I am the worst blogger ever! I'm usually too lazy to blog or too tired and I apologize for not keeping you guys updated since getting to Hawaii. It's been a interesting 6 days so far, that's for sure. It's been highlighted on confusion, and uncertainty. I've been thinking through a couple different ideas and this one came to mind.
Over this past week, we've gone evangelizing 3 times: once at the mall, beach, and campus. We use different "tools" that Campus Crusade lays out quite nicely for us, but the question I always think about is whether or not to share about the work and story of Jesus to every single person I talk to.
During the school year, I'd always love to jump right into talking about "spiritual" things and all I really wanted to do was tell them about Jesus. I found, however, that making relationships is important and being too driven just on making a presentation is not right. And so, these days when I went sharing, I tried to get a feel for where people were. If they were seeking something more, then try to bring up who Jesus is and what He did. But, most people that I've talked to weren't really actively seeking or didn't care enough to ask what I believed. This made me think, this approach that I've been trying isn't very good either. It's important for everyone to hear about Jesus even if they think they don't need it or want to know about it.
So now I'm trying to direct conversations more to talking about who Jesus is and what He's done for us. I have found that this needs to be a priority. What do we have if we don't have Jesus? Sharing about Jesus is not something that we as believers should only tell people when we feel like it, when they want to hear, or when it's convenient. This news is so important that we want everyone to know. If they don't accept Jesus' message, then so be it. We took the initiative to share, and only God can change hearts. It's a personal thing. There's a balance in sharing with people: being sensitive to who they are but also having a desire for them to understand the love, grace, hope, joy, and peace in knowing Jesus as your Lord and Savior.
Thinking about it from a pro con perspective, what is the worst that could happen if you share about Jesus to someone? They reject you, they reject God, they go on with the way they were living. What's the best that could happen? They accept Christ!!! A pretty obvious choice there.
Pray for humility, boldness, and sensitivity. Pray for discernment, love, and grace. Pray for the Holy Spirit to lead, to protect, and to fill.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
why did we watch transformers?
So, our flight from LA to Hawaii was Wednesday morning at 8am. This meant that we had to get up and be ready to go by 5am. Team Japan was also in the same situation so the japan team decided they wanted to watch the midnight showing of Transformers 2. And we were like, yea let's do that too! Okay, so we go and watch the movie. Previews started at 12am and we got out about 2:45am. Everyone was exhausted. I was exhausted. I even fell asleep during the movie. We walk back to the place we were staying at and it was at least 3:30am. I went to sleep probably around 4 only to wake up at 4:30am to get ready for the plane ride. This led to a miserable morning, flight, and extreme fatigue once we got to Hawaii.
Was it worth it? No way. Not at all. Transformers was a horrible movie. I don't tend to dislike movies. For example, I was okay with the new terminator and actually enjoyed x-men wolverine. But wow, transformers was really bad. It probably didn't help that I was already exhausted but that was not fun. I mean bonding with the team was good, but the movie was really really bad. I'm just glad we made it to Hawaii on Wednesday after a long night and day of travel.
Was it worth it? No way. Not at all. Transformers was a horrible movie. I don't tend to dislike movies. For example, I was okay with the new terminator and actually enjoyed x-men wolverine. But wow, transformers was really bad. It probably didn't help that I was already exhausted but that was not fun. I mean bonding with the team was good, but the movie was really really bad. I'm just glad we made it to Hawaii on Wednesday after a long night and day of travel.
It's just money
After seeing how faithful God was in providing for me financially, I thought support raising was done and it was time for "project" stuff . Little did I know, God had a different plan. Barely a day had passed at training when we found out that we were actually short $13,500 due to a budgeting error which thus set our original support goals about 500 dollars short of what they needed to be. Everyone was taken aback little. There were some clears signs of frustration in both the leaders and the students. Even with this shock, people still remained confident that things will work out. God will provide like He already has and I knew that well on a personal level. What is $13,000 to God? Essentially nothing.
So the next day during team time, we spent some time sharing about what we were feeling about raising all of this extra support which was a good time for the team to connect and encourage one another. Then, everyone jumped full force into making phone calls. It was awesome to see. We were all together in a room, 27 people total, and everyone was on the phone, talking to people, sharing our situation and really being available to seeing God move. In that time, there was anxiety and fear, but even still the room had an air of confidence in our God. After about 1 hour, about 5500 dollars of support had already been raised. That's craziness.
And so for the next 2 days of briefing, support just kept coming. During team times, we would go over some things to get ready for Hawaii and then work together to raise the rest of the support. And support poured in like none other. Seeing the progress each day was ridiculous and we know it was all God. By Tuesday night, we had met our goal of $13,500 and even passed it. I mean how crazy is that, and it is really a testament to God working and His faithfulness.
The first "mountain" that occurred on this project was moved by God and used by Him to bond us even more together as a team. It revealed yet again God's faithfulness and His provision for us as we continue to do His work in Hawaii. Thank you guys for the prayer and support. PRAISE GOD!
So the next day during team time, we spent some time sharing about what we were feeling about raising all of this extra support which was a good time for the team to connect and encourage one another. Then, everyone jumped full force into making phone calls. It was awesome to see. We were all together in a room, 27 people total, and everyone was on the phone, talking to people, sharing our situation and really being available to seeing God move. In that time, there was anxiety and fear, but even still the room had an air of confidence in our God. After about 1 hour, about 5500 dollars of support had already been raised. That's craziness.
And so for the next 2 days of briefing, support just kept coming. During team times, we would go over some things to get ready for Hawaii and then work together to raise the rest of the support. And support poured in like none other. Seeing the progress each day was ridiculous and we know it was all God. By Tuesday night, we had met our goal of $13,500 and even passed it. I mean how crazy is that, and it is really a testament to God working and His faithfulness.
The first "mountain" that occurred on this project was moved by God and used by Him to bond us even more together as a team. It revealed yet again God's faithfulness and His provision for us as we continue to do His work in Hawaii. Thank you guys for the prayer and support. PRAISE GOD!
Friday, June 19, 2009
What a start!!!
Wow, project officially starts tomorrow and already it's been sooo crazy. These months since getting accepted and getting support letters out and raising support and everything has been just amazing. Before today I had $3970 dollars of support out of the $4100 needed. That in itself is a testament to God working. I mean support has poured in this last week like I could have never imagined jumping from $2000 dollars last friday to $3970. God was working in the hearts of people to give what they could to make this project happen. Thank you all so much for all the prayers and supporting me financially! And to wrap things up, today was probably the craziest and sums up this whole support raising time. Where would that last $130 dollars come from??
So this afternoon I went to go get the mail in anticipation to receive some more checks that would round up the rest of the support. I get the mail, and there were no checks. My heart sank. What was I to do now. To give context, from when I applied to summer project, I didn't want to accept any money from my parents to show them that God would take care of me and His faithfulness. I mean, I'm thankful that my parents support me as I go and want to support me financially as well but I knew I didn't want to take their money. Throughout the process they told me that they would just spot whatever I didn't raise and I would always be like, uh we'll see...
It's the day before project starts and I'm short $130. It's not a ton of money but it put me in a strange position. Should I ask my parents for that $130? Should I pay out of my pocket (which is essentially the same thing as asking my parents)? Should I see what Campus Crusade could do? Should I make more phone calls and try to get more support? All these thoughts came up but I had to go to a dentist appointment and then my parents office to copy some stuff so I put them in the back of my head. When I was driving home from my parents office I was at a crossroads. I was going to call my sister Helen to seek her advice but instead just started praying. I saw that part of me didn't see how the support could come in at this point. But then, I remembered, this is God. He is all powerful. He can do anything. So, I just asked God to pull through in a way that only He could, just trusting in Him. I got home and I played some PS2.
While I was playing, I text my sister Nancy to tell her that we go over our cell phone minutes too much, should text when possible, and to see how her missions stuff was coming along. She responded and asked also if her boyfriend could still give to project and how much I had left. I told her her boyfriend could still support and that I had $130 left. Not really expecting anything, my sister then responded saying her boyfriend was gonna give the $130 to bring it to $4100 exactly. WOW!!! What an answered prayer right there! I mean, crazy! God pulled through in a way that was totally all Him.
What a way to start project. All support has come in and God is truly faithful. All along I knew it was gonna come in, and when my faith wavered, God remained to bring it back to His glory. I'm super excited to go, to be challenged, to grow, to serve and to see God glorified. He's gonna do some awesome things this trip. He already has and it hasn't even begun.
So this afternoon I went to go get the mail in anticipation to receive some more checks that would round up the rest of the support. I get the mail, and there were no checks. My heart sank. What was I to do now. To give context, from when I applied to summer project, I didn't want to accept any money from my parents to show them that God would take care of me and His faithfulness. I mean, I'm thankful that my parents support me as I go and want to support me financially as well but I knew I didn't want to take their money. Throughout the process they told me that they would just spot whatever I didn't raise and I would always be like, uh we'll see...
It's the day before project starts and I'm short $130. It's not a ton of money but it put me in a strange position. Should I ask my parents for that $130? Should I pay out of my pocket (which is essentially the same thing as asking my parents)? Should I see what Campus Crusade could do? Should I make more phone calls and try to get more support? All these thoughts came up but I had to go to a dentist appointment and then my parents office to copy some stuff so I put them in the back of my head. When I was driving home from my parents office I was at a crossroads. I was going to call my sister Helen to seek her advice but instead just started praying. I saw that part of me didn't see how the support could come in at this point. But then, I remembered, this is God. He is all powerful. He can do anything. So, I just asked God to pull through in a way that only He could, just trusting in Him. I got home and I played some PS2.
While I was playing, I text my sister Nancy to tell her that we go over our cell phone minutes too much, should text when possible, and to see how her missions stuff was coming along. She responded and asked also if her boyfriend could still give to project and how much I had left. I told her her boyfriend could still support and that I had $130 left. Not really expecting anything, my sister then responded saying her boyfriend was gonna give the $130 to bring it to $4100 exactly. WOW!!! What an answered prayer right there! I mean, crazy! God pulled through in a way that was totally all Him.
What a way to start project. All support has come in and God is truly faithful. All along I knew it was gonna come in, and when my faith wavered, God remained to bring it back to His glory. I'm super excited to go, to be challenged, to grow, to serve and to see God glorified. He's gonna do some awesome things this trip. He already has and it hasn't even begun.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Back from the Chi
Just got back from Chicago yesterday and it was quite a trip. Not that I did a whole lot because I don't think I actually did that much but it was a much needed homecoming. Since moving out to LA, this was my first time going back. Going through college I was like, I'm not home sick, my home in Diamond Bar is just a nice house that feels a little too much like a hotel. But what I didn't realize was that I was home sick... for chicagoland. Upon returning, I felt re-energized and it felt good being with people I grew up with in an area I grew up around. I was really glad to be "home"
Being there for a couple weeks, it felt almost like I'd never left. I was driving the same car I drove around when I did live there and I did about the same things that I'd normally do. Being able to spend that time with friends and family opened my eyes to the great community that I have in chicagoland and I'm so thankful that God has provided this community for me. But the time there also showed me that my time in Chicago is over. I don't live there anymore and although I have this community that I can readily go to anytime, my life is now predominantly at USC and in LA where God has also blessed me with great community. After the trip, I now feel closure by going "home" once again and getting ready to move on.
This brings me to 3 days before project starts. I'm more excited than ever, already seeing so much of God's faithfulness which I'll talk about later, and finding the closure in Chicago to be ready to live in the now for God.
Being there for a couple weeks, it felt almost like I'd never left. I was driving the same car I drove around when I did live there and I did about the same things that I'd normally do. Being able to spend that time with friends and family opened my eyes to the great community that I have in chicagoland and I'm so thankful that God has provided this community for me. But the time there also showed me that my time in Chicago is over. I don't live there anymore and although I have this community that I can readily go to anytime, my life is now predominantly at USC and in LA where God has also blessed me with great community. After the trip, I now feel closure by going "home" once again and getting ready to move on.
This brings me to 3 days before project starts. I'm more excited than ever, already seeing so much of God's faithfulness which I'll talk about later, and finding the closure in Chicago to be ready to live in the now for God.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
18 Days left
There are 18 days left before Epic Hawaii begins. I haven't been giving God my all these past weeks. I've been so concerned about my own rest, my own fun this summer, and not enjoying God. I want to change my heart, to let it seek after God, to draw near to Him and enjoy His presence. I'm back "home" (chicago) for the first time in a year, and it's been great seeing friends and being back where I grew up. But no matter how awesome being "home" is or seeing all my friends, nothing can compare to the awesomeness of being with God.
In my heart, I think I often trick myself into thinking that the more righteously I try to live or the closer my walk is with God will result in more blessing from Him. My hope rests on the blessings and not God himself. Especially in this time where I'm scrambling to get my support for project together, I try to tell myself that as long as I keep doing right, reading the Bible and spending time in prayer, God will bless me. That's not to say that doing those things are wrong, but the motivation is wrong. It's true that God does want to bless us, but more importantly He wants us to love Him with all we got and how our hope should be founded in God alone, not what he does for us.
I trust that God will take care of me and take care of the support that still needs to be raised. I will not worry but instead, enjoy God and draw near to Him.
In my heart, I think I often trick myself into thinking that the more righteously I try to live or the closer my walk is with God will result in more blessing from Him. My hope rests on the blessings and not God himself. Especially in this time where I'm scrambling to get my support for project together, I try to tell myself that as long as I keep doing right, reading the Bible and spending time in prayer, God will bless me. That's not to say that doing those things are wrong, but the motivation is wrong. It's true that God does want to bless us, but more importantly He wants us to love Him with all we got and how our hope should be founded in God alone, not what he does for us.
I trust that God will take care of me and take care of the support that still needs to be raised. I will not worry but instead, enjoy God and draw near to Him.
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