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I think it really is funny how God teaches us things sometimes.  During the summer before entering graduate school, I had applied for a particular research assistantship.  It sounded absolutely perfect.  I would work part-time while studying and they would help pay for the majority of my tuition and supplement that with a monthly stipend.  I was nervous for the interview, but felt naively confident at the same time.  I secretly assumed my skills and experiences would easily help me secure the job.  I relied on my own power and control.  Oh, how silly I was.

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I just returned from a family vacation with my mom, brother, sister-in-law, and 10-month old nephew. We had planned this trip while I was in Taiwan, as a way to bring the family all together after a year of me being abroad. So, this would count as my first real interaction with my adorable nephew, Tyler. I was so excited because I love kids and if you know me, I “aww” at every small child and try my best to make them smile which may or may not include me doing crazy ridiculous silly things like “Peek-a-boo” or “Pluh-pluh-pluh” (a version of my mom’s Toisan nursery rhyme that includes something like eating chicken legs, pointing to the sky, and brushing your teeth). I mean, I guess I must confess, that I really am obsessed with little kids. They’re just so darn cute! continue reading »

What a trek it has been these past six weeks, living and serving incarnationally among the urban poor of Manila!  I just got back from our debrief week in Bangkok, Thailand and am staying in Taipei now.  As many of you know, I will be in Taiwan for a year teaching English.

I can honestly say that the past six weeks have been the most intense, emotional, and joyful six weeks of my life as I lived among the poor in Manila.  Although the physical discomforts of living in the slums are hard to ignore, I was surprised at how little those seemed to bother me.  Praise God for how He’s worked in me to change that!  Instead, I found myself much more emotionally stressed as I saw so much poverty in my face and felt helpless to change their situation and as I saw the innocence and dignity stripped from young girls working in the bars. continue reading »

So, I’m officially definitely starting to feel the pressure of leaving in just a mere three days.  Saturday seems to be quickly approaching and I still have empty suitcases and an unchecked to-do list.  Things I have left to do before I leave:

1. Finish the reading assignment from Quest for Hope in the Slum Community
2. Start and finish packing for a year & for the trek
3. Finish volunteer application for the site I was placed at for Manila: Samaritana
4. Get traveler’s checks or some form of money
5. Obtain traveler’s insurance
6. Transfer files
7. Make a scrapbook for my mom that I promised I would finish for her
8. Get my mom a birthday present
9. Meet up with friends before I leave & say goodbye
10. Savor my last few days with my mom
11. Pray and get my head in the game!

I definitely can’t believe that it’s come so soon. Five weeks flew right past me and I feel like I haven’t accomplished much, even though it’s seemed so busy already! God has been faithful through it all though and has definitely revealed to me a small glimpse of what He has in store for me this year. Sunday at church was incredible for me. I knew that God was speaking so many truths to me about some of my misconceptions of myself. I know that I need to just trust in God this summer and give Him all the control.

I am really really looking forward to meeting the two other girls that I’ll be living with and serving with in Samaritana ministries.  I’m excited for the community that we’ll have from actually living communally and keeping each other accountable.  Please pray that God would help us to be open, vulnerable, and supportive with each other.

I saw the Hillsongs United concert last night which was incredible, of course.  The Merriweather Post Pavilion was packed, literally, with multitudes of people all gathered to worship God through music.  The entire outdoor pavilion was lined with people and even beyond, on the lawn, there were even more!

It was so encouraging to see the worship team use the musical gifts God has given them for His kingdom and glory.  And I think the one thing that stood out to me the most was just how large of a congregation was brought together last night all singing in unison.  It was great to hear and see shouts of joy and jumps of praise all for God’s glory and praise.

I can’t even describe how beautiful a sound it was to hear THOUSANDS of people singing the same song all in one voice, all in unison, all in praise of our mighty God.

Victor, Me, and Paul at the Hillsongs Concert