I am returning to Beijing in January 2011 for my second annual trip to New Day and SFCV! Yay! Then the thought pops into my mind, “What AM I thinking, returning in the dead of winter, when it is frigid there?” I confess that it is definitely not by my design. When I heard that Team JuliAMaryEliSsa was going to SFCV in August, I desperately wanted to return with them, but could not due to my work schedule. After giving up on going with them in August, I began making plans to return in mid-October, but finding a therapist to cover for me at work proved extremely challenging and none of my ideas panned out. And so, I remained in NY (a bit angry and resentful). The same week in October that I had planned to be in Beijing, was the same week the Department of Health surveyors came to perform their annual inspection of the facility in which I work. The surveyors typically come anytime during the month of September but they were very late this year, and did not come until 3 weeks after the latest time they should have been at the facility. During that time, I recognized that it was part of God’s timing for me to remain in NY for the inspection to be available to answer the surveyors’ questions.
I titled this post, “God’s Impeccable Timing” because when I reflect on the events since mid-October, I am in awe of God’s ability to orchestrate all the details to enable me to return to Beijing in January. The first hurdle to overcome was securing coverage at work. My facility provides rehab services primarily to a Chinese-speaking population, followed by a large Spanish-speaking population and an English-speaking population, and so I needed to find a speech therapist who could speak Chinese, with the necessary credentials. It was impossible and I could not find anyone that fit the bill, but God provided a bilingual Spanish-English speaking therapist and two former volunteers (both fluent in Chinese) who were available during their school breaks to interpret for the therapist. And since the therapist speaks Spanish, the Spanish-speaking population is taken care of. God also provided one Chinese-speaking therapist to cover for the day that the primary therapist did not work. So check on the coverage =)
Next, I needed to request annual leave time and asked for three weeks off, but did not know if it would be approved. I believe God granted me favor in the eyes of the administration because I received the approval for 3 weeks of annual leave without an issue. Check on the time off =).
I was a bit apprehensive to return to Beijing alone and completely willing to return alone, but God had other plans. On Friday, November 5th, I interviewed a graduate student, Elaine Fong, for a clinical internship position with me in spring 2011. She expressed interest in working with children with cleft palate and I invited her to come with me to the foster homes. I gave her links to the foster homes’ websites, this blog, and asked her to think about it. We talked more and Elaine shared she was a Christian. Within five days after we met, Elaine was on board and booked her ticket! I not only have a companion, but I have a Christian sister and a fellow speech therapist to share the clinical work. Only God could plan things so perfectly! =)
Elaine and I had our first meeting Saturday, Nov. 27th, and it went really well. We discussed logistics of the trip, the clinical aspects of the work, planned for our next meeting(s) and prayed. It was very fruitful.
I had a meeting with my pastor and his wife on Sunday, Nov. 28th. Looking back on January 2010’s trip, we noted that I was a follower in the group but that this coming trip I am the leader (of our team of 2)! How did this happen? Who me? I have never thought of (and still have a hard time imagining) myself as a leader in any way, but once again, God amazes me. He has been preparing me this past year through different work experiences to take on this role of being a leader and when I am in doubt, I will remember the following verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). God is so good.
One final note, during the meeting with my pastor on November 28th, he lent me a book titled, “Before You Go,” a daily devotional for forty days of preparation for a short-term mission. We quickly calculated if I would have enough time to finish the devotional and we realized I would because starting from the day he gave me the book until the night before my scheduled departure (January 7th, 2011) is exactly forty days. God continues to leave me speechless!
Humbly in His service,
Angela,
from Team JAE (Jesus-Angela-Elaine)
I titled this post, “God’s Impeccable Timing” because when I reflect on the events since mid-October, I am in awe of God’s ability to orchestrate all the details to enable me to return to Beijing in January. The first hurdle to overcome was securing coverage at work. My facility provides rehab services primarily to a Chinese-speaking population, followed by a large Spanish-speaking population and an English-speaking population, and so I needed to find a speech therapist who could speak Chinese, with the necessary credentials. It was impossible and I could not find anyone that fit the bill, but God provided a bilingual Spanish-English speaking therapist and two former volunteers (both fluent in Chinese) who were available during their school breaks to interpret for the therapist. And since the therapist speaks Spanish, the Spanish-speaking population is taken care of. God also provided one Chinese-speaking therapist to cover for the day that the primary therapist did not work. So check on the coverage =)
Next, I needed to request annual leave time and asked for three weeks off, but did not know if it would be approved. I believe God granted me favor in the eyes of the administration because I received the approval for 3 weeks of annual leave without an issue. Check on the time off =).
I was a bit apprehensive to return to Beijing alone and completely willing to return alone, but God had other plans. On Friday, November 5th, I interviewed a graduate student, Elaine Fong, for a clinical internship position with me in spring 2011. She expressed interest in working with children with cleft palate and I invited her to come with me to the foster homes. I gave her links to the foster homes’ websites, this blog, and asked her to think about it. We talked more and Elaine shared she was a Christian. Within five days after we met, Elaine was on board and booked her ticket! I not only have a companion, but I have a Christian sister and a fellow speech therapist to share the clinical work. Only God could plan things so perfectly! =)
Elaine and I had our first meeting Saturday, Nov. 27th, and it went really well. We discussed logistics of the trip, the clinical aspects of the work, planned for our next meeting(s) and prayed. It was very fruitful.
I had a meeting with my pastor and his wife on Sunday, Nov. 28th. Looking back on January 2010’s trip, we noted that I was a follower in the group but that this coming trip I am the leader (of our team of 2)! How did this happen? Who me? I have never thought of (and still have a hard time imagining) myself as a leader in any way, but once again, God amazes me. He has been preparing me this past year through different work experiences to take on this role of being a leader and when I am in doubt, I will remember the following verse, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). God is so good.
One final note, during the meeting with my pastor on November 28th, he lent me a book titled, “Before You Go,” a daily devotional for forty days of preparation for a short-term mission. We quickly calculated if I would have enough time to finish the devotional and we realized I would because starting from the day he gave me the book until the night before my scheduled departure (January 7th, 2011) is exactly forty days. God continues to leave me speechless!
Humbly in His service,
Angela,
from Team JAE (Jesus-Angela-Elaine)
