I feel like the month of June just flew by. Lucas arrived late and tired on the 1st of the month and Macau was already getting extremely hot and humid. We didn't hide inside the air conditioning forever though- we had lots to see and do! We saw dragon boat races, museums, temples, and of course many glitzy casinos. We ate the famous egg tarts, pork buns, and even attended an eleven course Chinese banquet. My work was winding down at this point and it was nice to get a chance to revisit and say goodbye to all of my favorite places in Macau as well as to see some new ones. Many nights ended with a few games of cribbage and it was good to get the chance to just enjoy time with Lucas and my roommates. It was hard to say goodbye at the end of the month, both to my fantastic roommates Allison and Hanah, and also to my wonderful Bible study group. But it was time to be going home! Lucas and I had quite the time carrying all our luggage around Hong Kong and then to the airport but we eventually made it. It was many (many!) hours of traveling but we finally made it home!
One of the biggest things that I've been learning this past year is just how faithful God is- His mercies are new every morning and He promises to never leave us nor forsake us. Whether I am safely at home or whether I am lost in a strange country, whether I am having a good day or a bad one, whether I am obedient or selfish- Our God never changes and His love never fails. He is a big and mighty God, He is God of the whole earth and everything in it, and if Our God is for us then who can be against us? Realizing more of who God is and how He cares for me has been a huge part of my year and I am excited for what He will do next and am confident of His faithful protection, strength and love.
Being back home has been really wonderful. Getting to see family and friends and catch up on almost a year worth of stories, playing guitar again at BeFree, going camping with family, playing frisbee, and getting to walk around barefoot and see the stars have been a few of the things that I have just been loving since being home :)
So what now? I'm currently looking for a job, planning a wedding, getting ready to volunteer at Soulfest next week, and of course continuing to enjoy just being around this way again!
Many thanks to all of you for your prayers, letters and notes! I hope you've enjoyed some of my musings and pictures, and please feel free to hunt me down for more stories! I'm sure you have many to share as well :)
Much love and hugs to all of you,
-Bethany
pictures top to bottom: Luke and me at St. Paul's, a Chinese garden, Lucas!, the dragon boats, Hannah, Alix, Allison, Lucas and me at the dragon boat races :)
