Here we go!!!

Dear Readers,

What are you up to? I'm sitting in Sea-Tac waiting to check in for my flight!!! Can't believe the time has come.

The last 2 weeks have flown by as I've been spending my quality time with my family. I was so blessed to get to spend time with them and recharge with those little kiddos.

I know what you're asking, because everyone is: Are you nervous? Excited? Ready?

YES!

Besides the necessary preparations, my mind has been distracted by filling juice cups and changing pull-ups literally up until 6 hours ago. Just in these last few moments has it really sunk in enough to get my adrenaline pumping!

I said bye to my sister and that's it! I'm off! I'm going to China all by myself to hang out with a bunch of people I have NEVER met. But honestly, what better way to spend your LAST summer!

The last couple days, though, as people have started to say their goodbyes and I've gotten last minute things together, realized again and again how blessed I am to be able to serve in this capacity this summer. I have always had a draw to serve overseas in a real, tangible way. I'm PUMPED to get to teach English because it is empowering. I hope that I can give these kids something that will help them get where they want to go in life.

One of the things I love about Daybreak:Asia is the way they focus on social entrepreneurship. I don't know the whole story, but the organization was set up to encourage young people (students, teachers, counselors) to choose to make ethical, caring choices now and in the future as we become the leaders of tomorrow. I love that. I'm stoked to be a part of it.

I cannot wait to catch their vision even more throughout training and orientation! I'll try to keep you posted.

In other news, I will have Internet for at least the next 24 hours probably, but I cannot guarantee anything from that point on. I will probably have it here and there, though, and will of course try to keep you posted as much as possible.

I love you all. Thanks to all of you who made this possible. Especially my parents... they're special people. My dad's closing remarks to me on the phone last night were: "Try not to drink all the tea in China," and, "I love you."

Love you too, Dad, and I can't make any guarantees about the tea.

Blessings and Peace,

Stephanie

Less than a Week!

Dear Readers,

YES! This time next week I'll be in Beijing!

What have I been up to in the last couple days?

Spending time with my sister and lovely niece and nephew. Jenn, my sister, had surgery last Monday and I have been helping her recover by watching the kids and helping out around the house. Mommies have a crazy job! I need more than 24 hours to do everything I want to do! It's been great to spend some time here with them before I head off to China and then dive right into my senior year once I bet back to California!

SCHEDULE:

I have been getting exciting last minute details via email about my trip. Here is a basic schedule for those of you who are curious:

July 2: Arrive, travel to hostel, settle in.

July 3: Visit BICF for a Sunday service, sight seeing, shopping, and welcome dinner, travel to orientation site

July 4-7: Orientation

July 8: Commissioning and travel to first camp site

July 9-14: Camp in Yanzhou

July 17-28: Camp in either Hanzhou or Nanjing

July 31-12: Camp in either Halian or Hebeii

August 16-19: Debriefing

August 20: Travel back to California!

Here is a link for the hostel we will be staying in upon arrival:

http://www.fareastyh.com/enindex.asp

Looks pretty fun! I've never stayed at a hostel before! I'm going to feel like a legit traveler!

I cannot wait. I am so excited.

Requests: for the last minute details for my lesson plans (coming along VERY well!), for traveling safety, for clarity of mind while packing!

Blessings and Peace,

Stephanie

Big Blessings

Dear Readers,

Some of the biggest blessings for me so far in my journey of preparing for China have all followed a similar pattern:

1. Something doesn't seem to be going right in my opinion as I prepare for my trip.

2. I freak out a little.

3. I freak out a little more.

4. I finally say, "OK, You're going to have to fix it, Father."

5. He fixes it better than I even asked Him to.

It is a beautiful thing to learn over and over again that He is good. Even if He has to show me over and over again.

Quick update:

Tomorrow I leave to travel to Washington to see my sister and her family. Please pray for us. Jenn is going into surgery today and will be in the hospital for 3 days. Praise Him that I was planning on coming to visit anyway, because now I get to play mom while Jenn is out of commission. That way, her husband doesn't have to take too much time off work. What a happy coincidence! I cannot wait to see my little friends, Alina and Xalin and have a lot of FUN together!

I'll be in Washington until July 1 when I will fly from SEATAC to Vancouver, BC then straight away to BEIJING!!!

The only think I really have left to do is finish my lesson plans!

Blessings and Peace,

Stephanie

Toilet Talk

Dear Readers,

Everyone I have talked to and every website and blog and travel book I have read have been quick to advise a traveler to China like me to bring one very important thing:

TOILET PAPER!

Most Chinese public toilets do not supply toilet paper. Thought you can buy TP and tissues easily once you're there, it's good to have some for the first few days of arriving and settling in. Even after that, though, you still have to tote some around throughout the whole trip.

Not only that, but many are squatty potties, like this:

How about that! It looks like a toilet on the floor with no seat. Check out those foot parts. Look a least a little grippy... hopefully I don't fall in...

Lets remember that the most exotic place this traveler has been is Jawor, Poland. We always had a toilet seat and TP there. So this is new. And kind of exciting. This means I'm traveling somewhere where I have to rough it a little, at least.

So I've gotten prepared thanks to my lovely Grandma Dorothy. I had the blessing of spending the day with her today. We spent time in the Fine Arts Center where she is training to become a docent. Then, we had a great lunch at Amuse. After that, I got to sit in on a meeting of the various community and committee leaders in the building she lives in (a little view into what life may be like in 50 years!).

Grandma is always quick to offer wisdom and lessons she has learned in her years--she even had great advice about toilet paper. She contributed a roll of Scott single ply, no frills TP. This roll gives you the most bang for your buck (perfect!). I spend about 30 minutes splitting up the roll into 7 small rolls to tote around during my great China adventure!

Thanks, Grandma! You've taken care of me in a unique and VERY NECESSARY way!

Blessings and Peace,

Stephanie

Just Kayak!

Dear Reader,

Are you wondering how to get to China? Well here you go.

You just have to kayak across the Pacific. They say it only takes 37 days... yeah right.

I'm going a different route, I think. :)

Blessings and Peace,

Stephanie

It's here! Kind of...

Dear Readers,

Today has been an emotional roller coaster! My passport/visa came in the mail today. However, when I opened it up, I realized I had been granted a L (tourist) visa and not a F (business) visa. NOT what I wanted. I was very overwhelmed/frustrated/worried. What if that means I cannot go? Is it going to make it difficult for Daybreak to host me in China? Will I be able to teach? Am I going to have to pay another $145 plus a handlers fee now since I cannot just go back to Chicago?

Once I calmed myself down a bit, I emailed Daybreak. They wrote back quickly, probably because I dramatically wrote in the subject, "Visa: Bad News :("

They wrote back saying:

Don't worry! The L is still ok! We may have to move you to a different team, but that is all. Different consulates have different regulations about the F visa, and you were just a little unlucky. We'll make it work: Just arrive on your L and we will fix it in China.

So... moving forward. It's a little hard to be excited after being really upset, but I think it will all work out.

PLEASE pray that it will all work out, that my misfortune will not be too much of a problem for Daybreak, that I will still be able to teach, etc.

As official as it will ever be:

I'm officially going to China!

Blessings and Peace,

Stephanie

Visa Update

Dear Readers,

My passport has left the Chinese embassy officially. It is en route... in Memphis, actually. I have no idea if there is a beautiful visa stamped in it or not, but I sure hope so. :) It should be here on the 7th. I'll keep you all posted.

Blessings and Peace,

Stephanie

Chicago Adventure

Dear Readers,

Chicago was a success. It was all very anti-climatic, as I had suspected it would be. We waited in line at the consulate for an hour, then I went up to the window, handed the lady my papers, she glued my picture to the paper with a glue stick and said, "That's all."

I said, "Oh, I don't need to sign anything?"

She said, "Nope."

And I said, "Thanks."

And that was it.

I had a great little day trip to the city with my dad. We walked around a little (the consulate was in the HEART of downtown) and saw the river and the Trump Tower. Then we went and got authentic Chicago Hot Dogs. YUMMY!

Then we drove back to Indianapolis. It was a crazy little trip.

Now I just wait 5-7 business days and I should have my passport back with a lovely visa stamped inside. That is the last piece of the puzzle that is "getting me to China." Even if I don't have anything else, I can at least get into the country. :)

As far as fundraising goes, here's an update: I've raised about $400 which is AWESOME! That's about 10% of what I need. The expenses are mounting! So if you are thinking about donating, that's be awesome. If you're in Colorado Springs and you need a baby/house/pet sitter in the next 3 weeks, I'm your gal! I will work for donations. Hit me up. Seriously. I'm also a little bored.

Much love,

Stephanie

Pics from Chicago:

Big building.

My dad eating a Chicago dog

The GPS on our rental car. Called NeverLOST. And we were!

Visa Tales

Dear Readers,

When it comes to getting a Chinese visa, you're options are limited. Since I am a resident of Colorado, my passport, visa application, letter of invitation, and fee must be HAND DELIVERED to the consulate in CHICAGO. At first I was like... well... how am I supposed to do that?

Turns out there are people you can hire to take all your stuff there for you. So do I trust someone I find on the internet to carry my PASSPORT around and take it there for me 1 month and 1 week before I am supposed to be entering China? No. Not really. But that's my option.

Well, guess what. I happen to be writing from Indianapolis, Indiana where my sister, Sarah, just moved. My dad, her, her cat, and I drove all the way from Colorado here in a Uhaul earlier this week. My mom called yesterday and said, "you do realize you are 3 hours from Chicago..." Needless to say, she is overnighting my passport and my dad and I are taking a day trip up to Chicago on Friday where I will PERSONALLY hand all my visa stuff to the nice people at the consulate.

I feel much better about this.

PLEASE pray for smoothness in this process.

Blessings and Peace,

Stephanie

PS: Here are pictures from our trip!

Putting Sarah's little car on the trailer. It stayed on the whole time.

Milo and Sarah. He slept most of the time, but also clawed my ear once. Good cat.

Crossing the very full mighty Mississippi!

First Update!

Dear Readers,

Thanks for hanging in there. Here is my first official update post. I am finally done with my Junior year, so I have time to really focus on the fact that I will be in China in about 6 weeks. This is REALLY exciting and REALLY freaking me out a little bit.

I have a large to-do list, which is slowly getting checked off. Along with this to-do list, I have a growing list of prayer requests. Here is a hybrid of those lists for you:

-Visa. I got a letter of invitation yesterday and will be submitting my application for a visa in the next couple days. They don't have to have a good reason to deny me a visa, so pray that everything goes smoothly and everyone is in a good mood when they get my form.

-Funds. I have already been blessed by the donations I have received so far! So amazing. However, the costs are adding up quickly. This is my first time raising and managing my own funds while going abroad, and there is a lot more to pay for than I expected.

-My little arms. I got 4 shots yesterday (and still have to go in for one more in 28 days too) to get the needed immunizations to stay safe while in China. They hurt. I'll be fine though. I think. Haha.

Four shots all together.

Two on each arm.

-Developing lesson plans. I will be creating 8-1 hour lesson plans including flash cards, games, activities, etc. I am excited, but it is a daunting task looming ahead.

-For the rest of the teachers, native English speakers from all over the world, who are going through the same thing as I am right now.

It is all coming up soon. It's been great to spend the last week home in Colorado with my family. I am excited to celebrate my sister's graduation and my parent's 25th wedding anniversary this Saturday. Being here has been very restful and good for me after a crazy semester!

My parents eating the 25th anniversary meal we made for them.

Here's all of us at CSU.

I decorated Sarah's hat for her. It got a close up on the jumbo-tron. I'm finally a famous artist!

Me and my sister!

Thanks so much for all your continued support.

Blessings and Peace,

Stephanie

Support Letter

Friends and Family,

I hope this letter finds you all well! This summer I have the amazing opportunity to travel to China to teach English in summer camps. I am so excited and feel so blessed to be going abroad again. It has been four years since I spent the summer working and serving in Poland and, as it is a passion of mine, I am excited to have the chance to experience life in another culture.

I will be working with an organization called Daybreak:Asia (DaybreakAsia.org), an organization committed to promoting social entrepreneurship and ethical business practices in China and internationally. Understanding that China is and will continue to be a leader in the business world, Daybreak hopes to positively influence the younger generation so they will grow to value these principles in their own lives. I will be teaching English at two camps in the urban Beijing area then at a charitable, free camp in a poorer, rural area. I will be in China for about seven weeks.

This opportunity came at a great time for me. I am able to use this experience to meet the internship requirement for my Developmental Psychology degree. The camps are designed to be an immersion experience--the students will be learning English by experiencing camp as it would be in a native English speaking country. I will be teaching an emotional health and wellness class and have the opportunity to share the knowledge I have been learning in my university classes as I world toward a degree in Developmental Psychology with the high school students in China.

I am excited to get to build relationships with my fellow teachers (all university students from the United States and the United Kingdom), students (Chinese high school aged students), and the camp counselors (university students from China). I hope He will use these relationship to spark conversations during which I can learn from those I meet, understand the world better, and share the love I have come to experience in His Son.

Fundraising Information

Because this opportunity is so great and I will be able to count it toward academic credit, I have decided to take out a student loan to cover whatever money I do not raise. However, any money I raise toward my trip will obviously be a huge blessing for me now and in the future. Once I arrive in China, the experience is for the most part, all expenses paid. I do need to cover costs for a passport, visa, ticket, insurance, and other expenses that have come up in the process of getting to China. I have broken down these expenses more in a table. I am hoping to raise around $2,755.

If you would like to contribute toward this experience, you can mail cash or checks to:

Stephanie Murrow

3465 Monarch Pass Drive

Colorado Springs, CO 80917

Expense

Passport: $138 (Actual)

Visa: $130

Plane Ticket: $2,214

Traveler’s Insurance: $178

Backpack/Luggage: $159 (Actual)

Other Packing Expenses: $100

Traveling Expenses: $50

TOTAL: $2,969

Prayer Information

I believe prayer will be a huge part of this summer: the preparation, travel, experience, and beyond. I am excited to get to work with other followers of Christ while I am in China and would appreciate any prayers for:

Preparation: guidance while preparing to travel abroad, development of lesson plans, for physical health, emotional and spiritual preparation

Travel: safety, clarity, and good conversations on the way

In China: that He will put all pieces together for His will to be done and that the Son would be experienced often

Beyond: that relationships and conversations will continue beyond this summer.

Thank you!

I cannot express my thanks to you enough. I feel extremely blessed and privileged to be able to have this experience and do not take your support and sacrifice for granted.

I cannot wait to share with you the stories of how He is faithful before, during, and after my trip.