A week ago on Thursday, I (Megan) had the opportunity to take an adventure with a group of nineteen students and two teachers from Concordia. We met at the school in a very crazy, busy mood, and two flights later we were surrounded by the simplicity and beauty of the Black Gobi Desert in Dunhuang.
The desert was like nothing I had ever seen before, like something out of a movie- so unreal. I enjoyed every moment of it- hiking up sand dunes, sledding down sand dunes on bamboo sleds, camel riding (which, by the way, is not as uncomfortable as one might think), camping, watching the sun rise and set, seeing the stars well for the first time since I was in Arkansas. Beautiful, simple, and away. That may have been my favorite part about the desert, and the trip as a whole- it gave me a chance to step back from my crazy, hectic lifestyle of transition and focus on what God’s purpose is for my time in China and at Concordia. Our team leaders gave us lots of free time, so I was able to think, journal, and read my Bible to look for answers- I really have it on my heart now to make the most of the time and relationships that I have here, as much as I may be wanting to be back in Arkansas… It made me realize that I should be living with purpose and focus on sharing God’s love with people, especially at school. I understand now why people from the Bible and other religious people would go to the desert. It inspires faith. How could anyone look at the sun rising over massive mountains of sand and deny the fact that there is a God? They really can’t. I realized that the desert not only inspires faith, but it is a representation of a stage of faith- a spiritual desert. God showed me some things about how it relates to my life right now, how He is the water in my spiritual life, and He doesn’t come to me- I have to pursue Him.
The desert was definitely the highlight of my trip, but I also enjoyed the rest of the trip- museums, caves, vineyards, markets, temples, lakes, historical monuments, the end of the great wall, and the cities of Jiayuguan and Dunhuang. I got a lot out of this trip, even if I didn’t get as much historical knowledge as I expected (which is okay). I got adventure, memories, relationships, and time to rethink God’s purpose for me in China. What I really learned is that God has a purpose and a plan for everything, even if I can’t see it.
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