Goodbye All

Hey Everyone! Well...This is it; it's finally time for me to be headed out. I created a video for this post, so I hope you like it...I'm sorry that I kept going on of the shot/effect! haha Enjoy...and see you in a year!!!

(FREAKY PICTURE!! haha)



Forever and Always,
Jonathan A. Miller

My TEC Experience--The Beginning of the End (For a While)

Hello All,

This past weekend, I worked for my fourth time at TEC--Teens Encountering Christ, a Christian youth-retreat. This really was the beginning of my goodbyes...

I went through TEC #40 as a candidate, and TEC #41 was my first TEC working (it happens four times a year). What TEC has brought to me is a better relationship with God, a great community of support, and my closest friends (oh boy...here comes the tears). I'll never have to say goodbye to God; He will always be there next to me. I did, however, have to say goodbye to all of my amazing friends.

Growing up, I was (not trying to brag) always the smart kid. In elementary school, when that meant you were the cool kid, I had a lot of friends and a couple super close ones. However, as the years passed, things got harder--people grew apart, and being smart wasn't as attractive as it used to be. Thus, I was left with hardly any great friends; I had some great acquaintances, but there was no one that I could really confide in. During those years, I can remember that I cried with my mom multiple times about how I wasn't that liked anymore in school...It was an extremely hard time; I truly believed that no one cared for me anymore--not even God.

When my brother Michael finally had me go to TEC (and I was SO close to not doing it), that all changed. I had great table leaders, Kathy Door and David Groendyk--who helped changed my spirit. With their help, I realized that God did really care. However, while I was close with my table group, I still didn't have very many people to talk to; I still didn't think I was loved by anyone else.

I decided to work the next TEC (this past one happened to be at the same place), and that is where I found my best of friends who I could count on. One of them, I met over a bottle of spilt Listerine. Another, I met because I didn't want to be creeped out by a stranger always hanging around anymore (You guys know who you are!). They were the ones who helped me build a support and friend network that I have charished ever since. With the other TEC's that I have worked, I have met other AMAZING people who have shown me that there is still love out there (including one that I met over a Physics shirt and another that I met because I was assigned to clean with him)...too many to name!

With this past weekend being the last TEC weekend that I will be able to work until, by the grace of God, I return in a year, things got pretty emotional towards the end. We still have a reunion in two weeks, but this was pretty much the last time that I would see most of them for a year. I began to cry as a hugged all of my great friends and said goodbye...it hurt so much.

I know that I am going to a place in which you have to register to worship or face pursecution...a place where I will have no support group (at least in the beginning)...a place where I could become separated from my faith in God. This weekend has comforted me and taught me that I can be strong, starting with an amazing prayer-time with an extremely Godly-woman (Thank you so much...you know who you are!). Even though I know that I can be strong with God's help, I am still scared--I am still sad--about being away from my great support group and awesome, Godly friends.

I want to thank all of those who have made me seen that God and others do care and love me; I am not alone anymore in my faith and in this world...Thank you for such an amazing time here...I will see you in a year's time.

With Blessings Forever,
Jonathan A. Miller

Reflections

My name is Jonathan Miller...I am a son, a brother, a nephew, a grandson, a friend, a confidant, a leader, a Christian, a worker, and so much more...and I'm leaving it all behind to go to a whole different planet for a years time.

With one month to go--thirty-two days, to be exact--before I leave my home for ten months by getting on a plane bound for Los Angeles, I am perhaps as terrified as I've ever been about going...I'm afraid to lose my family, my friends, my band, my associations, and many other things...I'm afraid of going into the unknown--where no-one knows my name.

Looking back on my past seventeen-years on Earth (today has been particularly nostalgic), I've been noticing how much I will miss...Friends are the keystone in any person's life; if people tell you that you don't really need them, they are wrong. I have known some of my friends for my entire life...inseperable people who were brought together for reasons that I don't even remember. Others, I have known for only a short period of time, meeting only because of a spilt bottle of Listerine (You know who you are!). Either way, I have begun to truly cherish the people in my life; God has put them in my life, so they--you--mean so much to me.

As for my family, I know they'll always be there--they're kind of stuck with me--but what will happen while I'm gone? So much can happen in an instant...If an instant is a second, I will miss 26,784,000 of them!

I guess that I'm just getting cold-feet; everything is beginning to feel so real. I'll miss everyone so much...I'll miss so much in general! On the other hand, I will experience so much...and that is the adventure that is waiting for me in thirty-two days.

Dearest Blessings,
Jonathan A. Miller

Some Pictures...

Hey Guys! I just thought I'd take a moment and share some pictures that were sent to me with my host family application...there are no profound words-of-wisdom accompanying this post, but I hope you like the pictures!

The Appartment (I get my own bedroom!):

The Community (I love the palms!):

Family on Vacation:                                                         (Son -- Father -- Grandfather)


Host-Mother's Sewing:                                           Xiangxiang, the Miniature Schnauzer:

I know that they're not the best pictures in the world, but don't worry...I will hopefully be taking plenty while I'm over there!

Always,

Jonathan A. Miller

My Host Family and City

Hello Everyone!

So...I have great news to share: I know have my host family and city for when I leave in...just five weeks! I will be staying in the city of Changzhou in the Jiangsu Province. I was actually contacted by a German exchange student staying in that city last month (on my birthday, no less) telling me that I would be staying there. I didn't tell anyone because it was not yet official and could have been changed. Although I was really hoping for a REALLY big city, I think Changzhou will suite me well. While Changzhou is small by Chinese standards, it boosts a healthy population of six-million people (if you didn't laugh...that's supposed to be funny)! It also is in southern China directly between Shanghai, a city of 23 million people and Nanjing, a city of eight-million. The average high in July is 89.2°F and the average low in January is 32°F...luckily it's not as cold as it is here!

Next...my host family. Here is a picture of them:

I think the picture is a little old since my host-brother will be 13 in November, but they seem very nice by the picture! My host-father's name is Yue Yu and my host-mother's is Fei Hong. They both work in software-technology jobs, so that should be interesting! My brother's name is Yan Yu (Their names are a lot simpler than mine!), and we will both be going to Changzhou Foreign Language School!

I need to get going, so I'll share pictures and info about the apartment, city, and pet miniature schnauzer, Xiangxiang later!

Blessings,
Jonathan A. Miller

A Word to my Donors

Hey Everyone...I haven't updated in a while, so I apologize for that. Getting ready to go has been a big challenge, but things are really starting to pick up pace. With only 50 days left before I go off to China, I thought that I would quick take this moment to thank some of my sponsors and the various others that are helping to make this dream a reality:

1) Betsy Brown--Betsy is a local AFS volunteer who has been more than willing to offer any services that I may need before I leave.
2) Janis Petrini of Express Employment Professionals, GRR--Thank you so much for your donation and contribution towards helping me go...Having you as a neighbor and a friend has been a great experience!
3) Dan Pfeiffer of Pfeiffer Lincoln-Mercury, GRR--Thank you for your contribution and words of encouragement for my trip.
4) Roy VanderEnde of Casa la Parrot--Thank you for the help and support of initially getting me into the program...You will always be an instrumental part of my life!
5) Ann Steglich--Ann is Michigan's AFS coordinator, and she has been such a blessing to have as a guide through everything. I can honestly say that I would not be in this position if it weren't for Ann--Thank you!

Finally, I would like to release some great news that I have received recently: At the end of this past school year, our English teacher, Miss Krause, had us do a cause or an effect research paper. Naturally, I decided to write about the effects of studying abroad. I was proud of how the paper turned out, so I sent it to Ann Steglich in a very nonchalant manner to see what she thought. Ann really enjoyed the paper, so she sent it to her friends in AFS (the study-abroad organization I'm going through).

About a week ago, I was contacted by Ann. By seeing my commitment and passion for studying abroad, AFS had decided to award me the Stephen Galatti Scholarship. The scholarship fund is named after AFS' founder and past president Stephen Galatti, and only one scholarship is awarded each year! For a while, I thought it was all a dream--A 17 year-old child from a small, conservative town in West Michigan being awarded a top scholarship to go to China! I would like to re-emphasize my thanks to Ann Steglich for helping to make this happen, and I would also like to thank Miss Krause for encouraging me throughout the paper-writing process.

As a final note: While the scholarship is worth a total of $10,000, and I have received tremendous support for various individuals and local businesses, I am still required to raise $1,775 more to be able to go to China, not including airfare to Los Angeles and other miscellaneous needs. If anyone would like to donate, noting that all donations are tax deductible, you may contact me at my e-mail address: jonathanmiller.us@live.com

Forever and Always,
Jonathan A. Miller

Starting Out

Ancient Chinese Proverb: "You must perserve to accomplish seemingly impossible tasks."

That proverb is so true. As I prepare for the journey that lies in front of me, I can hardly imagine that this is all happening. I had my pre-departure orientation yesterday, and, through the whole thing, I felt as if I was dreaming. While our world steps into this "Age of Globalization," nothing seems that far out of reach--the phrase "It's a small world..." seems to be increasingly common to the ear. However, how much do we really know about this world we "live" in?

China. Just saying the name brings up all sorts of generalizations and stereotypes--some positive, others negative--I'm just not going to get into that. Honestly though...CHINA! I could never imagine a year ago...six months ago...hardly even four months ago that this would be happening to me. Studying abroad in another country, let alone one as rich in culture, history, education, etc. as China, is such a huge opportunity! The task of getting there seems impossible, but I know with hard-work, friends and family, that I will get there.

I can't believe that I am taking this step into the world...things will be so different. Nevertheless, life will go on--here and in China. This all is somewhat scary to me, but knowing that all of my friends and family will be with me, reading this, I will be strong. Thank you all for coming on this journey with me!

Blessings Forever,
Jonathan A. Miller