My first day in China!

Today has been quite a day.

Everything about China is amazing, and the TIP (Total Immersion Program) is incredible!
I landed at around 11 PM local time, and didn't get to sleep until around 1 am, but I have adjusted to the time change really well.
In the morning we started training overcast and early and we spent time talking about God, and some other things I probably should wait and mention later. ;)

Also today we ate the BEST food I’ve ever had before; some dishes that I can't even remember or pronounce, and some which were strange, such as fried eel or seaweed and egg soup or cold chicken and very noodles, also just rice and eggs and tomatoes fried together, which was incredible.

The air here is so thick that you can't ever see all the way down the street, and it's humid as heck; definitely a weird experience for me, but I'm enjoying it immensely.

We also learned today some Chinese phrases like how to count to 10 and how to say please and thank you. And I also learned the "proper" technique for using a squatty potty... quite fun actually.

Some more fun facts:
- My pillow is a bag of rice.
- Lots of little kids and babies don’t have butts on their pants because they don’t wear or can’t afford to wear diapers.
- It's not really legal to be a missionary.
- It's OK to stare at strangers.
- Jay walking is not at all illegal (In fact people were walking across the freeway!)
- People drive like crazy but they don't get in very many accidents.
- All of the people in this TIP group are amazing.


It's hard to believe that I have only been here for one day!

And tomorrow we see the great wall! My heart is open, my mind is ready and I can't want to see all that there is to see.

I'm in Japan!

Hey all!

Right now I'm in the Narita Airport in Japan and it's pretty amazing.
My flight from Los Angeles went really really well, and it didn't even feel like 12 hours. :)

I started to type this while I was on the airplane, but sadly couldn’t publish it yet because for some reason there is not a wi-fi connection at 30,000 feet.... strange.

But no worries! I love flying more than anything, even though I woke up from a nap to find that my feet were swollen like crazy. Aah.

But the Airline food is really really delicious! (or should I say dericious?) and I made friends with the boy sitting next to me who was an exchange student from Korea who had been living in LA and studying art. He was cool.

And the plane I was on was GIGANTIC! I’ve never seen anything so big, it’s probably more than 30 feet across, has over 70 rows in the economy section alone, and has two stories!!! Crazy stuff.

Alright! I have to board my flight to Beijing soon, so I'd best be off to see if I can find some Engrish before I leave this wonderful island nation.
(Can you believe that not ALL the signs are in engrish? I'm a little dissapointed I must say.)

Thanks again to David and Eric and Courtney and Kenny and Abbey for driving to LA with me and dropping me off at LAX!

I love you all and am very thankful for your thoughts and prayers!

On packing lightly...

From what I hear, China is going to be quite a culture shock.

I've been given lots of information on the differences between the cultures here and there, and one thing I find interesting is that it is more than perfectly acceptable to wear the same outfit several times a week.
Therefore, I guess I don't actually have to pack very many clothes for the two months I will be spending there.
In fact, everyone is recommending that people pack light because, well, airlines can be lame these days.

Aside from airlines,
today was an absolutely amazing day that further confirmed how incredible God is and how he has been preparing my heart to go to China.
Tim and Dale prayed for me during church, and it was such a blessing to know that this trip will be considered in the hearts and minds of my fellow believers.
My family also prayed for me, and it was wonderful to know how much they are supporting me.

So, at this point, I am more than ready to get on that plane and go to China... except for one thing... I have not even started packing!
Ah!
I'd better get to work.

Happy Fathers day everyone! :)

Realizations to prepare my heart

So last night I was hanging out with a group of my best friends, and I was enjoying how much fun they were to be around and how much I loved them, and I was thinking how much I am going to miss them when I am gone for two months.

I also came to realize that God has rather recently brought me to a place where I could more fully understand his incredible love through the love of and from other people. I guess in some subtle way I have always been hiding from that love, or, unable to accept it, because of the fear that it might not be realized. You know? Like I have never allowed my heart to get too attached to anyone because something might happen and their love might go away for some reason. Which I see now, is a silly reason not to love anyone.

Well now, as I prepare to leave for a far off land, my heart is ready to love these new people that I am about to meet.
I want to show them God's love in any way possible, and clearly the best way to show this love that I know is to love others in return.

I also want to thank Heather for sharing this incredible verse with me: "And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of Righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God" (Phil 1:9-11)

I still have a lot I need to prepare for, and I leave next Wednesday (!) but I am more excited than anything.
If you are one of the wonderful people supporting this trip in your thoughts and prayers, pray that all goes well in my preperations, that I don't forget to pack anything, that I don't pack too much, and that I am provided with enough money!

Again, check out: TeachOverseas.Org

Thanks again!

A little more than a week to go...

Hello again everyone!

I'm leaving for China on the 18th, so there isn't a whole lot of time left before I go.
I've been having a lot of fun so far this summer, but I think right now I need to start focusing more on my trip and what I need to do in preparation for it.

I still need over $1000 at this point, but I'm sure that God will provide it for me if he desires me to embark upon this journey, which I really believe that he does.

I am inviting anyone and everyone to pray for me and for this trip. I'm sure that it will be used to do amazing things.

I will keep you updated via this blog, and also through my email: MorganA.Miller@gmail.com

So if you want to be on my email list, just let me know!

And if you know anyone who would like to financially support me on this journey, this is the way to do it: http://teachoverseas.org/contribute.php

Thank for reading and God bless!

Preparing this blog (for China!)

Hey friends!

I am now beginning my blog about China!

In a few short weeks I am going to embark on a great adventure.

I am traveling with TeachOverseas to The People’s Republic of China from June 18th until August 9.
I will be teaching English as part of an immersion program at Peking University.

I can hardly wait for this journey to begin!
Pray that God gives me strength, direction, and also the financial means, to go and serve him in this way.

I will keep you updated as things progress.

For now, be well.

Promise by Pedro the Lion

i'll take something to believe
something with long sleeves, cuz it's unpredictable
that Jesus said he'd fill my needs, but my heart still bleeds
he's just not physical
why can't i see?
if i look up and the sky's not there,
is there any reason i should be scared?
but a promise, is a promise, i know

now we've established a lack of sight
maybe vision's the right word
and what i need, cuz i can't see with human eyes
Lord knows i've tried to follow where he leads me

why can't i see?
if i look up and the sky's not there,
is there any reason i should be scared
but a promise, is a promise, i know

from what i've seen so far, i can't believe my eyes
and what a nice surprise
if i look up and the sky's not there,
is there any reason i should be scared
but a promise, is a promise, i know

"Your Love is Strong" by Jon Foreman

Heavenly Father, you always amaze me
Let your kingdom come in my world and in my life
Give me the food I need to live through today
And forgive me as I forgive the people that wrong me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window the birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune or out of place
I walk to the meadow and stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl on her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is strong
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens is now advancing
Invade my heart, invade this broken town
The kingdom of the Heavens is buried treasure
Would you sell yourself to buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Your love is strong
Your love is strong

Our God in Heaven
Hallowed be thy name
Above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us weary sinners
Keep us far away from our vices
And deliver us from these prisons