I got a new email from the human resources department in Beijing today. Here’s what it had to say:
Although we submitted your applications to SAFEA well over a month ago, they did not start to apply until just a couple of weeks ago. We have to negotiate with them because you are recent graduates and do not have 2 years of work experience. Since our president has had to talk with them about this before, we do not expect it to take as long as last time. We are hopeful to get you here before our March session begins on March 9th, however we cannot guarantee it.
I’ve tried to stay pretty relaxed despite the fact that things are not falling into place quite like I would like them to, but it is becoming more difficult to sit and wait. I’d be lying at this point if I said I wasn’t frustrated with the fact that the Chinese government is moving slower than I wish they would. That there is now a potential that I may not be going to China makes me reflect on a lot of things. I have been thinking a lot about why I wanted to go in the first place and how I would feel about not getting to go at this point. A lot of hard work and preparation has gone into making this dream a reality and not just on my part. There are a lot of people who have put in hard work and loads of encouragement to make this trip happen, and I would hate to feel like I am letting them down by not going. I know that it wouldn’t be my fault and that nothing is set in stone yet. I’m just doing a lot of thinking, and it would be a huge disappointment on the whole to miss out on this opportunity.
Over the past couple of years I have come to realize that timing plays a huge factor in how things pan out. As a result, victory typically goes to the patient ones. I am not a patient one. Think about it though. How often have things fallen through because of the excuse that the timing was off? It seems there is a fine line between being patient and knowing when to move on. If the China thing does not pan out by the beginning of March, then I’m afraid that I will have to move on. Hopefully the timing will work out, but if it doesn’t, then maybe teaching overseas will still be a possibility in the future.
I know I have said that all I can do is pray, so that’s what I’m still trying to focus on. This is a reminder that the purpose of everything in life is to glorify God and not to satisfy my own desires. I don’t believe He would have placed this desire on my heart in the first place if something glorifying would not come out of it. I know that God will continue to do His work over in China regardless of whether I am there or not. I also know that He will continue to do work in my no matter where I am. That has also been evident in my life. So let’s just keep praying for His will to be done and for His name to be glorified above all names.
Oh, my Nana said I could use the money she saved for my trip to get me a puppy if the trip plans fell through. So that’s the silver lining. Here’s a picture of the puppy for smiles:
a thousand new paths 