Tuesday, April 6, 2010

A push and a Shove and a Hit Over the Head (or car)

All roads lead to China: Or at least mine seem to.

I am writing this note to formally tell all of you that I am moving to China. Why you may ask, well of that I am still slightly unsure. However, I can tell you that God has led me on a path that has clearly brought me to this point. Even at times when I decided to derail, he just pushed me back on the path. Sometimes it took a bump on the head, this time it took a more violent and literal jolt to get me back.

Many of you know that my passion for China began a few years ago when I worked for Asia Development Management Group for my internship. That opportunity was brought to me through an email, which I later found out that none of the other students received, that said that they were looking for an intern to sell Tibetan Rugs. Well, I had no idea that when I took that job, I would find a place in which my heart yearned for the people (Kham Tibetans). This people group has been undeniably on the top of my mind since. It is because of this that I talk about China every chance that I get (probably too much :)).

I was lucky enough to receive a Soderquist Fellowship to pay for my Masters. I went into the program knowing that I wanted to someday return to China. After only a few months of my work there, I had the opportunity to travel with Don Soderquist to Benedictine College in Kansas for a board meeting. While there, I met the president of Benedictine College in China. Of course, I latched on to him for the entire time and told him my desire to go to China. Right after our meeting, he emailed me and told me to let him know when I was ready to look for jobs. Over a year later (less then a month ago) I emailed him. He emailed right back and said that they would call for an interview. After a slightly awkward interview (a story for another time), I was accepted for the job!

I will be a marketing and business professor in China!

Oh and the hit on the car. I was having doubts about leaving my family and friends and I was wondering if this is what God had planned. I wasn't sure that I had enough signs to lead my decisions making. Last Friday, I was in a car accident (I am okay, but my car is not). One of the passengers of the car just happened to be from Xi'an, China, where I am moving.