Going to the zoo is usually a fun and eventful time, but my last zoo trip was a little more eventful than I had hoped for. There is a really nice zoo in northern K-town that is called the Wild Animal Zoo, and it’s special because they have three pandas. This is the first time I have gotten to see them.
It is said that Shangri-La is only a mythical place but this past weekend I found out that, it is in fact, a little slice of Heaven on earth.
Life here in C-land is like something so many in America love: roller coasters. There have been so many ups and downs and twist and turns this year that I feel as if I have been on a crazy ride. But I can honestly say that this has been the best ride I have ever been on in my life!
The past weeks here have really been flying by. Before I knew it, it was already 2010 and the start of a new decade. So far, I’ve already done many things I thought I would never do– such as being in Cland for a year doing the work of God. Another thing I have always wanted to do is to be in an eating contest. Well, I finally got the opportunity to do so, halfway around the world!! My mom always said that I ate too fast (she is right).
One of the guys decided that he would be the shepherd and that’s where everything started. When it was time for his part, he was supposed to go to Bethlehem and find the Son in the manger. Well, he went over to the area that was the stable and proceeded to take the baby out of the manger. Then he said, “I found the baby — now what do I do?” as he was walking away. My team and I could not help but crack up laughing over this.
“That’s the craziest thing I have ever seen, man.”
These were the words I told Simba while we were away. We had just climbed a mountain, which may be one of the coolest things I have ever done in my life. The sights that we could see, and places we climbed were just outstanding and truly breathtaking. It seems like I talk about nature and God’s vastness a lot, but that seems to be how He keeps showing me how great He is.
Our friends had invited us to climb a mountain with them, and with all the hype surrounding it, how could we pass it up? [...] When I finally arrived at the top, I was almost in shock at the view I saw. I could see the whole city of K-town; the beauty and vastness of the city were a lot to take in. It was awesome to tell my friends that what we were seeing was God’s incredible creation and that this was the beauty that He had made for us.
The other day we went to hot pot for the first time with some new friends that we had made. It was a really good meal and time with them, but it made me really think of what things are like here. At hot pot, you continually add things to the pot to cook in the oil and it makes it very interesting. Here, new things happen every day, and you meet new people and go out with friends and do life. It’s like throwing things into the pot; you keep adding things to your everyday life and wonder where it all goes.
My roommate, Enrique, and I have been doing really well these past weeks. We have been having many friend meetings and making a lot of new friends that we are excited to start meeting with. About a week ago, we met with Allen, a friend Enrique and I met and have gotten to know better. We think he is going to be very special this year.
One of my favorite poems, Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” makes me think of what this year is truly about. It talks about two roads that diverge in a wood and that he has taken the one less traveled by. Well, I had a similar experience that made me think of that just a few days ago.
