Wow. Its been a while since I last wrote a blog. It is funny how in our lives, there are stretches of time when life seems stagnant or "normal" for use of a better word. And then something happens and life seems to pick up and get interesting or exciting. I used to really live on those moments, when it's like life is thriving and new, exciting things are being birthed in me and others around me. But this past year here in Ohio, for the most part life has been slow, steady, and simple. I have learned to appreciate it.

I want to share a story that happened to me about 3 weeks ago. It really encouraged me then, and I have been meaning to get it on here. About 3 weeks ago, I got a car up in Boston and flew home and then the following day, drove it back to Ohio with my parents.

I was flying out of Akron-Canton airport, a small regional airport with about only 10 gates. Luckily, they have cheap flights to Boston, and Akron is only 30 minutes away. AirTran hadn't assigned me a seat, so I had the luxury of choosing it for myself. I looked at all the seats on the plane, and their was a row in the back that was completely open, so I chose the window seat, expecting to be comfortably undisturbed for the flight to Boston. I love the window seat. I always have. I remember as a little kid flying over the Rockies and just starting at the mountains below. When we flew to China, I was always mesmerized by the mountains of clouds and the gigantic expanse of the blue waters of the Pacific below.

So I boarded the plane, found my seat, sat down, and looked out the window at all the guys loading our baggage onto the plain. As the plane filled up, the two seats next to me were still empty, and it was looking like I would be alone in my row, the way I wanted it. Sometimes I like talking to strangers on a plane, but that day, I just wanted to be alone in my thoughts looking out the window.

Just then, I see this old Chinese couple walk down the aisle approaching my empty row. I quickly looked around and saw that there were no empty seats anywhere except next to me, and realized that my hopes of a quiet flight home were destroyed. The couple was gabbing loudly in Mandarin and I thought to my self "they probably don't even speak English. I am going to have to have to listen to them talk the whole way home."

As the husband sat down in my row in the seat next to me, he turned, looked at me, and said "Happy Wednesday!, we are flying on a good day today! My name is John Wei. How are you." I was like "Oh crap. I am actually going to have to talk to this guy now." So politely, I told him I was doing well and flying home to Boston. Then He started asking me all the typical questions. "Where do you live now? Are you in school? What do you want to study?"

I told him I was with Off The Wall Ministry and planned to go to Kent State in the fall and eventually get a Secondary Ed. degree. Then he got really interested, and asked me about Off The Wall. I soon realized that this man was a fellow Christian and brother in the Lord. I felt bad about originally not wanting to talk. I knew he and his wife were from China because I recognized the tone of the language to be Mandarin. So I thought what the heck, why not see where in China they were from. Maybe they will know where Hefei is. (That is the city where my parents taught for 3 years). John told me that He only grew up in China for a few years and then came to America when he was a little boy and he doesn't remember much. So I told him that my parents were missionaries over there for 4 years. His wife asked me where. I told here in the Anhui province, in Hefei. Immediately his wife looks at me and goes "That is where my mother lives!".

I was dumbfounded. I just chuckled and laughed at God's humor. I ended up talking to John the whole way home. We pulled out a bible and shared our favorite verses with each other. We prayed for each other and exchanged out contact info. I hope to be in touch with him.

When I got to Logan Airport in Boston I just laughed as I told my paretns the story. They were just as amazed as I was.

It was a great reminder that God is God. He knows what He is doing. He has a plan for our lives. And He cares deeply about us. He knew I didn't really want to talk. He knew I needed to be encouraged. So he sent a Chinese couple who has been to the same city in China where I lived, to encourage me and fellowship for the plane ride.

I have a feeling that God isn't done with China in my life. He keeps bringing it back up. I see that more as I get older. Maybe one day I will go back and teach English and share the gospel, just like my parents. I am open to that, and whatever else The Lord would do.


thats it for now,

JN