I NEED TO EAT MORE BAGELS!

I just had this sudden realization about 2 minutes ago and passionately whispered it to myself while throwing my head back about half an inch, clenching both fists with my eyes closed.  Oh, did I mention, I'm at work.  That means I'm sitting in a receptionist's cube in the middle of the office...so thankfully for me not a soul was around to witness that desperate display.

So that pretty much sums up where I am at right now.  I've been back in the States for about 10 weeks after living in Cuenca for a year and a half and I will go back to Ecuador in 40 days.  I'm obviously not handling the stress of working feverishly as a temp in a limited amount of time (3 months) to incur the necessary funds to get out of here very well.  For the past 2 months I've been sitting at a computer, answering the phone and making copies, all the while stuffed inside a pen-like cubicle, pannicking over bagles.  That's not all I'm pannicking over.  Monday I had a mild fit, that I'm not at all proud of, because my brother refused to take me to EastCoast Custard after the meeting.  Please don't judge me.  That's just one of my fave Cleveland destinations that would just randomly pop into my head while I was on a Cuenca city bus (or doing something like that) pretty frequently over the last year and a half.  At the very moment my thoughts would drift to one of my long-lost "friends" my heart would skip a beat at the memory of the place.  So the fact that I haven't even been to EastCoast once or had a proper bagel with schmear yet...well...let's just say it's distressing to say the least.

But it's not like I haven't had ANY fun.  I've had plenty of it and I'm very very very grateful for it.  It all began in March with an AMAZING Bethel excursion which included attendance to the Gilead Graduation!! That was a dream-come-true which I never even dreamed possible to come true.  I also attended the Chinese Assembly with my brother and his wife at the Stanley Theatre.  It was absolutely wonderful to see some old friends and witness just how HUGE (and still growing) the Chinese field in the States has become in the past year or so.  Of course we had some amazing food in NYC.  Back here in Cleveland it's been all about the Lebanese food (I eat grape leaves any chance I get), Starbucks (puts a little smile on my face almost every day - is that bad?), Dewey's Pizza, authentic Chinese and I even managed to go on and then (pretty promptly) off a semi-raw Cleanse Diet (these funny American trends...).  It's also been wonderful catching up with friends and the family.

Something that has been pretty hard for me is not really being out in service - especially compared to being out 6 days per week for so long.  I'm working 5 days per week which only leaves Saturday and Sunday for preaching.  I miss being well-prepared and seasoned - 2 qualities that are difficult for me to claim at this point although, it did dawn on me the other day that I've had a spiritual conversastion with 7 out of the 9 people that I've been working with for the past 2 months!  Also, I've met up with some Chinese kids that I used to study with years ago.  Their mom shipped them off to China for 4 years but now 2 of them are back so I'm hoping to get something started with them before I leave so that I can leave them in the caring hands of the Cleveland Chinese Congregation.  It's also been a blessing working with my old Chinese Congregation especially since my little brother and his wife switched over to that congregation last September.  They are doing really really well.  I'm so happy I've had the chance to witness their talks, comments and presentations in the field.

There is still so much to do (and EAT)!  But maybe now I should get to the business of working (ooops)!  More updates to come!  Maybe not until after July 5 when I touch down in the Guayaquil airport for round number 2 of this crazy Ecua-china-adventure.