Views from my hotel this afternoon.
Some conclusions to date, bearing in mind I have barely scratched the surface of each place I have been to, are that I think I could live in Beijing or Hangzhou or even Haikou, possibly Shanghai or Shenzhen.
Pros and cons of each I don’t know fully.
In terms of good friends who would like me to be there, seems to be Hangzhou or Beijing, followed by Shanghai and Shenzhen.
But then, there are so many other places to explore. What about Guangzhou, or Chengdu for example? Lots to think and pray about. Have to face reality when I get home. Maybe my dreams for China will remain only dreams. Some good, some painful.
我爱中国。我爱我都的中国朋友。好想你们。
Psalm 100 and Proverbs 16:9 have been key passages of Scripture about this trip. I could add another to this after recent days:
The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the Lord upholds him with His hand. 人的脚步是耶和华立定的,他的道路也是耶和华喜悦的。 他虽然跌跤,却不至仆倒; 因为耶和华用手扶持他。
(Psalm/诗篇 37:23-24)
This Psalm also says:
Trust in the Lord, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 你要倚靠耶和华,并要行善;你要住在地上,以信实为粮食。 你要以耶和华为乐,他就把你心里所求的赐给你。
Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 你要把你的道路交托耶和华,并倚靠他,他就必成全。 他必使你的公义好象光发出,使你的公正如日中天。
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. 你要在耶和华面前静默无声,耐心地等候他; 不要因那凡事顺利的,和那恶谋得逞的,心怀不平。 你要抑制怒气,消除烈怒;不要心怀不平,那只会导致你作恶。
(Psalm/诗篇 37:3-8)