How God's Grace and an Island Changed Me

July 1st - I was up until 2:30 or 3am packing and I woke up at 8:45 to finish packing and leaning out my room at the Gibson’s. I got done early and Saffron, my host daughter, and I made bracelets for a while, a beloved past time for us together over the past few weeks. 12:30pm The family took me to lunch at my favorite restaurant and I had Steamed dumplings! (These are my absolute favorite and I miss them so much already!) I also had my favorite tea for the last time, milk tea with chewy tapioca balls (pronounced Jen Ju Nai Cha). Then we left for the HSR (high speed rail). I said my goodbyes to my wonderful host family. I had to say goodbye to everyone else the night before and they all said they hoped to see me again, at least in heaven. The interesting thing is that I felt like we all were pretty sure that we would see each other again. I still don't know what God has for my future, but I feel safe to say that I think I will see them again before Heaven.

The HSR left at 2:12pm and took a little more than 1 hour, the airport shuttle took about 10 minutes and I arrived at my gate with over 2 hours to spare 4:10pm. The 11 hour flight was less than pleasurable, at least compared to the comfortable flight over with 2 seats to myself. I couldn't sleep either, so I arrived at the LA airport very tired and a 6.5 hour layover. The flight from LA was a short 4 or 5 hours...but I don't really know (due to all the time changes).

July 3rd - After about 1 day to unpack and repack, while fighting jet-lag and visiting family and my best friend, we headed out to our family vacation in South Carolina. As soon as I return I start work for 1 month before school and being an RA at Grove City College starts again. That doesn't leave a lot of time for reflection about where to go from here.

The pull I have felt from the very beginning is still there: I want to travel and make a difference, but I want to be home with family and friends leading the life I know. I don't have an answer to that yet. But what I do know is that I like to plan things and I like to know what I am doing and where I am going...and I could have never planned this. 2 years ago Taiwan, missions, Asia...they weren't even on my radar. I jumped at a 2 week trip to China because it was a business class and I thought dad would let me go. All I wanted to do was travel. But through that haphazard decision, I landed in Taiwan and learned SOOOO much!

I have seen through it all God’s amazing, wonderful grace and sovereign power and I know whatever happens in the future is part of His plan. Will I start pursuing missions? I am going to start taking steps in that direction, but I don’t know if full time missions is the answer and I don’t know if it’s not. Will I pursue work in Taiwan in the future? I have truly fallen in love with the island and the Taiwanese people. They have a part of my heart, without a doubt. I see the need for people willing to go to this country. I just don’t know yet if that’s where God wants me.

I have 1 month of summer left and 1 year of school left. If you think of it pray for me. Pray that somehow I will see God pointing me somewhere and that doors will open so I will know what to do with my time in the short-run and where to start heading for the long-run. I know as a fact that God has used everyone one of your prayers for me while I was in Taiwan. I don’t want to drag this out, but I want to let you know that I truly appreciate your support for me 1000%. I know if not 1 person was praying for me, God would have protected me…but how wonderful is it to work together as the body of Christ and be of one mind and heart toward the work of the Lord!? J Thanks again. This is Lauren Beth Howell signing out for the last time from Taiwan (in heart).

LB