KCDC Lesson 1: Reapply Sunscreen Often, Don't Get Lost

So today was the fourth week of CTBC's Koinonia Children's Day Camp, but it was actually my first day and I can honestly say I am completely wiped out!! Even though I was fully aware of how tired I was going to be due to my experience in years prior, I forgot exactly how TIRED a day of KCDC makes you. Of course it probably didn't help that our group left for a field trip right away and then proceeded to get lost and walk an extra 30+ mins (the kids walked up and down the mountain side 3x more than they needed to and we felt so bad that we bought them popsicles). Because I can't share pictures of my kids, this picture of how far we walked up will have to do.
(taken when I was sent to scout out the Randall Musuem...never again)

Then walking around the insect and animal exhibits, playing freeze tag sporadically at the park (my bad for ditching you Chris Chu)for over an hour and then running away from different groups of kids back at site. All I wanted to do when I got home was shower and sleep. As tiring and long as the day seemed to be though, there are few joys that I think compare to a day of KCDC(despite the frustrations and physical exhaustion). There's something incredible about serving in this ministry that has stuck with me for all these years as well as in serving and fellowshipping with my fellow brothers and sisters. Time to go put aloe on my sunburned arms and get some rest before day 2. Stay tuned :)

Life Lesson #11 - Don't Get Discouraged

This is coming almost 2 weeks late but midterms, problem sets, and paper have been keeping me busy. Last last Friday, I had an interview with the media resource center in Moffitt library for a job there. Here's the breakdown.

The bad: Since the time I applied for the job and my interview, the work shifts had changed days and I would be unable to work those hours due to classes, MOC, and college group.

The good: My interviewer said the interview went great and she thought I would be perfect for the job if my schedule had worked out.

The redeeming factor: My interviewer said that if I still want the position for next semester instead of this one, she would hold my application and I would basically get the job without having to interview again.

As I said, I've been pretty busy these past couple of weeks with school. There is always another article to read or paper to work on or midterm to study for. Honestly I don't know if I would have been able to handle a job on top of 4 classes all for my majors. I think spring semester is going to be a lot less stressful than this one and I would probably be able to balance the workload of school and working a lot better but I was still pretty disappointed that I did not get the position. That being said, the last thing my interviewer said to me was, "I hope this doesn't discourage you from coming back and working here in the future". So I'll try my best to not get discouraged and in the mean time, will just enjoy the free time I have to hang out, and I guess really relax before classes become harder and the workload heavier.

Life Lesson #10

connecting with tumblr

For as long as I can remember, my parents have stressed to me the importance of finishing what I start. This has not only included completing tasks, but also not being wishy washy, constantly changing my mind(though this one I kind of fail at). I was reminded on Friday the importance of this simple but age old advice.

On Friday I had an interview at the MFC in the library at 2pm. Knowing my habit of being late, I decided to go early. It was interesting how everything played out. I ended up going 10 minutes later than I initially decided, and walked a different route than I normally would to the library. Right in front of Cafe Strada, I was stopped by a lady who looked to be a couple of years older than me. Maybe it was because I was a short asian like her, or because I wasn’t rushing by her or because I made eye contact with her but she stopped me to ask if I knew where 2251 College was. I basically told her I did not but that she was on College now. She thanked me, and began to walk down college towards the units.

As I crossed the street, I noticed the address sign 2300 with an arrow pointing down the street. Realizing the lady was going the wrong direction, I didn’t know what to do. I looked on the campus map, was able to find 2251 and looked at my cell phone. I had 15 minutes to get to my interview in Moffitt. Realizing I would never feel good knowing this lady was going to get further and further lost, I turned around and started to run trying to find her. I caught up to her as she was about to cross the street to Underhill, told her I found where her class was, and walked with her back to campus. We started to talk (her name is Yin-Yang) and I round out she was actually a visiting research student in the Political Science department(my major) specializing in East Asia Comparative Politics (what I want to emphasize in). What are the chances of that happening? We had a really good talk, and I got to my interview at exactly 2:00. Even after my interview(a post for another day) I could not stop from thinking about this experience. I don't know why it affected me as much as it did but I think it was a great reminder to not let the stress and day to day grind of life stop me from a simple lifestyle of compassion, kindness and care for others.

Going Going Gone

After KCDC tomorrow a large group of the college KCDC leaders will be heading off to Del Valle camp grounds for a mini weekend retreat. This will be the first year the class of 2008 will get a chance to experience real camping as part of the college department. I have to admit I'm kinda excited for it but at the same time I am up at nearly 2 in the morning trying to finish packing and finish hw and clean. It has definitely been a busy couple of weeks and honestly I am completely drained both physically and spiritually. I don't know what's planned for this weekend but I will be praying for God to meet with me, to revive my spirit and to really give me some guidance and direction as to where He wants me to go.

On that note, I feel like my brain has been working overtime these couple of weeks as I am constantly thinking about what needs to be done next, what I need to plan ahead for, all the different worries in my life. This is not to say I have spent these past weeks moping around like a dejected child in a corner. I have been blessed with a lot of people who have been keeping me afloat but I think I'm at the point where I need to really just support myself. Don't get me wrong. I'm entirely grateful and thankful to those who have been continually encouraging me and have been sharing my burdens but I can't only depend on them and not try to help myself right? That's what I will leave you with.

Actually I feel bad that I have not updated my 3 part blog so here is the song part. I was actually going to post up a different song but after last Friday it got changed (in my mind at least). Terry W-L introduced a new idea of meditation on the Word last Friday at fellowship and I wanted to share my experience with you guys. As John 19 was read out loud, the college folk closed their eyes and were instructed to really rest on the word, on taking in the gospel. As the reading ended, an extremely bright but at the same time, faint picture of Jesus on the cross came to mind. As I was staring at the sight before me, I realized my eyes could not stay on the image any longer and my eyes were drawn to the feet of Jesus. In the kneeling position I was in, I could not help but feel like I finally understood what it meant to be at the feet of Jesus. It's hard to explain but in my mind, the physical act of kneeling at the feet of Jesus was so incredibly powerful. For the rest of the meditation time, my mind kept going to this song written a couple of months ago. It's nowhere close to being finished and I don't know the direction I want to take the song but for now, here it is. I haven't had the time to add instrumentals to the recording of it yet but hopefully I can get that out ....before the year is done? We'll see. You guys all know how bad I am at following up with these things.


Chorus:
I am spoken for
Each and every day
My hope is in a God who
Reserved for me a space
Picked up from the ground
From the rumble of my life
In His hands I’m safe and sound
I am spoken for

Bridge:
Hands that washed my feet (I am spoken for)
Hands nailed to the cross (I am spoken for)
Hands that hold me close (I am spoken for)
Hands that shield me (I am spoken for)

(2x)
These hands made me new and
These hands paid the price
For my sin that caused me death
He has given me life

A Heart to Heart

There have been quite a few lingering thoughts in my head these past couple of weeks. Well more like the past month or so. The plan? A 3 part post that will be posted throughout the week ( if I remember and if I'm not too tired from KCDC that is). The topics will be: songs, driving, and humility.

Since I just had a driving lesson today why not start with that. So for the past month I've been getting driving lessons and I must say, as much as I think driving is pretty cool and kinda fun, it feels like school. And I don't mean the good school either. Here's some context. Now this is not to sound boastful or anything but I've never really been chastised in school by a teacher since like.....1st grade(Ms. To just really didn't like me and I think the feelings were mutual and D.Yee in high school doesn't count either cause he holds a grudge towards anyone who corrects him). School up until this point has been relatively nice. My grades aren't perfect but I do my best and I think a lot of times that is reflected in my work and my teachers have respected that.

Now on with the story. So far school hasn't really felt like school. It was just something I did and I more or less enjoyed(not including finals and midterms). But my driving lessons feel like school. I'm sure it's for my own good so I can learn how to drive properly and whatnot but every negative comment burns itself into my thoughts and I can only imagine it to be equivalent with how people feel when teachers give you a bad grade. Or not? I'm not sure but that's the comparison I'm going with. Plus as much as I do actually enjoy driving and think it's exciting, I find myself checking the clock constantly to let myself know how much longer I have to be in the car. Now I know at times I've done this in high school (especially in apbio with meng) but that was just an 'I'm bored when can we go to the next class or eat' not 'When will this end so I can leave this car and not see it for another week'. I'm pretty sure this story has no point to it but I
thought I'd just put it out there.

Life has been ...

GOOD!

I didn't realize how long it has been since I've updated this blog but that might be because tumblr is quite addicting. In the past month or so, I have....finished my second year of college, enjoyed coffee for the first time (soooo yummy), lounged around at home, went driving for the first time, had an amazing week at chapter camp, and lounged around some more.

It was definitely weird ending the second year of college. It's really hard to believe that 2 years ago I was barely graduated and now another graduation is somewhat looming.

Chapter camp was an immense blessing. As interesting as the manuscript study time and worship track was, I think my favorite parts of chapter camp was when I stayed up having one-on-one conversations with people in the molly murphy cabin. Lots of open honest sharing that really brought a lot of joy into my heart. Thoroughly wonderful =] I'll keep those conversations to myself though.

*goal for next year = see someone fly off the blob*

At the beginning of the year/semester I had a list of sorts up to keep track of active changes I was making in my life. Not sure what number I'm on but one to add to the list is definitely based on

"Better is open rebuke, than hidden love" Proverbs 27:5

I think it's become somewhat of a theme for me these past couple of weeks. Before, I was incredibly scared of confrontation of any sort. Now though, I know that if something is really burdening me, it's important to share that with other people so that things would not turn into bitterness but instead would be let go. Wise words from the senior class (plus the bible)

My life is boring so I don't have anything else to talk about. I think if I blog in sorter intervals I'd remember the small happy things better and be able to blog about then but I don't so oo well. Hello bob :]

Green Tea Tapioca

So I was just....not feeling very good today. I think a lot of it was spiritually and it was carrying over to the physical side. But my trip to moccachios for a hot green tea tapioca right before my Pol Sci 2 lecture changed everything.

First of all, I think a hot green tea tapioca always makes me happy. And as soon as that cup was in my hand, I had a smile on my face. Then I proceeded to go to lecture to watch my GSI give a guest lecture on civil societies, specifically in China. And I have to say, I sat there captivated for an hour and a half. Lots of funny first hand stories but I think the clips that were shown and the in depth descriptions and narrative of what happened and the emotional response by the native people just struck me and I could do nothing but try to memorize every fact my GSI was saying. I mean I was literally tearing up listening to the emotional response of the parents of students who were part of the Tiananmen riots. And then to see the original footage of the Tankman was so...time stopping. Yeah I walked out ofS that lecture hall very content with my day.

But the day was not over. Nope. Ran over to cafe 3 to have lunch with Becky. I think Becky and I try to eat together at least every other week or so....or really when one of us realize it's been awhile since we've seen each other. This particular dinner, we met up around 6:30 and stayed in cafe 3 talking into 9:30. Yes that's right past closing. Such a wide range of topics from Boy Meets World and Psych to consumer spending and greed to international issues fueled by western capitalism. Conversations went from light to really heavy and then back to light again. But for sure, lots of really good and encouraging conversations.

And now to cap off the day, Becky told me to go read givesmehope.com and mylifeisaverage.com the latter was quite funny and the former was downright inspiring(which is the goal of the site). Loved reading all the different posts thougt it has monopolized the entire rest of my night. Regardless, it has been worth it and I still have a whole bunch left to read.

It's been a really good day :]

*talking about the guy in my discussion who thinks eugenics is wonderful*
Becky: ...what's wrong with him???
Me: Iono....maybe he's Republican?
(this was a joke.......hope no one was offended)