Big News!

The rumors are true . . . I'm moving to Africa again.

I'll be working with the African Transformation Network in Rwanda.  My time will be split between helping 2 American families with homeschooling their kids and working with a Bible-based English literacy program in Rwandan schools.

I leave on June 13th and will initially live in the capital city of Kigali until August or September when I will move with two American families (the Miller's and the Crowson's) to the small town of Musanze.

I am committed to stay for 12 months (with a heart open to the possibility of more).

The Hills Church of Christ in Fort Worth, TX has agreed to be my "sending" church and I will be serving as a "missionary specialist".

More details and updates to follow.  If you have questions, please ask post them as a comment.

Friday, September 9th

Friday the 9th was a day of firsts. Actually, it seems that I am experiencing a lot of firsts here in Beijing. Of the 18 different people I have read with, 5 of them said the name of Jesus for the first time while we were reading together. "Jesus. Jesus. Jesus. Sweetest name I know. Fills my every longing. Keeps me singing as I go."

First things first.

On the 9th, I spent over 8 hours reading the Bible with 7 different people. My first reader of the day, 15 year old Rita, had just finished going through LST's "Acts" workbook, so on Friday, she read from the Gospel of John for the first time ever.

The next hour, was Yo-Yo who was reading the "Lord's Prayer" for the first time. After our reading session I asked her if she wanted to pray with me. She nervously agreed and I began to pray. It wasn't the first time she had heard someone pray - Yo-Yo had attended her first church-service only a month ago and she remembered a prayer about some juice and crackers, she wasn't sure what it was all about. But, after I prayed she held my hand as she spoke her first-ever prayer to God.

Later that day I met with Jessie who was eager to read the last few chapters of the story of Joseph. For the first time, she read how Joseph openly wept and forgave his brothers that had once sold him into slavery.

After Jessie, I read with Bush, a 25 year old guy who read the Bible for the first time just 4 months ago. On Friday, Bush read about not being able to serve both God and money. As is typical of Bush and many of my Chinese readers, he related the lesson to an ancient Chinese proverb: "On one mountain there can not exist two tigers." The idea of focusing your life on something greater than just building up personal wealth was nothing new for Bush. So, he wanted to continue discussing what we had talked about the day before - The Prodigal Son. Forgiveness of the younger son seemed way too easy. And the older son had done just what every good Chinese man does - focus on their work, get the job done and work quietly as they anticipate, except, and rightly deserve a reward. Shifting our discussion, I asked Bush about his relationship with his own dad and as we talked, Bush admitted out loud for the first time that he had never heard his father say "I love you" or "I'm proud of you". He went on to acknowledge that his drive towards achievement was his own way of trying to earn and be worthy of his father's love. I could hardly keep from letting the tears gush out. Then for the first time, Bush heard about God's love for him. Among several verses, together we read and discussed Zephaniah 3:17 and for the first time, Bush didn't have a Chinese proverb to relate to this lesson.

At 8:00pm, I sat down with my 8th and last reader of the day. Ethan, a forty year old physician turned pharmaceutical researcher has been reading with LST workers for over a year. Currently reading through Acts, Ethan's last session with a previous LST'er was about those who followed Jesus after Pentecost - Acts 2:42-47. His first words to me were "So, have you sold everything you own and given all your money to the poor?" I won't go into the details of our long discussion which was less of a discussion since I was mostly asking lots of open ended questions and Ethan was processing and reaching his own conclusions. (I think I watch too much TV because sometimes as I think of questions to ask a reader in order to engage them more deeply into the Scriptures, a voice in my head says 'Objection! Leading the witness!') Anyways, one thing led to another which led to Psalm 23. And for the first time in his very educated life, Ethan read a Psalm - Psalm 23. When he finished he just stared at the words and said "Wow. Beautiful." Again, I had to restrain the tears, but it didn't matter cause Ethan couldn't take his eyes off the words of Psalm 23. Can you blame him?

"The Lord is my Shepard. I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever."

Beijing Birthday

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Birthday.

8-31-11 was my 30th birthday.  Determined not to waste the opportunity to make it truly memorable, my teammates and I planned out a fun filled day in Beijing.  Two of our readers, a mother and daughter, agreed to be our tour guides for the day - which was a great relief because their presence meant that I didn't have to assume my default role as navigator.  

We all got up early and rode a bus to the Temple of Heaven.  I decided to skip the temple and opted for the nearby Pearl Market where I ended up watching hundreds go by on bicycles as I waited for the market to open and contemplated how much weight I could lose if I rode my bike to work everyday . .  of course, this only reminded me that I was 30 and didn't have a job to ride a bike to.  

By 10:00 am, we had regrouped and hopped on another bus to Tiananmen Square.  Somehow the large city bus squeezed through the heavy traffic and deposited us just across the street from Tiananmen.  Taking lots of photos of this and that, we made our way across the square, and to the front of The Forbidden City.  

Walking through the Forbidden City felt a bit like a magic show.  Each time we would walk through a large gate with enormous red doors, there would be a large square to walk across and an impressive ancient looking chinese building at the top of some stairs.  Then we'd walk around the building only to find another large gate with enormous red doors and walk across another large square and up more stairs to another impressive ancient chinese building. Behind that building was another large gate and so on . .  Eventually, the magic show ended and like Alice in Wonderland, we found ourselves in a beautiful garden where we all lost track of each other.  After a short time (cause we were all very hungry by now) we finally found each other again and together found the last gate which led us to the street.  

We hopped on yet another city bus which took us to a subway station where we found an actual Subway Restaurant.  The Americans were tired and just wanted something light, like a sandwich.  Our Chinese guides were tired and just wanted something light like some hot vegetables with rice (we couldn't convince them to even try a Subway sandwich)! Eventually we all got just what we wanted and made our way back home after a short subway ride.

After saying thank you over and over again to our chinese friends, we finally made it back inside our little Beijing apartment.  We got cleaned up and literally hung up our sweat-drenched clothes to dry. Seriously, the humidity was worse than taking a hot shower in a green-house in Savannah, Georgia in July. 

There was a knock on our door at 4:00 and it turned out that my teammates had arranged for the local Dairy Queen (yes, a REAL one) to deliver a cake for my birthday.  So we had ice-cream cake for dinner before heading out again to go to the Chinese Acrobatic Show.  Despite being an obvious tourist magnet, the mini Cirque-du-Soleil show was impressive and yet another reminder of many things that I will never be able to do.

After the show, the four of us decided to forego the planned normal taxi ride back to the apartment and opt for a rick-shaw style taxi instead.  Of course, we didn't realize our drivers were trained in military combat maneuvers.  The exciting and sometimes terrifying ride produced sudden screams and fits laughter - a perfect way to end any 30th birthday. 

 The bikes were endless!

Me at Tiananmen Square.

 What I saw at Tiananmen Square . . .  A little of this . . .

And a little of that.

 Just one of the big red gates.  Luckily they were all already opened for us, cause the looked really heavy.

The crowds at the Forbidden City.

 Our chinese tour guides for the day!

 Our team.

 Oh, the wonderful site of a real Subway!  We were so thrilled!

 Icecream cake!

Riding a bicycle with no hands on the steering wheel . . . one of many things that I will never be able to do.

Our driver looked this tired before we drove the several miles to our apartment...

Divine Appointments and Vicki

Right before I left Dallas, I got a text from a friend who said they were praying for "divine appointments" for me during my trip to China. That phrase has been on my mind ever since and I have tried to be aware of, receptive to, and prepared for "divine appointments".

Vicki (and family).

Beautiful, tan, and just the right amount of skinny, Vicki, a mom of 5, was squeezed between me and the car seat her youngest child was strapped into. Three of her kids sat in front of us and her other two kids (he only daughter and husband) sat across the aisle. Dallas to Detroit; It was the first leg of my long journey to Beijing.

As a rule, I generally introduce myself to my neighbor as soon as I buckle my seatbelt. I mean, if we are going to be sitting thigh-to-thigh for a few hours, it is only proper to know each other's name. But, as I sat down next to Vicki, I immediately started asking all the usual questions about her kids and if they travel often as a family and if they are from Texas or just visiting. After 10 minutes of chit-chat, I begin to think that Vicki may be a "divine appointment".

Already, through our conversation, I could tell that she was a christian. So, I began to ask deeper questions. Like, how did she know her husband was "the one"; and what is her favorite quality about her husband; what sort of marriage advice she wished she had heard before they got married; what kind of Bible studies she was involved in; and what are some of the spiritual and emotional challenges to being a mom to five young kids. You know, those types of questions that a complete stranger on an airplane really shouldn't ask you. But, I was feeling bold and thought that Vicki had something to teach me.

Vicki was so kind and open, sharing many personal stories. One of the things she shared is that marriage isn't always rainbows and sunshine. No matter how strong of a relationship or how passionate a love the most important thing in a marriage is sharing a foundation built on Jesus. A marriage built on the firm foundation of Jesus can survive storms. The hardest part is choosing to never ever give up.

What a great lesson! And, it is one that I have shared recently with different readers when we get to Luke 6:46-47. The storms of life (or marriage) come no matter if you are a Christian or not. You can't prevent storms. But a life centered around belief in Jesus and doing what he says, builds a strong foundation of faith ready to survive the storms. Or, as one of my readers put it, faith in Jesus makes the roots of your life grow long and deep into the ground so that you won't be blown over when the strong winds come. Wish I could have kept the drawing that accompanied this insightful summation.

In my mind, sitting next to Vicki was a "divine appointment". Our brief time together was like adding a little extra reenforcement to my foundation of faith.

Finally Catching my Breath

This is Julie's SIL posting for her.  She is unable to access her blog from China.  This is an update from several days ago.  

It is Tuesday night here in Beijing.  I arrived safely on Saturday night and have stayed busy ever since!  There is so much to share and I am tempted to blurt it all out at once - but instead, I will take a deep breath and share one story at a time.

We began our reading sessions on Monday and I read with 5 women.  Each on varying levels of interest in and prior knowledge of The Bible - but all excited to have a chance to practice their English skills, which are also at varying levels.

Dawn.

Like I said before, it is Tuesday night and I just finished a long day of reading.  This afternoon I had my second reading session with Dawn.  Dawn is 36 years old, married to a successful stock broker and lives on the 26th floor of the building next to where I am staying.  Earlier today she texted me (my teammates and I were issued cell phones when we arrived and like in America, everyone here texts instead of calling) and asked if we could meet  at her home instead of the KFC (yes, a real Kentucky Fried Chicken and no, I haven't eaten there yet) where we usually meet our readers.  I was thrilled to say yes.  Not only because KFC can get loud and crowded or because KFC is farther away or because KFC smells like they just painted the walls - but, just like in the U.S., it is such a treat to be in someone's home and I jumped at the chance to see a typical Chinese home.

Dawn first learned English about 15 years ago while in university but didn't get a real chance to practice it until about 10 years ago when she signed up for a program that used the Bible as a text to teach English - very similar to Let's Start Talking.  So, Dawn has already heard many stories about Jesus - but, that's all they are, just stories.  She knows the characters and she knows the plot.  I pray that she will come to know and deeply connect to the meaning.

Today, we read Luke 1:26-38, which is the story of how the angel told Mary that she would give birth to Jesus.  She was very interested in talking about the word "holy" and what that meant.  The word "holy" was much easier to explain than "Holy Spirit" which we also spent some time discussing.  We snacked on fresh apples and pears and sipped on some type of juice while we talked and our hour together went by quickly.

Before leaving, I learned my first Chinese sentence.  Ni Hao Ke Ai. (knee-how-ck-I)  You are so cute!  I got a lot of practice saying this because Dawn has the sweetest 4 month old baby boy!

Dawn and I will read again on Friday.  Please pray!

If you want to contact me - please send an email.  I can't check my blog (updating via email) or facebook.  Email is juliereagan(at)gmail.com.

And She's Off!

Just incase you're checking in on my long lost blog - I wanted to let you know that (depending on internet access) I'll be posting some new updates regarding my trip to China with Let's Start Talking.  I'm leaving today and will be gone for four weeks!

Check back for updates!  Please pray for safety, boldness, and friendship!

31 Days of Oscar

Turner Classic Movies is hosting "31 days of Oscar".... a thirty-one day movie marathon of Oscar winning films. I love movies - and have always been a fan of the classics and thought I had seen more than most my age - but this is giving me a chance to watch a lot of great films for the first time. Thank goodness for DVR....I get to record and watch on my own time.

Here is a list of some of the movies I've watched since the first of February - complete with my person rankings. Consider this your next netflicks list....

5 Stars (Loved It! Highly Recommended)

--Now, Voyager (1942) Bettye Davis

A depressed young woman has a break down and then undergoes a transformation on a world cruise. My Bettye Davis Favorite!

--Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) Dustin Hoffman, Meryl Streep

Divorce and custody battles have come a long way.

--On the Waterfront (1954) Marlon Brando

“I coulda been a contenda….” Marlon Brando – do I need another reason to love this movie??

4 Stars (Great! Recommended -Just not a 5 Star)

--Wuthering Heights (1939) Laurence Oliver

Cathy & Heathcliff’s epic romance that never fails to make my heart race.

--Roman Holiday (1953) Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck

Makes me want to tour Italy on a Vespa.

--North By Northwest (1959) Cary Grant

My favorite Alfred Hitchcock. Never realized how creepy Mt. Rushmore looks from the top.

3 Stars (Classic and Worth My Time)

--War and Peace (1956) Audrey Hepburn & Henry Fonda

If only all the Russian names didn’t sound alike it would be easier to keep all the characters straight.

--African Queen (1951) Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn

I’m so glad I rafted the Nile River on modern rafts and with a life jacket.

--A Damsel in Distress (1937) Fred Astaire, George Burns, Gracie Allen

My first George & Gracie movie. They are hysterical.

--My Favorite Year (1982) Peter O’Toole

Laughed my head off. A movie depicted a 1950’s version of the TV Show 30 Rock.

--GiGi (1958)

You can’t just say “Gigi – You got to sing it.

--Bachelor In Paradise (1961) Bob Hope, Lana Turner

Loved it for the peak into 1960’s fashion, décor, and general life.

--Doctor Zhivago (1965) Julie Christie

Great story – and educational. Never knew so much about the Russian Revolution.

2 Stars (Had a few good moments)

--The Great Escape (1963) Steve McQueen;

A true story about how British airmen escape from a Nazi prison camp.

1 Star (OK, but I skipped through some of the slow parts)

--The Sunshine Boys (1975) Walter Matthau, George Burns

Slow plot – but great acting.

--Anna Karenina (1947) Vivien Leigh

To me Vivien Leigh can only be Scarlett O’Hara

--Executive Suite (1954) June Allyson

Wallstreet of the 1950’s. Lots of dialogue.

Where have all the Pine Trees gone?

Slow drivers, flat landscape, cowboy boots, Whataburger, mega-churches and the 101 different taco restaurants echo what I know to be true….I’m not in Georgia anymore. There is not a pine tree in sight. But, within sight are three different Sonics. Sonic is to Texas what Waffle House is to Georgia and what Starbucks is to any urban city. There seem to be two on every corner.

Here is the question that any non-Texan is thinking….Julie, why are you in Texas?

Well, for those of you who haven’t had the chance to ask me “What are you doing now?” Let me get you up to speed.

So, Julie, what are you up to now?

I am working for Harmony Project International (or HPI) in Ft. Worth, Texas….at least until the end of January.

Why only till then?

HPI only has the funds to pay me until then. I feel like God has given me a lot of talents and professional skills just for a job like this one….so, I am going to work hard while I am with HPI…whether it is just until the end of January or for the next three years.

Cool, what is HPI?

HPI exists to help bridge international outreach efforts of Christian Churches and Churches of Christ. It is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. Our main function is to act as administrator of funds for projects identified by the HPI Board of Directors. Currently, Livingstone International University (LIU) is our only project.

Okay. So what do you do for HPI?

I do whatever needs to be done. I am the only person working full-time for HPI so I get to do a little bit (or a lot) of everything.

Hmmm….I still don’t understand what you do, but tell me about LivingStone International University?

I love talking about LIU! LIU was a dream of the missionaries who have been working in Mbale, Uganda for over 15 years. For years, they have been planting the seed of this dream in anyone and everyone. Get this, only 1 in 1,000 people in Uganda will attend university. In 2006, over 55,000 young Ugandans qualified to attend university. Unfortunately, the current situation only has the capacity to educate 34,000 students a year at the university level. Can you imagine….only 34,000 students? That’s roughly the size of my alma mater, the University of Georgia. 34,000 students wouldn’t even fill the Georgia football stadium half-way.

While I was working in Mbale, I saw the need and caught the vision of LIU. But, this dream is quickly becoming more of a reality. Last year the government granted permission to legally begin developing and constructing LIU. We have already purchased 60% of the land designated for LIU and we are praying for funds to complete the land transactions.

So, why do you have to be in Texas to work with this project?

The majority of funds for HPI have so far come from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area with Richland Hills Church of Christ being the initial financial supporter. Luckily, a member of Richland Hills has offered to host me for several months…making the transition much easier.

What is it with all the Sonics in Texas?

Who knows – maybe Texans just look for opportunities to spend more time in their trucks.

Best & Worst about being home.

Best things about being back in America?

Being closer to family! Soft toilet paper. Washer AND Dryer. My own car. Smooth roads. Dr. Pepper. Mexican Restaurants. Better shopping. Cleanliness. Fast Internet.

Worst things about being back in America?

Cold weather. Air-Conditioning. Perpetual busyness. Hearing trivial complaints.

Miss most about Uganda?

Living in a small community of believers. Walking to a friend’s house for tea. Driving a stick shift. Negotiating everything. Great Indian food. The best coffee. Thatcher and Mya.

Miss least about Uganda?

Spraying my room for mosquitoes every night. Tucking in the mosquito net every night. Dirty feet. Dogs barking all night. Intermittent electricity. Substandard pizza. Unpasteurized milk.

Modern Major-General

Yesterday I was on an airplane only to discover that Delta is now offering internet access in-flight! Apparently, this is still a new initiative, so I was able to connect free of charge.

After a few moments, it hit me - I am flying in the air - updating my facebook status - sending email - snacking on pretzels. I had the urge to spontaneously burst into song and dance. Hand-springs down the aisle, then crowd surfacing from Coach to First Class all the while singing like I was in a Rogers & Hammerstein classic production. Somehow, I think it would turn out more humorously absurd like Gilbert & Sullivan.

No one else on board seemed quite as impressed - but then again, half of my excitement came from the pretzels alone.

I had a house in Africa....

This is from a recent Email Newsletter...my last email update....but don't worry, more blogs to follow.

“I had a farm in Africa at the foot of the Ngong Hills.” This is how Karen von Blixen-Finecke, a.k.a. Isak Dinesen, begins her novel Out of Africa. I think we have all seen the movie... Meryl Streep and Robert Redford….Well, actually, I haven’t….this is more of my mother’s genre of movies. It is one of those that I wasn’t allowed to watch as a kid and just never got around to watching later…Ghost and Fatal Attraction also fall into this category. But, this is not an email about movies that I’ve never seen.

I had a house in Africa at the foot of Mount Elgon. I cried my first night in the house and I cried my last night. The first night, I was overcome with the drastic differences between my clean, air-conditioned house in the States and this dusty, sweaty house in Uganda. The last night, I was overcome with these same differences, but my outlook had completely changed. I no longer feared the geckos that scurried up and down the walls, the unpredictable little black jumping spiders, or that my dogs would muddy my clothes before I even got out the door. It was no longer a bother to filter water, walk to town, or wait for my clothes to dry on the line. Don’t get me wrong – there are many, many things about Uganda that I am not going to miss (mud during rainy season, dust during dry season, intermittent power, and dirty feet)….but there is so much that is wonderful and irreplaceable (close interdependent community, the "Ugandan" handshake and smelling the rain come in off the mountains). My friend Lori Manry does a better job describing these sentiments in her blog. (http://www.manryfamily.com/)

So, my year in Uganda is finished and I am home in Newnan sitting on my bed (with a REAL mattress), using wireless internet and watching HGTV. What’s next for my future? Will I stay in the Atlanta area? As one of my teammates recently advised me, “With God, anything is possible; Dream huge.” After a year in Uganda, I feel prepared to face most any challenge. For those of you who might know someone who knows someone …I am particularly interested in working with a global-minded non-profit organization, one that is focused on making everyday differences in the lives of those living in everyday need.

While I will continue to update my blog, this will be my last email update. So, be sure to check outhttp://juliereagan.blogspot.com to find out what is next for me.

Thanks for your support financial, emotional and spiritually. You have given me one amazing, unforgettable year. I hope you will dream huge in your own life.

Julie Reagan

By the way, you are invited to hear more about my year in Uganda at an upcoming “Welcoming Home Bash” on August 29th in Newnan. An evite with details will follow.

Not the Rwandan Story...Soon

Today was baking day in the Teacher house. Allen, our school cook, came over to bake cakes for her daughter’s 5^th birthday. We made 4 cakes and a batch of cookies. Multiple cakes were needed for the different school, church, and family parties.

Shout out to Debbie Booth who is my sister-in-law’s mother. Debbie – we used your chocolate cake recipe…..the one that is in Sue’s new cookbook. Funny thing, I thought I bought buttermilk…but it turned out to be more lardish than milky….so I attempted to make my own buttermilk. Hopefully no one will suffer too much from eating that cake. The amazing chocolate icing should cover any weird aftertaste.

When we were half way through the baking, I noticed that Allen still looked so clean…..on the other hand, my clothes were dusted with flour, coco, sugar and imitation buttermilk. How does this happen?

Since the many cakes and cookies were too many – I gave Allen a ride home. She proudly introduced me to her neighbors and showed me her home. Then we did the usual Ugandan three-shake-handshake to say good-bye. I smiled then gave her the usual American goodbye – a big hug. Weird for me – I know, I am not a huggy person…I think maybe it was all the female bonding and laughing over flour, sugar and a hot oven…..

Oh, and Allen invited me over to have dinner with her family - I can’t wait!

Once Upon a Time, In a Land Far, Far Away....

A few months before I left the States, I watched the movie “Hotel Rwanda” which depicts events surrounding the now infamous Rwandan Genocide (R.G.). I’ll be totally honest – I had heard about the R.G., but I couldn’t tell you when or what about it. The R.G. happened during my lifetime…I was finishing up the Seventh Grade and getting excited about our upcoming family vacation to the Florida Keys with Aunt Pat and Uncle Ralph. My brother and I were following the scores of the 1994 World Cup. But, I don’t remember hearing or learning anything about over half a million people being murdered in a small country called Rwanda. I never even learned about the R.G. after the fact….until I watched “Hotel Rwanda” and began searching the web for any bit of information about the R.G. I was ashamed with my ignorance.

One thing was for sure – I had to visit Rwanda.

There is something about Rwanda. Is it belated attention resulting from the Genocide? Is it the Hollywood movie Hotel Rwanda? Is it the French speaking native Rwandans? Is the physical beauty? Is it the cool climate? I’m not sure – but there is something different about this country.

Rwanda is storybook Africa. It is Africa idealized. The “California” of Africa. My personal tale of three young maidens’ journey to this land far, far away will be posted soon…. Until then…..I’ll leave you with this:

Once upon a time, three youngish missionary maidens set off from one magical land in search for adventure in a land far, far away…a kingdom known as Rwanda. It has been said that the journey was just as important as the destination, but never would anyone have imagined a journey such as theirs….