Priase God for Good News from Beijing!

In Beijing a young man on our team made the choice to stay in Beijing and continue to serve the people of China. He writes in his blog an AMAZING story!!!

Printed in a Chinese newspaper is the story of a young man, searching for meaning, who began reading the Bible, and became a Christian.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/metro/2010-03/17/content_9602273.htm

The significance of this story is that it is public, especially in a nation where persecution is in the recent past.

Proverbs 25:25
Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land.

Prayer Walking

When I feel busy I feel like I "don't have time to pray". Silly, really, in light of the fact that God gives us all we need to do all He asks (reference 2 Cor 9:8).
But today as I was (speed) walking home through Washington Sq Park, I saw two guys sitting on the concrete fountain rim, talking. And I thought, "That could be two friends from church, talking about God, talking about how to follow Jesus, how to love God and others." And I began praying for them, that they would talk about the weighty matters of life, that they would come to discuss life purpose and meaning. Then I passed two women sitting on a wooden bench, talking. And I began praying for them, too. That they would be encouraged and challenged to really ponder what life is about.

There is a song called "God of this City" which sings:
"You're the God of this city
You're the King of these people"

I do pray for New York City, that more see Him and His work and His love for His people.

Walking around Albany

One of my two darling roommates sang to me tonight..

"... cause you're leeee---aving .. on an Amtrak...

but we knowthat you will--ll be back..."

I joined in...

".. Wednesday, eight: thirty-four... I'll come in, right through the door..."

A little business trip to Albany for two days (nope, thankfully not government work). As I have more and more reasons (friends) who are in the Big Apple, the more I want to be in the city too.

Though I am grateful every day for the job God allows me to have, and know that travel comes with it, I may still pray that my trips are fewer and farther apart for work :-)

Vancouver 2010 ~ Downtown

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here's a short novella.

Downtown Vancouver during week one of the Winter Games!

http://picasaweb.google.com/lauragimpel/2010VancouverOlympicsDowntown?authkey=Gv1sRgCOLO6oewyqSdDg#

Walking around Whistler

I'm so grateful for the remarkable opportunity to attend the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver! Many direct answers to prayer, namely gorgeous weather all week long. (I keep hearing about these cities where it constantly rains but when I've visited I've yet to see it come true ;-)
We had a fantastic week, luge at Whistler Mountain Monday, Ice Hockey Wednesday (Czech v Slav, 3-1 final), and Curling Friday (Go Canada Go!). Between times gorgeous food with the Lee family. More soon...

God's Playlist

Every day I walk to and from work. It's about 25 minutes each way, and I find it's a great break to not be in front of a screen.

Over the holidays I had time to add some CDs to the iPod, including some Christian music, some oldies, and some of the Bible on Audio Book. I put it on shuffle when I'm walking and was tickled the other day when the story of the Israelites rejoicing after escaping from Egypt played (Exodus 15) followed by the hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness"!

Though I'm still trying to figure out the other playlist connection... from Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac and Aaron Neville's "Louisiana Christmas Day"

Walking & Stopping

In the movie Dave there is a great scene with a tour guide in the White House. She leads the group, saying, "We're walking... and we're walking. And we're stopping. And on your right is..."

This morning I read Ps 27:14

¹⁴ Wait on the LORD;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!

At times God calls us to wait. Sometimes I think I know why. More frequently I haven't a clue. The story of the Israelites is helpful. We see, in hindsight, God sent Jacob and his eleven sons to Egypt purposefully (Genesis 46). There, the Israelites grew as a large nation under the protection of the Egyptian government. At precisely the right moment, God rescued them, parting seas and whatnot to make it happen.

Here's to courage during the wait, and hope for the future!