Unexpected blessings and a Rainbow Gathering...

Friends in China 

I love China! Absolutely love it. It took a couple months to get acclimated. I didn't love it at first with the language barrier and getting lost everywhere I went and the extreme differences in cuisine. But the Lord is good and always faithful and He brought me a close community of friends. Although the term "friends" isn't strong enough a word, family far better describes these guys! Sam from Iran, Dex from Macedonia, Samy from Egypt & Luisa from Florida, USA. 💜💚💙

A quick update... I got a new job! Still teaching & still in China, just with a different company. I'll now be working once again for Disney. Yep, Disney has English language schools all over China and I'll be teaching in one (still) in Guangzhou. 

But because of my job change I had to return to the USA to update my Chinese work visa. I sadly left Guangzhou in November for "just a couple weeks" on a 3 hour bus ride to Hong Kong and then a 30 hour flight to Tampa, Florida and then an hour long drive home to Bradenton. I quoted "just a couple weeks" because it's now January and Disney expects my new visa to be ready for an end of February return to China.

While I seriously miss my Chinese family I have been blessed beyond measure to spend this time with my Florida family. Initially I was thrilled to be here to celebrate Thanksgiving and then I was here for Christmas and then my 40th birthday and New Years! All holidays not celebrated in China, though the city does display Christmas trees and plays Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas non-stop.

With an end of February return to Guangzhou the Lord has sent me yet another little kiss from heaven. I'll still be in Florida and able to serve alongside an amazing team of fellow missionaries at my 6th Rainbow Gathering over the week of Valentine's Day! Our mission trips to Rainbow Gatherings always prove to be full of signs and wonders and unexpected blessings. I'm asking for loads of prayer as I kick off my fundraising campaign for this mission trip.

Rainbow Gatherings are off-the-grid, wilderness gatherings of thousands of hippies communing together deep in the forest to pray for world peace. Each year a group of Christians join up and dwell with our seeking brothers and sisters (because they're all seeking a higher power) for weeks to shower them with the Love of Jesus. It's not at all a cram-it-down-your-throat kind of ministry, but rather the simplicity of Love and Truth shared around the campfire, over a meal, or in the midst of the Trade Circle (where any exchange of goods is done by barter). Our camp, called Jesus Kitchen, offers free meals, prayer, and a safe place for gatherers to come and connect with nature through the Creator of the universe.

Jesus Kitchen team at Ocala Rainbow Gathering

These gatherings always bless me by stretching me beyond my comfort zone and growing me closer to the heart of our Father in mighty, unexpected ways. There's a saying at Rainbow that "anything can happen," and I always go expecting the unexpected.

Please pray for me as I venture out on this journey (with NO toilets or running water, Lol). Pray for boldness, supernatural strategies and divine appointments. Pray for my safety & health. Also prayers for my Mom and Jodi are always appreciated.

Thank you dearly for taking the time to listen to my heart. May the Love of God rain down upon you and bless you beyond measure. In Jesus' name. Amen.

If you're interested in donating towards my mission trip you may do so at PayPal.me/JulieESykes

All the Way to the Middle Kingdom 🇨🇳📚🛄🛫🔜

Pearl River, Guangzhou, China

Yes, you read the heading correctly. I'm moving to China. The Lord has opened door after door and illuminated my path brightly that this is to be where I begin the next season of my life.

Guangzhou, China (aka Canton, because of the large Cantonese population there) is where I will be hanging my hat for the next year. Aside from my never having heard of Guangzhou before, and I'm guessing, unless you've spent some time in China, that you likely haven't either, it is actually the 3rd largest, most populous city in China on the tails of Beijing and Shanghai. I'll be taking up residence, teaching English as a Foreign Language, for a full year, to students ages 3 to 17, in this sprawling port city perched along the Pearl River Delta in the Guangdong province of the hot and humid southeast about 75 miles from the booming metropolis that is Hong Kong.

My company EF English First, under the larger umbrella of EF Education First, was ranked by The Muse among the Top 15 Companies With Missions That Will Inspire You Every Day at Work; and then yet another time, check out #2 on this list Top 10 Companies That Will Make Work Inspiring, Not Soul-Crushing. Our mission sets us up to break down barriers by opening up the world through education.

Founded over 50 years ago by a young, dyslexic Swedish man, Bertil Hult, who always struggled in school, yet quite effortlessly picked up English upon traveling to England. Hult quickly discovered traditional classroom-based teaching was not always the most effective, leading him to start a small company which combined language learning with travel abroad. At age 24, Bertil Hult accompanied 407 Swedish high school students to the UK to learn English during summer break. Since those humble beginnings in the 1960's, EF has truly grown into a world leader in education. Education First hosts over 580 schools and offices in 116 countries, across all seven continents and opens up inspiring possibilities every single day, turning dreams into international opportunities by offering every imaginable way to see the world, experience another culture, learn a language, or earn an academic degree through language learning programs, educational travel, and cultural exchange programs.

So why my decision to move? Sure, that's a justifiable question. As if the inspiration were not enough... One word could sum up my influence: Change. In another word: Opportunity. I'm turning 40 at the end of this year (spending my New Year's Eve 40th birthday celebrating with my visiting Momma in the vibrant, neon-lit urban center Hong Kong!) and I've been feeling as if my life wouldn't be too far-harmed by a bit of rejuvenation. A little shaking up with an extraordinarily exciting idea. And, ya know what? Our Lord is so faithful. He never fails to hear our deep cries and incline His ear and answer His beloved children. His answer for me was China; to dust off my long-retired English teaching certificate and add on a TEFL certification (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) by taking a few online classes and then just saddle-up and brace myself for the adventure of a lifetime!

I'm eagerly anticipating the opportunity to travel around Asia. To visit Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia the Philippines and yet best of all to explore the far-reaching mountains and rivers and forests and seas of colossal China itself! My company provides us with a paid 10 days of annual leave, as well as 15 days of national holidays! So I am just raring all systems a go, beyond ready to get out into the great wild yonder and explore God's great creation that we call Earth and make a few discoveries of my own on just how small and meaningful our lives are in comparison to the vast picture of Creation and our interconnectedness.

My exact departure date is pending the finalization of my Visa authentication but our aim is for me to commence training somewhere between June 25 and July 11th. I yearn for your prayers. Prayers for provision as I branch out on my own for the first time in a while, prayers for my precious Momma, my best friend, who I have been taking care of since my Dad passed away in 2013, and extremely fervent prayers for my stamina and health, as some of my medications are not available in China, and my only option is to ride a two-hour train to the border of Hong Kong each month, cross through customs and proceed to get my prescription written by a Doctor and filled by a pharmacy there, and then return on a two-hour train back to Guangzhou. (Yes, that's legal!) I'm up to the challenge though. And thank God I love trains! But I'd love to know my great US of America tribe was praying for me while I'm away.

Lastly, just as a quick mention, some very precious people have been asking how they could sow into my trip. Honestly, your prayers and your presence at my Moving to China Party on June 16th, are all I could ask or need from you. But for those who keep insisting, I would not want to rob you of your generous spirit.  You may donate to my PayPal account at PayPal.me/JulieESykes . Other than that, 1) Pray, pray, pray and 2) Stop by my house on Saturday, June 16th after 3PM so I can hug your neck and say my farewells.

Finally... The BIG Reveal!! 📣

To donate to my missions trip...
paypal.me/JulieESykes

For more info on the ministries and events mentioned in my newsletter...
The Front
Crisis Response International
CRÍ Advanced Training Summit
Awaken the Dawn, Washington, DC
Rise Up 🠝 The Call, Washington, DC

CRI Prepares to Bring Resources and Relief Teams to Texas

Crisis Response International is making preparations to bring resources and relief teams to Texas.

Have you ever wanted to partner with Jesus to reach the harvest in the midst of crisis? Get trained physically, emotionally & spiritually to become a Crisis Responder. CRÍ is currently offering a discount on Course 1, Rapid Responder Certification Course to get more trained volunteers in the field on this deployment.

Learn how you can help...

https://criout.com/deployments/hurricane-harvey/

Prepare - Train - Deploy from Crisis Response International on Vimeo.

Jesus Loves the Hippies: My Upcoming Mission Trip

I'm headed out to my 3rd Rainbow Gathering missions trip. Rainbow Gatherings are off-the-grid, wilderness gatherings of thousands of hippies coming together to pray for world peace.

Each year a group of Christians join up and dwell with our seeking brothers and sisters (because they're all seeking a higher power) for weeks to shower them with the Love of Jesus. It's not a cram-it-down-your-throat kind of ministry, but rather the simplicity of Love and Truth shared around the camp fire, over a meal, or in the midst of the Trade Circle (where any exchange of goods is done by barter). Our camp, called Jesus Kitchen, offers meals, prayer, and a safe place for gatherers to come and connect with nature through the Creator of the universe.

Helping You Find Joy

Today is day four - our last day - of our JOY FM Sharathon. I have been answering phones all week here at the radio station taking faith promises. We started the day at 70% of our $1,800,000 goal and now at just past noon we have raised $1,524,773.