China Is Not for Everyone

I went through many changes when God called me to China. As the years passed, changes occurred in my language, daily habits, expectations, vocation, and Bible studies. Through all of these changes, God was faithful and led me along the path He'd prepared for me. It's not that I was perfect, trust me I wasn't. Missionaries are ordinary people, and you will get a glimpse into the highs and lows I experienced. Sometimes it's only a glimpse because ten years of shopping experiences would be terribly dull. You'll delve into six main areas: professional, ministry, holidays, culture, personal life, and moving back. As a tentmaking missionary, I was officially in China as a teacher, but my job often fed my ministry. The stories are thematically collected, although they can span a decade as they intertwine in the tapestry of life. Very few aspects of life are left entirely untouched because life happens overseas, just like it does in one's own country. The packaging can be different, but it still happens. Therefore, the highlights are worthy of being shared. Going to a doctor or crossing the street are routine activities, but it doesn't look the same in every country. These were my experiences while living in China.

Stephanie Chaloux was an ESL teacher and missionary who served in China for a decade. Most of her ministry was to college students but also taught K-12. Leading Bible studies and discipleship classes in her free time, she lived in Shanghai and moved to Leshan in Sichuan after the 2008 earthquake. One travel highlight was watching a meteor shower on the Great Wall of China in Beijing. After God called her back to the states, she works in full-time camping ministry and enjoys telling others about her experiences.