see all my loved ones. But I'm totally sad to leave this chapter of my life and the city that I've grown to love. I'm absolutely fed up with my classmates but frown at the thought that after this we won't talk daily. I long to give myself to a greater good but hate the idea of unfulfilled plans for myself. I find myself blurring the line between sorrow and joy, as one melds into the other. It's amazing how seemingless unimportant people, conversations, and events have ushered me into confusion yet hope at the same time. I cease to know anything, and yet I have somehow become ok with that...Oh China...

Regardless of everything, all my emotions and worries, I'm very excited to come home and see you all. I've missed you dearly.

Love,

Kendall

I have recently been quite unable to remove these phrases from my mind (I blame this partially on my father). I hope that they bring some of the inspiration and life to you, as they have to me. And if they don't, then I suggest you read/re-read Charles Dickens' "The Tale of Two Cities."

"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known."

Lazy Days

I spent most of today either doing homework or cleaning, which was actually really relaxing and enjoyable. I sat in my window and watched the sun set behind the mountains, and now I'm coloring in a Disney Princesses coloring book. I love the lazy days!!! Tomorrow we are all going to the Forbidden City. Although I've been to the Forbidden City in the past, I've never actually had the opportunity to go inside. I'm excited!!! I'll be sure to update you all on that tomorrow. Love you and miss you bunches!!!!!!

It's All About Him,

Kendall

What are the Chances?

So, today was the first day of classes after a week long break. And today I felt so terrible that I missed part of one class and all of another. What are the chances? As soon as school starts again, I get sick. And I haven't been sick the whole time I've been in China. Why couldn't I feel bad last week? Anyway, Kels and Kate will be here in 12 days...I'm counting down the hours. CAN'T WAIT!!!! Just wanted to put up a little update.

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Kendall

I'm Just too Young...I Still Feel 12

I sit here in my favorite cafe in Wudaokou staring rather blankly at my computer screen and typing words that I feel completely separated from. Why? I just finished signing up for my Spring '09 courses at U of I...my last semester of classes. And after signing up for the semester, I submitted my Intent to Graduate in Spring 2009. Intent to Graduate...WHAT??? I can't possibly be about to graduate. I'm not smart enough. I'm not old enough. I haven't learned enough. I'm not ready enough. I sit in this cafe feeling extremely small...much more like a lost, uneducated 12 year-old girl than a confident, soon-to-graduate 21 year-old young lady. I look around and find no familiar faces. I close my eyes and listen to the numerous different languages that I don't know. What am I doing with myself? A question I'm sure you've often found yourself asking. Yet as I sit here dry-mouthed with shaking hands and a racing heart, I find myself smiling. There's something beautiful about the unplanned; something perfect about throwing oneself into the unknown. For those of you who know me well, the thought of me delighting in NOT having plans probably comes as a slight shock to you. Afterall, I did have most of my life planned at about the age of 11 with charts and success sheets depicting a more intricate picture of the rest of my future added at about 16. It's funny. In the midst of my planning and organizing, I discover my future utterly unplanned. But instead of finding myself in a state of panic, I find myself in a state of calm, a nervous calm but calm nonetheless. I rest easy, or at least somewhat easier, knowing that despite my lack of plans there is some greater, grander plan that I'm unable to see; something better, more beautiful, and more worthy than anything I could ever ask for or imagine. So I continue to sit here, shaking and small, and drink my coffee, looking to the future not with worry but with the excitement that comes with seeing a promise fulfilled.

I love you all dearly. Your prayers, support, and love mean more to me than I could ever put into words.

May His Glory and Honor Be Portrayed Through Us All Today,

Kendall

The Halfway Point

Last Friday, we had a HUGE Chinese mid-term...marking the halfway point in my China trip. In celebration of being half done, we were given this week off to breathe, relax, and take a break from school. However, a little drama caused my plans to fall thru. So, I find myself staying in Beijing this week, which actually isn't as terrible an option as it sounds. I have a ton of work to do, which needs to be done before the arrival of my FABULOUS sisters in a couple weeks. I find myself right now sitting at my desk and writing characters while watching my millionth episode of Gilmore Girls. I like my Gilmore Girls. I like my desk and character writing. I like Beijing. I like my life!!!

Thought I'd drop a line to let you all know what I'm up to. MISS YOU BUNCHES!!!

Love, love, love

Kendall

Yeah, yeah...THE GREAT WALL!!!

It's been about a hundred years since I've updated, which signifies two things...1) China has had me EXTREMELY busy over the last couple weeks and 2) I haven't been up to much other than the typical studying, eating, sleeping, etc. However, this weekend I did something atypical. I went on an 11K hike across the Great Wall. FINALLY!!! I've been in China for almost 2 months and hadn't yet actually climbed Beijing's part of the Great Wall. Seeing as we would be hiking (=climbing a million trillion stairs), my Alliance adviser wanted to wait until the weather got a little cooler to make the climbing easier. About half way thru last week, the weather in Beijing got dramatically colder. The mid-70s temperatures that we had been enjoying turned to low-mid-50s temperature. So our adviser decided that we should go climb the Wall. We climbed onto a bus at 10:00 Saturday morning and headed off to our destination. We were going to climb an older, more authentic, and less touristic portion of the wall...from Jinshanling to Simatai...a little over 11 kilometers total...so we traveled 2 and a half hours away from the city to do so. A little after noon, we excitedly arrived at Jinshinlang and were welcomed by several shirpas. (Note: Shirpas are peasants/farmers who live near the Great Wall and "help" tourists climb portions of the Wall in hopes that at the end of the climb the tourists will be willing to buy a book, shirt, or some other small trinket in return for the help. Although this notion originally greatly annoyed me, my adviser, Bing, explained that this is part of these people's livelihoods. If the weather is bad, they have bad harvests and rely upon selling things to tourist for income. After hearing such, I was much more inclined to help.) We climbed up a couple of sets of stairs and saw the grandiose of the Great Wall. It was breathtaking...SOOO huge and beautiful!!!!! Jinshanling and Simatai were both unrefurbished (I can't think of the correct English word...too long in China) parts of the Great Wall; so climbing was hard with a lot of loose gravel/rock and unlevel stairs and such. It was hard work, and several times I quietly wondered to myself what exactly I was doing. Nevertheless, I continued to climb. And after almost 4 hours of excruciatingly painful and difficult climbing, I saw the end of our 11K hike. And I smiled on the outside and on the inside at the feat I had just accomplished. And there was a perfect ending to our incredible day...a zipline across a gorgeous lake to the bottom of the mountain range!!!

My legs are still aching, and I can't take the stairs without being reminded of my hard 11K hike. But it was satisfying and beautifully natural and well worth it. It's funny how every time I began to get a little down, I open my eyes and find God in a new place in China...in the faces of laughing children, in the warm breeze on my cheek as I walk to class, and most recently in the natural scenic beauty surrounding the Great Wall. I smile as I think back on the abundance of God's fingerprints I've seen. It amazes me that people are still able to doubt Him with the Divine Maker's evidence all around. May we constantly, every minute of every single day, be reminded of the greatness and love of our Father, of His eternal promises, and His CONSTANT presence in our lives. We serve a GREAT GOD indeed!!!

Love you and miss you all WAY more than I'd really like to admit!!! ; )

Dancing in the eternal beauty of the One True God,

Kendall