December

It's crazy how fast December has gone by. Everything was leading up to Christmas and now Christmas is already gone. I wanted to take some time to document/remember the things I did this December.

12/04: I had my last Mamm Phys Midterm (test #5) and we had praise night at church afterwards. Then Mary, Sarah, Andrew, Jon, Rebekah, and I went to Silver Diner afterwards.

Thanksgiving Topics

Every year, our church members usually write 10 or 20 thanksgiving topics and share it with each other. Here is my list from this year. It's hard to believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I am so thankful for the friends and family that I was able to spend with this year!

Intercessory Prayer

Last Saturday, the youth group had Bible study on Genesis 18-19 (Sodom and Gomorrah). We followed this six question Bible study style instead of the regular questions and answer style. Although it doesn't guide the Bible study in a specific direction, I thought it was beneficial in the sense that it allows each person to delve into the word of God and share what they learned. 

Other times I've studied this passage, Abraham and Sarah's hospitality really stuck out to me. However, this time, the biggest takeaway for me was the importance of intercessory prayer. But I will also share what I learned from Genesis 13 and from the decisions Abraham and Lot made then.

Let's start with little bit of background. If we go back to chapter 13, Abraham and Lot each chose where to live - where to build their families, wealth, and friendships. Abraham (Abram at the time) became "very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold." As a result, the land could not support both Abraham and Lot's livestock and there was much quarreling between their herders."So Abram said to Lot, 'Let's not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let's part company. If you go to the left, I'll go to the right; if you go to the right, I'll go to the left.' Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt. (This was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) So Lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and set out toward the east. The two men parted company. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, while Lot lived among the cities of the plain and pitched his tents near Sodom. Now the people of Sodom were wicked and were sinning greatly against the Lord.'" (Genesis 13:8-13)

Abraham gave Lot the choice to go to the left or the right. Until Augustine pointed out in his message, I never realized that Lot chose neither. Lot saw that the "the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered" and he chose to go there. He did what was good in his eyes. However Abraham chose to stay where God called him to be - in the land of Canaan. I find that this is the choice that we have to make. There are things that seem to be better - making a lot of money, buying a nice house, having nice things, etc. (not that these things are necessarily bad). But if we place our desires for these things above our desire for God, it is sin. Although Lot may lived in a better place for a while, I see that in the end, Abraham had it better because he lived under God's provision. Abraham also made mistakes, but he held onto God's promise that God would make him in to a great nation. During the Harvest Festival a few weeks ago, I was really encouraged by the sacrifices the missionaries made in the earlier years. It also amazes me that out of all the counties in Maryland, they chose to come to PG County. We live 20-30 minutes from one of the wealthiest counties in America, yet they chose to start and build their families here. But in the end, I see that they chose what was better. They chose to live under God's providence and wealth rather than the world's providence and wealth. No matter what the world offers, it is far better to be under God because God is faithful.

So we get to chapter 18-19. Abraham receives three visitors (2 angels and God himself) and God shares with Abraham what he is about to do in Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham pleads for Sodom and Gomorrah in a conversation with the Lord and from asking about saving the city if there are 50 righteous men, he gets the number down to 10 righteous men. (I think it's also important to note that God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because their sin was so great.) I wonder what would have happened to Lot and his family if Abraham had not interceded for them. Perhaps Lot and his family would have also died in the destruction. One of the questions from the six steps in the Bible study question asks about what can you do specifically this week. At first, I didn't really know what I could do after reading this passage. But the more I thought about it, the more I was convicted to pray - to intercede for others in prayer. I forget that God does hear my prayers for others and it does make a difference. As we see all these things happening around the world, let's take some time to pray. Let's choose to pray and intercede for others around us and for the countries around the world. Let's have faith that God hears our prayers.

God Himself

This week, I read the Five Essential Core Values by Rolland Baker for Iris (Rolland and Heidi Baker's ministry). And it was really convicting. It's kind of long, but I encourage you to read it!

The five main points were:

1. We understand we can find God, and can experience intimacy, communication and companionship with Him in His Presence, if we share His love for righteousness.

2. We are totally dependent on Him for everything, and we need and expect miracles of all kinds to sustain us and confirm the Gospel in our ministry.

3. Look for revival among the broken, humble and lowly, and start at the bottom with ministry to the poor. God chooses the weak and despised things of the world to shame the proud, demonstrating His own strength and wisdom. Our direction is lower still.

4. We understand the value of suffering in the Christian life. Learning to love requires willingness to suffer for the sake of righteousness. Discipline and testing make saints out of us, and produce in us holiness, without which we will not see God’s face and share His glory. With Paul we rejoice in our weaknesses, for when we are weak we are strong.

5. The joy of the Lord is not optional, and far outweighs our suffering! In Jesus it becomes our motivation, reward and spiritual weapon. In His Presence is fullness of joy, and with Paul we testify that in all our troubles our joy knows no bounds (2 Cor. 7:4). It is our strength and energy, without which we die.

The point that convicted me the most is number one. "You know, there are lots of exciting things about the Christian life. One of them is actually doing the stuff. Doing signs and wonders, seeing God do miracles, transforming the world around us and making the world a better place. But how do I express the fact that for us that is just absolutely not enough? We need God Himself. Not just to see a place fixed, not just to see miracles happen. Not just to see our bank account increase, not just to see people get out of the hospital. So yes, they’re out of the hospital, but what shape is their heart in? What’s their state of loneliness? What happens when they die? Life is short, you know. There are issues much bigger than your bank account." 

We need God Himself. I need God Himself. One of the questions from Andrew's YDJ presentation on Samson that stuck out to me was - "Am I being used, but not changed?" God used Samson in powerful ways, but throughout his life, we see that his attitude towards God was not right. He did not acknowledge that the power that he had came from God. He let his anger and carelessness lead to his downfall. However, at the end of his life, we see a change in heart and attitude as he prays for the last time - "Sovereign LORD, remember me. Please, God, strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." (Judges 16:28). 

I want to do great things for God and see people come to know Him. All the mission stories stirs my heart! But what if great things happened - but God wasn't there? Will I be okay? I find that the more I do things, it does not necessarily mean that I am experiencing God and knowing Him more. Yes, God requires me to give 100% of my life, but more than doing things, my primary concern should be knowing God Himself and pursing Him. As I seek Him, am I becoming more like Jesus? These days, I'm learning how important it is to spend time with God daily and to guard this time. We also take for granted how we can worship so freely and openly here with other believers. In the midst of the busyness of life, I'm learning to cherish this time I have now. Listening to the mission reports from the chapters that were pioneered in America and other countries, I wonder where God will lead each one of us in the years to come. Whether we can see it or not, He's moving!

"He loves you just the way you are, but he refuses to leave you that way. He wants you to be just like Jesus."   

from Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado

Fall

This semester is flyyyyinggg by! Is it just me or does it seem like the leaves actually have time to change colors this year? I feel like it has been really cold around Halloween the last few years, but this year the weather's been pretty nice! I had some quality time with my sister today and we took some pictures on campus. Ah, I love all the fall colors. It compete with spring as my favorite season.

Surrogate Spirituality

This week I started reading Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado and I just wanted to share an excerpt that really convicted me. 

Surrogate Spirituality

     Wait a minute. Don't you do that. I know exactly what some of you are doing. You are tuning me out. Lucadao is talking about daily devotionals, eh? This is a good time for me to take a mental walk over to the fridge and see what we have to eat.

     I understand your reluctance. Some of us have tried to have a daily quiet time and have not been successful. Others of us have a hard time concentrating. And all of us are busy. So rather than spend time with God, listening for his voice, we'll let others spend time with him and then benefit from their experience. Let them tell us what God is saying. After all, isn't that why we pay preachers? Isn't that why we read Christian books? These folks are good at daily devotions. I'll just learn from them.

     If that is your approach, if your spiritual experiences are second-hand and not firsthand, I'd like to challenge you with this thought: Do you do that with other parts of your life? I don't think so. 

     You don’t do that with vacations. You don’t say, “Vacations are such a hassle, packing bags and traveling. I’m going to send someone on vacation for me. When he returns, I’ll hear all about it and be spared all the inconvenience.” Would you do that? No! You want the experience firsthand. You want the sights firsthand, and you want to rest firsthand. Certain things no one can do for you. 

     You don’t do that with romance. You don’t say, “I’m in love with that wonderful person, but romance is such a hassle. I’m going to hire a surrogate lover to enjoy the romance in my place. I’ll hear all about it and be spared the inconvenience.” Who would do that? Perish the thought. You want the romance firsthand. You don’t want to miss a word or a date, and you certainly don’t want to miss the kiss, right? Certain things no one can do for you. 

     You don’t let someone eat on your behalf, do you? You don’t say, “Chewing is such a bother. My jaws grow so tired, and the variety of tastes is so overwhelming. I’m going to hire someone to chew my food, and I’ll just swallow whatever he gives me.” Would you do that? Yuck! Of course not! Certain things no one can do for you. 

     And one of those is spending time with God. 

     Listening to God is a firsthand experience. When he asks for your attention, God doesn’t want you to send a substitute; he wants you. He invites you to vacation in his splendor. He invites you to feel the touch of his hand. He invites you to feast at his table. He wants to spend time with you. And with a little training, your time with God can be the highlight of your day. 

     A friend of mine married an opera soprano. She loves concerts. Her college years were spent in the music department, and her earliest memories are of keyboards and choir risers. He, on the other hand, leans more toward Monday Night Football and country music. He also loves his wife, so on occasion he attends an opera. The two sit side by side in the same auditorium, listening to the same music, with two completely different responses. He sleeps and she weeps. 

     I believe the difference is more than taste. It’s training. She has spent hours learning to appreciate the art of music. He has spent none. Her ears are Geiger-counter sensitive. He can’t differentiate between staccato and legato. But he is trying. Last time we talked about the concerts, he told me he is managing to stay awake. He may never have the same ear as his wife, but with time he is learning to listen and appreciate the music.

The Next Big Thing

A few weeks ago, I was listening to T. J. Mousetis' podcasts (click on the link if you're interested in listening to them!).  On his podcasts, T.J. shares advices and tips from his ten years of experience running businesses.  A little background: he began walkinlove ten years ago in order to fundraise for a mission trip. He realized his passion for designing tshirts. With hard work, dedication, and passion, walkinlove has grown to be a successful business. And when he married Brooke, he joined her wedding photography business and they had a really great business until they retired from photographing weddings. I really enjoy listening to the podcasts and I think he shares a lot of wisdom. One thing that he shared that really stuck out to me is episode four - "The Big Break Myth." In the episode, he shares how when he first rented a kiosk to sell tshirts, he ordered hundreds of shirts and had big expectations for it. He thought the tshirts looked great and thought they were going to get sold out really fast. They did sell a lot of tshirts, but it was only enough to strike even. He found out that it wasn't always the "next big thing" that helped his business move forward throughout these ten years. Rather, it was the constant dedication and improvements he daily strived for that led to the next big break. And often times, people think - "If I get ______ or if I do ______, it'll be my break." For example, "If I make an instagram and facebook for my business, then business will start booming." He made a lot of comments about a photography business (since he has a lot of experience with it). A lot of people think - "If I take really cool shots and post it on facebook then I will be booked." But what's important is that you practice taking a lot of pictures and get better at your skill. You need to keep learning and return the pictures to your clients in a timely manner. We often think that once we get the next thing, everything will change. What we fail to realize is that it's the little things that matter.

I think this applies to more than just businesses. In our Christian lives we have such great hope and expectations (which isn't bad), but we set extremely high standard for ourselves. When we don't achieve the high standards, instead of persevering, we give up. For example, you may want to start having devotions with God every day. I remember in high school, I would try to start doing devotions. I would go strong for a week or so, but then I would miss a day and then just stop. If you have never done devotions, chances are, you will miss at least one in a week (speaking from experience). But if you keep persevering (though you may miss days here and there), you find you enjoy spending time with God in the mornings. It's where we can find peace in the midst of our chaotic world. 

Even though I don't know how things will unfold, I do have dreams and hopes that God has given me. Yes, it's important to have a vision and dreams. But moreso than waiting for big things to happen, I think it's more important to be faithful to the little that I have now. We often forget that although the little things seem insignificant, it's what matters. If we cannot be faithful to the little that we have, how will God entrust us with bigger things? All the little things we do daily will grow - and we will look back and see that we have grown. One things I've been trying to do the past couple of months is to take more pictures and practice typography. It's tough and frustrating at times (also that it takes 30 + min to make one thing and you look at it for one second, haha), because I want to be there, but I'm here. But I love looking back even just to a year ago and seeing how much I learned!  I don't know where these things will lead me, but I hope that it will encourage others and ultimately glorify God.

Eyes on Him

I was having quiet time with God last Thursday morning and I felt like he was telling me - "Grace, look to me." Some days, I have more time to write out my prayers, but this day was short. If I look in back at my journal, it simply says in vibrant orange "Grace, look to me". As I wrote those four words that morning, I had no idea how busy it was going to get from then on. In the morning I wrote it as a declaration that these were the words God was speaking to me and I had no idea how timely these words were. After I came home Thursday, I was so tired that I ended up taking a nap (which I rarely do). Then the realization of all the due dates of all these assignments and exams started hitting me. Then I got really stressed Friday and Saturday thinking about all these things.

But then I was reminded of the last sermon from the "Tuned In" Series by Pastor Stephen Chandler. The part that convicted me the most was the point "stay humble". He gave a football analogy (not sure if I understood fully, but I'll do my best to explain it, haha). God is the quarterback and he gives you all the plays in the game that allows you to score, and win. It's not you doing all the work, but God. After years of playing, what if you come to God and say "God, I think I'm good. I can do it on my own." What's going to happen? You can try with all your might, but without God, you're going to lose. Not only is God not going to not be on your team, he's going to be in the opposing team. So the point of the analogy was that we need to stay humble. 

I look back to my freshman and sophomore year and I honestly don't know how I got through some of the classes and even did well in them. But I know it was God who brought me through then and i know it is God who will bring me through. I love what I do - teaching the youth group, teaching the media team, learning biology, taking pictures, etc. but altogether, it easily gets overwhelming. But I will get through this semester and the semesters after this the way I have gotten through them in the past - in spending time in God's words and in prayer. As the year began, I resolved to do my best to study the Word of God as a priority instead of something I do just in my free time (because who really has free time in college?). It's definitely been a struggle! Every Wednesday the thought that crosses my mind is - "to go or not to go to Bible study" but I believe that spending time in God's words and in fellowship with people in various parts of their Christian walk - it will not be in vain.

Yesterday I went to a talk by the University of Maryland at Baltimore Medical School admissions office, and it was really interesting to hear from the admission's point of view what characteristics a doctor needs. They look for the applicant to have maturity, patience, empathy, adaptability, and motivation. He told us that medical school is not a sprint, but a marathon. But I realized that life in general, is not a sprint, but a marathon. I can only see what right in front of me for now, but I will do my best to persevere and to be faithful to what God has given me now.

Also, this is a three part thing I made. It's from 2 Timothy 4:7. I hope to be able to declare this one day! I'm also giving a YDJ presentation on how Jacob is the shadow of Jesus this Friday. If you could pray for me, I would greatly appreciate it. :)

Cain and Abel

This semester at YDJ, we are doing a series called the "Shadows". We are studying characters from the Old Testament and seeing how they foreshadow Jesus in order to see and understand how all things point to Jesus. Last Friday Johanna lead the discussion on Cain and Abel (more specifically, how Abel is the shadow of Jesus). In youth group we began studying Genesis in the beginning of the school year. On Sunday, Aug gave the message on Genesis 4:1-5:32 (but mainly focused on Cain and Abel). Although it's a familiar passage that I have heard many times, I learned new things. I was reminded of the importance of the condition of our heart as we bring our offerings before God. Also, as I took a closer look at the conversation between God and Cain, I learned of God's patience and love for Cain. I was thinking of how to summarize and tie in what I learned on Friday and Sunday and this is the overarching question that I think summarizes what I learned - how do you respond to rebuke?

So let's dive in!

"In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. And Abel also brought an offering - fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast." (Genesis 4:3-4)

While Abel brought in fat portions, Cain brought some of the fruits as an offering to the Lord. Although we cannot directly see the condition of their heart as they gave their offerings to the Lord, from observing their offerings, we can see glimpses of their attitude and heart. Abel's offering was genuine while Cain's offering was careless.

"Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it." (Genesis 4:6-7)

"If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?" Genesis doesn't say exactly what  God required Cain and Abel to bring as an offering, but here, we can see that Cain knew what was right. God desired Cain to do what was right. Cain had a choice at that moment - to repent or not to repent. God warns him - "But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it".

"Now Cain said to his brother Abel, 'Let's go out to the field.' While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Able and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Where is your brother Able?' 'I don't know,' he replied. 'Am I my brother's keeper?' 'I don't know,' he replied, 'Am I my brother's keeper?'" (Genesis 4:8-9)

We can see that instead of choosing to repent and be accepted by God, Cain's jealousy ruled over and he ended up murdering his own brother. This made me really think about the question - "How do you respond to rebuke?" How do I respond to rebuke? People older than us will rebuke us times (hopefully out of love). But more importantly, if you are going the wrong way, even if no one else does, the Holy Spirit will rebuke you. God, the Father's intention is to correct us so that we will walk in the right path. I think especially in our culture, people really value independence. At times, there is a lack of respect for people older and wiser at times because of pride. I think it's really easy to be offended and run the other way if someone tries to correct us. Proverbs 12:1 says - "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but whoever hates correction is stupid."

"The Lord said, 'What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth.' Cain said to the Lord, 'My punishment is more than I can bear. Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wander on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me.' But the Lord said to him, 'Not so; anyone who ills Cain will suffer vengeance seven times over.' Then the Lord put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. So cain went out from the Lord's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden." (Genesis 4:11-16).

God gave Cain another chance to repent, yet Cain refused to repent. Instead, he complained about his punishment. However, we see God's grace and mercy over Cain. Although Cain deserved to die for killing Abel, he allows him to live and gives him a mark so that no one who found him would kill him. I don't know about you, but I want to live in the presence of God. I want to bring an offering that pleases him. And what does God require? Not 50% of me, not 75% of me, and not even 99% of me. He requires all of me. He requires all of you. I want to hear the voice of God and live in His presence. I want to bring Him my best and my all. But if I don't and the Holy Spirit rebukes me, I pray that I may not have an offended heart and simply repent because without repentance, there is no forgiveness.

And here are some pictures!

Valuing God's Voice

The youth group has been studying the "Tuned In Series" by Pastor Stephen Chandler. On Saturday, we watched the sermon "Please Repeat That" and I thought there were valuable lessons from it. If you have some time, I would recommend listening to it!

Here are some of the notes:

Value His voice.
"People want to hear the specific word of God without taking the time to listen for the general words of God. There are about 4 or 5 times throughout your year when you say, 'I really need to know what God's will is for this decision right here.' But there's about 361 other days where hearing God's voice is not a big deal to you because you don't have a big decision to make."

"What you value, you will allot time for. If you don't allot time for it, you don't really value it."

Four ways to value God:

1. Set an appointment. God shows up in a prepared environment. God shows up when we prepare an atmosphere. 
2. Be still and worship. You cannot experience God unless you are still. The battle is won when you stand still and worship God. It's in worship when God speaks to you.
3. Pray and read.
4. Listen and write. Listen to what God is saying to you and write what God is speaking to you."

The message was really encouraging to listen to. I believe that the four ways to value God that Pastor Stephen shared is really important, but it is really a daily struggle to do these things. What stuck out to me the most is that "God shows up in a prepared environment." How would church on Sunday be if no one prepared? What if the chairs weren't set up? What if the praise team didn't practice? What if the messenger didn't prepare and pray throughout the week? It would be a mess. It's difficult preparing for Sunday Worship Service, conferences, Harvest Festival, etc. but I believe how we prepare is a reflection of our attitude and view towards God. Do we really believe that God is good? That God is great? Do we love Him? For example, if an important guest came over to your house, you would make sure your house was really clean and make a really nice meal. In the same way, we need to prepare for God to show up. While it is important to prepare the physical atmosphere for Holy Spirit to come, we must not forget to prepare our hearts to hear God's voice!

As a youth group teacher, I find it sometimes difficult and challenging prepare for classes Saturdays and Sundays. But I a reminded that it is when we prepare for the presence of God, He comes. I am also reminded of Romans 12:8 "...if it is to lead, do it diligently." In the context of the passage, Paul is talking about spiritual gifts that God has given each person. As a leader, it is important to lead diligently. Sometimes I don't know how I got to where I am, but I believe that this is where God wants me to be right now. I have a lot of weaknesses (to which my sister can testify, haha), but I hope to do my best to love, teach, and lead my class this year.

Also I've been meaning to post more regularly this semester - maybe once a week or once every two weeks, but it's been hard...

Giving

"As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. 'Truly I tell you,' he said, 'this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'" 

- Luke 21:1-4

This story is so simple, yet so profound. Anna and I studied this passage with missionary (doctor) Rebekah the Saturday before we came back from Uganda. Ever since then, God has been really challenging me with this passage. Over the summer, I reread 1 & 2 Samuel and I was reminded that God does not look at our outward appearance, but He looks at our heart. And in this passage, again, we see that Jesus does not focus on the outward appearance, but He looks into our hearts. This widow had two small copper coins, which are equivalent to around two pennies. Although what she gave was worth so little, her action pleased Jesus. She gave all that she had to live on and had no idea where her next funds were coming from. I believe her action was a declaration of trust in the Lord's providence. On the contrast, all the other "people gave their gifts out of their wealth..." I realized that it's quite different to give out of your wealth and to give, so that you go without. I, too, like to give out of my wealth because when you have plenty, it's easy to give. But what is it like when you don't have much? Giving is not so much about what you have, but about the condition of your heart. I believe giving all that you have because you trust the Lord - this is the kind of giving that moves God's heart. I don't know about you, but I want to move Jesus' heart. How amazing would that be? Giving doesn't necessarily have to be associated with money, but it can be your talents, time, effort, etc. But before we do all these things, let's have our hearts right before God. Although people may see all the things we do outwardly, He sees the motivation in our hearts.

Another thing that I read last week that's I've been thinking about is - "The Christian life is personal, but is not private." As Christians, we live in context of a community and as much as we have a personal relationship with Jesus, I realized it's important to share with others what God is teaching you. Through this, we can encourage and be encouraged.

Blogs I Follow

I just wanted to share a list of blogs/websites/devotionals that I stumbled upon and follow in case anyone else might be interested! Looking at them, I think they're blogs geared towards girls/women.

shereadstruth.com
She Reads Truth is a devotional website where they post a new devotion every day. I like how they go through series. Over the summer they studied women in the Bible. I like how their emphasis on reading the Bible and living it out. Some days, they had devotionals on women that I quickly overlooked or didn't even know were mentioned in the Bible. I also really like their artwork and typography, which makes the website more enjoyable to look at, haha.

alyssajoy.me/blog
I don't know if you know Jeff Bethke (the guy who got famous from Jesus > Religion youtube video) but this is his wife's blog! I love how she chooses to openly share the difficulties as well as the victories she experiences in her walk with the Lord.

havilahcunnington.com/the-good-stuff
A friend forwarded this study a few months ago and I really liked it because unlike most devotions, this is a video! I just watched the video in the morning as I got ready for school. I don't think I finished it, but I remember learning a lot from it.

deeplyrootedmag.com
I stumbled upon this website while I was on instagram. They have magazine issues that you have to pay for (but I think now they're trying to release a part of the issue for free). But they also have a blog portion that's free (deeplyrootedmag.com/blogs/blog). As you can see in their name, their mission is to help women become deeply rooted in their faith.

www.setapartgirl.com
This stems from Leslie and Eric Ludy's ministry of Ellerslie. I always found their articles to be grounded from the truth and encouraging but also very convicting and challenging. They are also the authors of Authentic Beauty and When God Writes Your Love Story. They also have setapartmotherhood.com for parenting mothers.

These are a few blogs/websites that I wanted to share! If you have other blogs you follow I would love to know. (:

Uganda Reflection

Hello, how are you? I'm fine, thank you. And you?
The deep, rich, orange dirt that never seems to leave your feet,
The unexpected rainstorms,
Blackouts,
The slow paced lifestyle,
Black tea instead of coffee,
6:30 PM summer sunsets,
Imported Japanese cars,
Unending streams of boda bodas,
Mangoes, pineapples, avocadoes,
Dust,
No sidewalks,
Prompt 5:30 AM muslim prayer calls,
Cool morning breezes,
Beautiful countrysides.

TIU. This is Uganda.

Immersed in a new culture with new food, new people, and with new music without the comforts of home, there were days I was counting down to when I was going home. However, when I look back at our stay here, I learned so much. Unfamiliar terms such as KOICA and Vision Care entered into my vocabulary. KOICA and Vision Care are Korean non-government organizations in Uganda with the mission to further the healthcare in Uganda. (On the side-note, once there was a Korea lady who came to the front desk asking for the wifi password. Gloria seemed to know her so I asked her who the lady was and Gloria said "She's a KOICA" but I thought she said "She's a quaker." I thought it was so interesting that there were Korean quakers in Uganda, hahaha then I found out she meant KOICA.)

In the beginning we struggled to overcome jetlag as well as getting adjusted to the lifestyle here. Things that are so simple in America was difficult to do here (doing laundry, going grocery shopping, etc). However, somehow in these two months, I learned more about Africa than I ever knew. This side of the world that I never really thought about became real. From the missionaries, I learned how they traded a comfortable lifestyle for a difficult one in Africa. Despite the setbacks they received they sacrifice to love as Jesus loves. They have a heart not only for Uganda, but for the whole continent of Africa, that people may come to know Jesus truly as their Savior and King. They continue to pray to pioneer new chapters throughout Africa. But it's difficult. Before I came here, I didn't really understand why it's so difficult to pioneer a chapter in Africa, but now I understand. Even as a person with a professional degree, it's difficult to find a good, stable job. There are many parts of Africa that are still developing and there are so many issues and problems that still needs progress. And depending on the region, people speak different languages. Even in Uganda, other than English, people speak different languages. Also only the educated people really speak English. With the rich being super rich and the poor being super poor, there are so many people who need help. To continue to pour out love and compassion over and over when you see no progress is difficult. It's difficult not only for yourself, but also for your children. For example, the missionary's kids here go off to a boarding school in Kenya around middle and high school to receive a better education. I think the hardest part is that no matter how long you live here, it's difficult to feel like you truly belong. Because as a foreigner, you get ripped off in the market places and have to pay the foreigner price, which is two or three times more than what a Ugandan has to pay. Also since there is a lot of theft in Uganda, you always have to be alert and aware wherever you are.

But in the midst of all the struggles and difficulties, God is at work. Although it is a continuous struggle to raise up disciples who will stand to follow Jesus with everything and to stand above what their culture deems to be acceptable, I see God working. Maturing doesn't happen overnight; it is a process. I hope that God will continue to raise up leaders from Uganda that will live truly for Him. I'm thankful for the friendships that were built over early morning prayer meetings, long talks, dinners, and outings. I will never forget the friendships that began here and maybe one day we can meet again (in the US?! haha). I believe even if I came to Uganda to encourage and build up one person in their walk with God, it was worth it. First time living away from home in itself, I learned so much.  Although it was difficult commuting freshman year, I'm so thankful that I can live at home throughout college. It's one thing to live in your own room, but it's a whole another world to have a roommate. Though it was a struggle at first, I learned some very valuable life lessons. There are things such as - who's cooking what for dinner, who's washing the dishes, who's taking out the trash that seem so small but amount to a lot of work. Maybe I had an expectation (an expectation I didn't even realize that I had) that since we were living together, we would do everything together. But I realized that we're so different. I like to sleep around 10:30, but Anna's a night owl and doesn't get tired until late into the night. I like to eat breakfast, Anna doesn't. But over the two months, I learned to just accept things how they are. I learned to fall asleep with half the lights still on, to be diligent, to not only think about myself, but to consider others above myself. I learned to appreciate the slow paced lifestyle of Ugandans. I learned to live without coffee (haha, jk I'm not that addicted to coffee, but I did miss drinking coffee). I learned that I'm more like my mom than I ever thought I was (and somehow in the midst of all this, I realized my mom's sort of a perfectionist). I learned to love Uganda - to love the people here and to appreciate their culture. Above all, I learned to be content.

Philippians 4:4-13 - 
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable -- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy -- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from, or seen in me -- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.  

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what is is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through him who gives me strength."

Uganda: Week 6 & 7

Hi everyone,

            It’s hard to believe that Anna and I have been in Uganda for almost seven weeks. Last Thursday Dr. Luke Lim arrived to Uganda. We received the ping-pong nets and rackets. Thank you!

This week has been pretty eventful. On Monday, we visited another branch of the clinic at the village in Buvuma Island. Christopher, Dr. Luke, Dr. Luke’s two friends from Korea, Jinsil, Anna, and I left at 5 AM in the morning in order to reach the island around 10 AM. We drove for two hours, took a ferry for one hour, and then drove another hour up to the village. Although the journey through the dirt roads was difficult with many uneven roads, the view in the village was beautiful. We also tried jackfruit, which tasted like a mixture of a mango and an orange. Afterwards, we went to Jinja and took a 30-minute boat ride in Victoria Lake. Connected to the lake was the source of the Nile River.

On Tuesday, Anna assisted Dr. Song in breast cancer examinations. Dr. Song and Dr. Park, good friends of Dr. Luke was visiting Uganda for a week. Before they left for Korea on Friday, we joined them on a trip to the Queen Elizabeth National Park for a safari. On Wednesday we left early in the morning at 6 and after driving all morning, we arrived around two. We went on a boat ride at five and saw a lot of hippos, elephants, crocodiles, and birds. It was such a beautiful sight! The next day, we drove through the safari tracks and saw a lot of deer, antelopes, and buffalos. Unfortunately we did not get to see a lion.

Yesterday Anna shared 2 Corinthians 4:1-18 during our fellowship meeting. We were reminded to have an eternal perspective in order to fight the good fight to the end. We know that our labor in the Lord will not be in vain. “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Although we may experience hardships in this life, we will never be crushed. In the end, God will surely accomplish his sovereign plan in our lives.

Lately there have been a lot of guests from here and there. It’s been good having fellowship with other girls here through going to the market and eating dinner together. Next Sunday, we will share what we learned in Uganda during the Sunday service. I see that everyone is preparing for the conference in the upcoming week. I look forward to attending the conference and seeing everyone in a week!

-- 

These are a few pictures from the safari! Although the journey was very difficult, the view was soo amazing. I have never seen a view more beautiful! While I was looking at the scenery, I realized that heaven is going to be even better than this.

Uganda: Cultural Observations

I wanted to write a blog post on the cultural observations I made so far in Uganda as well as some challenges and experiences we have had while living here. 

1. Life is slowly paced here. You can tell by people's attitudes, behavior, and even by how they walk. Most people take their time while walking. After a stressful semester, I've had time to relax and take life at a slower pace for the summer.
2. I learned that it's really hard for people to get jobs in Uganda (in Africa in general). Even after people graduate college, they are often jobless for a couple of months. I suppose it is similar back in the US, but I think it's more severe in Uganda. 
3. If you invite someone to come for dinner or a meeting, they will say "yes, I'll come" but half the time they won't show up. I asked Gloria why Ugandans do this if they know they won't show up. She said that it's because they don't want to hurt the person's feelings.
4. They tend to marry early and have a lot of children. They say that having three children is the minimum.
5. The rich are so rich and the poor are so poor. When you hear that people live off of $1 a day, you wonder how it's possible. But I realized why it could be possible. $1 is currently equivalent to 3,200 Ugandan shillings (Ugsh). A regular sized avocado is between 500-1,000 Ugsh, a pineapple is 2,000 Ugsh, a mango is between 500-1,000 Ugsh, a bunch of bananas is 2,000 Ugsh. Fresh fruits are really cheap here while processed foods are extremely expensive.
6. Art is appreciated. I found this to be really interesting, but apparently there are really famous world-wide artists from Uganda. When we visited the Kyambogo University, I learned that being an art major is really competitive and more expensive. This is so different from how being an art major is viewed at UMCP.

These are just some of the observations I've made the past month and here are pictures from my phone. (I find it a lot easier to take pictures with my phone than my camera because it's less bulkier and obvious. Also it takes forever uploading pictures from my camera on the internet here.

Pictures

As you can see, there are no sidewalks here. And as Asians, we are often referred to as Chinese people. We also stand out a lot whenever we walk in the streets.

All private properties have guards next to the gates. I heard that Uganda is one of the safest nations regarding theft in Uganda. This is the compound where the Bethesda Medical Center is as well housing for three families as well as some volunteers.

This was from when we were helping out with the children's eye exams. This Anna and John putting eye drops to dilate the children's eyes.

All the windows here have a certain pattern to them. It's to keep out burglars but I think they look pretty.

There are sooo many butterflies in front of the clinic! Who needs to go to the butterfly garden?

more butterflies

Living in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, it's hard to see what life in Uganda is like for most people. But when we went to visit the land where the future hospital is to be built, it had more of a countryside feel. It really reminded me of the village Jerusalem in Mexico. I loved the fresh air and the quietness of the land. Even though it's been over a month, sometimes I have a hard time sleeping through the all the car noise and sound of the city. Also there is a mosque near the hospital and they really do pray 5 times a day. The prayer goes through a speaker and we can hear it all the way from our room and sometimes it wakes me up at 5:30 AM in the morning.

Anna

One of the main public modes of transportation is by these vans called "taxis". Taxis fit about ten people and are fairly cheap. Another main mode of transportation is by a bota bota, which are motorcycle.

I really like the trees here.

A leaf I found on the street.

I think one of the challenges is doing laundry by hand, haha. Every time I do my laundry I pray that it won't rain so that my clothes can dry. 

This is a picture from when we taught CBF one Sunday.

I was surprised when Aizhen sat in the front of the car without a seat belt...haha I guess there are no laws about kids sitting in the front here. Apparently cars are not manufactured in Uganda. So all the cars here have been imported from countries such as Japan. And all the cars are so so so old. They say that an old car in another country is brand new in Uganda. They also sell them for the price of a new car. This contributes to the pollution in the city.

Food

In high school I was never really interested in cooking so I never really cooked at home. My mom taught me how to make things like kimbap and a few things, but I didn't know much aside from that. Perhaps it was the fear that I would end up being terrible at cooking that prevented me from trying and learning, but I have definitely learned a lot this summer about cooking from google + trial & error. We've also made dinner and invited our next door neighbor Seul-Gi (Sophia) a couple of times as well as Gloria.

Lunch

This is typically what we eat for lunch here. The first week, everything tasted kind of bland but after the first week it started tasting good. The pineapple here tastes sooo good. It's much sweeter than the ones back at home. 

I just thought the gradient was really pretty. Spring onions!

We don't eat nutella as much now, but when we didn't know what to cook or make for breakfast, we ate a lot of nutella sandwiches...haha I really like nutella banana sandwiches but Anna doesn't really like bananas.

One of the first meals we actually cooked.

We also learned how to make spaghetti. To make the tomato sauce, you need around 10 tomatoes for 2 people.

Are we in India? At the supermarket near the clinic, there are so many Indian spices...only if I knew how to use them. I think it must be because there are fairly a lot of Indian people in Uganda. Surprisingly, there are a bunch of Koreans living in Uganda as well. However I think the number of Chinese people in Uganda surpasses the number of Koreans here.

I'm so thankful for missionary Mary (From Kyambogo UBF) for making us kimchi. I didn't really miss kimchi for a few weeks, but eating it after not having kimchi for a while made it taste so good! Missionary Mary went back to Korea to visit her children and will go to Swaziland to pioneer another chapter with her husband, doctor Samuel.

The sweet potatoes here taste really good too. So we made gam-ja-tee-geum (deep fried sweet potato).

This is when Anna got really into making Korean pancakes for a week or so.

I miss coffee. Although Uganda exports a lot of coffee, not a lot of people drink coffee here. So I've been drinking a lot of black tea (which is what is in the picture above).

I learned how to cut pineapple! We failed in our first attempt to cut a pineapple, but now it's solid. The process goes from L to R.