July 16

It feels good to know when I'm given an opportunity to make someone feel welcome and actually succeed at making it happen. It began this morning when I was sitting inside Starbucks drinking an iced coffee while I checked my email. An older woman sat down in the chair across from me, and for some reason, I smiled and told her that her dress was pretty. (It was; I just don't always go out of my way to say nice things to complete strangers.) She thanked me and then asked if I knew how to connect to the internet. I looked at her phone (which wasn't easy since the display was entirely in Mandarin!) and finally told her that sometimes, it just takes a few minutes to connect. She smiled and sat back down.

A few minutes later, I noticed she'd gotten out a notebook and pen and was busily consulting her phone as she scribbled words I couldn't read (in addition to what looked like a cross). As I got up to leave, I asked if the internet was working yet, and she said it was. Then she thanked me for being "so kind" and added that she was visiting from Beijing. I asked how she'd enjoyed her trip, and she said kind people like me make her enjoy it very much. I thanked her and said I hoped she'd enjoy the rest of her time here, and then I left.

I know that the international community often views Americans as rude and selfish. I don't think that's necessarily a fair appraisal of all of us, so today, it was an honor --and a blessing-- to be able to represent the US in a positive way. And beyond that, it was a blessing to be able to express the love of Jesus to someone else in such a simple --but still powerful and profound-- way.