Your Letters

You have extended so much support and kindness to us over the years. We are grateful for each and every one of you. Thank you for the different ways that you have helped us along in our sojourning in Changsha. Everything you have done is greatly appreciated.

Every now and then we arrive home to find a surprise on our stairwell door:

Letters, from you. One of the various ways you have extended support.

Your letters mean so much to us.

Because we need you.

Seven years in, and this living where we don't belong, where we haven't kin, where words and ways around us are yet confusing -- it is still lonely and difficult.

We know it takes effort and time to write and send snail mail, that's why we appreciate your hand-written notes all the more. Thank you so much. Arriving home in the middle of a tough day, opening the envelope to find words of care inside -- you've saved the day many times.

Writing letters is something that I hope to do more often this year. I quit facebook forever with the intent of using that time for more meaningful interactions with people.

Aunt Adeline, Release Time Group of Oak Heights, Grandma Bonnie, thank you for writing.

You move me to tears with your love.

Thank you for sharing your stories, being present, remembering birthdays and holidays, reminding us that we have family, expressing your care. You really cannot imagine how much your kindness has helped us along. My goal is to write back more often! I will try.

counting the graces

thank you Father for

supportive community of faithful, authentic people

hope for this life and for a restored life-world-body-existance

Gershwin

crying and disconsolate, you are ever "the God who sees"

Auntie Wang's help with laundry and cleaning when I feel buried under my responsibilities

the cross really does solve everything. really.

exposure of where my happiness has been built on sinking sand, so I can fix that problem

round purple eggplants for stuffed eggplant supper

Liu Jia (Lydia) is one of my very best friends, so loving, she's been a model for me to aspire to