As I was cleaning my bathroom tonight, I thought to myself, "I just cleaned my bathroom for an hour on a Friday night. Should I be sad about this?"
While people are out being jolly eating, chillin, camping, etc, I am at home a week from moving out from Cville scrubbing tiles with a toothbrush. Not that this is a bad thing, I feel good having things cleaned but I guess I was expecting to be meeting up with people and making new memories. It's also extra sad because my faithful roommate and wife left yesterday for Boston. It's a funny feeling, realizing that things and people go on whether or not you are present for it. It's quite humbling, actually.
Starting tomorrow, I'm going to make the most of my time left here! No more wallowing in self-pity mode. Don't be surprised if you get a random phone call from me ;)
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Sunday, May 24, 2009
offically summer!
Today, I saw a firefly. And as everyone knows firefly=summer. So happy summer, everyone! Whew~ good thing those fireflies were out, otherwise I would have been so lost! err... yes.
So here's the update about summer missions. As of last week, the four of us who are going to be in Korea this summer didn't have officially have a place to leave for the coming two months of summer. JM was still waiting on the homes to take us in and house us. This was a shocker for me since 1) I already bought my plane ticket and no going back now and 2) how could they not have space for two volunteers? But I forget, that this is an orphanage and I'm sure it's brimming to it's limit with the number of kids living in the place. I hope that us being there won't deter them from taking in more children or the children having enough space to sleep. How much more can a person selfish? just looking out for myself... ugh~ sometimes it's disgusting. Good thing, Jesus is all forgiving, amen! Anyway, a couple of days ago we got an email telling us that we have the green light and two homes have opened up their doors and are willing to take us in. PRaise the Lord!
So, the place I will be staying is called Namsan Children's Home. I don't know the location but it's in Seoul. I'll have a partner and we'll be living there together with the kids. When I think about this fact and that this will start happening a 3 weeks, my heartbeat races. So cool. How lucky am I?!
The only sad thing is that mean I'll have to leave Charlottesville soon. Leaving this community of trust and love, however imperfect it may be at times, and jumping into the unknown...it's gonna be tough. I'm gonna miss always having someone to talk to.. there aren't too many places that you pull anyone aside and have a deep and meaningful conversation with. And today, I realized what it's gonna mean to leave KCC ministry behind. Their high, giggle-filled voices belting out songs in praise of God...it's like leaving behind glimpses of heaven. And as I was listening to them in worship, tears of thankfulness and sadness dripped down my face. Thankful for being given the opportunity to experience such joy. Sad for having to leave it behind. But it's ok because in heaven it's we're gonna be together praising God every day forever! These moments are trailers to the real deal, to remind us that there's more~
So here's the update about summer missions. As of last week, the four of us who are going to be in Korea this summer didn't have officially have a place to leave for the coming two months of summer. JM was still waiting on the homes to take us in and house us. This was a shocker for me since 1) I already bought my plane ticket and no going back now and 2) how could they not have space for two volunteers? But I forget, that this is an orphanage and I'm sure it's brimming to it's limit with the number of kids living in the place. I hope that us being there won't deter them from taking in more children or the children having enough space to sleep. How much more can a person selfish? just looking out for myself... ugh~ sometimes it's disgusting. Good thing, Jesus is all forgiving, amen! Anyway, a couple of days ago we got an email telling us that we have the green light and two homes have opened up their doors and are willing to take us in. PRaise the Lord!
So, the place I will be staying is called Namsan Children's Home. I don't know the location but it's in Seoul. I'll have a partner and we'll be living there together with the kids. When I think about this fact and that this will start happening a 3 weeks, my heartbeat races. So cool. How lucky am I?!
The only sad thing is that mean I'll have to leave Charlottesville soon. Leaving this community of trust and love, however imperfect it may be at times, and jumping into the unknown...it's gonna be tough. I'm gonna miss always having someone to talk to.. there aren't too many places that you pull anyone aside and have a deep and meaningful conversation with. And today, I realized what it's gonna mean to leave KCC ministry behind. Their high, giggle-filled voices belting out songs in praise of God...it's like leaving behind glimpses of heaven. And as I was listening to them in worship, tears of thankfulness and sadness dripped down my face. Thankful for being given the opportunity to experience such joy. Sad for having to leave it behind. But it's ok because in heaven it's we're gonna be together praising God every day forever! These moments are trailers to the real deal, to remind us that there's more~
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
green eggs and ham
One of the kids I work with really seems to enjoy Dr.Seuss' Green Eggs and Ham. So the other day, not only did I get to read him the story Green Eggs and Ham for the gazillioneth time but got to watch the animation Green Eggs and Ham soon after.
I'm sure you all know the story but just as a quick recap...
Here's 'Sam I Am' trying his might to persuade this old grouchy seuss dude to try a sliver of green eggs and ham. Sam carries around the green breakfast platter all through the story; here and there, in the house, with the mouse, in a box, with fox, in the tree, in the car, in the rain, on the train... and on and on.
Honestly, if I were Sam I probably would have stopped at "in the house." I mean, really, it wasn't helping Sam any for the other guy to have eaten the dish. The pursuit was solely based on his desire to share something delicious with someone else, right? Then it suddenly hit me...how come we don't do more of that? We offer a bite, a ride, a quick word only out of obligation or to meet formalities but how often do we really mean it and when we do, how far are we willing to push through? Up to "in the house" like me? or perhaps up to "in a tree" which is, in some ways, pushing the limits of social etiquette. But if we have something so delicious, so wonderful in our hands that we know will only add to one's life, why shouldn't we keep on offering it? Otherwise, wouldn't it be selfish of us not to just for the sake of our comfort?
After all, when the grouchy figure finally gives in to Sam's "pestering" (his reason being to appease Sam so that he would be left in peace), the guy absolutely loves it! The rest of the story tells of how he will always eat those delectable green eggs and ham anywhere and everywhere! As the story came to a close with the final lines spoken by the grouchy-turned-happy dude being "Thank you, thank you, Sam I Am", I was left there wondering... will I ever be like Sam?
I'm sure you all know the story but just as a quick recap...
Here's 'Sam I Am' trying his might to persuade this old grouchy seuss dude to try a sliver of green eggs and ham. Sam carries around the green breakfast platter all through the story; here and there, in the house, with the mouse, in a box, with fox, in the tree, in the car, in the rain, on the train... and on and on.
Honestly, if I were Sam I probably would have stopped at "in the house." I mean, really, it wasn't helping Sam any for the other guy to have eaten the dish. The pursuit was solely based on his desire to share something delicious with someone else, right? Then it suddenly hit me...how come we don't do more of that? We offer a bite, a ride, a quick word only out of obligation or to meet formalities but how often do we really mean it and when we do, how far are we willing to push through? Up to "in the house" like me? or perhaps up to "in a tree" which is, in some ways, pushing the limits of social etiquette. But if we have something so delicious, so wonderful in our hands that we know will only add to one's life, why shouldn't we keep on offering it? Otherwise, wouldn't it be selfish of us not to just for the sake of our comfort?
After all, when the grouchy figure finally gives in to Sam's "pestering" (his reason being to appease Sam so that he would be left in peace), the guy absolutely loves it! The rest of the story tells of how he will always eat those delectable green eggs and ham anywhere and everywhere! As the story came to a close with the final lines spoken by the grouchy-turned-happy dude being "Thank you, thank you, Sam I Am", I was left there wondering... will I ever be like Sam?
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
rooms in Heaven
for the past day and a half, I've been feeling a bit sick. But the blessing of being sick is that you don't feel bad for doing things that primarily involves sitting. There's this one book I've been really looking forward to reading. It's called Visions Beyond the Veil by H.A. Baker. It's about how the Holy Spirit starts moving in this orphange in China and the little boys there start to prophesize and see visions of heaven. I've only started reading it but it's amazing the things that are told in this book and the miracles that was performed. I wanted to share one exerpt with you:
Our Heavenly Rooms
On either side of the beautiful golden streets were buildings side by side, a room for each person, every room opening onto the street. On the door and about the front were precious jewels so resplendently brilliant that the building shone with light and glory. The name of each occupant was about the door. Angels led the children into the rooms. Within all the rooms were the same kinds of furnishings: a beautiful golden table upon which was a Bible, a flower vase, a pen, and a book; by the table was a golden chair; there was also a wonderful golden chest and a golden bed. In each room was a jeweled crown, a golden harp, and a trumpet. The walls were gold. From each Bible, made of such paper as had never been seen on earth and was bound with gold and light, such brilliant glory shone forth that the whole room needed no other light. The visitors (the orphanage children) were told that when they came to stay after death they could go out into paradise and pick any flowers of their choice to place in the beautiful vase on the golden table.
So apparently, we get our own rooms in heaven! Fancy that~
Our Heavenly Rooms
On either side of the beautiful golden streets were buildings side by side, a room for each person, every room opening onto the street. On the door and about the front were precious jewels so resplendently brilliant that the building shone with light and glory. The name of each occupant was about the door. Angels led the children into the rooms. Within all the rooms were the same kinds of furnishings: a beautiful golden table upon which was a Bible, a flower vase, a pen, and a book; by the table was a golden chair; there was also a wonderful golden chest and a golden bed. In each room was a jeweled crown, a golden harp, and a trumpet. The walls were gold. From each Bible, made of such paper as had never been seen on earth and was bound with gold and light, such brilliant glory shone forth that the whole room needed no other light. The visitors (the orphanage children) were told that when they came to stay after death they could go out into paradise and pick any flowers of their choice to place in the beautiful vase on the golden table.
So apparently, we get our own rooms in heaven! Fancy that~
sweepstakes
Last weekend, when a few of us went to NOVA for the promised Eat Fest we didn't have much to do during the times we weren't eating. So we decided to go the #1 loitering place.. Tyson's Square Mall!
At the mall, we decided to check out Brookstone. It a really great store if you have time to burn and like to fidget with things. The three of us ended up "test-driving" the tempurpedic beds and at the end the salesman gaves us all little scratch-off tickets to enter online in hopes of winning a car, bags of money, etc.
The little card looked pretty legit so I came home to check it out. Perhaps, I thought, I'll win some money and I can use it to pay off my plane ticket to Korea. The card told me to scratch off the little box of numbers and then enter it into the website written. So I go to the website and this is what it was : http://www.experienceltandwin.com
Super amateur. Somewhat shady. And the best of all, no place to enter a code! what the heck?! So if you happen to discover any box to enter my numbers, please let me know~ maybe I will share the profit with you ;)
At the mall, we decided to check out Brookstone. It a really great store if you have time to burn and like to fidget with things. The three of us ended up "test-driving" the tempurpedic beds and at the end the salesman gaves us all little scratch-off tickets to enter online in hopes of winning a car, bags of money, etc.
The little card looked pretty legit so I came home to check it out. Perhaps, I thought, I'll win some money and I can use it to pay off my plane ticket to Korea. The card told me to scratch off the little box of numbers and then enter it into the website written. So I go to the website and this is what it was : http://www.experienceltandwin.com
Super amateur. Somewhat shady. And the best of all, no place to enter a code! what the heck?! So if you happen to discover any box to enter my numbers, please let me know~ maybe I will share the profit with you ;)
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Nova Eat Fest
just got back from our trip to nova (northern va). We left cville at 10:40am and returned at 11:00pm. Purpose of the trip? Eat something delicious every hour. Chris, Cecilia and I have been planning this trip since last month when Chris almost convinced us to go to nova following a wed prayer meeting (which ended at 11pm) to go eat a meal and then come back. Cecil and I appeased him by promising an Eat Fest in the near future. And today was the day! and I've gotta say... we did pretty well despite not eating very hour but next time we'll be better :)
12:30pm - lighthouse tofu
1:30 - shilla bakery for greentea bingsoo and a box of babyshoo puffs
digest walking around TJ school grounds and tysons mall
4:30 - cinnabon
5:30 - sul-lung tang (beef stew) + boosam (steamed pork wrap)
7:00 - iceberry with mochi
Too bad all of us forgot to bring our cameras! otherwise, this post would be full of scrumptious pictures!!!
Did we plan where we were going to eat prior to leaving? hahaha! nope. it was all "freeflow"
except for lighthouse tofu place.. we all wanted to go there beforehand but yea.. "freeflow." That word was the word of the day and we used it everywhere we went.
"yo? what are we gonna do after lunch?"
"freeflow!!"
"ugh! what is this we're eating?"
"just eat it! freeflow!"
So after eating lunch, we decided we needed some exercise to digest all that we ate and instead of looking for a park or something we decided to visit TJ school of science and engineering, Chris' highschool. Chris said he would show us around school and although i was skeptical of it being open on a saturday afternoon, we went anyway.. not that we had anything else to do, right? So we're approaching the school door and all of a sudden without notice, this asian man pops out of the side door and starts intensely interrogating us about our intention for being there. It went something like this:
Asian man : "WHAT DO YOU NEED? WHAT DO YOU NEED? YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE HERE. SCHOOL IS CLOSED. WHAT DO YOU NEED? WHAT DO YOU NEED?"
Chris: "uh.. nothing, nothing..."
Asian man: "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE HERE. SCHOOL IS CLOSED."
Chris: "ok"
(we walk back, man stares at us)
It was a very intense moment and we couldn't get over how he just popped out. so instead of seeing the inside of the school, we walked around the entire buiding and got in our car. kinda felt like rebellious highschooler or something. It gave us a good laugh although I hope that that man wasn't too mad... I can just imagine him shaking his head as we left..."stupid kids."
I only have 4 more weekends left until I leave for Korea and then come back to start grad school. I want to use every one of them as fully as possible. And today was perfect mix of relaxing and fun, lots of laughs and trying to fool ourselves that the what we were gorging on were all mainly air and then eating more of it :) I'm completely full~
12:30pm - lighthouse tofu
1:30 - shilla bakery for greentea bingsoo and a box of babyshoo puffs
digest walking around TJ school grounds and tysons mall
4:30 - cinnabon
5:30 - sul-lung tang (beef stew) + boosam (steamed pork wrap)
7:00 - iceberry with mochi
Too bad all of us forgot to bring our cameras! otherwise, this post would be full of scrumptious pictures!!!
Did we plan where we were going to eat prior to leaving? hahaha! nope. it was all "freeflow"
except for lighthouse tofu place.. we all wanted to go there beforehand but yea.. "freeflow." That word was the word of the day and we used it everywhere we went.
"yo? what are we gonna do after lunch?"
"freeflow!!"
"ugh! what is this we're eating?"
"just eat it! freeflow!"
So after eating lunch, we decided we needed some exercise to digest all that we ate and instead of looking for a park or something we decided to visit TJ school of science and engineering, Chris' highschool. Chris said he would show us around school and although i was skeptical of it being open on a saturday afternoon, we went anyway.. not that we had anything else to do, right? So we're approaching the school door and all of a sudden without notice, this asian man pops out of the side door and starts intensely interrogating us about our intention for being there. It went something like this:
Asian man : "WHAT DO YOU NEED? WHAT DO YOU NEED? YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE HERE. SCHOOL IS CLOSED. WHAT DO YOU NEED? WHAT DO YOU NEED?"
Chris: "uh.. nothing, nothing..."
Asian man: "YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSE TO BE HERE. SCHOOL IS CLOSED."
Chris: "ok"
(we walk back, man stares at us)
It was a very intense moment and we couldn't get over how he just popped out. so instead of seeing the inside of the school, we walked around the entire buiding and got in our car. kinda felt like rebellious highschooler or something. It gave us a good laugh although I hope that that man wasn't too mad... I can just imagine him shaking his head as we left..."stupid kids."
I only have 4 more weekends left until I leave for Korea and then come back to start grad school. I want to use every one of them as fully as possible. And today was perfect mix of relaxing and fun, lots of laughs and trying to fool ourselves that the what we were gorging on were all mainly air and then eating more of it :) I'm completely full~
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