Well here I am again, in Dhaka.  I must start firstly by apologizing to any of you who I meant to call or email during my very short stay in Canada.

I have to say that I had a hard time returning to Dhaka after seeing those I loved at Christmas.   When I first left several months ago, I had a new energy, a desire for change, a "bright-eyed" feel that craved understanding of a new society... a willingness to let go of my life in Edmonton to try something new...

Now I know what I am getting myself into :)

I know that it will be difficult, but I appreciate still the wonderful opportunity to learn ahead of me.  Part of me has a hard time realizing that my time here is half done.  What a precious point in my life to be able to come here and serve God and allow my relationship with Him to grow, while at the same point building bonds with those close to me back home.  God is amazing.

The blaring differences between the West and the East are fresh in my mind now, with a bag of Mom's Christmas baking still in my room, sitting not far from the cockroaches I killed this morning.  It is hard to realize that I was hugging those I loved in the Toronto airport 2 days ago, yet 2 days from now, I will be standing in front of students I love teaching them again for another term.  It somehow makes the world feel small, and time seem as nothing more than the medium with which we span distance.

I wish I could sit here and tell you these marvelous aspirations for my "new year" here in Dhaka.  I wish I could sit here and spew wisdom on how I am going to set "resolutions" that will out-do any other... when really I have come to a point of simplicity.

In previous years, as most of us can relate, we set these resolutions against ourselves, we say "I will lose weight" when clearly our bodies and minds don't want us to.... or we say "I will exercise" when really our bodies and minds would really rather not...

This year I want to get "me" at my source.... I am going to focus on my mind.

"and be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:2)

Lord willing I will renew my mind and my focus each day.... Lord willing, I will rely on Him, and not on the things of this world which will fail.  Lord willing I will grow because my mind will be focused on the ONLY One who can change us.

Can I suggest the same for you?  Let Christ be your focus this year.

Rely on God, let Him renew your mind, you would be surprised where that will take you.

In Christ's love,

Corinne