A China weekend 2.0

Since I now live in California, I lead such a jet setting life. So I spent this past weekend in LA by jetting off to Long Beach to visit my dear old friend, Jodi, and her husband, Samson! They have been living in China for the majority of the past 6 years and are back in the States for a few months to deliver their first baby!

It seems that I have known Jodi through many years and life stages. She has featured in many posts on this blog in the past. In 2008, we served together in Nanchang on the same team, and then were roommates and our very own little team the following year. We prayed together, traveled together, and learned how to navigate China life together. We made a perfect pair: petite, outgoing Asian-American and tall, gangly white girl. And I distinctly remember the conference in Chiang Mai where Jodi and I both met Samson for the first time. She told me how Samson had said he liked her smile, and she was not impressed by him or that comment at first. But God can change hearts and minds, which is exactly what He did with Jodi.  

Over the years we have stayed in touch through email, Skype, and WeChat. I returned to the States, but she stayed faithfully in China. I also visited her in Harbin the summer of 2012 (just a day after she and Samson became engaged!). The last time I saw her in person was in the fall of 2012 when she married Samson in front of over 300 people. Now "Samodi" is an old married couple expecting Baby Tang any day now! Jodi has always been family to me, and it has been an amazing privilege to hear about the work God is doing in her marriage, her friendships, and ministry. She encourages and exhorts so gently and well.

Another bonus was that Jeff was also in town over the same weekend visiting some of HIS old China teammates. He also lived in China for 2 years right after college, so I loved meeting his friends who haven't lived together for a decade, but are still extremely close-knit. I learned even more about his character, while listening to equally hilarious and poignant stories from their experiences in China. And it was so strange, but I felt entirely more at ease with them than most other people I have interacted with over the past year in California. We are all kindred spirits!

Jodi, Samson, Jeff, and I also got to hang out a good amount. We played the card game Nertz for endless rounds, had dinner, ate icecream in celebration of Jeff's birthday, went to Jodi's Chinese church, and chatted about faith and ministry. Everyone clicked well, and I felt so happy and comfortable. Samson later told me in a slow, deliberate voice that he really liked Jeff. He held eye contact with me for a long moment, probably thinking, "Please don't mess this up, Laura."  :)

So although I missed the strongest earthquake in the Bay Area in 25 years, I still feel like this weekend was extremely memorable. Please pray for "Samodi", their baby, their hearts, and their future. I'm looking forward to the next reunion with Samodi! Perhaps it will even be in China next time...

China circa 2010.

Hanging out with Samodi in Harbin just a day or two after their engagement, 2012.

With the expectant couple in Long Beach, 2014.