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