Another relocation

This is the 13th city in my almost 26 years of living. I keep saying that I am 26 already but in fact, I am still 25. Hehe..Ok, so I've moved to Kuching (yay for going back to Sarawak!) quite suddenly because a music academy job found me. I was not looking for a job in Kuching but I guess God has His idea so here I am. I have a lot to be thankful, even though I had some emotional breakdown moments at the cusp of this transition wondering if I had made the right decision or if it was too hasty because I had to make a lot of changes with plans and friends who have already planned to visit me in KK in the coming days. I am thankful for the host home who is willing to take me in and treat me like one of their daughters, for parents who are so helpful in my official start of paid employment, and a supportive boyfriend who encourages me to go ahead with a new experience. My first impression of Kuching after I landed and was picked up by aunty Zhi Yan and Josephine was that Kuching has become more spacious in terms of its landscape and the plants + sky are much prettier. I have been really delighted with all the beautiful evening skies expanding across the skyline as I ride in the car on the highways here. I am thankful for a boss and wife who are willing to trust me, a newbie despite never hearing me play the piano once. They are good business people, so I won't have to worry about the administration or business aspects of this job.

I am thankful for the many good food in Kuching, which I had always thought that KK had the upper hand of. I am thankful for a host mom who is organised and clean so I can find a sense of peace and rhythm in her house (a cup of hot tea/coffee at the marble dining table with my Bible in the morning). I am thankful for Josephine who is willing to be my driving coach and who is always cheering me on and being concerned about me. So yes, I will keep learning to be content with whatever God gives me and wherever He places me.

Late autumn->early winter

Dear blog readers/family/friends,

I just finished blogging about the end of summer and I realised that it is also the end of autumn now, a changing of seasons again. Not only weather-wise, but also in terms of work and life.
In the past three months, I had been going out with the COCM Gospel Team (福音布道队) to do outreach in 18 different places in France, the Netherlands, and the UK. Even though I had experienced going on "short term missions" with the GT last year, God taught me new things this year and cultivated in me a bigger heart for missions and evangelism. He taught me a lot about humility, faith, unity in the body of Christ, and let me experience Him in an intimate way through the challenges that we faced on mission (and the hardships brothers and sisters around me had experienced--a faithful missionary sister who faced cancer, a childhood sister whose dad passed away, a dear brother who is part of our team facing illness...). God also let me see how it is Him who works and brings everything together for His glory in ways we can never think of.
Our theme song this year that we sing with joined hands every time is “活出爱” (living out God's love) and our motto is "one team, one spirit, all for Jesus!"

So yup, the last gospel team event ended this past Friday and we had our thanksgiving/sharing gathering on Saturday.
This week, it's time to prepare for the upcoming Isaiah Bible camps (3 consecutive ones for Mandarin, restaurant workers, and Cantonese groups). Music worship practice for Year-end gospel camps had started too. It is time to gear up for the last two months of the year!

In life, lately, I have been informed that three of my closest friends will be getting married sometime next year (exciting! but I have to think of how to attend their weddings). Also, Nick has finally been granted progress in his year-long job search: two interviews in a row since last week and by God's grace he will probably start working soon back in Hong Kong. I grappled a lot with God about what He wants me to do with my life next in these few months and I have learned more to wait on Him and become the person with the character that He wants me to have first, and to learn to worship Him instead of seeking self-worth in what I would do.

I have been listening to Kyuhyun's music a lot--his new album is basically my soundtrack for this autumn/winter season. I just realised a few days ago that it is appropriate to start listening to Christmas songs (which I sort of forgot because you don't hear Christmas music playing everywhere in the UK as you would in the US). I miss the warmth that comes with everything Christmas-season related in the US. But hey, in this bleak and grey place, the message of Hope that Christ brings can shine brighter (we're learning about the #hopeeffect in church lately i.e. having the living hope gives us joy...). So even though we won't have chestnuts roasting on an open fire or carols sung by a choir, we will have lots of Chinese families and students coming to hear about the Good News and how their lives can be changed by knowing and loving their Creator.

ps: Please pray for our upcoming camps and ministry. :)
pss: I am impressed that I managed to summarise the second half of my year into one post. ;P

a Chicago December (2011)

I'm looking at some of these photos from two years ago and remembering the good friends and times I had with them in Chicago. What I am thankful about is, even though it's been two years, I am still in touch with most of them now (in fact, I can say that I have been having conversations--emails, facebook messages--with them in the past week). Although we cannot keep in touch all the time, we still check on each other once in a while. I can't wait for the day till I meet them in one of the corners of the world again. :) Actually, I just had a wonderful day in Oxford with Lulu two weeks ago and I will probably see some of the others somewhere in Asia next year or so?

Three more days until the unofficial start of my Christmas break! But of course, I will have two major assignments to be working on over break (maybe that is why UK students are smart). Also, you may have noticed I added my instagram photos to the sidebar and that is more updated than my blog posts because it takes me forever to get my photos onto my laptop and onto this blog. Have a meaningful and happy December, everyone! Don't forget to tell your friends and family that Jesus loves them. :) ps: I miss you girls too, Sara, Lana, and Vinsie even though you're not in the photos. :)