First Things First – Beijing 2013

Wow guys, the day is finally here! I am in Beijing. 13+ hours, 5070 miles away from Home. I am really excited for what the next 4 weeks have to offer me and what I have to offer to China. I’m so appreciative of this opportunity and forever grateful to those that have supported me materially and spiritually.

I was a little bit emotional in the early hours of my departure when I recalled my late cousin Ify telling me on New Year’s Day that I will go to China, long before I knew of any internship. It is painful to know that she isn’t physically here to see our prophetic gisting sessions being fulfilled, but I know she will be proud of me, rejoicing with The Most High.

I have never travelled to a different country alone, so this was a whole new experience, not to talk of travelling so far away. My mum is away in Nigeria too and I could totally hear the motherly concern in her voice when I spoke to her before taking off. It has made me realise that it takes a great deal of trust from a parent to allow their child to travel so far. Now I’ll be 20 in august, but I am the number one mummy’s girl and I 1000% respect her decisions and will always be under her authority, no matter how far apart we are. My mum has embedded some core principles in me that I could never let go of:

Trust God no matter what and consult Him in all that you do.
Remember who you are representing. God, Family, University, Other groups you are part of etc.
Carry yourself well, don’t let others put you down.
Respect the authority you are under and Be humble.<< These are principles that I will take wherever I go.

I saw the beauty of God’s creation in the clouds. It sounds cheesy, but it is entirely true. One of my foundation scriptures for this journey to and stay in China is Psalm 24:1-2. The earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. You can read it in the NIV version (I only had the offline KJV when I was typing this up on the plane.)

The earth really is the Lords and everything that is in it. I remember reading a scripture that says that the earth is God’s footstool (Isaiah 66:1), and I just imagined if God was to just kick that footstool with His toe…we all would be finished loool. Aside from my semi-dry joke, the scripture reassures me that God is with me wherever I am on earth. When I am amazed at nature or the diversity of the people in the world, the cultural differences, the unending spectrum of physical appearances, I remember that God created them all (Revelation 4:1 & Colossians 1:16-17).

On a lighter note, I have seen that aunties that love releasing their toes are everywhere loooool.In Amsterdam, I was calmly using my surface tablet when a bare foot approached my dwelling. I had to take a cheeky snap, the proximity was extremely high. I must say, the foot was not dry!

The air hostess are my buddies, really nice service on China Southern Airlines.

Long flight essentials!

A pillow, A blanket, Leg room, Music, Kindle or a book. Sweeties and fruit (grapes). Stay hydrated. I must have drifted into sleep like 5 times before writing this blog, there is no shame in sleeping on planes as long as you don’t snore or dribble. Comfort is key.